Women and Power: For a world of equality

The Inter-American Year of Women Proclaimed by the OAS General Assembly (AG/RES. 2322 (XXXVII-

O/07) in 2007 Recognition of the progress made and the challenges that remain

to full equality between men and women Space for reflection, celebration and renewal of our commitment to

the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights in the hemisphere

Other milestones:– 15th anniversary Beijing Platform for Action– 15th anniversary Belém do Pará Convention– 10th anniversary Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women’s Human Rights

and Gender Equity and Equality (PIA)– 30th anniversary of CEDAW– 10th anniversary of Millennium Development Goals

Why an IAYW? We have an international and national legal framework that

guarantees equality between women and men and the rights of women– Recognition of progress made– Identification of good practices, innovative approaches

Rights are not a reality for many women – why??– Persistent challenges – how can we respond?– Identification of lessons learned

Re-adjustment of our perspectives and approaches: new realities

Re-affirmation of our commitment

Women and Power: For a world of equality In spite of achievements and the massive and active participation of

women at all levels, their real access to power and influence in political and economic decision-making processes is still very limited

Domination and discrimination present in more and less subtle forms of marginalization and violence that impede women’s capacity to present and defend alternative development agendas

New scenarios and challenges lead us to the redefinition of our notions of “women and power.”

Women - as advocates, heads of households, workers, community and national leaders, political representatives, students, activists or entrepreneurs - contribute from different perspectives to the definition of political, economic and social agenda(s)

Inclusion of women on the basis of their own interests and demands is a central component of strengthening democratic governance in the Americas

Women and political power Political representation – beyond simply

being present in numbers – women are able to intervene directly in decision-making and policy-formulation processes on the basis of their interests and those of their constituents

Women face obstacles to their effective incidence in political and policy agendas:

– reconciliation of their political careers with their domestic responsibilities;

– norms and culture of political institutions and parties;

– discrimination and inequality in electoral processes;

– limited opportunities for training in politics and related issues

Women in ministerial cabinets: 29%Women in legislative bodies in the Americas: 22.6% Women members of political parties: 46.5%Women in leadership posts in political parties: 19%Women at the highest levels of justice: 19%Women elected as local councilors in 2008: 21%Women elected to mayoral office in 2008: 7%Countries in the region with quota laws: 11

Women and economic power Women make a significant contribution to

the GDP of their countries, but their work provides them with less income, job security, employment benefits, chance at career development or advancement and financial security upon retirement

Women’s unpaid labour in the household –domestic and care work – is still not recognized in most countries as a contribution to GDP.

Women entrepreneurs are less likely to be able to access financial and other services essential to growing their businesses and are less likely to derive long-term and sustainable benefits from these businesses

Women in the labour force: 40%Women earn 77 cents for every dollar that men earnWomen in part-time, seasonal and unpaid work: 66%Women among the working poor: 60%Women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies: 12Female unemployment in LAC: 10.1% (men: 6.7%)

Violence against women 15 years after Belém do Pará, the incidence of

violence against women has changed little at the regional level, and in some countries has increased.

Though it is rarely quantified, violence against women carries a significant economic cost in terms of lost productivity and increased use of health, law enforcement and other social services

Violence against women continues to be treated as a private matter - to be settled between couples with the help of mediation or conciliation – rather than as a crime and a violation of women’s right to physical integrity and safety, and in many cases, life.

Violence against women will receive the attention it merits when it is finally accepted as a matter of public security and given the same consideration as issues such as gang or drug-related violence

Women who have suffered violence at the hands of their partner: 1 in 4 (25%)Women who have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives: 1 in 3 (33%)Incidents of domestic violence that are reported to the police: 2 of 5 (40%)Women and girls trafficked every year: 1,000,000Lack of accurate data is one of the most serious challenges to an effective response to VAW