The Aim of the Consultation Is Two-Fold

The Human Rights Economic and Social Issues Section (HRESIS) in collaboration with the Women’s Rights and Gender Section (WRGS) will host a 2-day consultation on Women and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) that will take place from 27-28 October 2011 at Palais des Nations, Geneva. This consultation represents a rare opportunity to bring together key actors working on women’s ESCR from (i) the UN treaty bodies and (ii) the UN special procedures, (iii) civil society, (iv) UN agencies, and (v) from within OHCHR.

The aim of the consultation is two-fold:

(1) To identify the key economic and social challenges facing women today (Day One and the first session of Day Two); and

(2) To map the substantive issues where there is a need for conceptual clarity, better coherence or practical guidance and develop a strategy to advance such issues at the international level and identify opportunities for collaboration. (Day Two)

Day One will consist of a comprehensive series of tight presentations on the most current challenges facing women’s full realization of their economic and social rights by some of the most respected and active advocates working on women’s ESCR in all regions of the world.

Day Two will be facilitated by HRESIS and WRGS and pick up on the key issues raised during Day One as requiring development and aim to strategize on the way forward. OHCHR will seek to identify opportunities for collaboration with our external partners and better coherence amongst ourselves. The morning session on Day Two is crucial in terms of strategizing. All participants are expected to attend this morning session. The morning session will be officially closed by the Deputy High Commissioner. The afternoon session will be a closed session for internal OHCHR colleagues.

10:00-13:00Session One: Introductory session (3 hours)

Opening address by Jane Connors, Chief, Special Procedures Branch (TBC)

The introductory session will emphasize substantive equality and broadly outline the key challenges facing women’s economic rights today drawing upon specific examples of economic, social and cultural rights such as the rights to health and to adequate housing.

Co-presenters:

Leilani Farha (Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, Canada) Rebecca Brown (Deputy Director, ESCR-net)

Ximena Andion (Founder of Equis: Justicia para Mujeres, Mexico),

Moderator: Melinda Ching Simon/ Human Rights, Economic and Social Issues Section

13:00-14:00 Lunch (1hr)

14:00-15:15 Session Two: Gender Stereotypes and discrimination (1hr 15mins)

This session will examine how stereotypes and discrimination play themselves out across ‘economic rights’ (in the areas of employment, maternity leave and education) and across ‘social rights’ (in the areas of health, food and water).

Co-presenters:

Lisa Pusey (IWRAW Asia Pacific, Malaysia),

Marianne Møllmann, Senior Policy Adviser Law and Policy Programme, Amnesty International - IS

Moderator (TBC):

Mara Bustelo/Chief ESCR Section/SPB

15:15-16:30Session Three: Poverty (1hr 15mins)

This session will examine the importance of ensuring an adequate standard of living, social insurance and adopting an intersectional approach to policy development and legal reform.

Co-presenters:

Mayra Gomez (Co-founder, Global Initiative on ESCR)

Ana María Suárez Franco (FIAN International)

Moderator: Virginia Gomes/ Former CESCR Member and expert on social protection, Senior Social Policy Adviser to the Director-General of Social Security in the Portuguese Ministry for Solidarity and Social Security

16:30-17:45 Session Four: The Impact of Violence against Women on their enjoyment of ESCRs (1hr 15 mins)

This session will examine how violence underpins and exacerbates women’s rights to housing and health.

Co-presenters:

Ximena Andion (Founder of Equis: Justicia para Mujeres, Mexico),

Marianne Møllmann, Senior Policy Adviser Law and Policy Programme, Amnesty International - IS

Moderator (TBC): Lucinda O’Hanlon / Women’s Rights and Gender Section

17:45-18:00 Closing and wrap up of Day One

Melinda Ching-Simon/HRESIS and Lucinda O’Hanlon/WRGS

10:00 -11:15Family/Culture/Harmful Traditional Practices

Sexual and reproductive health as well as harmful traditional practices concerning culture and the family will be explored.

Co-presenters (TBC):

Grace Kimani, Executive Director, Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya Louise Finer, Center of Reproductive Rights

Moderator (TBC): Isha Dyfan/Chief WRGS

11:15 – 11:30Coffee Break and professional group photo of participants

11:30-13:00 OHCHR CONSULTATION AS TO NEXT STEPS FORWARD (1.5 hrs)

OHCHR will facilitate arguably the most important session of the consultation, with all our guests from UN Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, civil society and UN agencies. A summary of the key issues, gaps and challenges that were identified in Day One will be presented, then we will discuss how to advance these issues forward coherently, utilizing the strengths of our individual mandates and of our combined commitments.

Facilitators: Melinda Ching-Simon/HRESIS, Lucinda O’Hanlon/WRGS

Closing Address TBC: Deputy High Commissioner

15:00-17:00 OHCHR CONSULTATION INTERNAL STAFF ONLY (2 hours)

HRESIS/WRGS will jointly facilitate the penultimate session for OHCHR. Building on from the morning session, the question now becomes, how can we as an organisation, work most effectively to ensure that the issues that have been brought to our attention over one and half days are properly advanced ? Whilst acknowledging the challenges, how can these be overcome by using our strengths? In order to ensure that key issues are being advanced, how can we support each other across sections and branches?

Facilitators:

Christian Courtis, Melinda Ching-Simon/HRESIS, Lucinda O’Hanlon/WRGS

19:00Apero at a local bar (close to restaurant)

L’Aiglon

Rue Sismoni 16, Pâquis

20:00 Dinner at a local restaurant

The Melting Pot (Ethiopian/Normandy cuisine)

Rue de la Navigation 8, Pâquis

Melinda Ching-Simon/HRESIS/11.10.2011

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