22nd session of the
Human Rights Council
International Women’s Day
8 March 2013
Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr. President,
CIVICUS wishes to thank you for commemorating this day and for letting us re-live the celebration of “The Power of Empowered Women.” For one who has participated at the Vienna Conference it still rings in the ear: Women Rights are Human Rights. The World Conference coined this milestone recognition and initiated a visibility process for the rights of women that run through the Beijing Conference into the many mechanism we have today, foremost CEDAW, including UN Women, the item on this Council’s agenda and today’s worldwide celebration. It seems we have come a long way.
Hélas, we are also aware that only a few weeks ago the courageous campaign of “A Billion Rise” had to mobilise the world against violence against women, still so rampant in our world today and we are far from Vienna’s call that the equal enjoyment by women of all human rights be a priority for governments and the United Nations.
Universality and indivisibility of all human rights: the freedom from want and fear the most important legacy of the Vienna conference, is still far from realisation for many women around the world. The famous glass ceiling in so many sectors also hinders women from fulfilling their potential and contributing to their own countries’ economic, social and cultural development.
To mark International Women's Day 2013, CIVICUS has looked at the role of women in civil society. The history of civic engagement would not be the same without women's participation. Women campaigners, community leaders, activists and bloggers have led the way in fighting for equality and justice across the world. However, our analysis shows that civil society as a sector has a long way to go to achieve gender equality at the top. In fact, given how prevalent women are in the not-for-profit sector, the glass ceiling at the top of civil society organisations looks more like a glass pyramid.
CIVICUS has committed to start a long term discussion about the role of women in this sector. As a global alliance of civil society, we want to know how our sector can 'walk the talk' on gender equality.
Thank you for your attention
