ZONTA/UNIFEM Reinventing India: Preventinq Violence Against Women and Girls Phase 11 (US $299,450)
Violence Against Women (VAW) in South Asia continues unabated and trends indicate that it is on the rise, with new forms of rights deprivations and violations emerging. In India particularly, factors contributing to the persistence of VAW include: lack of information, insufficient legal provisions, weak law enforcement and inadequate services for victims of violence. In 2000, UNIFEM with support from Zonta International developed this comprehensive project to address VAW in India. The central objective for the 2002-2004 Re- inventing India Phase 11 is to build upon the first two years by expanding the scope of the project for greater impact. This will include: a:) increase access to information by expanding the information directories into at least four new states and responding to and focusing on specialized training for NGOs and paralegal workers. In addition, the project will pilot the integration of the strategies, learning and resources generated through the above activities into a community based "Zero Tolerance Zone" initiative to eliminate violence against women.
ZONTA/STAR NETWORK Anti-trafficking Project in Bosnia-Herzegovina (US $320,000)
Trafficking is rapidly becoming a lucrative global industry. In these postwar years, trafficking in women and girls for sexual exploitation has become a serious issue that impacts the economic, social and security conditions for women, their families, and communities in Bosnia- Herzegovina. In late 2000, the International Police Task Force of Bosnia estimated the over 10,000 victims of trafficking are in the country at one time - Local women's groups estimate that over 95 percent are women. The Community Mobilization Project is designed to strengthen the capacity of Bosnian women to lead community mobilization campaigns to prevent trafficking in the sexual exploitation of women and girls. Programs will simultaneously address local prevention through public education directed at young people, families, and schools and policy advocacy to educate public officials (local and international police, military, the judiciary, and health workers) in creating strategies for enforceable laws that stop trafficking and compassionately respond to victims. Importantly, this will be the first program in the former Yugoslavia to address the problems of trafficking to be managed by local women's NGOs that work collaboratively with government agencies and key international institutions. It is designed to generate maximum levels of local involvement from health officials, police, teachers, cultural workers, religious leadership, and youth groups. The STAR Network of World Learning brings to this project more than seven years of respected, effective work with women leaders in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The STAR Network has significantly accelerated cross-border working relationships among women leaders in the region, resulting in development of a practical model that truly links local action with national policy change and regional collaboration. Since its founding in 1932, World Learning has built a reputation as one of the world's leading global education and development organization, with programs in over
90 countries on six continents. This is an opportunity for Zonta to support a new generation of women
in the Balkans whose skills in leadership across ethnic and political
borders will surely build a pathway to a more peaceful world.
AFGHANISTAN: Improving Women's Lives (US$25,000)
In response to Zontians' strong interest in supporting Afghan women, an additional International Service project will be selected by the ZI Board and approved by the ZIF Board as the situation in Afghanistan stabilizes.
This project will focus on the long-term improvement of the quality of life for the women of Afghanistan, preferably in the rural areas.
Improving Status
Resolution on promoting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Adopted at the International Convention, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 2000
WHEREAS: Zonta International's Objects include" to promote justice and
universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms" and "to
improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and
professional status of women"
BE IT RESOLVED THEREFORE THAT:
Zonta International supports ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and of the Optional Protocol to the Convention and encourages all Zonta Clubs and
Zontians to:
a) Advocate for their government to both ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and to Carry out all commitments made to women and girls.
b) Support he removal of all unjust reservations made by their government to the Convention.
c) Work for the ratification by their country to the Optional Protocol to the Convention.
d) Prepare themselves for effective advocacy by informing themselves on the content of the Convention and potential actions for the expansion of women's rights and the elimination of discrimination.
e) Expand their cooperation with other NGOs in monitoring the actions of
their governments for the implementation of CEDAW. Resolution Adopted by the 2002 Convention Resolution to promote the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Annex 11 supplementing UN document A/RES/55/25) Both documents were adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 2000.
The purpose of the Protocol are:
(a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons, paying particular attention to women and children;
(b) To protect and assist the victims of such trafficking, with full respect for their human rights; and
(c) To promote cooperation among State Parties in order to meet those objectives.
In summary the Protocol
1 . Defines "trafficking in persons";
2. Offers tools for law enforcement and border control;
3. Strengthens the response of the judiciary;
4. Expands the scope of protection and support to victims and witnesses; and
5. Establishes prevention policies.
Efforts to prevent trafficking include:
1 . State Parties shall endeavour to undertake measures such as research, information and mass media campaigns and social and economic initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.
2. Policies, programmes and other measures shall include cooperation with non-govern mental organizations.
3. State Parties shall take or strengthen measures to alleviate the factors that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunity.
4. State Parties shall adopt or strengthen legislative or other measures, such as educational, social or cultural measures, to discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially
women and children, that leads to trafficking.
WHEREAS: Zonta International Objects include "to improve the legal, political, economic, education, health, and professional status of women" and "to promote justice and universal respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms"
BE IT RESOLVED THEREFORE THAT.
Zonta International supports ratification of the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,
and encourages Zonta Clubs and Zontians to:
1 . Prepare for effective advocacy by informing themselves on the content of the Protocol;
2. Advocate for their government to ratify the Protocol;
3. Cooperate with other NGOs in monitoring the actions of their governments for the implementation of the Protocol;
4. Advocate to discourage demand and to increase awareness, in particular of parents and guardians, of education, health and law enforcement officials, and of potential victims; and
5. In all actions, emphasize the importance of serious efforts to PREVENT trafficking.