Liberation’s Capacity Building Programme on Women’s Rights

20th July 2010

Women Work

Liberation’s policy on gender equality stresses the need to work towards the eradication of poverty in developing countries, asserting that poverty brings inequality. This is also one of the UN Millennium Development Goals. In order to achieve this target, Liberation needs to develop plans and projects along the lines set out in our policy and in accordance with the UN programmes.

As stated in last year’s report, Liberation will work with the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, together with other UN human rights bodies on gender issues. Furthermore, Liberation should work with other international organisations that are already working on the matter.

We are currently compiling information on the work and projects of the UN, EU and other national and international organisations concerning gender equality. We are also currently compiling information about the situations of women in developing countries, which is proving to be a difficult and time consuming task and requires the assistance and cooperation of Liberation members and affiliates. We have repeatedly asked for such assistance, but regrettably we have not yet received any information about women’s problems or their campaigns in other countries, with the exception of Iran. Why is this?

In order for Liberation to carry out the tasks designated in our gender policy it is essential that information about the situation of women and campaigns by women and human rights activists in the countries Liberation is working with, is provided to us, on regular basis. Liberation must then take necessary measures to publicise this information to gain national and international support for these campaigns.

In the last year, based on the information received from Mr Ararat Gavanesian, Liberation wrote a letter of support to a women’s campaign in Iran. The campaign titled ‘One Million Signature Campaign’ calls for a change in the legal system in Iran, which discriminates against women. We are also in contact with some Iraqi and Kurdish women’s groups and activists and attended some of their activities.

Whilst we are trying to proceed according to the lines set out in our policy and aim to expand our work with the UN on gender issues, we urge Liberation members and affiliates to assist us in this matter. Liberation must do more work towards the improvement of women’s situations in the countries we work with and we expect to see your response for the year 2008-9.

October 2008