July 28 2009

WEL has joined the 135 NGOS that have endorsed the CEDAW shadow report forwarded to the UN in July.
Countries that have ratified CEDAW have to report regularly on what they have done to promote gender equality. The independent evidence provided by NGOs helps CEDAW members prepare their questions on the official government report.

The Commission on the Status of Women decided on a multi-year programme of work for 2010-2014.

The themes that were agreed upon are:
For the 54th session in 2010: Review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action and the outcome of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.
For the 55th session in 2011: Women and girls in science and technologies: increasing opportunities in education, research and employment. Review theme: agreed conclusions from the 2007 session on the “Elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against the girl child.”
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By Suzanne Hammond

The final Decision of the Australian Fair Pay Commission not to grant any increase in the Minimum Wage will worsen the gender wage gap and disproportionately effect women. It would seem that Professor Harper and his fellow Commissioners accept the proposition that women and the low paid should bear the brunt of the global financial crisis. Low paid workers should forego wage rises under the guise of maintaining employment.
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