5. Symbiosis between Gender Equality and Democracy

Senior United Nations officials today stressed the need to promote the participation of women in decision-making, noting that democracy and gender equality are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Women's participation crucial for democracies UN News Centre, 4 May 2011 "While women's political participation improves democracy, the reverse is also true: democracy is an incubator for gender equality," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his remarks at a roundtable held at UN Headquarters on gender equality and democracy. "It provides public space for discussion of human rights and women's empowerment. It enables women's groups to mobilize. It makes it easier for women to realize their political, civil, economic and social rights." He told participants at the event, which included representatives from various UN departments and entities, as well as the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, that one need look no further than the daily headlines to see the timeliness of today's gathering. "Women were among those who marched in Côte d'Ivoire to uphold the democratic will of the people – with several of them killed for making that stand,"said Mr. Ban. "In Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere, women have been among those in the vanguard demanding change, rights, dignity, and opportunity." Noting gender inequality in decision-making remains a great impediment to democracy, the Secretary-General said more must be done to address the gender gap in democratic participation. "Certainly there has been important progress. More women, in more countries, are taking their place in parliament,"he stated. "Yet fewer than 10 per cent of countries have female heads of State or government. Fewer than 30 countries have reached the target of 30 per cent women in national parliaments." He also cited the need to treat gender equality as an explicit goal of democracy-building, not as an "add-on,"stating that experience shows that democratic ideals of inclusiveness, accountability and transparency cannot be achieved without laws, policies, measures and practices that address inequalities. The UN is more involved in democracy-building than ever before, Mr. Ban pointed out. Many UN departments, funds and programmes have expanded their democracy programming, and the establishment of UN Women has added "another strong actor"to the arena. "Across the constellations of entities and activity, we need a stronger gender perspective going forward. Our responsibility is to ensure that our democracy assistance is gender responsive." Helen Clark, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told the gathering that democratic governance cannot be fully achieved without the full participation and inclusion of women. "Without the full participation of women in decision-making processes and debates about policy priorities and options, issues of great importance to women will either be neglected, or the way in which they are addressed will be sub-optimal and uninformed by women's perspectives,"she stated. Helping countries to strengthen their democratic institutions is an important aspect of the work of UNDP, which is the UN system's lead provider of technical assistance to elections. From 2008 to 2010 alone, it provided electoral assistance to 64 countries and territories, and it is currently working with more than 120 countries on public administration reform and/or strengthening governance. "To be judged successful, all this work must contribute to empowering women and pursuing gender equality," said Miss Clark. "We need to see more women elected, voting, involved in participatory processes generally, and well represented in public administrations." She noted that there are a number of proven ways to increase women's voice and participation in decision-making, including implementing quotas or reserved seat systems, and ensuring that women know how election processes work and about campaign methods and financing. Some 50 countries have now legislated for quotas in electoral and political party laws, and hundreds of political parties have adopted quotas as a voluntary measure. "Quotas are the single, most effective, and quickest measure for increasing the numbers of women in elected office," the UN development chief stated.

The Male Privilege Checklist Barry Deutsch, Alas! A Blog, 15 September 2004 REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION This list is based on the memorable article, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by American feminist and anti-racist activist Peggy McIntosh. These are but a few examples of the privilege which male people have. On a daily basis as a male person… 1. My odds of being hired for a job, when competing against female applicants, are probably skewed in my favor. The more prestigious the job, the larger the odds are skewed. 2. If I fail in my job or career, I can feel sure this won't be seen as a black mark against my entire sex's capabilities. 3. I am far less likely to face sexual harassment at work than my female co- workers are. 4. If I do the same task as a woman, and if the measurement is at all subjective, chances are people will think I did a better job. 5. If I choose not to have children, my masculinity will not be called into question. 6. If I have children and a career, no one will think I'm selfish for not staying at home. 7. My elected representatives are mostly people of my own sex. The more prestigious and powerful the elected position, the more this is true. 8. When I ask to see "the person in charge," odds are I will face a person of my own sex. The higher-up in the organization the person is, the surer I can be. 9. As a child, chances are I was encouraged to be more active and outgoing than my sisters. 10. As a child, chances are I got more teacher attention than girls who raised their hands just as often. 11. If I'm careless with my financial affairs it won't be attributed to my sex. 12. If I'm careless with my driving it won't be attributed to my sex. 13. Even if I sleep with a lot of women, there is no chance that I will be seriously labeled a "slut," nor is there any male counterpart to "slut-bashing." 14. I do not have to worry about the message my wardrobe sends about my sexual availability or my gender conformity. 15. My clothing is typically less expensive and better-constructed than women's clothing for the same social status. While I have fewer options, my clothes will probably fit better than a woman's without tailoring. 16. The grooming regimen expected of me is relatively cheap and consumes little time. 17. If I'm not conventionally attractive, the disadvantages are relatively small and easy to ignore. 18. I can be loud with no fear of being called a shrew. I can be aggressive with no fear of being called a bitch. 19. I can be confident that the ordinary language of day-to-day existence will always include my sex. "All men are created equal," mailman, chairman, freshman, etc. 20. My ability to make important decisions and my capability in general will never be questioned depending on what time of the month it is. 21. I will never be expected to change my name upon marriage or questioned if I don't change my name. 22. The decision to hire me will never be based on assumptions about whether or not I might choose to have a family sometime soon. 23. If I have a wife or live-in girlfriend, chances are we'll divide up household chores so that she does most of the labor, and in particular the most repetitive and unrewarding tasks. 24. If I have children with a wife or girlfriend, chances are she'll do most of the childrearing, and in particular the most dirty, repetitive and unrewarding parts of childrearing. 25. If I have children with a wife or girlfriend, and it turns out that one of us needs to make career sacrifices to raise the kids, chances are we'll both assume the career sacrificed should be hers. 26. Magazines, billboards, television, movies, pornography, and virtually all of media are filled with images of scantily-clad women intended to appeal to me sexually. Such images of men exist, but are rarer. 27. In general, I am under much less pressure to be thin than my female counterparts are. If I am fat, I probably suffer fewer social and economic consequences for being fat than fat women do. 28. On average, I am not interrupted by women as often as women are interrupted by men. 29. I have the privilege of being unaware of my male privilege. Supporting References: White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies, Peggy McIntosh, Wellesley College, 1988. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Peggy McIntosh, Wellesley College, 1990. See also the Wikipedia article on Male Privilege, last updated 6 September 2001.

Courtesy of New Internationalist Men for Gender Equality Special Issue of New Internationalist, 1 July 2011 Gender has always been understood to be about women. But increasing numbers of men are now challenging traditional views of masculinity. They are getting involved in debates about violence, parenting, relationships, and sexuality. They are questioning the stereotypes of what it is to be a man. And most – but not all – are doing it from a feminist perspective. This month's New Internationalist asks men and women around the world about why it is important for men to be involved in work on gender equality. Some related resources on men and authentic virility: The Invisible Partners: How the Male and Female in Each of Us Affects Our Relationships, John Sanford, Paulist Press, 1980. Original Unity of Man and Woman, John Paul II, Daughters of St Paul, June 1981. Men and Masculinities, SAGE, 1998-2011. Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men, Bahá'í International Community, 1999. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, APA, 2000-2011. Biological Differences Between Men and Women With Respect to Social Stability and Aggression, Judith L. Hand, 2006. Journal of Men, Masculinities and Spirituality, Joseph Gelfer, Editor - Monash University, Australia, 2007-2011. Shaping the Future: A Proposal to Hasten a Global Paradigm Shift for the Security and Well-being of All Children Everywhere, Judith L. Hand, August 2011. Patriarchies of the Past - Masculinities for the Future, Catherine of Siena College, 2011. The Masculinity Conspiracy, Joseph Gelfer, CreateSpace, August 2011. NOTE: Permission has been granted to serialize this ground breaking new book in Mother Pelican. Chapter 1 is reprinted in Page 7 of this issue

Why should men and women be involved as allies in peacebuilding? New Tactics in Human Rights, 7 February 2011 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 License) Peacebuilding and ending violence affect both men and women as victims of gender socialization, so working as allies is essential. Too often, we understand "gender" as something pertaining only to women when in reality it encompasses both sexes. Men themselves gain from an allied approach: deconstruction of gender roles breaks down the gender hierarchies/ stereotypes of masculinities that harm men's interaction with one another and women. Ultimately, peacebuilding and the deconstruction of gender roles rely on changing the cultures of patriarchical institutions and systems. Both men and women contribute to the maintenance of the status quo, so sustainable approaches necessarily involve both. Allies influence change from within cultural contexts when it would be difficult for either gender alone. Men conforming to hegemonic expressions of masculinity are often in decision-making positions, and male allies may have greater access to and understanding of the structures that contribute to men and women's suffering. Thus, men play an important role through their place in the system of patriarchy. What does integrating a masculinities perspective in peacebuilding imply? Integrating a masculinities perspective in peacebuilding implies balancing how gender is discussed. Because inclusivity is key, it is important to include the needs, rights, interests, and ideas of other marginalized communities (ethnic, religious, young people, etc.).This also implies a commitment to changing the dominant idea that masculinity equals dominance, control, and violence. The discussion should not just focus on women, but pay attention to the socially constructed roles, relationships, and responsibilities of men and women. At times this means recognizing that men and women may not have the same initial needs in gender sensitive peacebuilding, and therefore integration implies that gender-sensitive peacebuilding among men be addressed. It's important that men have a safe space to discuss these issues, where that they can speak out and share with other men how they feel in the current system.  We must find, as quoted by a participant, a way "to talk about masculinity that distances them a little bit from actual men and women." In so doing, there must be an acknowledgement that—though the perception may be that men benefit from inequality—they are also victims of hegemonic masculinity. Men's Resources International provides these "Beliefs About Men" What kind of engagement are we looking for and how do we achieve it? Key characteristics for men and women are listening and interacting respectfully. Women emphasized that they specifically did not want paternalism, but rather collaboration—men joining with an awareness of and openness to women's experiences, as well as the way peacebuilding benefits men. Thus, engagement is not charity, but a mutually constitutive relationship. Specifically, male allies understand their own privileges and power, and are willing to give them up. That being said, the approach should not treat men as problems or obstacles; rather both male and female allies should work for a positive development approach. We achieve that by advancing positive masculinity rather than reinforcing perspectives that favor hegemonic masculinity. Patience and dialogue are essential in engagement, and facilitating sustainable interaction and change. On an individual level, try to understand someone's experiences, what they think, and value, while on a group level understanding the dynamics within/between individuals and sub-groups. On a political level, it is important to engage patriarchal societies and their gender systems. To facilitate this type of engagement, participants recommended face-to-face dialogues. What are the challenges, opportunities and next steps? The participants cited a variety of ongoing challenges to integrating a masculinities perspective in peacebuilding: Getting men to recognize their privilege and the way that it harms women and themselves Combating the early processes of socialization that creates harmful masculinities Women's reluctance to include men for fear of being patronized or disempowered The tendency among both men and women to conceptualize women's rights as secondary to military movements for issues such as independence. Maintaining the effects of any gender-sensitive training and sustaining the relationships between men and women activists In response to these challenges, they came up with the following opportunities and next steps: Clarity of meaning, guidelines, and specific communication between men and women can help address issues of paternalism and concerns about the power dynamic. Furthermore, a clear structure facilitates opportunities for all group members to participate. Networking and working with other "ally" organizations assists with issues of sustainability Similarly, conducting gender-sensitive training in cycles rather than single events also helps with maintaining the movement, along with using social media tools. Existing documentation, in addition to writing new documents and pledges offer opportunities for dialogue and serve as tools to demand change There are opportunities for men and women to unite to broaden resistance to military action when working together           Resources New Tactics Resources Dialogues: Healing of Memories: Overcoming the Wounds of History Tactics: Engaging local leaders to become women's rights and victim advocates–New Tactic's intern connects these tactics Engaging locally respected leaders to end customary practices that violate human rights–New Tactic's intern connects these tactics Engaging youth in non-violent alternatives to militarism –New Tactic's Kristin Antin connects these tactics Establishing village peace committees to build understanding between internally displaced people and host communities–New Tactic's intern connects these tactics Re-writing Traditional Stories to Gain a Gender-Sensitive Perspective Using a nomination campaign to identify new constituencies for human rights–New Tactic's intern connects these tactics Notebooks: Breaking the Silence: Using popular culture to engage young people in human rights reporting— New Tactic's Kristin Antin connects these tactics Using Popular Theater to Break the Silence Around Violence Against Women–New Tactic's Kristin Antin connects these tactics Online Resources/Documents Narratives: The Journey to Healthy Manhood, story used by Men's Resources International The Men's Story Project, public performance and community dialogue project Silence Speaks, international digital storytelling initiative VoiceMale Magazine, explores critical issues relevant to men's growth and health while cataloguing the damaging effects of men's isolation and violence. Video: Gender Sensitive Active Non-Violence training by WPP Documents: Australian Agency for International Development, offers Gender Guidelines:Peace-Building Global MenEngage Alliance, a vast range of resources and toolkits Global Symposium on Engaging Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality (Rio, 2009) wrote an extensive declaration GPPAC, members recommend the Western Balkans'10th Cetinje Parliamentary Forum outcome statement as a guiding document for their work and in relating to other stakeholders ICRW, Gender Equity and Peacebuilding, Evolving Men: Initial Results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey, and What Men Have to Do With It: Public Policies to Promote Gender Equality IFOR/WPP, reports of the first (1) and second (2) training block of Training of Trainers for male peace activists KAFKA/Oxfam, Women and Men: Hand in Hand against Violence (in Arabic here) Men's Resources International provided these resources on consciousness-raising processes and male involvement projects. UNDP, Gender Approach in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations UNIFEM, Gender and Conflict Analysis and Women Building Peace and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict-Affected Contexts WANEP, Women in Peacebuilding Resource & Training Manual WPP, "Together for Transformation-Men, Masculinities and Peacebuilding" Initiatives A Common Future, Cameroon: men walked in women's high heal shoes in a walkathon that built on an old saying with a new twist - You can't really understand another person's experience until you've put on her shoes to know where it pinches. White Ribbon Campaign, Canada: In the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" campaign, men similarly partook in a walkathon wearing high heels to support of a future without violence. The Women's International League for Peace & Freedom's 1325 Literature Repository. It is a space to get information as well as add information for others to learn about what you are doing.

Courtesy of UN Women UN Women Progress Report 2011-2012 United Nations, July 2011 This is an important report. The United Nations has credibility in promoting gender equality. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and the current Executive Director of UN Women, is well known for her commitment to gender justice worldwide. The document is 164 pages long and provides a wealth of information including a compilation of relevant statistics. Some progress is reported. Much remains to be done. Here we include just two excerpts: the "Foreword from Michelle Bachelet" and the "Ten Recommendations to Make Justice Systems Work for Women." FOREWORD As the first major UN Women report, this edition of Progress of the World's Women reminds us of the remarkable advances that have been made over the past century in the quest for gender equality and women's empowerment. Even within one generation we have witnessed a transformation in women's legal rights, which means that today, 125 countries have outlawed domestic violence, 115 guarantee equal property rights and women's voice in decision-making is stronger than ever before. Today, 28 countries have reached or surpassed the 30 percent mark for women's representation in parliament, putting women in the driving seat to forge further change. Progress of the World's Women 2011–2012: In Pursuit of Justice shows that where laws and justice systems work well, they can provide an essential mechanism for women to realize their human rights. However, it also underscores the fact that, despite widespread guarantees of equality, the reality for many millions of women is that justice remains out of reach. The report highlights the practical barriers that women – particularly the poorest and most excluded – face in negotiating justice systems and the innovative approaches that governments and civil society are pioneering to overcome them. It explores the ways in which women are reconciling guarantees of their rights with the realities of living within plural legal systems. And it highlights the severe challenges that women face in accessing justice in the aftermath of conflict, as well as the enormous opportunities for change that can emerge in these most difficult times. I am privileged to be the first Executive Director of UN Women, an agency that was created because of the growing recognition that women are central to development, peace and security goals and that equality for woman and girls lies at the heart of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. For UN Women to meet the expectations that spurred its creation it must inspire all of our partners – including governments, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations – with concrete and replicable examples of how change happens to expand women's access to justice. This edition of Progress of the World's Women builds on the work of colleagues across the United Nations system in highlighting women's part in strengthening the rule of law and outlines a vision for the future in which women and men, worldwide, can work side-by-side to make gender equality and women's empowerment a reality. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women Ten Recommendations to Make Justice Systems Work for Women 1. Support women's legal organizations 2. Support one-stop shops and specialized services to reduce attrition in the justice chain 3. Implement gender-sensitive law reform 4. Use quotas to boost the number of women legislators 5. Put women on the front line of law enforcement 6. Train judges and monitor decisions 7. Increase women's access to courts and truth commissions during and after conflict 8. Implement gender-responsive reparations programmes 9. Invest in women's access to justice 10. Put gender equality at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals To download the report, click here. MILLENNIA2015 ANNOUNCEMENT Building peace in the minds of men and women Millennia2015 - UNESCO International Conference, Paris, 21-22 November 2011 Point of contact: Anna Maria Majlöf Courtesy of Millenia2015 The international conference Millennia2015, "An action plan for women's empowerment" will be organized to present the results of the foresight exercise started in 2008. Benefiting from the patronage of the UNESCO and the support of the International Organization of la Francophonie, Millennia2015 "Women actors of development for the global challenges" has been launched by The Destree Institute and its international partners in 2007. Its international community gathers more than one thousand experts, women and men, decided to strengthen and to promote the empowerment of women, the respect of human rights and of gender equality all over the world. On the occasion of the 54th Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing+15) in March 2010 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Millennia2015 has also launched an appeal for international digital solidarity in order to work together until 2015, with the aim of building sustainable futures in solidarity for all women in the entire world at the horizon 2025. About Millennia2015 and the "Liège 2008-Paris 2011-New York 2015" Foresight Process: Millennia2015 Foresight Methodology, Marie-Anne Delahaut and Philippe Destatte, Namur, 14 October 2009. Millennia2015, its role and its spirit, Eleonora Barbieri Masini, January 2010. Millennia2015 Foresight Exercise, Marie-Anne Delahaut, Philippe Destatte and Coumba Sylla, Namur, 8 October 2010.