The Department Newsletter www.wizo.org/newsletter
Israel Delegation’s Statement to the 51st UN Commission
on the Status of Women
February / March 2007
Presented by Ms. Marit Danon, Director,
Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women,
Prime Minister’s Office
Madame Chairperson,
I would like to commend you on your able leadership of this Commission, now for the second year. I am also honoured to speak here today on behalf of the Israeli delegation.
The State of Israel’s Proclamation of Independence, written and adopted in 1948, declared that the state would “ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex." Over the last decade, public awareness of the need to advance the status of women in Israel has increased and a number of frameworks were established to vigorously place the conversation at the head of the national agenda. In 1992, for example, the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, established the Committee to Advance the Status of Women to promote legislation, and resulted in the establishment of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, which operates out of the Prime Minister’s Office. This is a testimony to the State’s commitment.
Before these frameworks were established, women’s advocacy organizations worked almost exclusively in the field. For those efforts they deserve our profound respect and admiration.Current legislation emphasizes proper representation of women in various bodies.To this extent, efforts are bearing fruit. The number of women in senior roles, particularly in government ministries and Parliament, is increasing. For the first time, women serve as Speaker of the Knesset,who is also currently the Acting-President, and as President of the Supreme Court.This year, we, at the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, have decided to focus on the topic chosen by the CSW: eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence towards the girl child. The investment in girls ensures the advancement of the status of women, as the girls of today are the women of tomorrow.
In this context, Israel welcomes the Secretary-General’s recent report on violence against the girl child. The fact that, even today, girls continue to be marginalized and victimized is utterly disheartening. The report details shortfalls that often exist in gender and age-related policy and legislation, as well as customs that curtail the rights of women of all ages. These are especially difficult to tackle, as discrimination exists in areas such as education, legal and social status, and economic power. Additionally, such discrimination perpetuates inequality, and limits the power of women to effect change.
The report also points to a lack of data disaggregated by age and gender. More complete information would shine light on our greatest shortcomings and may induce greater State compliance with international norms and conventions. Israel supports the Secretary-General’s call to build safe and supportive environments for girls, such as in schools; to bring boys and men into the picture in order to change social norms; and to encourage girls and women of every age to assume leadership positions. As Israel has successfully demonstrated, States can play a powerful role in creating an atmosphere promoting equality.
In Israel,for example, the Ministry of Education encourages girls to study science and technology, with the intent of narrowing wage gaps in the future. Since 2002, the Ministry of Education includes a Department for Gender Equality which instills gender equality throughout the education system, and operates programmes that empower both genders and that build relationships of mutual respect.
Israeli law determines that one can marry only above the age of 17. This fact, along with the Law of Compulsory Education (which calls for the completion of at least 10 years of school), allows women to reach the time of marriage better educated and more mature.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attributes great importance to advancing the status of the girl child and removing them from the cycle of distress. In January, he instructed that special budgets be allocated to treat the victims of sexual assault and remove women from prostitution. With regard to trafficking in women, the Ministry of Justice leads intensive efforts in cooperation with all government and non-governmental bodies. The Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women raises public awareness across the spectrum .Moreover, nearly 30 years ago, the Ministry of Welfare established a special department to remove girls and young women from the cycle of distress.
As one who represents a country which, unfortunately, has been subject to much conflict since inception, I admit that women are the primary victims in times of war. To this extent, Israel is implementing various provisions of Security Council 1325, which calls for advancing the role of women in peace building and negotiations. Israel is hopeful that an enhanced role for women will build lasting bridges of understanding with our neighbors, and allow for the reopening of dialogue.
In closing, we believe that any law-abiding state must help realize the potential of its citizens, and consequently women must be more involved in all fields of public life. Despite the accomplishments, there is still much work to be done. And we, as a governmental authority, will continue to work together, with the assistance of NGOs, at advancing the status of women.
Thank You.
__________________________
51st UN Commission on the Status of Women held at
the United Nations in New York February/March 2007
Dr. Hava Bugajer, WIZO’s NGO representative at the UN in Vienna,
represented World WIZO at the above commission. Below is her report:
This year’s theme was “The Girl Child.” Only in a small percentage of countries are their rights respected. Whilst discrimination between girl and boy remains a core challenge, it is girls facing sexual abuse, forced labour, forced marriage and HIV infection that are in the most urgent need of protection. Displaced girls, due to war and catastrophes, discriminated groups such as Sinti, Roma and lesbians and the increase in trafficking are all cause for grave concern. The challenge is to “make girls visible” because all too often a country’s culture buries their needs.
A major Panel Discussion included the participation of Israel’s Dr. Michal Koman who specializes in programs for endangered youngsters and their families. She told the delegates that ten percent of girls, between the ages of 12 and 18, are in distress. Dr. Koman’s presentation is professional and apolitical (as is the official Israeli delegation’s statement to the Commission). Conversely, the representatives from Lebanon and Syria introduce political questions accusing Israel of being responsible for the ills of the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian children. The deliberations are supposed to be apolitical but the representatives of Arab and Muslim states politicize the forum.
At a European Session, held at the German Mission, the Minister for Families in the German Government laid great emphasis on the urgent need to provide day care facilities. I took the opportunity to speak about WIZO’s day care centers that could well be a model for Europe. A further opportunity arose to promote WIZO whilst participating in a session on “Health Disparities that Discriminate against the Girl Child” run by African-American academic women who are “sisters” united since their college days. They were most interested in all that WIZO does for women and children.
Participating in many sessions I realized that there was an enormous gap between the NGO proposals to their State delegations and the actual implementation. Israel and Europe are countries that have a legal structure enabling them to implement proposals. Many Far East and African countries face severe problems such as trafficking, Aids, sexual and violent abuse of the female which limits progression.
The State Delegations’ statements project a positive picture. Authoritarian countries endeavor to turn the attention towards other states in order to divert from their own inadequacies. Such is the case of Egypt (it was the male Ambassador who spoke) praising the work of the wife of the President, Suzanne Mubarak whilst supporting the accusations of Lebanon and Syria against Israel. The Palestinian delegate used the forum to accuse Israel of “crimes” placing the blame for the problems of Palestinian women entirely on Israel.
Israel’s Dr. Zehavit Gross of Bar Ilan University spoke of the advancement of women in Israel where the Speaker of the Knesset and the President of the Supreme Court are women. Israel has endorsed UN Security Council resolution 1325 that calls on governments to include women in peace-building and negotiation initiatives. The Israeli Mission presented an excellent film named “Metamorphosis” which tells of girls who were victims of sexual violence in the family. The author/filmmaker, Nathalie Braun, was present.
The NGOs from Sudan speak with the voice of their government trying to convince everyone that all is well! When questioned there is a total denial of the appalling reality of murder and displacement in Sudan. Fringe meetings of “exiled” Iranian women reveal the horror of abuse of women – an accepted part of their culture.
Signatures are gathered for a petition demanding the release of 31 women prisoners who are in jail simply because they stood in front of the Iranian Parliament to protest the horrific situation.
Participating in this UN forum gives one the opportunity of meeting women from many Arab and Muslim countries. This included a Jordanian woman, who explained that abiding by the Koran makes a woman happy. She is part of a roof organization embracing 68 Islamic groups stretching from North Africa to Indonesia. She emphasized that Moslems resent “outsiders” intervening in their affairs. Speaking with a Moroccan representative I learnt that there are no child care facilities available in Morocco making it difficult for women to work. A Saudi Arabian Princess, who studied communications, is currently interned with the UN development program. She speaks about girls’ education in her land. The education system is 50 years old although the very first school for boys and girls was established in 1947. Saudi Arabia invests $23 billion a year in education with 60% of the students being female. When an Eastern European delegate asked why the Saudi school books present the Christians as monkeys, the Princess responded that “school books are not my subject.”
Through Jonina Sutton (WIZO’s permanent NGO representative to the UN in New York), I met with representatives of local Jewish organizations. Jonina, who sits on the Executive of the Department of Public Information (the most important body to which NGO’s are affiliated) enabled Irene Goldberg, the other WIZO representative to the CSW and I to meet with the Chair and Executive of the DPI. We are most appreciative of the warm support Jonina gave us during the entire period of the Conference.
On March 8th we celebrated International Women’s Day. We were addressed by the Secretary General of the UN, Banki Moon. HE Sumisani Shadrak Kumalo, President of the Security Council, reports on the reaffirmation of resolution 1325 on women, peace and security stressing the important role of women in peacemaking. On the final day we are presented with the 27 page resolution sheet. Late that afternoon the draft of the “Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women” was on the agenda. It was the only resolution devoted entirely to one people – the Palestinians - with Israel being the source of all the problems confronting the Palestinian women. The room was overflowing, the atmosphere hostile – all had come to witness the “bash Israel show”. Not one word about the suffering of women at the hands of Muslim fundamentalism. In this sea of hate only two countries voted against the resolution, the USA and Canada. Following the vote the head of the Israeli Delegation, Meirav Eilon-Shahar, responded. She said that focusing the major attention on Palestinian women turned a humanitarian issue into a political one. The resolution failed to address the findings of recent Human Rights Watch and UN reports that disclose severe abuse of women’s rights and a patriarchal bias in Palestinian society. There is no mention of the suffering of Israeli women and children as the result of the constant rocket attacks on civilian targets from the Palestinian Authority controlled areas. This results in a one sided biased resolution. If the Palestinian Authority will fail to fulfill its obligations women on both sides will continue to suffer.
Whilst the head of Israel’s delegation was speaking, delegates began to move out of the assembly room. Nobody seemed really interested in the fate of the girl-child – they just wanted to be present at the collective execution of Israel. It was late, the 51st CSW had ended and I was happy to leave this “virtual” UN world.
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