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Addressee: ILO, OHCHR, UN - DESA, UNDPI, UNIFEM
Full Text
The Forum recommends that the relevant United Nations entities, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in particular its Division for the Advancement of Women, UNICEF, UNIFEM, the Department of Public Information and ILO:
(a) Encourage the dissemination of information in indigenous languages at the local level, concerning the rights of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women;
(b) Encourage and support the training of indigenous women in human rights and the rule of law;
(c) Provide technical assistance to governments to establish the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women.
Responses
ILO, UNICEF, and UNIFEM are implementing this recommendation.
ILO reported that: (a) Dissemination of information in indigenous languages is undertaken wherever necessary, within the framework of any projects and programmes addressing indigenous peoples. In addition, information is developed in non-written formats to accomodate the needs of communities with high levels of illiteracy. Translations and information concerning other non-written materials can be found at the website of the ILO. (b) Human Rights training is an integral component of projects and programmes that address indigenous issues. In cases where indigenous women require special attention, separate activities may be held for them. In other cases, the main objective is to mainstream gender into ongoing initiatives, ensuring equal opportunities for the participation of men and women. This approach applies to a number of ILO projects and programmes.
UNICEF reported the following: (a) In Namibia, UNICEF provided support to two NGOs to conduct a campaign on rights education in 13 regions, focusing on violence against women and children, as well as the available legisltation for protection of victims of violence. Print and electronic IEC materials were developed on gender-based violence, juvenile justice, girls' education, the Domestic Violence Directory and Married Persons Equality Act (translated into 5 indigenous languages). (b) In Venezuela, in 2004, UNICEF and other partners set in motion a support system for women who are victims of domestic violence, with the installation of a free telephone line in Zulia, a region with high indigenous population, similar to the one UNICEF had supported previously nationwide. Additionally, events were organized to train and disseminate information on women's rights and gender equality. (c) The UNICEF office in Bolivia also helped create educational materials on women's rights, assisted social reinsertion activities for girls living in the street, contributed to a study on gender violence, and sponsored a module on violence against women in the recent Demographic and Health Survey. Indicators related to gender were included in the various studies carried out in 2004. Finally, through and in coordination with, the Interagency Committee on Gender, the Country Office provided technical assistance to the Vice-ministry for Women's Affairs in the design of its strategice plan of action.
UNIFEM reported the following: The Andean regional Office of UNIFEM is preparing training sessions with indigenous women's leaders in order to prepare them for the Forum's fourth session in May 2005. UNIFEM provides technical assistance for preparatory meetings with indigenous women's groups that are organized by the national women's mechanisms to strengthen national agendas for the 10-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Technical support will also be given to the national women's networks in the region with respect to their participation in the preparatory meetings at national and regional levels.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 3 (2004)
Area of Work
