I Inter-Parliamentary Union March 2010 • No. 37 P THE WORLD U

Quarterly Review OF PARLIAMENTS

IInn thisthis issueissue Three women

“Parliament has a crucial role in balancing at the helm in Switzerland confl icts, including political ones” Interview with Mr. Chai Chidchob, Speaker In Switzerland, 2010 will go down unquestionably as the year of of the National Assembly of Thailand ...... 2 women as three of them hold the highest offi ces in the country. From left to right: Ms. Erika Forster-Vannini, President of the State Council, Women’s rights: 15 years after Beijing IMs. Doris Leutard, President of Switzerland, and Ms. Pascale Bruderer, by Ms. Rachel Mayanja, United Nations Speaker of the National Council. Interview with Ms. Bruderer on Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on page 19. Gender Issues and Advancement of Women ...... 4

Breaking the glass ceiling and deploying diversity in economic life The Norwegian experience by Mr. Audun Lysbakken, Minister for Children, Equality and Social Inclusion ...... 6

Giving impetus to women’s political rights in Kuwait by Dr. Masouma Al Mubarak, Member of Parliament, Kuwait ...... 7

Parliaments as champions of women and girls by Ms. Ann M. Veneman

Executive Director, UNICEF...... 8 Photo IPU

Violence against women: A challenge to the achievement Women’s issues: 15 years of women’s rights and development by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha after the Beijing Conference of Thailand ...... 9 Fifteen years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Plat- Universal coverage policy development in form for Action, The World of Parliaments has asked a few high-profi le Thailand and the role of parliamentarians personalities to give their views on progress in achieving gender equal- ity and women’s empowerment. Although there have been noticeable in achieving Millennium Development F gains for women and girls in general, persistent challenges remain, Goals 4 and 5 such as how to put an end to violence against women. This edition by Dr. Tassana Boontong, also focuses on a fi eld visit carried out by IPU President Dr. Theo-Ben Vice President of the Senate of Thailand. . . . 10 Gurirab to a centre in Addis Ababa, where he met with Ethiopian reli- gious and traditional leaders to learn more about their commitment to Violence against women: put an end to female genital mutilation. Several pages are dedicated The case of migrant women to the IPU analysis on women in parliament and the newly published by Ms. Sylvia Lopez-Ekra IPU-UN Map on Women in Politics: 2010. The spotlight will also be Gender Offi cer, International placed on the 122nd IPU Assembly, to be held in Bangkok in March/ Organization for Migration...... 12 April 2010, with the expectations of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Thailand, the Host Parliament.

The World of Parliaments 1 March 2010 • No. 37 THE INTERVIEW

“Parliament has a crucial role in balancing confl icts, including political ones”

Q: What signifi cance does hosting this IPU Assembly hold for the Parliament of Thailand? Mr. Chai Chidchob: The IPU Assem- bly, which will be held in Bangkok, is expected to bring together over 1,200 participants, so we are train- ing a number of offi cers to facilitate their stay. The National Assembly of Thailand will also provide an op- Mr. Chai Chidchob, Speaker of the National Assembly of Thailand

portunity for university students to Photo National Assembly of Thailand participate in this meeting as liaison offi cers working with teams and del- egations. The main topic of discussion Q: The debates in Bangkok will of overseeing executive action in order is “Parliament at the heart of political centre around the theme of to ensure accountability and do all in its reconciliation and good governance”. parliaments, political reconciliation power to minimize corruption. It should The Assembly will also address topics and good governance. How do you also give a voice to minorities and eradi- related to “Cooperation and shared re- see parliament’s role in relation to cate all threats to society. sponsibility in the global fi ght against reconciliation in Thailand and in Q: What are your hopes for the organized crime, in particular drug traf- other countries in the region? fi cking, illegal arms sales, human traf- Bangkok Assembly in terms of fi cking and cross-border terrorism”, “The C.C.: Since countries are composed of mil- combating organized crime, role of parliaments in developing South- lions of people, there is no denying the fact drug traffi cking, illegal arms sales, South and Triangular Cooperation with a that confl icts can occur in society, which human traffi cking and cross-border view to accelerating achievement of the are caused by divergent interests, politi- terrorism? Millennium Development Goals”, and cal groups, etc. Participation of the people C.C.: Throughout the years, IPU Mem- “Youth participation in the democratic is a prime element of any representative ber Parliaments have recognized that process”. The panel discussions will cov- democracy, which establishes a govern- transnational crime has become a se- er issues such as the rights of the child, ment of the people, by the people, for the the problem of water, child survival and people. In this context, the parliament is a rious issue, in particular, drug traffi ck- maternal health, the possession and use key institution, which represents millions of ing, illegal arms sales, human traffi ck- of nuclear weapons and climate change. people assembled inter alia to solve such ing, cross-border terrorism and money His Royal Highness, Crown Prince confl icts. As a forum of representatives laundering. These problems, which are Maha Vajiralongkorn, will represent of the people, it has a crucial role to play all interlinked, pose a serious threat to His Majesty the King in presiding over in balancing confl icts, including political international peace and stability as a the Opening Ceremony. At the Meeting ones. Good governance entails holding whole, and require the concerted ac- of Women Parliamentarians, there will the executive branch to account, and tion of the international community. be a seminar on “Combating violence also encompasses gender sensitivity, I hope that the parliamentarians par- against women, with a particular focus consensus, accountability, transparency, ticipating in the 122nd IPU Assembly in on women held in places of detention effectiveness, effi ciency and equitabil- Thailand will address these issues, as- and imprisonment”. The guest speaker ity, in conformity with the rule of law. sess the current situation and inform will be Her Royal Highness Princess However, in the parliamentary system, us about the progress in their coun- Bajrakitiyabha. It is the third time that there is no clear separation between try and parliamentary approaches for Thailand has the honour of hosting an legislative and executive powers. The IPU Assembly. parliament should perform its functions Cont’d. on page 3

The World of Parliaments 2 March 2010 • No. 37 EDITORIAL

Gender equality pays off The year 2010 will be a crucial one violence infl icted by their spouse, in school and in the family, to pro- for gender equality. The 15th anni- father, brother or cousin in so many mote respect for men and women and versary of the Beijing Declaration cases throughout the world. equal opportunities in terms of edu- and Platform for Action is more than It is also high time for women cation and employment. A change of just a date to commemorate. It al- to be allowed to express themselves mentality brought about by eliminat- lows us to take stock of the progress freely in all parts of the world, such ing stereotypes about femininity, pa- achieved so that both halves of hu- as Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, who ternity, parenthood or the economic manity - women and men - can have was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize role of men is needed urgently for the the same chances to live in dig- in 1991, or former Afghan MP Malalai well-being of us all - men and women. nity and achieve fulfi lment in their Joya, and high time that their opinion How can we achieve this? By personal and family life, and for our is listened to and respected as much passing appropriate laws and clearly societies - both in the North and in as that of their men counterparts. displaying and implementing po- the South - to achieve more harmo- Gender equality should no longer be litical will. One country, Rwanda, nious development. considered only as a feminist slo- boasts over 56 per cent women in Although there have been some gan, but a fundamental right to de- parliament, and another, Norway, notable achievements, as the UN mocracy. According to the Universal has recorded 55.6 per cent women Secretary-General’s Special Adviser Declaration on Democracy adopted in government (just behind Finland on Gender Issues, Ms. Rachel May- by the IPU in 1997, “The achievement with 57.9%), a birth rate of almost anja, points out, a lot still remains of democracy presupposes a genuine two children on average and 43 per to be done in order for women to partnership between men and women cent women in the board rooms of fi nally have their rights respected, in the conduct of the affairs of so- large companies. In the words of the especially in the workplace, because ciety in which they work in equality Norwegian Minister for Social Inte- in a number of countries, equal work and complementarity, drawing mutu- gration, Mr. Audun Lysbakken, in the does not always mean equal pay for al enrichment from their differences”. fi nal analysis, equality pays off. men and women. And for women to Systematic efforts must be made not have to deal with the threat of from the earliest years in children, LB

Mr. Chai Chidchob, Cont’d. from page 2 to young people. Through the Demo- Child during the Assembly. cratic Youth Programme, we have pro- How would you assess children’s the future. The meeting could identify vided young people with an opportunity rights in Thailand? concrete parliamentary initiatives for to be part of politics, express their opin- C.C.: The Convention on the Rights of encouraging governments to ratify rel- ions on politics and on the Government the Child states that the fundamental evant international conventions against of Thailand and enable them to further rights of the child comprise: 1) survival, their knowledge and experience by es- transnational crime. Parliamentarians including basic health care, peace, secu- tablishing democratic youth networks to should review or amend their national rity and development; 2) a good educa- spread democratic knowledge and per- laws on drug traffi cking, illegal arms tion, which includes a loving home and form public interest activities for com- sales, human traffi cking, cross-border adequate nutrition; protection from munities, and the country as a whole. terrorism and money laundering. They abuse, neglect, traffi cking, child labour We passed the Bill to Promote National should also support international co- and other forms of exploitation; 3) par- Development of Children and Youth B.E. operation on international legal instru- ticipation, which includes the right to 2550, which came into force in 2008, by ments to prevent criminals from taking express opinions, be listened to and take establishing three levels of Children and advantage of legislative loopholes. part in making any decisions that af- Youth Councils in districts, provinces, fect them. Problems affecting children’s Q: How can legislators stimulate the and nationwide. Our purpose is to en- rights in Thailand consist of malnutrition, participation of young people in the able children and youth to participate in education disadvantage, human traffi ck- democratic process? the democratic process by sharing their ing, abusive labour, sexual exploitation, ideas about the development of chil- C.C.: We support all activities that HIV/AIDS, violence, drug addiction or dren and youth with members of parlia- enhance and promote knowledge and drug-related problems, limited rights for ment as input for benefi cial policies and understanding about the politics, gov- minority groups, isolation, etc. The Thai plans. ernment, and democratic regime of the Government, together with all sectors parliamentary system with the King as Q: We will hear a great deal about concerned, has taken concrete steps to Head of State (constitutional monarchy) the Convention on the Rights of the help solve these problems. LB ◗

The World of Parliaments 3 March 2010 • No. 37 WOMEN’S ISSUES

Women’s rights: 15 years after Beijing

The year 2010 will be crucial for the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The com- Tmemoration of the 15-year anniver- sary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is an opportune time to assess progress made, identify good practices and les- sons learned in implementation, and by Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary General, consider new and remaining gaps and United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on challenges. Critically, it is the right Gender Issues and Advancement of Women time to close the gap between rhetoric Photo United Nations and action, between commitments and implementation. The Beijing Platform for Action con- education. In 2007, there were 96 girls National mechanisms for gender stitutes the global policy framework for for each 100 boys enrolled in fi rst equality, including ministries and of- gender equality, women’s human rights grade, compared with 92 girls in 1999. fi ces in the Executive Branch, as well and the empowerment of women and In some countries, women now out- as parliamentary committees and in- girls. Since 1995, the Commission on number men at the tertiary level. The dependent, advisory and monitoring the Status of Women has further re- Convention on the Elimination of All bodies, play a key role in the promotion fi ned and expanded this blueprint for Forms of Discrimination against Wom- of gender equality. The gender main- action through its agreed conclusions en has reached almost universal ratifi - streaming strategy is increasingly ap- on a range of priority themes1. Many cation, with 186 States being party to plied across all sectors, supported by a stakeholders – governments, parlia- the treaty. wider range of tools, capacity-building ments, civil society, entities within the Policies to address HIV/AIDS in- UN system, the private sector – have programmes and training. Monitor- creasingly place specifi c emphasis on ing and evaluation of efforts has worked to turn this blueprint into real prevention, treatment and care for improved. and practical gains for women and girls women. A growing number of States in all parts of the world. have in place comprehensive legal, Persistent challenges policy, and institutional frameworks to Progress and gains end violence against women and girls, Despite these advances, the Beijing There have been noticeable gains for and support services are increasingly Platform for Action has yet to be fully women and girls. Globally, women ac- available to victims/survivors. Women implemented. Progress in improving counted for 39 per cent of all people held 18.8 per cent of seats in single/ women’s lives, eliminating discrimina- engaged in paid employment outside of lower chambers of parliament in No- tion and achieving equality has been agriculture in 2007, an increase from vember 2009, compared to 11.3 per uneven across countries and regions. 35 per cent in 1990. Women’s labour cent in 1995. Twenty-fi ve countries Meeting the targets of the Millennium force participation has reached an es- have reached the 30 per cent threshold Development Goals (MDGs) is similarly timated 52.6 per cent in 2008. Access of women parliamentarians, a signifi - challenged, and there has been almost to education has increased for girls cant increase from only fi ve countries at all levels, particularly in primary in 1995. Cont’d. on page 5

The World of Parliaments 4 March 2010 • No. 37 WOMEN’S ISSUES

Ms. Rachel Mayanja, continue to be responsible for most of women. The General Assembly will Cont’d. from page 4 domestic and caregiving work. This un- hold a high-level meeting in September no progress with regard to MDG 5, to equal sharing of responsibilities nega- 2010 on accelerating progress towards improve maternal health. Every year, tively impacts on their educational and the achievement of all the Millennium 536,000 women and girls die as a re- employment opportunities, and limits Development Goals by 2015. The tenth sult of pregnancy or childbirth. Women their involvement in public life. anniversary of Security Council resolution are more likely than men to be living in 1325, on women, peace and security, will poverty. The way forward also be commemorated. Illiteracy remains a serious con- Gender equality is a goal in itself, but These occasions offer opportuni- straint for women, who continue to ac- also a means of achieving all the inter- ties to demonstrate strong and visible count for nearly two thirds of the 776 nationally agreed development goals, leadership and commitment to gender million illiterate adults in the world. including the MDGs. It is now acknowl- equality, to galvanize the efforts of all Gender wage-gaps persist in all parts edged that the success of policies and stakeholders, forge strategic partner- of the world. The global economic and programme interventions aimed at ships and improve participatory proc- fi nancial crisis has created new hur- eradicating hunger and malnutrition; esses to achieve measurable outcomes dles to women’s employment, and es- achieving universal primary education, for women. These opportunities must timates suggest that unemployment reducing child mortality, combating be seized at the national, regional rates are higher for women then men. HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB, and protect- and global levels to give new impetus More women than men remain trapped ing environmental sustainability will be to the promotion of gender equal- in insecure and often unpaid work. The enhanced when gender equality per- ity and women’s enjoyment of human deliberate targeting of civilians and the spectives are taken into account. rights. ◗ use of sexual violence against women In March 20102 , the United Nations continues on a large scale in ongoing Commission on the Status of Women confl icts. will refl ect on gains and challenges, Discrimination in law has not been what works and what more needs 1 See http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ eliminated, and discriminatory applica- to be done. It will also contribute to daw/csw/index.html tion and enforcement of laws prevents shaping a gender perspective towards 2 See http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ women from equal access to rights, the full realization of the Millennium daw/beijing15/index.html. resources and opportunities. Negative Development Goals. In July 2010, the See also the Report of the Secretary- gender stereotypes based on societal Annual Ministerial Review of the Eco- General, E/2010/4-E/CN.6/2010/2, at: beliefs and attitudes constrain their nomic and Social Council will focus on http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/ opportunities and choices. Women gender equality and the empowerment beijing15/documentation.html.

Parliaments give visibility to violence against women

Parliaments around the world have bia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thai- zations and signed on to UNIFEM’s responded to the IPU’s call to mark land, The Former Yugoslav Republic SAY NO - UNiTE to End Violence the 10th anniversary of the procla- of Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, against Women as a show of support. mation of the International Day for Uganda, Uruguay and Yemen, and by Through these actions, parliaments the Elimination of Violence against the following parliamentary asso- gave national visibility to violence Women on 25 November. More than ciations: the East African Legislative against women and have helped to 30 parliaments and inter-parliamen- Assembly, the Parliamentary Assem- place the issue high on the political tary organizations reported to the bly of the Council of Europe and the agenda. BF IPU on events they had conducted on Parliamentary Confederation of the An inventory of these events is or around the Day. Americas. posted on the IPU’s website at: http:// Special initiatives were under- Activities took many forms and www.ipu.org/wmn-e/vaw/day.htm. taken by parliaments of the following yielded some tangible results. New They are also listed as parliamentary countries: Afghanistan, Albania, An- resolutions were passed and special contributions within the framework of dorra, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Chile, debates, speeches and exhibition the United Nations Secretary-Gener- Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, were held in parliament. Legislators al’s Campaign to End Violence against Georgia, Greece, Lebanon, Maldives, participated in workshops, discussed Women on the website Say NO - UNiTE: Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Ser- with women and civil rights organi- http://www.saynotoviolence.org.

The World of Parliaments 5 March 2010 • No. 37 WOMEN’S ISSUES

Breaking the glass ceiling and deploying diversity in economic life: The Norwegian experience Photo Norwegian Ministry for Children, Equality and Social inclusion by Mr. Audun Lysbakken Minister for Children, Equality and Social Inclusion

Nations of the world will only prosper Norway has worked on such economic life and other sectors would and develop if they use the talents and schemes and structures since the 1950s be useless without a gender equal so- competence of all their citizens. There and has thus paved the way for making ciety achieved through such reforms/ Nis clear scientifi c evidence to support able women and girls visible in the la- structures. the fact that the participation of wom- bour market and eligible for high posi- Affi rmative action measures (quo- en and girls in education, the workplace tions in board rooms as well as compete tas) are not legal in Norway regarding and the economy, along with boys and for top management jobs in the private regular employment, but can be used to men, makes a signifi cant difference and public sectors. secure gender balance in elective posi- to GNP, effectiveness, innovation and Five of the most important struc- tions, such as board room positions. competitive edge. Countries that do not tural and universal reforms in mod- Such actions can help steer a socie- facilitate the education and employ- ern Norway, initiated by the Cabinet ty towards achieving some goals: to re- ment of girls and women seem to score and voted in Parliament, have been cruit the most able persons to carry out much lower on the United Nations and the following: The National Insurance strategic tasks and reallocate economic World Economic Forum scales, not to Act (1966), the Parental Leave Provi- power to include diverse competences mention the Goldman Sachs ratings, sions, or the Fathers Quota (1993), in decision-making. The search has to than more gender-balanced societies. the full coverage of Early Child Care be carried out among both halves of The right to gainful employment and a Institutions all over the country (took the population in order to fi nd the most wage to sustain one’s life is a basic hu- 25 years to complete), the fl exibility able persons. man right, along with the right to polit- in work life when having young chil- All societies need political will to ical participation regardless of gender. dren (Work Environment Act), and, set goals and develop tools to achieve The freedom for men and women alike, of course, the Gender Equality Act them. Norway has set some standards to have careers and families, and not to (1979). All these reforms were negoti- it can be proud of. But that could not be forced to choose either or, is funda- ated through cooperation between the have been done without long-term sys- mental to modern society. Cabinet and employers’ and employ- tematic work to promote equality and a To reach this level of development, ees’ associations b