Edition 12 April - June 2018 - Unesco
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Edition 12 April – June 2018
Division for Gender Equality April – June 2018 Paris, France © UNESCO 2018 GEN/2018/GW/12 Gender Wire is an electronic newsletter informing UNESCO Secretariat and UNESCO Member States of relevant facts and figures, events and news concerning the work of UNESCO on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Published online in June 2018 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France
Table of Contents
Highlights
UNESCO’s
Gender
Did you know? Equality
Champion
Gender Wire’s Let’s
Selection mainstream
In the News
Highlights
UNESCO Director-General meets Collaboration in Addressing Disaster: Visions and
with the Prime Minister of Norway Realities of Gender and Vulnerability Disasters” with
speakers from partner institutions all around the
Paris, France – 27 March
world including Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia),
MERCY Malaysia (Malaysia), National Kaohsiung
On 27 March, UNESCO Director-General, Ms Audrey Marine University (Taiwan), National Women’s
Azoulay, met with the Prime Minister of Norway, Education Center (Japan), Network for International
H.E. Ms. Erna Solberg, at UNESCO Headquarters. Development Cooperation (Thammasat University,
The Prime Minister stressed that education is a Thailand) and University Tunku Adbul Rahman
fundamental priority for Norway, not only at a (Malaysia).
national level, but also as part of its foreign policy.
She reiterated her country’s keen interest in
strengthening its cooperation with UNESCO to
8th World Women University
promote girls’ education, notably in post-conflict Presidents’ Forum
areas. The Director-General and the Prime Minister Wuhan City, China – 8 April
concurred on the importance of education in
preparing young generations to work together in The 8th World Women University Presidents’ Forum
creating a peaceful society. took place in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China
from 8 to 10 April, gathering more than 70
university presidents and experts to hold in-
depth exchanges on the topic “Future Education,
New Leadership, Community with Shared Future
for Humankind”. This Forum aimed to create
an international platform for women university
presidents and experts all over the world to
communicate, collaborate and share new ideas and
thoughts in the field of higher education.
Prime Minister of Norway and UNESCO Director-General Ms Saniye Gülser Corat, UNESCO’s Director for
Gender Equality, delivered a speech at the Opening
Launch of UNESCO Chair for Gender Ceremony. Ms Chen Zhili, Former State Counselor
and Vulnerability in Disaster Risk of the People’s Republic of China, and Ms Wi Qidi,
Reduction at Kobe University former Minister of Education of the People’s Republic
Kobe, Japan – 6 April of China, also participated in the Ceremony.
The first UNESCO Chair for Gender and Vulnerability
in Disaster Risk Reduction at Kobe University (Japan)
was launched on 6 April. This new Chair will help raise
awareness on the importance of building Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) policies and programs that are
both gender sensitive and inclusive.
The opening ceremony, where DIR/GE represented
UNESCO, was followed by a panel discussion
on the theme “The Importance of International Ms Corat delivering a speech at the Opening Ceremony
4
UNESCO Director-General meets
with the Prime Minister of Canada Ms Saniye Gülser Corat, UNESCO’s Director for
Gender Equality, participated in the “Planet 50-50 by
Paris, France – 16 April 2030: Reality or Utopia” session, and commended the
Ms Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, effort and commitment demonstrated by the Council
received the visit of H.E. Mr Justin Trudeau, Prime of Europe towards gender equality.
Minister of Canada, accompanied by Ms Mélanie Noting that UNESCO recognized Gender Equality as
Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage on 16 April. They a Global Priority in 2008, she introduced UNESCO’s
discussed boosting cooperation between Canada and Gender Equality Action Plan 2014-2021 as well as
UNESCO, particularly on issues concerning cultural UNESCO’s success in achieving gender parity in
diversity, the prevention of violent extremism through decision-making levels.
education and Holocaust education. Mr Trudeau’s
first visit to UNESCO - the last visit of a Canadian
Prime Minister was in 1994 with Mr. Jean Chrétien
- illustrates the strong commitment of Canada to the
Organization.
Marja Ruotanen, Asger Ryhl, Irena Moozová and Saniye Gülser Corat
Women’s Forum Canada
Toronto, Canada – 10-11 May
Prime Minister of Canada and UNESCO Director-General
The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society
took place in Toronto, Canada, from 10 to 11 May.
Meeting with LUISS University Students The Forum organizes an annual Global meeting in
Paris, France – 19 April France and several regional meetings. It is the world’s
Ms Saniye Gülser Corat, UNESCO’s Director for leading platform featuring women’s voices, views and
Gender Equality, met with students from LUISS values on major social and economic issues. This
University participating in the ASOI (Alla Scoperta year’s main theme was “Bridging the gap: A call to the
delle Organizzazioni Internazionali) project which G7 for inclusive progress”.
aims at fostering mutual interaction between
students and international organizations. As part of In the round table on women in governance,
its annual study trip to international organizations, Ms Saniye Gülser Corat, UNESCO’s Director for
LUISS university students visited UNESCO and met Gender Equality, highlighted UNESCO’s actions and
achievements in achieving gender parity. UNESCO
with the Division for Gender Equality to learn more
accomplishments were very well received by an
about UNESCO’s work on Priority Gender Equality.
audience of around 100 participants who asked several
follow-up questions during the Q&A.
Council of Europe’s Conference
“Gender equality – paving the way”
Copenhagen, Denmark – 3-4 May
At the international conference, “Gender equality
– paving the way”, held in Copenhagen from 3 to
4 May, the Council of Europe launched its new
Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023. Organised in
the framework of the Danish Chairmanship of the
Committee of Ministers, this conference addressed
current and emerging challenges that prevent the Panelists of the round table on women in governance
achievement of substantive and full gender equality.
5
Vienna+25 Conference and Mr Santiago José Pérez, Coordinator of Gender
Vienna, Austria – 22-23 May and Interculturality of the UNESCO Chair on Culture
and Education for Peace. Ms Corat also attended a
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the special session of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, a Quito upon invitation from Mr Arnaud Peral, UN
high-level expert conference was organized in Vienna Resident Coordinator in Ecuador, where she gave a
from 22 to 23 May to encourage states and other brief presentation on UNESCO’s work in the area of
stakeholders to pursue further legal, institutional gender equality and women’s empowerment.
and practical improvements of human rights
protection both domestically and internationally.
This conference brought together human rights
stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including
Ms Saniye Gülser Corat, UNESCO’s Director for
Gender Equality, who participated in the “Working
Group on Promotion of Equality in our Societies”.
While noting how progress in gender equality is
stalling if not deteriorating in many parts of the world,
Ms Corat discussed with experts how to address and Participants of the training in Quito
prevent the further aggravation of inequalities along
the trajectories of not only gender but ethnicity, age, Priority Gender Equality
disability, sexual orientation, religious, political, social
or other status. She highlighted UNESCO’s unique and
Training in Zimbabwe
holistic contribution in overcoming such setbacks and Harare, Zimbabwe – 25-29 May
presented examples of substantial progress especially
focusing on gender equality and education. From 29 to 30 May, Ms Saniye Gülser Corat,
UNESCO’s Director for Gender Equality, delivered
Priority Gender Equality UNESCO’s mandatory training on Priority Gender
Training in Ecuador Equality at UNESCO Regional Office for Southern
Quito, Ecuador – 24-25 April Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe. This training aimed at
providing staff with knowledge and skills to foster
“I will share this knowledge with relatives and friends gender equality in their daily work. Programme staff
working in other fields.” members in Harare also benefitted from Gender
Clinic sessions, one-on-one consultative sessions on
From 24 to 25 April, Ms Saniye Gülser Corat,
specific gender equality questions.
UNESCO’s Director for Gender Equality, was in
Quito (Ecuador) to deliver UNESCO’s mandatory
At the end of the training, Professor Hubert Gijzen,
training on Priority Gender Equality with assistance
UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa,
from Mr Damiano Giampaoli from her team. Led by
noted that he and his staff members have learned a
Ms Saadia Sánchez Vegas, Head of Quito Field Office
lot and it is now their responsibility to translate these
and Representative for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador
lessons into actions.
and Venezuela, 17 colleagues from UNESCO’s Office
in Quito attended the training.
“Let us commit to build on the actions we started in this
During her mission, Ms Corat also held bilateral training and ensure that we champion gender equality
meetings with selected national officials including: Dr in all our work.”
Mauricio Rodas Espinel, Mayor of the City of Quito,
and Ms María Fernanda Pacheco, President of the San
José Municipal Trust; Ms Nívea Vélez Palacio, Vice-
prefect of the Province of Loja; Ms Martha Vanegas,
Director for Gender of the “Social Action Centre
Matilde Hidalgo”; Mr Martín Tamayo, Director of
Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms
Rosa Vásques Orozco, Under-secretary of Multilateral
Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr Roberto
Beltrán, Titular Professor of the UNESCO Chair
on Culture and Education for Peace (UTPL); Ms
Gabriela Moreira, Academic Coordinator of the Participants of the training in Harare
UNESCO Chair on Culture and Education for Peace
6
UNESCO’s
Gender Equality Champion
Inter-Regional Seminar on Masculinities
and Gender Norms Transformation
academia and local grassroot organizations, it was an
extraordinary opportunity for diverse stakeholders
to interact and deepen the male identities discourse,
explore various theoretical frameworks underpinning
positive masculinities, and begin to suggest further
steps for engaging men in the work on transformating
gender norms. Taking advantage of the representation
of different organizations, participants also explored
ways of leveraging partnerships and collaboration
Young students in Zimbabwe for collective advocacy and joint programming on
In recognition of its innovative work in the field of masculinity, GBV and gender norms transformation
men and masculinities, the Division for Gender
In her keynote speech, Ms Saniye Gülser Corat,
Equality acknowledges the “Inter-regional Seminar
UNESCO Director for Gender Equality, congratulated
on Masculinities and Gender Norms Transformation”,
the organisers for convening a successful event and
organized by Mr Charaf Ahmimed, Programme
expressed the support of the Division for Gender
Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office for Southern
Equality in further promoting the work of gender
Africa, as this edition’s Gender Equality Champion.
equality and male identities.
UNESCO Project on Masculinities The seminar was comprised of a panel presenting the
In partnership with the Southern Africa HIV and experiences of young Zimbabweans who have been
AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), participating in various male engagement initiatives
UNESCO is implementing a project on gender and a second panel focusing on international
and regional best practices in male engagement.
equality and male identities in Zimbabwe entitled
Specifically, Isaac Weston, Tichaona Madziwa and
“Challenging constructions of masculinity that
Tanyaradzwa Mashumba, three students from the
exacerbate marginalisation of women and youth”. This Seke District, described their unique journeys in
project aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society becoming gender activists through the SAfAIDS
organizations to implement evidence-based male Youth Changing the River Flow programme.
involvement and youth participation programmes This and other impactful stories of grassroot initiatives
to address marginalisation of women and youth, and on positive masculinities were a powerful tool in
bring about more gender equitable communities. mobilizing future support for gender transformative
Inter-regional Seminar on Masculinities and initiatives and channeling the discourse of gender
equality to include the discussion on male roles and
Gender Norms Transformation
identities.
In this context, the “Inter-regional Seminar on
For more details please contact:
Masculinities and Gender Norms Transformation” was Mr Charaf Ahmimed, Programme Specialist for
convened under the leadership of UNESCO on 31 May Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Harare Office
at the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in c.ahmimed@unesco.org
Harare. Attended by 50 experts and beneficiaries from
government, civil society organizations, UN agencies,
7
Let’s mainstream
Cambodia’s factory literacy programme:
Learning while earning
production materials here at this factory, so they expect
me to note down the inventory. Before, I was unable
to read and write, but after finishing this course I am
able to accurately count and record the numbers when
[staff] request materials. Now I feel more confident in
dealing with the materials and distributing them.”
In addition to the improvements in learners’ working
abilities, many also expressed the joy they felt when
they were able to use their newly learned skills outside
of the factory. The learners also recognized that their
general knowledge had improved along with their
behavior, which they credited to the various topics
Factory Literacy Programme
incorporated into their textbooks.
Burdened by family, social and economic obligations,
many women working in factories in Cambodia have Managers praised the numerous benefits for their
had to either forgo basic education opportunities or operations, including better motivation among
never had a chance to enroll in the first place. The the learners, improvements in discipline, fewer
2013 report by Cambodia’s Ministry of Planning production errors, a positive impact on productivity
on Women and Migration showed that 85% of the and better employer-worker relationships.
605,000 workers in garment and footwear factories By December 2017, a total of 438 students (416 females
were women, of whom 14% were illiterate and 29% and 22 males) from 11 factories had completed the
demonstrated low levels of literacy. programme and been awarded certificates of literacy
Targeting these workers, Cambodia’s Ministry of completion. Recognizing the results, the MoEYS is
Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS), with support further encouraging other factories to implement the
from UNESCO, developed a special literacy initiative classes and is offering to allocate contract teachers.
for factories, commonly referred to as the Factory The stories of the people involved compose a vivid
Literacy Programme. Funded by the UNESCO Malala picture of how powerful literacy can be in terms of
Fund for Girls’ Right to Education, the programme empowering individuals and institutions. Together
aims to enable young women and girls working in with the MoEYS and other partners, UNESCO Phnom
factories to acquire basic functional literacy skills Penh Office wishes to appeal to more employers and
and empower them to better understand their own factories to join efforts in eliminating illiteracy in
fundamental rights. Cambodia.
UNESCO recently visited the learners, teachers For more details on the Factory Literacy Programme,
and managers to hear about their experiences. In please contact: Mr. Lay Vutha, National Education
Cambodia’s manufacturing sector, which is often Officer, Education Unit, UNESCO Phnom Penh
associated with low pay and difficult working Office. Tel: +855 023 725 071 / v.lay@unesco.org
conditions, literacy is opening new worlds of
opportunities and empowerment. Ms Chin Sreyleap,
a 25-year-old garment factory worker, is a graduate
of the literacy course and is elated with the progress
she made: “I am the warehouse keeper for all the
8
In the News
Achieving Gender Equality in Education:
Don’t Forget the Boys
© Caleigh Bachop
This April, UNESCO published GEM Report Policy rather than completing school, which exacerbates
Paper n°35 on achieving gender equality in and gender disparities in education. UNESCO’s Policy
through education systems, emphasizing not only the Paper n°35 recommends that governments, schools,
effects of gender norms on girls, but also on boys’ and civil society organizations work toward changing
schooling. gender norms in order to improve boys’ participation,
The policy paper explains how addressing boys’ attainment, and learning outcomes, and highlights
disadvantage and disengagement in education is the fact that gender expectations pull poor boys out of
crucial to end gender inequality. The International Men school and into unskilled jobs.
and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), conducted The focus has to be on quality education and
in 2009 and 2010, showed that less educated men inclusiveness in order to improve learning for boys
were more likely to express discriminatory gender and girls and consequently, achieve gender equality in
views. The results also showed that men who had education. Achieving gender equality in and through
not completed secondary education were more likely education contributes to the realization of the
to perpetrate physical and sexual violence against aspirations set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
women partners. Development.
The policy paper also explains how a key driver of For more information, please check out the World
boys’ disadvantage in education is poverty. Young Education blog.
men in poverty are more likely to seek employment
9
Gender Wire Book’s Selection
Gender Wire’s Selection
Book Selections
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur’s second major publication, The Sun and Her Flowers, debuted at
No. 1 on the New York Times paperback fiction best-seller list in October, and
has remained near the top ever since. Kaur, a self-proclaimed feminist, writes
movingly about immigration, domestic violence, sexual assault and other
substantial and personal subjects. She has since stated that her unique style has
derived from her struggle to learn English while growing up as an immigrant in
Canada among a Punjabi-Sikh family.
Kaur’s particular style of writing breathes life into the world of modern poetry.
She engages the Twitter generation by posting photos of her poems online,
earning her the title of the Instagram poet. Her vulnerable and deeply moving
poems, often paired with a hand drawn sketch, have earned her over 1.8 million
followers. As book reviewer for the New York Times Carl Wilson noted “Kaur
established herself not in poetry journals but on platforms like Twitter, Tumblr
and Instagram”. Her online reputation has manifested in the real world as her
first work, Milk and Honey, has sold over 2.5 million copies.
Kaur recently made headlines when she posted a photo of a fully clothed woman
lying in bed with a period stain on Instagram. The social media platform removed
her post twice, prompting Kaur to respond: “I will not apologise for not feeding
the ego and pride of misogynist society that will have my body in an underwear
but not be ok with a small leak when your pages are filled with countless photos/
accounts where women (so many who are underage) are objectified, pornified,
and treated less than human.” Her work has made young girls everywhere more
comfortable with publicly discussing menstruation and womanhood.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Americanah, a 2013 novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, follows the
experiences of a young Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who immigrates to the United
States to attend university. In her quest to attain the American Dream, Ifemelu
faces the challenges of the immigration process head-on as she tries to reconcile
the differences between her past and present worlds. The novel follows the
development of Ifemelu’s life, threaded with the experience of her former boy-
friend, Obinze, who immigrates to London.
Americanah has been praised for its intimate examination of the manifestation of
blackness and womanhood across cultures, while still appealing to the universal
human experience. Adichie won the 2013 National Book Critics Circle Fiction
award for her work. The New York Times also named Americanah as one of the
best books of the year in 2013.
10Gender Wire Book’s Selection
Did you know?
The HERstory of the Women’s World Cup
American defender Brandi Chastain celebrates her game-winning penalty kick over China in the 1999 final. This photo has since become one of the
most famous images associated with the Women’s World Cup.
All eyes are on Russia, where the men’s teams will watched Spanish-language broadcast in tournament
begin their battle for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. While history. More than 750 million viewers were reported
the first men’s tournament took place in 1930, did you to have watched the tournament worldwide.
know that women did not earn the right to compete While the women’s teams have defied all expectations
until 1991? While there were a number of women’s regarding their performance and popularity, they
clubs in the 1890’s, the Football Association banned are still drastically underpaid compared to their
women’s football from its club’s grounds, viewing male counterparts. According to a salary survey that
football as “quite unsuitable for females.” In 1988 – 58
compared the employment status and pay of male
years after the first Men’s FIFA World Cup and 17 years
and female footballers worldwide, the combined pay
after the Football Association’s ban was eliminated inof 1,693 women footballers in the top seven women’s
1971 – FIFA hosted an invitational in China to see football leagues, equals that of Brazilian footballer
if a global Women’s World Cup was feasible. Twelve Neymar. In the United States, the women’s national
teams participated, ending with Norway defeating team is paid on average a quarter of what the men
Sweden 1-0 to win the tournament. The tournament earn, even though they were the champions of the
was deemed a success, and in 1991, the first Women’s 2015 Women’s World Cup, while the men failed to
World Cup was hosted in China. Again, 12 teams qualify. The US women’s team also brought in three
participated, but this time the United States beat times more revenue in 2018 – 6.6 million compared
Norway 2-1 to earn the championship. to 2 million. While these international tournaments
As of 2017, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final serve as a moment of sportsmanship and comradery
was the most watched soccer match in American amongst nations, we should not forget to support the
history with nearly 23 million viewers, more than the universal right of gender equality.
2015 NBA Finals and Stanley Cup. It was also the most
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