0

TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK ON NYANYA-ABUJA HIGH WAY: DHQ SEEKS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING

 

DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

P M B 309

GARKI – ABUJA

 

 

 

 

DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI

 

22  April 2014

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK ON NYANYA-ABUJA HIGH WAY:  DHQ SEEKS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING

 

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ALEX BADEH (CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF)

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ALEX BADEH (CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF)

The traffic gridlock on Nyanya-Abuja highway as a result of the ongoing checks on vehicles coming into the city centre from that end has expectedly generated reactions and complaints from road users and the general public.  The general public is assured that the measures are not punitive or deliberately meant to inconvenience road users.  The actions are necessitated by the emerging security threats facing the nation which calls for support and understanding of the populace.

 

The security measures will be reviewed as more equipment and additional support are introduced to ease the gridlock.  Members of the public are requested to please bear with this temporary measure which is in the overall best interest of the public.

CHRIS OLUKOLADE

Major General

Director Defence Information

0

Monday Bombing of Nyanya NIA Kuje Charge FG to Declare One Week National Mourning

Following the monday bombing at Nyanya a surburb in Abuja in which over 80 souls were lost, The President of Non Indigenes Alliance, NIA Kuje,Prince Raphael Clement, have commiserated with Federal Government and families of both the deceased and injured. 

Speaking in a Press Conference on Wednesday at Abuja, Prince Clement called on the FG to declare one week National mourning, during which period Nigerians will pray for divine intervention and for peace to reign. He also requested that the Nigerian flag fly at half Mast. 

He noted that one of the objectives of NIA is to promote peace and peaceful co existence. With a view to safeguarding lives and property. “We are one irrespective of our religion or ethnic group let’s stop this killing he stated.

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ALEX BADEH (CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF)

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ALEX BADEH (CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF)

0

YJF, CANVASSES FOR CONFAB TO INCLUDE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Young Journalists Forum, organisers of Youth Freedom of Information Act Training, Youth Election Awareness Programme and advocates for the eradication of Child Labour, in Nigeria. It is very pertinent at this point of our National progression for us as a youth group to draw the attention of the leadership and delegates of the ongoing Confab to a very salient omission,that of not constituting aYouth Development committee, which should inter alia, make projections that will ensure that if possible none of our future leaders, would be made vulnerable for the kind deceptions that have brought sorrows to several families, communities and the Nigerian state. The committee would ensure that in the near future the Nigerian Youth will be meaningfully engaged no matter their background, either academically, vocationally or otherwise thereby channeling the virility to making them constructive tools in the development of Nigerian. YJF, urges this Confab to end youth restiveness in our society and without strategically dissipating its energy on this group of people who can make or mar the society, we think it would achieve only a minimal success taking into cognizance the fact that, Youths have been the tool for executing most of the imbrogliosthat gave rise for the convoking of the Confab and their issues should be tactically addressed. YJF envisages a system that will groom patriotic youths who will appreciate and protect the integrity of the society that gave them the opportunity to express themselves positively for the good of man and country, so that posterity will be proud of the present composition of the Confab as they would have written their names in the sands of time. YJF, commends President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to the reintegration of the Nigerian nation, amidst the obvious odds which we think should not constitute a clog in the wheel of the progression of the Nigerian state under his leadership, we thereby urge him to remain focused and prayerful, so that history would record him as the president that released us from our present dungeon. Comrade Chukwuma NZEH (NLC YOUTH Leader) Ene OKON (MOST VALUABLE T.V. REPORTER 2013) COORDINATOR (08181822877) SECRETARY(08066992464)

0

Joint Information Centre

Counter Terrorism Campaign

North-East Nigeria

c/o Defence Headquarters

ABUJA

 

 

 

 

JIC/CTC/NE/14                                                             16 April 2014

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

MORE STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL CHIBOK FREED;  NORMALCY RETURNS TO WUKARI

 

 

More of the abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State have this afternoon been freed as troops pursuing the terrorists close in on the den of those believed to have carried out the attack.  A total of 129 students had earlier been abducted by a group of terrorists.

 

 

In another development, troops deployed to restore law and order in Wukari, Taraba State, have apprehended 14 armed men who were involved in the fighting during the civil disturbances in the town early in the week.  The fighting resulted in the burning of no fewer than 25 houses and displacement of over 200 persons.

 

 

Major General Chris Olukolade Director Defence Information/Coordinator

Major General
Chris Olukolade
Director Defence Information/Coordinator

The troops also captured a building where arms were being fabricated.  4 locally fabricated machine guns, one sub machine gun, 4 single barrel guns as well as 21 live cartridges were recovered in the process.  Normalcy has since been restored as troops maintain patrols of the locality.

 

Meanwhile, security forces have been directed to continue with the tempo of offensive on all the terrorists’ enclaves anywhere in the country.

 

 

CHRIS  OLUKOLADE

Major General

Director Defence Information/Coordinator

 

1

Peace Ambassador Commends President Jonathan, on Confab, 2nd Niger Bridge

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, Peace Ambassador, Ubong Monday Inyang has commended President Jonathan, for convoking the ongoing National conference, and the ground breaking ceremony and commencement of the all important 2nd Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambara state.

Amb. Inyang  who spoke to journalists in Abuja recently, opined that, ‘I want to join the millions of Nigerians to commend the sincere commitments of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and his quest to develop Nigeria, especially the south south, and south east, through the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.

 

Congratulations Mr. President

President Jonathan, plans for Nigeria amidst unprecedented odds

Amb. Inyang who hales from Ikono, in Akwa Ibom state, averred that, this achievement will not be forgotten by Nigerians yet unborn, as Mr. President would have written his name in the sands of time, adding that, on completion the bridge would further unite Nigerians, especially those from the South West, South South and indeed the South East and all other Nigerians who the president has brought together in the ongoing National conference to chat a united way forward.

Amb. Inyang opined that, It is pertinent at this point of our national progression to commend the sincere commitments of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and his quest to Transform Nigeria, via the ongoing National Conference, which has given several sections of Nigeria the opportunity to discuss on the way forward.

He noted that, the second Niger Bridge on completion would boost the already thriving commercial & economic activities, tourism, and education amongst several other benefits particularly in the South East region. So the need for a 2nd Niger Bridge cannot be over emphasized, taking into cognizance the pressure on the first Niger Bridge, which was constructed several decades ago, and the difficulties already being experienced by commuters who ply the road already, especially during festive seasons.

Inyang insisted that, the National Conference as anticipated allows every Nigerian to make input on how he or she wants Nigeria to be, taking into cognizance our diversity, and it is anticipated that the  given the majority of those who are representing their segments, the composition, is expected to produce a document that will further integrate Nigerians and promote patriotism.

He admonished all delegates to the Confab, that the National conference is a clarion call on all the delegates who are representatives of Nigerians from several tribes and ethnicity, to appreciate the lapses of our past and make salient projections that will ensure that every Nigerian sees and appreciate Nigeria as the proverbial “promise land” where they can reach the peak of their aspirations, just like our president who comes from a minority ethnic group.

0

EAST AFRICAN SINGLE TOURIST VISA LAUNCHED IN ABUJA

By Joy Idam

Nigerians who love touring and business men who love investing in the tourism Industry can now smile as three East African nations make mouth watering offer. 

The East African single Tourist Visa, which makes the three partner States, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda a single tourist destination earlier introduced on 1st January, 2014 was today, 15th April 2014 officially unveiled. 

According to the Kenya High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb Tom Amoto, the East African Single Visa was launched by Heads of States of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, during a One Day Summit held at Kampala, Uganda on 20th January 2014, completing one of the major integration projects jointly undertaken by the three countries. 

On 27th October 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives of the three countries establishing the practical modalities and implementations. 

According to the Rwanda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb Joseph , advantages of the East Africa Tourist Visa includes; tourists getting multiple entry access to the three nations, allowing the Governments of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to market the region as a single tourist destination. 

Adding that its also expected to reduce the cost of touring across the three countries in a bid to boost the number of tourists. 

Stressing further Amb Joseph of Rwanda said “holders of the East African tourist visa shall enter from the country that issued the visa and move within the two other countries without applying for another visa or paying for another. 

On the modality of issuance of the East African Tourist Visa, the Uganda High Commissioner, Amb Nuwamanya John, said the Visa shall be issued on request by a tourist at any Immigration Office or Embassy / High Commission of the three countries. This visa shall be issued upon payment of 100 US Dollars. Or equivalent currency of the nation. 

Amb Tom Amoto, while commending Nigeria for becoming Africa’s biggest economy called on Nigerian Government to relax its Visa Laws. Adding that ” the biggest impediment to growth is not having access into each others country”. 

He hinted that his President Uhuru Kenyatta loves Nolly wood movies and that following his discussions with Kanayo O Kanayo an MOU will be signed between Nigeria and Kenya for the teaching of film making. 

Adding that Nigeria’s movie Industry is a trillion economy. While looking forward to Nigeria developing Kenyan movie industry

0

Kuje non-indigenes call for inclusion in community benefits

Non-indigenes resident in Kuje local government of the FCT have decried their non-inclusion in community benefits and other projects enjoyed by indigenes alone.

This call was made over the weekend when non-indigenes of Kuje Area Council under the aegis of the Non-Indigenes Alliance, NIA, called on the chairman of the area council to carry them along in his projects as they form an integral part of the development of the council.

President Kuje 001 Kuje 002of the group, Mr. Prince Ralph Clement while addressing members during the inaugural meeting of NIA at the Kuje town hall said non-indigenes resident in the area has been ignored over the years and are not carried along in the scheme of affairs by the leadership of the council.

He stated that the alliance was set up to discourage tribal, religious and gender sentiments in order to foster unity among indigenes and non-indigenes in the council:

“We want to encourage patriotism and the need to embrace peace, fight drug abuse, prostitution and create opportunities to empower all residents as well as support and participate in the electoral process of the Kuje Area Council”, he said.

Mr. Prince further stated that issues like regional differences and barriers existing between indigenes and non-indigenes in the council should be discouraged as they were all Nigerians and therefore charged the leadership of the Area Council to see that everyone participates and enjoys benefits accruable to residents of the council irrespective of indigene status.

According to him, he was born, schooled and still resides in the council even though he is not an indigene of the area but has been denied enjoying some community benefits despite contributing immensely  to the development of the community.

Responding, Vice Chairman of the Kuje Area Council, Honourable Danjuma Abu noted that the council is aware of the situation and reassured members of NIA that they will start enjoying benefits in terms of employment, healthcare, and education among others.

He commended the NIA for promoting peace stating that if there is no peace, both indigenes and non-indigenes will be affected while urging all to join hands in ensuring that credible leaders are elected to lead the council.

0

Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the  Millennium Development Goals for women and girls

Commission on the Status of Women

Fifty-eighth session

10 – 21 March 2014

 

 

 

Draft agreed conclusions   

 

1.  The Commission on the Status of Women reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, and the declarations adopted by the Commission on the occasion of the tenth and fifteenth anniversaries of the Fourth World Conference on Women.  AD REF

 

2. The Commission reaffirms that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,and the Optional Protocols thereto, as well as other relevant conventions and treaties, provide an international legal framework and a comprehensive set of measures for the elimination and prevention of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls and the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.  AD REF

 

3. The Commission reaffirms that the full and effective implementation of the goals and objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is an essential contribution to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.AD REF

 

4.   The Commission also reaffirms the international commitments made at relevant United Nations summits and conferences in the area of gender equality and the empowerment of women, including in the Programme of Action at the International Conference on Population and Development and its key actions for its further implementation. AD REF

 

4 bis. NEW The Commission further reaffirms the commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women made at the Millennium Summit; the 2005 World Summit; the 2010 high-level plenary meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, and the 2013 Special Event on the Millennium Development Goals. It also reaffirms the outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities: the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond. AD REF

 

4 bis.    The Commission acknowledges also the important role in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls played by regional conventions, instruments and initiatives and their follow-up mechanisms, in respective regions and countries. AD REF

 

4 ter. – consolidated with 5 sext/sept/oct/nov/dec, 4 ter/quat and 6 sext after 5

 

4 quat. – consolidated with 5 sext/sept/oct/nov/dec, 4 ter/quat and 6 sext after 5

 

5.  The Commission also reaffirms the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”, which recognized, inter alia, the vital role of women in achieving sustainable development and resolved to unlock the potential of women as drivers,agents and equal beneficiaries of sustainable development. AD REF

 

5 bis. consolidated with 4 bis NEW

 

5 ter. moved to after 21 and consolidated with 16 ter. and 16 ter. alt

 

5 quat. moved to before 6 with last part of 2

 

5 quin. The Commission also reaffirms the commitment to the full and effective implementation of and follow-up to all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, as well as relevant resolutions of the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, and recalls relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, in the area of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and human rights of women and girls. It also reaffirms its previous agreed conclusions, including, inter alia, on women and the economy and on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.  AD REF

 

5 sext/sept/oct/nov/dec, 4 ter/quat, 6 sext. The Commission recalls Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013) and 2122 (2013) on women, peace and security and all relevant Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, including resolutions 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012) and 2143 (2014). AD REF

 

5 undec. The Commission recognizes the important role of the United Nations system, in particular of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women),in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women that contributes to the achievement of the MDGs for women and girls at the global, regional and national levels, in tracking progress of the MDGs to support targeted measures in key areas of women’s empowerment and in assisting States, upon their request, in their efforts.AD REF

 

5 quat. and 2/last part The Commission reaffirms that the promotion and  protection of, and respect for, the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, including the right to development, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, should be mainstreamed into all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, and also reaffirms the need to take measures to ensure that every person is entitled to participate in,  contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political  development and that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the promotion, protection and full realization of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. AD REF

 

  1.  The Commission reaffirms that gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls and enjoyment of their human rights and the eradication of poverty are essential to economic and social development, including the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals. The Commission notes the universal context of gender equality and recognizes that almost fifteen years after the MDGs were launched, no country has achieved equality for women and girls, and significant levels of inequality between women and men persist, although the MDGs are important in efforts to eradicate poverty and of key importance to the international community. The Commission reaffirms the vital role of women as agents of development, and recognizes that gender equality and the empowerment of women must be achieved to realize the unfinished business of the MDGs and accelerate sustainable development beyond 2015. AD REF

 

6 bis. 6 quat. and 22 bis. The Commission recognizes that increasing women’s economic empowerment is central to the achievement of the MDGs. It stresses that investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth and that women’s economic independence is vital to their role as full and equal partners for development and essential to the achievement of the MDGs including to the eradication of poverty. The Commission recognizes that the achievement of the MDGs requires the full integration of women into the formal economy, in particular, into economic decision-making, which means changing the current gender-based division of labour so that women and men enjoy equal treatment. AD REF

 

19 quat. The Commission recognizes that care work, both paid and unpaid, and care services are of key importance in achieving the MDGs for women and girls, and further recognizes that caregiving is a critical societal function which involves shared responsibility. AD REF

 

6 oct. The Commission acknowledges the important contribution of migrant women in realizing the MillenniumDevelopment Goals, and recognizes that impediments to accessing employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well asother services that, in accordance with national legislation, are intended for use by the public, contribute to the vulnerability of migrants. AD REF

 

6 ter, 6 ter alt and 23 bis. consolidated with (h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter and moved after o quat

 

6 quat. consolidated with 6 bis above (also with 22 bis)

 

6 quin. moved to after 20 bis and consolidated with 9 ter

 

6 sext consolidated with 5 sext/sept/oct/nov/dec, 4 ter/quat and 6 sext after 5

 

6 sept. Moved after 21

 

7. The Commission welcomes the commitments and concerted policy action at national, regional and global levels to achieve the MDGs for women and girls. The Commission recognizes the innovative efforts by some countries in the implementation of the MDGs for women and girls by adapting targets to local contexts and reporting on a broader range of issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women than the MDGs specifically addressed, including on human rights of women and girls. AD REF

 

7 bis. – consolidated with 5 undec (see 5 undec)

 

7 ter. moved and consolidated with 25 bis into 25 bis bis

 

8.  The Commission welcomes progress made for women and girls in several areas of the MDGs, and recognizes the importance of MDG 3 in signaling gender equality and women’s empowerment as a global priority. It especially welcomes the significant progress made towards eliminating gender disparity in primary education enrolment and on increasing the proportion of women in national parliaments in some regions. AD REF

 

8 bis. consolidated into 6 with element from 19 and 19 bis, 22 ter, and 22 ter NEW

 

8 ter. consolidated with 20 bis

 

9. The Commission is deeply concerned that overall progress for women and girls across all the MDGs remains slow and uneven, including on MDG 3, both within and between countries and that lack of progress on gender equality has hindered progress towards all of the MDGs. It is especially concerned about the lack of progress for poverty-stricken regions and areas and for marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged women and girls and those women and girls who experience multiple forms of discrimination and inequalities of any kind.

 

9 bis. consolidated into t.

 

9 ter. moved to after 20 ter and consolidated with 6 quin

 

9 quat. moved to after 21 and consolidated into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

9 quin. first part moved after 21 , second part see 9 quin (part 2) below

 

9 quin (part 2). WITHDRAWN

 

10. The Commission notes and expresses deep concern with regards to MDG 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger), that poverty impedes women’s empowerment and progress towards gender equality, and that the feminization of poverty persists, and recognizes that significant gender gaps in employment rates and wages persist. The Commission is concerned that due to, inter alia, socio-economic inequalities and persistent discrimination in labour markets, women are more likely than men to: be in precarious, vulnerable, gender-stereotyped and low paying forms of employment; bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care work; be engaged in the informal economy; have less access to full and productive employment and decent work, social protection and pensions which increases their risk of poverty, relative to men, particularly if they are living in households without other adult earners. It further notes that discriminatory norms contribute to women’s and girls’ greater vulnerability to extreme poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition and that girls and older women each face different and particular challenges. The Commission notes that current poverty measures do not adequately reflect women’s vulnerability to poverty, due to inadequate data, inter alia, on income distribution within households. The Commission is further concerned that the targets on hunger also remain unmet, with adverse consequences for the health, livelihoods and well-being of women and girls.It notes the importance of food security and nutrition for achieving MDG 1, and the need to address gender gaps in the fight against hunger, and recognizes that insufficient priority is given to addressing malnutrition in women and girls. AD REF

 

10 bis. Consolidated into 10

 

10 NEW consolidated with (h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter and moved to after o quat)

 

11. The Commission notes that with regards to MDG 2 (Achieve universal primary education) significant progress has been made in net primary school enrolments and towards eliminating gender disparity in primary education enrolment but expresses concern that the heavy focus on numbers has resulted in less focus on completion, educational quality and learning outcomes. The Commission further notes the lack of progress in closing gender gaps in access to, retention, and completion of secondary education, which has been shown to contribute more strongly than primary school attendance to the achievement of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and the human rights of women and girls and several positive social and economic outcomes. The majority of youth lacking basic education are young women. Notwithstanding the progress, more needs to be done where progress remains uneven within groups and between countries to achieve the targets by 2015. AD REF

 

11 bis. consolidated with 11

 

12. The Commission notes that with regards to MDG 3 (Promote gender equality and empower women) progress has been slow with: persistent gender disparities in some regions in secondary and tertiary education enrolment; the lack of economic empowerment, autonomy, and independence of women including lack of integration into the formal economy, unequal access to full and productive employment and decent work, under-representation in non-agricultural wage employment, over-represention in low paid jobs and gender-stereotyped jobs like domestic and care work, and the lack of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; the unequal burden of unpaid care work and insufficient measures to reconcile paid work and care responsibilites; the persistence of discriminatory attitudes, norms, stereotypes, and legal frameworks; insufficient social protection and insurance coverage for women; and despite progress, the low proportion and unequal participation and representation of women at all levels of decision making, including in national parliaments and other governance structures. AD REF

 

12 bis. consolidated with 12

 

13. The Commission notes that with regards to MDG 4 (Reduce child mortality) taking into account the important interconnections between women’s and children’s health and gender equality and empowerment of women, significant progress has been made in reducing child mortality globally including through the efforts to eliminate new HIV infections and vertical transmissions in children, and other factors including lack of vaccines, malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, hunger and anemia, but the targets are likely to be missed.  The Commission notes with deep concern that increasingly, child deaths are concentrated in the poorest regions and in the first month of life, and further expresses concern that children are at greater risk of dying before the age of five if they are born in rural and remote areas or to poor households. The Commission also notes with deep concern that some regions have higher female under-five mortality rates due to discriminatory practices. The Commission recognizes that progress on reducing child mortality is linked with women’s access to health-care services, safe drinking water, sanitation and housing, as well as mothers’ lack of basic education and nutrition. AD REF

 

13. bis.  consolidated with 13

 

13 ter.  Withdrawn and replaced with 20 ter

 

14. The Commission notes with regards to MDG 5 (Improve maternal health) progress towards its two targets to reduce maternal mortality and to achieve universal access to reproductive health, has been particularly slow and uneven, especially for the poorest and rural sectors of the population, within and across countries. It notes that the numbers of preventable maternal deaths continue to be unacceptably high and that adolescent girls face higher risks. It further expresses concern about the significant gaps in funding that remain and the magnitude of unmet need for all sexual and reproductive health care services, including emergency obstetric services and skilled attendance at delivery, safe and effective contraception, services for the complications of unsafe abortion and safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, among others, through the primary health care system with effective referral to higher levels of care. The Commission further notes continuing challenges to progress, including failure to protect and fulfil reproductive rights in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences, poor nutrition and heavy workloads for pregnant women. AD REF

 

14 bis. consolidated with 13

 

14 ter. moved and merged into 22 and 24

 

15. The Commission notes that with regards to MDG 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) progress has been limited, with the number of women living with HIV increasing globally since 2001. It also notes the particular vulnerability to HIV infection of adolescent girls and young women, as well as other women and girls who are at a higher risk. It stresses that structural gender inequalities and violence against women and girls undermine effective HIV responses and the need to give full attention to increasing the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, including through the provision of health care services, inter alia, sexual and reproductive health care services. It further notes the challenges faced by women and girls living with HIV and AIDS including stigma, discrimination and violence. The Commission further notes that, despite increased global and national investments in malaria control which have resulted in decreasing the burden of malaria in many countries and the elimination of malaria in some countries, malaria prevention and control efforts, particularly for pregnant women, must rapidly increase in order to achieve the MDGs.AD REF

 

15. bis consolidated into 15

 

16. The Commission notes that with regards to MDG 7 (Environmental sustainability) while progress has been made globally in access to safe drinking water, progress on access to basic sanitation has been particularly slow, and the target is likely to be missed, with serious implications for women and girls, especially those living in vulnerable conditions. The Commission expresses concern that the lack of access to safe drinking water particularly affects women and girls and that they frequently bear the burden for its collection in rural and urban areas, and further recognizes the need for further improvement in this regard. The Commission further notes that the lack of adequate sanitation facilities disproportionately affects women and girls, including their labour force and school participation rates and increases their vulnerability to violence. The Commission further notes that women and girls are often disproportionally affected by desertification, deforestation, natural disasters and climate change due to gender inequalities, and the dependence of many women on natural resources for their livelihoods. AD REF

 

16 bis. consolidated into 16

 

16 ter. moved to after 21 and consolidated into 5 ter, 16 ter, 16 ter alt.

 

16 ter. alt moved to after 21 and consolidated into 5 ter, 16 ter, 16 ter alt.

 

17. The Commission notes with regards to MDG 8 (A global partnership for development) that the development resources, including official development assistance, in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential and remain inadequate to the task. The Commission also notes that the global economic crisis and the shifts to austerity measures taken by some countries have impacted women and girls negatively, with reduction in investment in social sectors. It also notes that a gender gap in access to information and communication technologies persists. AD REF

 

17 bis. moved after 21 and merged into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

18. The Commission is concerned that several indicators to monitor the MDGs are not disaggregated by sex, age and other factors and therefore do not provide sufficient information about the situation of women and girls throughout their life cycle, including those on poverty, hunger, environmental sustainability and global partnership for development while others are still limited, such as those related to MDG 3, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. AD REF

 

19. The Commission is concerned that several critical issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women were not adequately addressed by the MDGs such as: inter alia, violence against women and girls; child, early and forced marriage; women’s and girls’ disproportionate share of unpaid work, particularly unpaid care work; women’s access to decent work, the gender wage gap, employment in the informal sector, low paid and gender-stereotyped work such as domestic and care work; women’s equal access to, control and ownership of assets and productive resources including land, energy and fuel, and women’s inheritance rights; women’s sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences; universal health coverage; non-communicable diseases; accountability for violations of human rights of women and girls; and women’s full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels. The Commission recognizes that unless all dimensions of gender inequality are addressed, gender equality, the empowerment of women and the realization of human rights of women and girls cannot be achieved. AD REF

 

19 bis. consolidated into 6 with element from 19 and 19 bis, and 22 ter NEW

 

19 ter. moved to after r alt

 

19 quat. moved to after 6

 

20. The Commission recognizes that progress on the achievement of all MDGs for women and girls has been held back due to the persistence of historical and structural unequal power relations between women and men, poverty and inequalities and disadvantages in access to resources and opportunities that limit women’s and girls’ capabilities, and growing gaps in equality of opportunity, discriminatory laws, policies, social norms, attitudes, harmful customary and contemporary practices and gender stereotypes. AD REF

 

20 bis. The Commission strongly condemns all forms of violence against women and girls. It expresses deep concern that discrimination and violence against women and girls continues to occur in all parts of the world and that that all forms of violence against women and girls are impediments to the development of their full potential as equal partners with men and boys in all aspects of life, as well as obstacles to the achievement of the MDGs.AD REF

 

20 ter. The Commission welcomes international momentum to address the issue of child, early and forced marriage.  The Commission recognizes that child, early and forced marriage is a harmful practice, and notes that its continued prevalence, amongst other factors, has slowed the achievement of several of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls. AD REF

 

9 ter and 6 quin. The Commission emphasizes that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the achievement of the MDGs, including the eradication of poverty and hunger, and that the implementation of special measures, as appropriate, aimed at empowering women can help accomplish this. It recognizes that inequality is a concern for all countries and that it represents an urgent challenge with multiple implications for the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of women and girls. It also emphasizes that women’s poverty is directly related to the absence of economic opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic and productive resources, to quality education and support services and women’s minimal participation in the decision-making process.  The Commission further recognizes that women’s poverty and lack of empowerment as well as their exclusion from social and economic policies can place them at increased risk of violence and that violence against women impedes social and economic development, as well as the achievement of the MDGs. AD REF

 

21. DELETED

 

9 quin (part 1). The Commission is also concerned that countries affected by natural disasters are less likely to achieve MDGs, and further notes that women and girls are disproportionately affected by natural disasters. It further recognizes that women play a vital role in disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, and the need to enhance women’s access, capacities and opportunities to effectively and equally participate in the prevention and preparedness efforts and response to disasters; AD REF

 

5 ter, 16 ter, 16 ter alt. The Commission is deeply concerned that climate change poses a challenge to the achievement of sustainable development and that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of desertification, deforestation and natural disasters, persistent drought, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification, and is also deeply concerned that the adverse impacts of climate change  on women and girls, especially those living in poverty can be exacerbated by gender inequality and discrimination, and expresses profound alarm that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise globally, remains deeply concerned that all countries, particularly developing countries, are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and are already experiencing increased impacts, including persistent drought and extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification further threatening food security and efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development and in this regard emphasizes that adaptation to climate change represents an immediate and urgent global priority. AD REF

 

21 bis. consolidated into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

21 ter. consolidated into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

21 ter alt. consolidated into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

21 quat. consolidated with 5 sext/sept/oct/nov/dec, 4 ter/quat and 6 sext after 5

 

9 quat and 17 bis.Consolidated into 21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis

 

21 bis, 21 ter, 21 ter alt, 9 quat and 17 bis. The Commission expresses deep concern about the ongoing adverse impacts, particularly on development and the achievement of the MDGs for women and girls, of the world financial and economic crisis, recognizing evidence of an uneven and fragile recovery, and cognizant that the global economy, notwithstanding significant efforts that helped contain tail risks, improve financial market conditions and sustain recovery, still remains in a challenging phase, with downside risks, inter alia, for women and girls, including high volatility in global markets, high unemployment, particularly among youth, indebtedness in some countries and widespread fiscal strains that pose challenges for global economic recovery and reflect the need for additional progress towards sustaining and rebalancing global demand, and stresses the need for continuing efforts to address systemic fragilities and imbalances and to reform and strengthen the international financial system while implementing the reforms agreed to date, and in respect of maintaining adequate levels of funding for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women; AD REF

 

6 sept. The Commission acknowledges that the global burden and threat of non-communicable diseases constitutes one of the major challenges for sustainable development in the twenty-first century, which may have a direct impact on the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. It further notes that developing countries bear a disproportionate burden and that non-communicable diseases can affect women and men differently. AD REF

 

22. and 24. and bb alt. The Commission further recognizes that progress on the MDGs for women and girls has been limited due to the lack ofasystematic gender mainstreaming and integration ofa gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the MDGs. The Commission also recognizes that effective gender-responsive monitoring of the MDGs has been limited due to a lack of investment in and the consistent collection and use of reliable, integrated gender indicators,  statistics and data, disaggregated by sex, age, disability, location and other relevant factors, and that goals, targets and indicators, including gender sensitive indicators, are valuable in measuring and accelerating progress, and are enhanced by voluntarily sharing information, knowledge and experience. The Commission acknowledges in this regard the importance of civil registration systems and vital statistics.AD REF

 

22 bis. consolidated with 6 bis and 6 quat after 6

 

22 ter. consolidated into 6 with element from 19 and 19 bis, and 22 ter

 

23. The Commission also recognizes that insufficient priority given to and significant underinvestment in gender equality and the empowerment of women in the realization of the human rights of women and girls continue to limit progress on the MDGs for girls and women of all ages, their families and communities, and for the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It stresses that the available resources, through domestic resource mobilization and official development assistance, and their allocation remain a concern and are often inadequate to the task. AD REF

 

23 bis. consolidated into after 6 with 6 ter, 6 ter alt

 

23 ter. consolidated into d bis

 

24. consolidated into 22

 

25. DELETED

 

25 bis. The Commission acknowledges the strategic and coordinating role of national machineries for the advancement of women, which should be placed at the highest possible level in government, for the achievement of gender equality and the implementation of the MDGs for women and girls, and the need to endow these machineries with the necessary human and sufficient financial resources to enable them to function effectively. The Commission also acknowledges the contribution of national human rights institutions where they exist. AD REF

 

25 bis bis. The Commission acknowledges the major contributions made by civil society, including women’s and community based organizations  and feminist groups in placing the interests, needs and visions of women on national, regional and international agendas. AD REF

 

25 ter. DELETED

 

 

25 ter alt. The Commission recognizes that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and stresses that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

 

26. and 26 alt. The Commission urges Governments, at all levels, and as appropriate, with the relevant  entities of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates and bearing in mind national priorities, and invites national human rights institutions where they exist, civil society, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector, employer organizations, trade unions, media and other relevant actors, as applicable, to take the following actions: AD REF

 

A. Realizing women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of all human rights

 

(a) replaced with a NEW

 

(a) alt. replaced with a NEW

 

(a) NEW Consider ratifying or acceding to, as a particular matter of priority, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and their respective Optional Protocols, limit the extent of any reservations, formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Conventions, review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; and implement them fully by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation and policies; AD REF

 

(a) bis. moved to after f

 

(b) Accelerate full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and its key actions for their further implementation and the outcomes of their review conferences to achieve MDGs for women and girls; AD REF

 

(b) bis. NEW consolidated into t

 

(c)  Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls through: the development, where needed, adoption and accelerated and effective implementation and monitoring of laws and comprehensive policy measures; the removal, where they exist, of discriminatory provisions in legal frameworks including punitive provisions; and setting up legal, policy, administrative and othercomprehensive measures including temporary special measures as appropriate to ensure women’s and girls’ equal and effective access to justice and accountability for violations of  human rights of women and girls; AD REF

 

(c) bis. consolidated with s

 

(d)  Implement concrete and long-term measures to transform discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes including those that limit women’s roles to being mothers and caregivers, and eliminate harmful practices including, inter alia, female genital mutilation and honor crimes, in order to achieve gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, and the full realization of the human rights of women and girls; AD REF

 

(d) bis. moved to after f

 

(d) ter. consolidated into 9 quin (part 2) and then withdrawn

 

(e)  Fully engage men and boys, including community leaders as strategic partners and allies in the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls both in the family and in society, design and implement national policies that aim to transform those social norms that condone violence against women and girls, and work to counteract attitudes by which women and girls are regarded as subordinate to men and boys, including by understanding and addressing the root causes of gender inequality such as unequal power relations, social norms, practices and stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination against women and girls, and engage them in efforts to promote and achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; AD REF

 

(e) bis Acknowledge publicly the important and legitimate role of women human rights defenders in the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and development and take appropriate, robust and practical steps to protect them; AD REF

 

(e) ter. – consolidated into ee

 

(f) Adopt and implement specific and targeted measures recognizing that some women experience increased vulnerability and marginalization due to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities; AD REF

 

(d) bis. Take all appropriate measures to adopt and implement disability inclusive national development strategies and legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect and promote the rights of women and girls with disabilities, as persons with disabilities  are more vulnerable to discrimination and violence, and are still largely invisible in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the MDGs. AD REF

 

(a) bis. Encourage the participation of indigenous women and girls in the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, noting the contribution of that conference towards the achievement of internationally agreed development goals bearing in mind that indigenous women and girls face particular challenges in achieving the MDGs. AD REF

 

(i) sept. Enact and implement legislation to protect, support and empower child headed households, in particular those headed by girls, and include provisions to ensure their economic well-being, access to health care services, nutrition, safe drinking water and sanitation, shelter and education, inheritance, and ensure that these families are protected, supported and assisted to stay together; AD REF

 

(g) Address the multiple and intersecting factors contributing to the disproportionate impact of poverty on women and girls over their lifecycle as well as intra-household gender inequalities in allocation of resources, opportunities and power by realizing women’s and girls’ civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; and ensure women’s and girls’ inheritance and property rights, equal access to quality education, equal access to justice, social protection, and an adequate standard of living, including food security and nutrition, safe drinking water and sanitation, energy and fuel resources and housing, as well as women’s and adolescent girls’ access to health including sexual and reproductive health care services, and women’s equal access to full and productive employment and decent work, women’s full participation and integration in the formal economy, equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, and equal sharing of unpaid work; AD REF

 

(g) bis. – consolidated into 10

 

(h) and (h) bis.  Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spaces, through multi-sectoral and coordinated approaches to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and exercise due diligence, investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and end impunity, and provide protection as well as  universal access to comprehensive social, health and legal services for all victims and survivors, to ensure their full recovery and reintegration into society and, bearing in mind the importance for all women and girls to live free from violence, to address the  structural and underlying causes of violence against women and girls through enhanced prevention measures, research and strengthened coordination and monitoring and evaluation; AD REF

 

(h) ter. consolidated into h oct and h ter

 

(h) quat. – Consolidated with h quin

 

(h) quin. Eliminate all harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, through reviewing, adopting, enacting and enforcing laws and regulations that prohibit such practices, creating awareness around their harmful health consequences, and generating social support for the enforcement of these laws; AD REF

 

(h) sext. consolidated into h and h bis

 

(h) sept. Moved after o and merged into (h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter

 

(h) oct and (h) ter. Strengthen bilateral, regional and international cooperation for the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, including by implementing the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons,and take appropriate measures to raise public awareness of the issue of trafficking in persons, particularly women and girls, including the factors that make women and girls vulnerable to trafficking; to discourage, with a view to eliminating, the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation, including sexual exploitation and forced labour; to review and adopt laws, regulations and penalties necessary to deal with this issue and publicize them to emphasize that trafficking is a serious crime; and  encourage media providers, including Internet service providers, to adopt or strengthen self-regulatory measures to promote the responsible use of media, particularly the Internet,with a view to eliminating the exploitation of women and children; AD REF

 

(h) nov consolidated into h oct and h ter

 

i) Ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all women and their sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences,including through the development and enforcement of policies and legal frameworks, and strengthening of health systems, that make universally accessible and available quality comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services, commodities, information and education, including, inter alia, safe and effective methods of modern contraception, emergency contraception, prevention programmes for adolescent pregnancy, maternal health care such as skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care which will reduce obstetric fistula and other complications of pregnancy and delivery, safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law, and prevention and  treatment of reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and reproductive cancers, recognizing that human rights include the right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free from coercion, discrimination, and violence; AD REF

 

(i) ter. consolidated with i

 

(i) quin. consolidated with i

 

(i) quat. Ensure universal access to comprehensive prevention, affordable treatment, care and support services for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, free of stigma and discrimination, with a gender perspective, and to provide comprehensive information, voluntary counseling and testing to young women and adolescent girls living and affected with HIV and AIDS;AD REF

 

(i) sext. Develop, implement and support national prevention, care and treatment strategies, to effectively address obstetric fistula using a multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated approach in order to bring about lasting solutions; AD REF

 

(i) sept. moved after f , a bis

 

(i) oct. consolidated with i sext

 

(i) bis. (Part 1). Encourage partnerships for global health to support Member States in carrying out their responsibilities, including in moving towards universal health coverage, which implies that all people, including women and girls, have access, without discrimination, to nationally determined sets of the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative basic health services, and vaccines, needed and essential, safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines, especially through the promotion of primary health care, while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the users to financial hardship, with a specific emphasis on the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized segments of the population, and calls upon Member States to strengthen and improve the quality of health systems in this regard; AD REF

 

(i) bis (Part 2). Develop comprehensive strategies to target gender inequality in health care and put into practice policies to ensure equal access for women, adolescents and youth to affordable and adequate health care services, including primary health care and basic nutrition; AD REF

 

(i) bis (Part 3). Pursue and promote gender-based approaches for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases founded on data disaggregated by sex and age in an effort to address the critical differences in the risks of morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases for women and men; AD REF

 

(j) Promote and protect women’s and girls’ right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination throughout their lifecycle at all levels and promote equal and inclusive access to quality early childhood, primary, secondary and post-secondary education, non-formal education, catch-up and adult literacy education for those who did not receive formal education, skills development and vocational training and human rights education and training, with specific attention to: eliminating gender disparities at all levels of education by increasing the retention, transition and completion rates of women and girls; improving the quality of education and learning outcomes; eliminating gender stereotypes in the curriculum; mainstreaming a gender perspective into education and training programmes, including science and technology; eradicating female illiteracy and supporting school-to-work transition through skills development to enable their active participation in economic, social and cultural development, governance and decision-making; AD REF

 

(j) bis bis. Adopt targeted measures to ensure girls’ safety and an environment free from sexual harassment in the school and in the commute to school including by improving transportation, strengthening infrastructure by providing separate and adequate sanitation facilities, improved lighting, playgrounds and other safe environments, conducting violence prevention activities in schools and communities; establishing and enforcing penalties for all forms of violence and harassment against girls; AD REF

 

(j) alt. consolidated into j

 

(j) bis. consolidated into  j

 

(j) ter. consolidated into  j

 

(j) quat. consolidated into  j

 

(j) sept. Promote the right to education by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children and through the progressive introduction of subsidized education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action to contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion and ensuring school attendance, in particular for girls and children from low-income families and children who become heads of households; AD REF

 

(j) quin. Develop and implement educational programmes and teaching materials, including comprehensive evidence-based education for human sexuality, based on full and accurate information, for all adolescents and youth, in a manner consistent with their evolving capacities, with the appropriate direction and guidance from parents and legal guardians, with the involvement of children, adolescents, youth and communities, and in coordination with women’s, youth and specialized non-governmental organizations, in order to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women of all ages, to eliminate prejudices and to promote and build informed decision-making, communication and risk reduction skills for the development of respectful relationships and based on gender equality and human rights, as well as teacher education and training programmes for both formal and non-formal education;AD REF

 

(j) sext. consolidated with k

 

(j) oct. and (j) alt bis. With the support of international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate,  Develop policies and programmes, giving priority to formal, informal and non-formal education, that support girls and enable them to acquire knowledge, develop self-esteem and take responsibility for their own lives, and to place special focus on programmes to educate women and men, especially parents, about the importance of girls’ physical and mental health and well-being, including the elimination of discrimination and violence against girls; AD REF

 

(k)  Ensure women’s right to work and rights at work through gender-responsive policies and programmes that promote women’s economic empowerment, including decent work for all, promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, invest in and empower women in productive sectors of the economy, support women’s technical, managerial and entrepreneurial capacities, promote collective bargaining, address the gendered division of labour, prohibit and redress sexual harassment,  prevent discrimination against women in the workplace, support the reconciliation of paid work with family/care responsibilities for both women and men, and promote women’s full and equal participation in the formal economy, in particular in economic decision-making, and empower women in the informal economy, with particular attention to women domestic workers, who are entitled to the same basic rights as other workers, including protection from violence and abuse, fair terms of employment, and a safe and healthy working environment; AD REF

 

(k) bis. consolidated with k

 

(l)  Guarantee women’s and girls’ inheritance rights and their full and equal access to and control over assets and natural and other productive resources, including  full and equal rights to own and lease land and other property, and undertaking administrative reforms and all necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit capital, finance, financial assets, science and technology, vocational training, information and communication technologies and markets, and to ensure equal access to justice and legal assistance; AD REF

 

(l) bis. consolidated with (o) and (o) alt

 

(l) ter. Encourage States and relevant civil society groups to empower women and girls by supporting programmes that facilitate participation through public and private investment in agriculture aiming to achieve food security and nutrition; AD REF

 

(l) quat. NEW Recognise, resource, and support programmes that advance gender equality and women’s rights in all areas of economic activities including fisheries and aquaculture to address food security and nutrition, and meaningfully facilitate women’s contributions to small scale and artisan fisheries and aquaculture, commercial fisheries, oceans and seas use and care; AD REF

 

(m) Ensure non-discriminatory access for women of all ages to gender-responsive, universally accessible, available,affordable, sustainable, and high quality services and infrastructure, including health care, safe drinking water and sanitation, transport, energy, housing, agricultural technology, financial and legal services, and information and communication technologies; AD REF

 

(m) bis. Invest in closing the gender gap in information and communications technologies by making them affordable and accessible including in access to broadband as a tool for the empowerment of women and girls and the exercise of their full range of human rights, access to information, access to markets, networking and increased opportunities; AD REF

 

(n)  Promote universal social protection across the lifecycle, including for older women, that gives women and girls protection against risks and vulnerabilities and promotes their social inclusion and full enjoyment of all human rights; AD REF

 

(o) and (o) alt. Recognize that caregiving is a  critical societal function and therefore emphasize the need to value, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work by prioritizing social protection policies, including accessible and affordable social services, including care services for children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons living with HIV and AIDS, and all others in need of care; the development of infrastructure including access to environmentally sound time-and-energy-saving technologies; employment policies, including family friendly policies with maternity and paternity leave and benefits; promote the equal sharing of responsibilities and chores between men and women in care giving and domestic work to reduce the domestic work burden of women and girls and to change the attitudes that reinforce the division of labour based on gender; AD REF

 

(o) bis. consolidated in 9 quin (part 2) and e bis

 

(o) ter. consolidated with m bis

 

(o) quat. consolidated into m part 2 and o quat

 

(o) quin. consolidated into h oct and h ter

 

(o) sext. consolidated with (o) and (o) alt

 

(h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter. Recognize the family as a contributor to sustainable development, including in the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals for women and girls, that gender equality and women’s empowerment improve the well-being of the family, and in this regard stress the need of elaborating and implementing family policies aimed at achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment and at enhancing the full participation of women in society; AD REF

 

(m) (part 2) and o quat. Promote and protect effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, especially those of women and children, and to address international migration through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human rights of all migrants, and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their vulnerability; AD REF

 

B. Strengthening the enabling environment for gender equality and the empowerment of women

 

(p) and (p) alt. Work towards ensuring that global trade, financial and investment agreements are conducive to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and human rights of women and girls, and complement national development efforts to achieve the MDGs for women and girls, including through reaffirming the critical role of open, equitable, rules-based, predictable, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, and strengthen the effectiveness of the global economic system’s support for development by encouraging the mainstreaming of a gender perspective  into development policies at all levels in all sectors; AD REF

 

(p) bis. NEW Underline commitments to strengthen national efforts, including with the support of international cooperation, aimed at addressing the rights and needs of women and girls affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, other complex humanitarian emergencies, trafficking in persons and terrorism, within the context of actions geared to the realization of the internationally agreed goals and commitments related to gender equality and the empowerment of women, including the Millennium Development Goals, recognizing the challenges they face; and also underline the need to take concerted actions in conformity with international law to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the rights of women and girls living under foreign occupation, so as to ensure the achievement of the above-mentioned goals and commitments recognizing the challenges they face; AD REF

 

(q) DELETED

 

(q) alt. Implement macro-economic policies that, together with labor and social policies, promote full and productive employment anddecent work for all and gender equality and the empowerment of women, to enhance economic efficiency and optimize the contribution of women to economic growth and poverty reduction; and increase awareness among decision-makers, the private sector and employers of the necessity of women’s economic empowerment and their important contribution;AD REF

 

(q) bis. consolidated with i bis (part 3)

 

(v) bis. – moved after ee

 

(t) ter. Strengthen the role of women in formal and informal sectors, including in cross-border trade and agriculture, put in place measures needed to improve women’s access to markets and productive resources, and make markets safe for women including those living in rural areas, and thereby ensure that women- and men-owned businesses and farms have equal opportunities in markets; AD REF

 

(t) ter ALT and (v) bis ALT. Identify and develop strategies to expand trade opportunities for women producers, and facilitate the active participation of women in national, regional and global trade; AD REF

 

(r)  consolidated with (r) alt.

 

(r) alt. Take measures to ensure that, in global and national policy responses to financial and economic crises and to excessive volatile food and energy prices, any negative impacts on gender equality and the empowerment of women are minimized, including on employment and funding for essential services and social protection systems, and that particular support is given to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable persons, and that  gender equality and the empowerment of women continue to be promoted, including the protection of the human rights of women and girls; AD REF

 

19 ter. Refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries; AD REF

 

(r) bis. WITHDRAWN

 

(s) Prioritize and mainstream gender equality perspectives in all social, economic and environmental policies and programmes to implement the MDGs, including national development policies and strategies to eradicate poverty, and gender-responsive budgeting and public expenditure allocation processes; establish and strengthen institutional mechanisms for gender mainstreaming at local, national and regional levels, promote and ensure the implementation of national legal frameworks and the coordination between branches of government to ensure gender equality; AD REF

 

(s) bis. consolidated into s bis and t bis and moved after t bis.

 

(s) ter.  First part consolidated with i bis (part 1) and second part consolidated with i

 

(s) quat. Promote equal opportunities and the full and equal participation of women and men as agents and beneficiaries of people-centred sustainable development,  and reaffirm that eradication of poverty based on sustained economic growth, social development, environmental protection and social justice requires the involvement of women in economic and social development; AD REF

 

(t)  Adopt measures to implement and monitor the MDGs for women and girls in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, and women and girls affected by violent extremism, and ensure women’s effective participation at all levels and at all stages and in peace processes and mediation efforts, conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and recovery, as laid out in relevant Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, and in this regard support the involvement of women’s organizations and civil society organizations. End impunity by ensuring accountability and punishing perpetrators of the most serious crimes against women and girls under national and international law, and ensure that alleged perpetrators of those crimes are held accountable under national justice or, where applicable, international justice; AD REF

 

(t) alt. consolidated into t

 

(t) bis. consolidated into s bis and t bis below.

 

(s) bis and (t) bis. Promote the integration of a gender perspective in environmental and climate change policies and strengthen mechanisms and provide adequate resources to ensure women’s full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels on environmental issues, in particular on strategies and policies related to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and slow onset impacts, including drought, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity on the lives of women and girls; and ensure a comprehensive approach to address the hardships faced by women and girls by integrating their specific needs into humanitarian response to natural disasters and into the planning, delivery and monitoring of disaster risk reduction policies to address natural disasters and climate change, and ensuring sustainable natural resources management; AD REF

 

(t) ter. moved to after q

 

(t) ter alt moved to after q

 

(t) quat. DELETE

 

(t) quin. consolidated into s bis and t bis

 

(t) sext. consolidated into s bis and t bis

 

(u) Strengthen international cooperation in technology and innovation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, including through public-private partnerships; AD REF

 

(u) bis. consolidated into ee

 

(u) ter. consolidated into s

 

(u) quat. Strengthen and support the contributions of rural women to the agricultural sector and to enhancing agricultural and rural development, including small-scale farming, and ensure that women have equal access to agricultural technologies, through investments and transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, and innovation in small scale agricultural production and distribution; and address the existing  gaps on and barriers to trading their agricultural products in local, regional and international markets; AD REF

 

(u) quin. moved after y bis

 

(u) sext. consolidated into u sext, u sext alt and x alt after v

 

(u) sext ALT. consolidated into u sext, u sext alt and x alt after v

 

(u) sept consolidated into u sext, u sext alt and x alt after v

 

(u) oct. consolidated into u sext, u sext alt and x alt after v

 

(u ) nov, (u) nov alt. consolidated into u nov and u nov alt after v

 

(y) bis Strengthen international cooperation, including the role of North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, bearing in mind that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for, but  rather a complement to, North-South cooperation, and invites all Member States to enhance South-South and triangular cooperation focusing on shared development priorities with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in government, civil society and the private sector, while noting that national ownership and leadership in this regard are indispensable for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; AD REF

 

(u) quin. Recognize the important role the media can play in the elimination of gender stereotypes, and to the extent consistent with freedom of expression, increase the participation and access of women to all forms of media, and encourage the media to increase public awareness of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; AD REF

 

C. Maximizing investments in gender equality and the empowerment of women

 

(v). Increase and ensure the effectiveness of financial resources across all sectors to achieve gender equality, empowerment of women and the realization and enjoyment of women’s and girls’ human rights through mobilization of financial resources from all sources, including domestic resource mobilization and allocation and increased priority to gender equality in official development assistance, and the creation of voluntary innovative financing mechanisms, as appropriate; AD REF

 

(u) sext, (u) sext alt and (x) alt. Urge developed countries that have not yet done so, in accordance with their commitments, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and the target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to least developed countries, and encourage developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets and help them, inter alia, to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women; AD REF

 

(u) nov and (u) nov alt. Recognize that the long-term sustainability of debt depends on, inter alia, economic growth, the mobilization of domestic and international resources, export prospects of debtor countries, sustainable debt management, sound macroeconomic policies that also support job creation, transparent and effective regulatory frameworks and success in overcoming structural development problems, and hence on the creation of an enabling international environment that is conducive to sustainable development, gender equality and the empowerment of women; AD REF

 

(w) and (x). Support and institutionalize a gender-sensitive approach to public financial management, including gender-responsive budgeting across all sectors of public expenditure, to address gaps in resourcing for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and ensure all national and sectoral plans and policies for gender equality and the empowerment of women are fully costed and adequately resourced to ensure their effective implementation; AD REF

       

(x) alt. consolidated into u sext, u sext alt, x alt after v

 

(x) alt bis. consolidated into w and x

 

(x) bis. consolidated with q

 

(y)  Monitor and evaluate the impact of all economic decision-making on gender equality, including public sector expenditures, austerity measures, where they apply, public-private partnerships and investments, and official development assistance, and take corrective action to prevent discriminatory impacts and achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women, including by ensuring promoting women’s full and equal participation in economic decision-making structures; AD REF

 

(y) bis moved after u / u quat

 

(z) Increase resources and support for grassroots, local, national, regional and global women’s and civil society organizations to advance and promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and the human rights of women and girls; AD REF

 

(z) bis. consolidated into z

 

D. Strengthening the evidence-base for gender equality and the empowerment of women

 

(aa) Improve systematic and coordinated collection, analysis, dissemination and use of gender statistics and data disaggregated by sex, age, disability and other relevant variables at  national level, through appropriate financial and technical support and capacity-building, while recognizing the need for international cooperation in this regard; AD REF

 

(bb) Collect regularly and disseminate statistics on the minimum set of gender indicators and the core set of violence against women indicators adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 2013; AD REF

 

(bb) alt. consolidated with 22 and 24

 

(cc) Continue to develop and enhance standards and methodologies, for use at national and international levels, to improve data, inter alia, on women’s poverty, income distribution within households, unpaid care work, women’s access to, control and ownership of assets and productive resources, and women’s participation at all levels of decision-making, including to monitor progress on the MDGs for women and girls; AD REF

 

(dd) Develop and strengthen national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess policies and programmes to achieve the MDGs for women and girls and promote the sharing of best practices; AD REF

 

E. Ensuring women’s participation and leadership at all levels and strengthening accountability

 

new (ee) – consolidated into ee

 

(ee) Take measures to ensure women’s full, equal and effective participation in all fields and leadership at all levels of decision-making in the public and private sectors through policies and actions such as temporary special measures, as appropriate, and by setting and working to achieve concrete goals, targets and benchmarks; AD REF

 

(ee) bis. moved to after o and consolidated into (h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter

 

(v) bis. Strengthen the participation in and contributions of women in decision-making processes on national, regional and global trade; AD REF

 

(ff) Ensurethe effective participation of women’s and youth and other relevant civil society organizations in the design, continued implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies to achieve the MDGs and take into account their views in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda; AD REF

 

(gg) Develop and implement effective measures to account for the achievement of gender equality, the empowerment of women, and the realization of the human rights of women and girls; AD REF

 

(hh) Strengthen institutional arrangements for monitoring the implementation of the MDGs for women and girls, ensure transparency, in this regard, by making available relevant information and support women’s full and effective participation and leadership in monitoring; AD REF

 

(hh) bis. consolidated ee

 

(hh) ter. moved to after o and consolidated into (h) sept, (ee) bis and (hh) ter

 

27. The Commission urges States to build on the lessons from the implementation of the MDGs as the new post-2015 development agenda is being shaped. It urges States to tackle critical remaining challenges through a transformative and comprehensive approach and calls for gender equality, the empowerment of women and human rights of women and girls to be reflected as a stand-alone goal and to be integrated through targets and indicators into all goals of any new development framework. AD REF

 

27 alt. WITHDRAWN

 

27 bis. replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt

 

27 bis alt. WITHDRAWN

 

27 ter.  replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt

 

27 quat. replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt

 

27 quin. replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt

 

27 sext. replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt

 

28. The Commission also urges all States and all other stakeholders to undertake comprehensive national and regional level reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly so that the outcomes of these reviews can effectively feed into its fifty-ninth session, in 2015. The Commission especially encourages all stakeholders to analyze current challenges and identify opportunities for accelerating actions to achieve gender equality, the empowerment of women and the realization of human rights of women and girls, and to undertake appropriate commemorative activities for the twentieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. AD REF

 

29. replaced by 27 and 27 bis alt