Statement by Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, at special event on'Political Participation of Women - Why should men bother?', New York, 8 December 2014

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me to join this distinguished panel this afternoon to discuss the important topic ‘Political Participation of Women – why should men bother?’

I like your question: Why should men bother?

Let me share with you why I bother:

1. Because it is women’s right. Women’s rights are human rights and they are non-negotiable.
2. And more pragmatic. Because I want to have good Government. Governments are better if they are not just chosen by 50% of the population or when just 50% of the population votes. Besides, women also add diversity to political life. Diversity and looking at problems from a different perspective enriches political life and helps in  making the right choices.
3. Because I want to have a higher standard of living. Better Governments positively contribute to development, increasing the standard of living for all.
4. And finally, more personally and most importantly: because I want my wife, my mother and my daughter equal and happy.

Ladies and Gentleman,

It is very timely that we are meeting on this issue during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence which began on 25 November, and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December.  It is proven that an  increase in political participation of women and with more women as legislators and political leaders, it helps to prevent violence against them.

It is also timely as we commemorate this year 35 years since the adoption of the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women accepted by 188 State parties . We are also preparing for the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 15th anniversary of Optional protocol to the CEDAW Convention as well as the Security Council Resolution 1325 next year. These documents represented major milestones on the road to gender equality and women’s rights, including the right to women’s equal participation in political and public life. 

But, what do we mean by full participation of women in political and public life?

General recommendation No. 23 (1997) of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women provides a comprehensive definition of the term. It refers to political and public life as encompassing the exercise of legislative, judicial, executive and administrative powers. It also includes participation in civil society and organizations such as political parties, trade unions, professional or industry associations, women’s organizations, community-based organizations and other organizations concerned with the public and political matters of a state.

The full participation of both women and men in the governance, development and prosperity of their societies has long been recognised in international human rights law and standards and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and some of the core Human Rights treaties.

The concept of equal participation is also central in various resolutions of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Additionally, the Security Council, in several resolutions, including the aforementioned landmark resolution 1325, has repeatedly stressed the important role of women and the inclusion of gender perspectives in peace negotiations and post conflict reconstruction.  There has been a lot of progress in this regard, but there is still a lot to be done. Next year’s commemoration should be used for stocktaking and discussion how to move forward.

The OHCHR study on ‘Factors that impede equal political participation and steps to overcome those challenges’ , which was presented to the Human Rights Council in June 2014, highlights that the right to political and public participation is crucial to the promotion of democratic governance, the rule of law, social inclusion and economic development, as well as in the advancement of all human rights. Participation rights are inextricably linked to other human rights such as the right to peaceful assembly and association, freedom of expression and opinion, and the rights to education and to information.

However, despite the centrality of these rights, many obstacles continue to prevent women from their full and equal participation within their societies.

As observed by a number of international human rights mechanisms, discrimination violence against women are among the main barriers to full and equal participation in political and public life for women, especially those from marginalized or excluded groups.

The Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women has in its deliberations recognised that discrimination based on sex or gender is a major impediment to the full and equal participation of women in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their countries. Even when there is no formal discrimination in connection with political or public participation, inequalities in access to other human rights, such as education, for instance, often impede the effective exercise of the right to participation.
 
Women all over the world continue to be marginalized from the political sphere. They continue to be underrepresented as voters, as well as in leading positions, whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or academia. This occurs despite women’s proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in public life.

This marginalization and underrepresentation continues as a result of discriminatory laws, practices and gender harmful stereotypes, low levels of education of women, their poverty and lack of access to social services .

 

• For example, in Europe, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament indicated its alarm at the underrepresentation of women in the European Union leadership positions, and at the stagnation of women’s representation at one third or less in parliaments across the region  in 2012.

• In Latin America, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in 2011, reported on the slow progress made in women’s political representation at different levels of government.

• In the Asia-Pacific, a 2012 report of the World Bank found that , rapid growth and economic development, with the highest female labour force participation rate in the developing world, have not been enough to attain gender equality, including in the area of political agency and representation. 

• Progress has also been slow across Africa, despite some gains in sub-Saharan Africa in regard to women’s representation in parliament.

So, what should be our way forward?

While a review of laws and policies is essential to eliminating structural and societal discrimination against women in political and public life, impediments to women’s participation in public life, go far beyond this.

States must also work to change traditional practices and gender stereotypes that impede the enjoyment of participation rights for women. For example, patriarchal and discriminatory family laws or practices that limit women’s freedom of occupation and freedom of movement in the public space should be repealed and dismantled to ensure full participation of women.

The adoption of a zero tolerance policy towards all acts that undermine participation of women in campaigning for public office or women exercising their right to vote would also be an important consideration. During campaigns, female candidates are all to often exposed to derogatory and sexist acts and comments against them without any accountability.

Measures should also be adopted to address:  1) unequal caregiving responsibilities, 2) violence against women, 3) marginalization by political parties, 4) lack of access to services and support programmes, 4) poverty and insufficient access to credit and other financial opportunities, and 5) limited awareness about rights.

It is also critical that States use temporary special measures as authorized by the CEDAW convention to accelerate de facto equality between women and men such as preferential treatment or quota systems to advance women's integration into politics, education, the economy and employment.

To briefly mention, the United Nations also struggles in this area to meet its target of 50 per cent of managerial and decision-making positions for women.  While there has been some success at entry levels, we still have a long way to go in arriving at that target. It will be important for the next Secretary General to continue to exercise the same level of leadership and commitment on this issue as Ban Ki-Moon does.

While the primary obligation to ensure political rights rests with States, there is also a key role for civil society organizations, National Human Rights Institutions and National equality bodies, educational institutions and the media, particularly in terms of education and awareness raising on women’s participation rights.

The pivotal role of the media in social change should be embraced. The specific potential of social media creates networks across regions, exposes human rights violations and widens democratic space for those generally without a voice, including women deprived of their right to participate. This was evident in the Arab Spring where for the first time many women engaged the political process through social media.

Ladies and gentlemen,

 In closing, let me get back to our question: why should men bother?

 Equal political participation of women is not only fair and just, it is in the best interest of all, men as well as women. Since it is a project in the common interest, let us jointly make it happen. Women and men, hand in hand, he for she, and I for you.

Thank you.