World YWCA Addresses the Rights of Older Women at the 18th Session on Human Rights Council
The 18th Session of the Human Rights Council was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 12-30, 2011. The World YWCA was again present and active at the HRC and attended various meetings and side events.
One important event that the World YWCA attended was a conference on the “Role of Multiculturalism for Peace in the Context of Europe, which was held on September 23-24, 2011. The event was organised by the Universal Peace Federation in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental, civic, academic and faith-based organisations and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The conference brought together prominent activists, politicians, leaders of faith-based organisations, youth and people who are interested on the issues of building peace amongst communities. Speakers shared their thoughts on the thematic areas of: government and migration, model UN ‘inter-religious council’, inter-religious and intercultural cooperation and human rights, women and development, educational programmes and institutions.
The two-day event was composed of an interesting list of speakers which included Ambassador Makarim Wibisono, former Chair of UN's ECOSOC and UN Human Rights Council; Dr Walter Schwimmer, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe; and Dr. Yong Cheon Song, Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation in Europe, to name but a few. Throughout the two days, participants discussed the importance of investing on multicultural, intercultural and inter-religious cooperation and improved relationships to build peace amongst communities. The recent tragic events in Norway were also addressed, as was the public statement of prominent European heads of state about the failure of recognising multiculturalism in their motions. In his speech, Dr Walter Schwimmer explained the problem in Europe as “a clash of ignorance, not a clash of culture,” while Dr. Yong Cheon Song addressed the situation of Europe with regards to migration, racism, integration and sexism.
The conference also touched upon several other issues pertaining to the spiritual basis of the structure of the United Nations, the role of youth representatives at the UN and religious and faith-based institutions in bringing peace to the world. Finally, participants agreed on the difficulties of achieving peace without multiculturalism and accepting the differences among us. Dr Bashy Quraishy, former President of the European Network Against Racism from 2001-2007, spoke about the challenges and opportunities of multiculturalism in Europe and shared the conclusive words of wisdom by saying “humanity should come before any ideology.”
On September 26, 2011, the World YWCA participated in a high level panel entitled “Older Women and the Right to Health UN Committee on the Status of Women.” Organisations like the World YWCA, NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva - Geneva International Network on Ageing, the Women's UN Report Network, UN NGO Committee on Mental Health, HelpAge International, International Disability Alliance, Worldwide Organisation for Women, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, were among the organisations that took an active part on the panel.
Hendrica Okondo, World YWCA Global Programme Manager SRHR, HIV and AIDS, gave the opening speech. Ms. Okondo spoke about the many years of experience of the YWCA around the world. She shared with participants how it is very common to see old women working and volunteering in great dedication in many YWCAs across the globe. Nevertheless, she said, “the issues and rights of older women are not represented well in the international arena. This is a worrying development especially because recent research has show that older people are becoming the majority of society.”
According to Dr. Astrid Stuckelberger, a social researcher from the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva - Geneva International Network on Ageing, discussed some of the main challenges that older women face: literacy, health, employment opportunity, loss of control of assets, and pension cuts. Dr. Stuckelberger also expounded how the lack of comprehensive data creates a lack of practical adequate responses to the concerns of older women.
A representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO) described the different practical challenges in the health sector as issues of older people are not included in heath Institutions. Ms. Bridget Sleap of HelpAge International spoke on the challenges of older women taking care of their grandchildren regardless of their poverty and health, the abuses that older women, the many old women who lose their property rights when their husbands pass away, and overall the different difficulties faced by this age group. The economic crisis has mostly targeted older people who have seen their pensions cut, and migrants (who usually come to developed countries to take care of older people). Ms Sleap said that “older women’s rights have been forgotten by many feminist and women organisations.”
The event was concluded by a poem about older women and health, read by Ms Lois A. Herman from the Women's UN Report Network.
The Human Rights Council has 47 Member States and is responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. The Council meets three times a year but may convene for special sessions to address specific human rights issues or situations of concern. This year it has met three times in such sessions – in January, to consider the human rights situation in Libya, and in April and again in August to review events in Syria.
