News & Updates

Asia Pacific Women’s Watch (APWW) strongly condemns the military invasion of Ukraine and the recognition of the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states by the Russian Federation. We call on all parties to ensure respect for human rights, women’s rights, and international humanitarian law.

We stand in solidarity with the International NGO community   who are working to build peace in both Ukraine and Russia.

War is never gender-neutral. Women and girls in all their diversity are disproportionately affected by war, and it is no different in this conflict. It is vital to support humanitarian efforts led by Ukrainian women and ensure their participation in decision-making on peace and security in accordance with Ukraine’s National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

APWW urges the United Nations Security Council and the broader international community to take all necessary action to restore security in Ukraine, protect civilians and prioritise their needs, especially those of women peacebuilders, activists, and vulnerable populations.

APWW stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, especially women and youth peacebuilders, who are key actors in the survival and resilience of their families and communities during a crisis. We must continue to listen to and amplify the voices of the Ukrainian people. We reinforce their calls for:

1. An immediate ceasefire, cessation of all hostilities, and adherence with international humanitarian law;
2. Safe and accessible humanitarian corridors for evacuation and the delivery of aid that reaches all Ukrainian people in need, especially minority communities;
3. Initiation of a peace process which ensures the meaningful participation of women, youth, and other historically marginalised communities at all stages of negotiations;
4. Provision of rapid technical and financial support to Ukraine civil society organisations, including women’s rights organisations on the frontlines of the humanitarian crisis;
5. Protection of women’s rights and human rights in Ukraine by Member States, multilateral institutions;
6. An investigation of the crimes of aggression, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed within the territory of Ukraine by the International Criminal Court;
7. Accountability for human rights violations through gender-responsive monitoring and accountability mechanisms led by international actors such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and
8. Integration of key provisions of the Women, Peace, and Security resolutions into all programs and security initiatives in response to the conflict in Ukraine.

The South Asia Peoples Forum on the SDGs 2020 (SAPF 2020) is the collective event of the NGOs, people organizations, civil society networks, social movements, civil society major groups and stakeholders and sustainable development advocates.

Main objectives of the forum are to:

(i) Assess the political, economic, social and environmental situation of the region in the context of COVID-19 pandemic,

ii) Identify civic actions and policy demands to protect and fulfill the rights of South Asian peoples and recommend for effective COVID 19 response and just recovery, and

iii) Develop strategies to intervene in 4th South Asia SDGs Forum.

Registration Open (Deadline: 21 November 2020) to register for your participation and contribution by deadline. Please open registration form.

The SAPF 2020 is  coordinated and facilitated by Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) South Asia Working Group, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal (NACASUD Nepal, Maldives Association of Persons with Disabilities (MAPD) Maldives, and Huvadhoo Aid Maldives.

More information can be found here

 

OutRight’s annual global convening for the human rights of LGBTIQ people, OutSummit, will be taking place virtually on December 9-11, 2020.  You can watch a short introduction here, and register for the summit here.

OutSummit is a space to share insights, challenges and best practices, and to strategize across civil society, state and private sector boundaries for the human rights of LGBTIQ people. Our keynote speakers this year will be Hamed Sinno, lead singer of the Lebanese-American indie-rock band Mashrou’ Leila, and Filipino American supermodel and trans rights activist Geena Rocero.

More information can be found at the OutSummit Website click here

 

[Source International Planned Parenthood Federation]

The United Nations General Assembly Third Committee is one of six main committees at the General Assembly of the United Nations. It deals with human rights, humanitarian affairs and social matters. The Third Committee meets every year in early October and aims to finish its work by the end of November.

The Third Committee is a critical intergovernmental space with the full membership of the United Nations (UN), which agrees on normative standards and frameworks on human rights, gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights. IPPF closely followed the negotiations on intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls, child early and forced marriage (CEFM), women and girls and Covid-19, intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), efforts to end obstetric fistula and trafficking of women and girls.

Despite attempts to weaken and/or risk the longstanding agreements made in Cairo, Beijing and in the Agenda 2030, the vast majority of the UN membership supported the adoption of the texts as negotiated.

The Member States showed resounding commitment to upholding the principles of gender equality, preventing and combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), fulfilling women and girls’ rights, including SRHR, as demonstrated in the adoption of all gender-related resolutions and in the six separate cross-regional statements delivered on behalf of about 70 countries at the adoption sessions of the Committee.

Member States adopted  language that acknowledged the impact of Covid-19 on increased levels of violence, CEFM and ensured coordinated and strong responses in responding to the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of women and girls specifically during the pandemic. The resolution addressing the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls makes fundamental calls for Governments to ensure women and girls’ access to justice, SRHR and comprehensive sexuality education, while recognizing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as the most prevalent and least visible form of violence against women across all social strata across the world.

Dr Netatua Prescott Taufatofua, a distinguished Tongan scientist, passed away suddenly in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on 11 November.  She was a beloved and well respected leader in the community and Country, especially among the women of Kolomotu’a who have been energized by her vision and leadership.

Netatua is well known for her work regionally and internationally, but Dr. Netatua most valued her local contribution to Tonga, not only in her projects and consulting work with the World Bank, but also her engagement with the Government of Tonga.

Among her many achievements, last year she was selected to be one of an elite group of 15 international experts who make up the World Meteorological Organization Scientific Advisory Panel (WMOSAP).   Running as a political candidate she narrowly lost (by 16 votes) the  2019 Tongatapu 1 By-Election against Siaosi Pohiva. This was after the death of former Prime Minister, the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who died in September that year.

I met Netatua when she was Director of Climate Change Division at the Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP) with head office in Apia, Samoa. She was a vibrant,  inspiring and strong Pacific Voice, working her magic at international discussions regarding action against Climate Change to create opportunities for dialogue and action. She was a strong and inspirational leader, who truly understood the power of community connections and shared her passions and knowledge in such a way that everyone felt all the richer for being in her presence.

Our deepest condolences go to her husband, Dr Pita Taufatofua, her children Siosi’ana and Filimone, her family, friends and communities in Tonga and across the world.  Your legacy lives on in all those you inspired along the way.  Gone too soon.

Vale Dr Netatua Prescott Taufatofua

 

APWW wishes to congratulate the incoming and re-elected CEDAW Committee Members.  We acknowledge the outstanding support of candidates from the Asia Pacific Region,  Ms Bandana Rana (Nepal) and Ms Rosario G Manalo (Philippines) for their re-election to the  committee.  We   welcome incoming CEDAW members  Ms Natasha Stott-Despoja AO, (Australia)  and Ms Xia Jie (China).    APWW looks forward to working with you and other committee members as you progress through your office.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

The CEDAW Committee Elections took place on the 9 Nov 2020. The following 11 candidates out of 18 nominees were elected / re-elected:

Nicole Ameline,(France), Marion Bethel (Bahamas), Leticia Bonifaz Alfonzo (Mexico), Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen (Netherlands), Hilary Gbedmemah (Ghana), Nahla Haida El Addal (Lebanon), Dalia Leinarte (Lithuania), Rosario G Manalo (Philippine), Bandana Rana (Nepal), Natasha Stott-Despojer (Australia), Jie Xia (China)

The new members of the Committee are

Leticia Bonifaz Alfonzo (Mexico),  Natasha Stott -Despojer (Australia),  Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen (Netherlands) and Jie Xia (China).

 

 

Mexico, October 15, 2020

Mexico announces the Generation Equality Forum confirmed dates

The Forum will take place in Mexico City in March 2021

The activities will continue in Paris, France, in June 2021

Given current COVID-19 restrictions, travel bans and costs to fly – how should we mobilise in the Asia and Pacific region?  What are your thoughts…

PRESS RELEASE HERE

 

The women, peace and security (WPS) agenda is anchored in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) with strategic objectives and actions outlined under “Women and armed conflict”, and with specific reference to women in crisis situations and young women. Following the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on WPS, nine additional Security Council resolutions on WPS have been adopted, as well as CEDAW General Recommendation 30 (2013) on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post conflict situations.

In the context of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and Generation Equality Forum, as well as the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325, a WPS-HA Compact will harness the existing extensive normative framework on WPS and HA and accompanying institutional and coordinating mechanisms, to action and realise commitments on WPS and humanitarian action. The Compact will put in place a voluntary multi-stakeholder monitoring and accountability process engaging key global, regional and national players to help narrow the gap between aspirations and concrete actions on WPS and humanitarian action, while ensuring that existing global and regional processes are harnessed for national and local engagement and action.

More information and Concept Note click here