Role of Federal and Local Government to Implement Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB)

 

Role of Federal Government to implement GRB:

a.      Addressing the gaps in the design and implementation of the GBR,

b.     Embedding GRB entry points early on in the prioritization stage of budgets,

c.      Facilitating greater adoption of GRB at the subnational level, including measures to ensure participation of the most marginalized women in planning and revising of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) policies to reinforce institutionalization of GRB.

d.     Focusing on post-allocation classification at both federal and local level rather than focusing on pre-allocation exercise.

e.      Improving the availability of sex disaggregated data essential for assessing budgetary impact,

f.       Proper monitoring of expenditures to ensure that gender responsive interventions are being adequately funded,

g.     Institutionalization at both national and local levels, with the engagement of women, senior male public servants, and officeholders,

h.     Budget statements, inclusive of qualitative and quantitative information.

i.       Decentralizing GRB at local levels

j.       Ending GBV through allocating budget for program

 

Role of Local Government to implement GRB:

1.     Establish linkage of program and budget with gender equality

2.     Increase meaningful participation of women in all ranges of program

3.     Capacitate the community to evaluate projects/programs

4.     Establishing women and children office- gender focal agency at local level.

5.     Gender mainstreaming training for Gender Focal Person and Village Municipalities secretaries during planning phase

6.     Integrated Development Program for Violence against Women and children

7.     Introducing performance/outcome based approaches and evaluation

 

 

Gender Based Violence in Quarantine sectors in the World during COVID-19

 

After COVID-19 was seen, many coutries implemented lockdown. People were forced to stay in home or quarantine. The COVID-19 crisis has thrown these gender-based differences into even sharper relief. Sexual and Gender Based Violence  is a hidden consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. As communities around the world are forced to stay at home, women and girls are at a high risk of domestic violence, intimate partner violence,child abuse, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

Because disasters exacerbate pre-existing gender inequities and power hierarchies, violence in the home may worsen as prolonged quarantine and economic stressors increase tension in the household. Women and girls are isolated from the people and resources that can help them, and they have few opportunities to distance themselves from their abusers.

During epidemics, it’s harder for sexual and reproductive health workers to appropriately screen for sexual and gender-based violence. And referral pathways to care are disrupted.

History shows that domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence increases during crises and disasters. It happened during the 2014-16 Ebola and 2015-16 Zika epidemics, and it appears to be happening now in COVID-19 Pandemic. Under conditions of quarantine or stay-at-home measures, women and children who live with violent and controlling men are exposed to considerably greater danger. Many women are being beaten up by their husband, forced to have sex.

Sexual and gender-based violence does not begin with disasters like COVID-19. But the chaos and instability they cause leave women and girls more vulnerable.

According to the World Health Organisation, 35% of women around the world have already experienced some form of sexual and gender-based violence in their lifetime. In some crisis settings, this number skyrocketed to more than 70%.

Ebola experience

Increases in sexual and gender-based violence were observed during the 2013-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Estimates concerning the scope are difficult to obtain and vastly under-reported. Survivors of violence were ignored as health workers counted the number of Ebola cases.

According to some reports, Guinea reported a 4.5% increase in sexual and gender-based violence and twice as many rapes. More often than not, this violence was evident only by its devastating consequences for women and girls.

In the aftermath of Ebola, both Sierra Leone and Liberia saw an upswing in teenage pregnancy rates.

The parallels between the response to Ebola and COVID-19 are striking. Public health infrastructure during Ebola came to a grinding halt. In a desperate attempt to control the virus, governments employed many of the current social distancing strategies. These included school closures, curfews, and quarantines.

As Ebola spread throughout West Africa, heavily burdened relief efforts failed to account for particularly vulnerable populations. The needs of women and girls, especially concerning sexual and gender-based violence, were largely ignored in response and recovery planning.

Many organisations waited until Ebola was under control before addressing these needs. By then it was too late.

 

The majority of those on the front lines of the pandemic are women, because women make up 70% of all health and social-services staff globally. They are paid unequally and are facing gender based discrimination in their workplace. Women who are pregnant are not getting enough rest. Globally news are coming that pregnant medical staff are working hard without any break time.

Since COVID-19 attacks more to child and old aged who have weak immunity power. Women also account for the majority of the world’s older population – particularly those over 80 – and thus a majority of potential patients. Yet they tend to have less access to health services than men do. Worse, in several countries that experienced previous epidemics, the provision of sexual- and reproductive-health services – including prenatal and maternal care and access to contraceptives and safe abortions – was reduced as soon as resources needed to be allocated for the crisis. Such defunding has grave consequences for women and girls, and must be prevented at all costs.

Women are particularly vulnerable economically. Globally, women’s personal finances  are weaker than men’s, and their position in the labor market is less secure. Moreover, women are more likely to be single parents who will be hit harder by the economic downturn that is now in full swing. ILO has estimated that due to COVID-19 pandemic, women workers are going to suffer more than male workers as the sectors in which women are being closed rapidly than those sectors in which males are working.

Women who are in isolation ward are being treated very unequally. In Nepal, women living in quarantine was gang raped by medical staff and other persons. In developing countries where quarantine facilities are very bad, women and men are both kept at same room compromising the biological differences and privacy. This type of action is giving birth to gender inequality.

Hence, women are the character who are going to suffer in every problem which is seen by the world. In this type of situation, the international agency and government must be aware and protect the women.

Some parts are adopted from: https://theconversation.com/sexual-and-gender-based-violence-during-covid-19-lessons-from-ebola-137541

Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) in Nepal

 

Nepal has also agreed to follow the 12 Critical Concern Areas of BPFA. Nepal was also participants. According to the commitment, Nepal has made some great Policy, Legislation and Institutional changes in order to maintain gender equality through BPFA. Some of the changes are mentioned below according to the Critical Areas of Concern:

1.Women and Poverty

a. In the 10^th Plan, it was identified gender equality as a key to poverty analysis and emphasized on poverty through the empowerment of women.

b. Amendment of Civil Code to give equal inheritance right.

c. Practices of Micro-Credit programmes like Production Credit for Rural Women (PCR) and Micro-Credit Project for Women (MCPW), initiation of Jagirti Women’s Empowerment and Income Generation Programe

2. Education and Training of Women

a. Community Owned Primary Education Programme (COPE) launched to provide equality and quality primary education with a special focus on girls.

b. Alternative Schooling/Out of school Programme

c. Scholarship programme for girls

d. Female teacher recruitment and training

e. Women Literacy Programme I, II and III

3. Women and Health

a. GRB gives priority to women’s health in general and reproductive health in particular.

b. Women’s Bill for establishing women’s reproductive right of abortion under certain circumstances.

c. Gender Assessment of the health sector.

d. Population Perspective Plan addressed the women’s sexual and reproductive health in a holistic manner.

4. Violence Against Women

a. 10^th  Plan addressed traditional violence against women and to provide legal aid, rehabilitation and reintegration of girls women affected by trafficking.

b. A National Rapporteur on Trafficking has been appointed placed in the Human Rights Commission.

c. 11^th Amendment of the Civil Code in 2002 has taken the steps in addressing the violence against women by raising the imprisonment term for rape and rape against pregnant women and disabled women.

d. Two Landmark Decision :

a. Rape within the marriage has been criminalized.

b. Court declared the less punishment against rape of prostitution as unconstitutional and discriminatory against women.

5. Women and Armed Conflict

a. Service and facilities such as free education and skill training, free basic health services, psycho-social counselling, easy access to financial investment and legal help will be extended to conflict affected women.

b. Cases of sexual exploitation and any kind of violence and infringement of women during conflict will be investigated and brought to justice.

6. Women and Economy

a. Micro Credit projects for women.

b. Acknowledging the works and economic values of women in the census.

c. 10^th Plan has recognized “Gender Equality” as one of its main goals of poverty alleviation.

7. Women in Power and Decision Making

a. 10^th Plan has targeted 20% female in decision making.

b. LSGA has introduced mandatory women’s representation in councils, executive committes and ward committees of VDC,DDC and municipality.

c. 33% representation of women in state machinery

8. Human Rights of Women

a. Inheritance of property for women

b. Ensuring of equal right to women by labor bill.

c. Legislation of the Human Rights Commission Acti 1993

9. Women and the Media

a. Formulation of Sancharika Samuha

b. Establishment of Mahila Web-an website for sharing information on women and gender issues, nationality, regionally and globally.

10. Institutional Development for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

i. Establishment of Gender Focal Points (GFP) in all development and administrative agencies, commissions and other governmental functionaries.

ii. Central Bureau of Statistics has instituted gender sensitive national economy.

iii. Formulation of National Women’s Comission

iv. Establishment of Gender Mainstreaming Process in Nepal

v. Establishment of National CEDAW committee

11. Women and the Environment

a. 10^th Year Plan created employment opportunities for the poor women by enhancing their skills through trainings on technology and environment while preserving forest and protecting environment.

b. Ministry of Population and Environment adopted a strategy to involve women in decision making process related to environment.

c. The women’s NGO have been granted the fund.

12. The Girl Child

a. GoN ratified both Optional Protocols of the CRC on the sale of children, Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Involvement of Child in Armed Conflict.

b. GoN has formulated a 10 year NPA for protection of children.

c. GoN has adopted an inclusive approach in the child rights and development programmes.

Although, the above changes, women and girl are still backward and are facing many types of discrimination. An old women is beaten to death as she has been labelled as Bausi  (Witch), Nirmala, a girl is raped and the culprit is walking freely, Susmita, an women from Butwal is beaten to death by her husband family, and many more. There are many incidents which tell the failure of the government and society to fully implement BPFA.

Fourth World Conference on Women

Introduction:

It held during 4-15 September 1995 in Beijing, China. There were 17000 participants.

At this conference, governments from around the world agreed on a comprehensive plan to achieve global legal equality known as the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).

Mission statement of BPFA

1. The Platform for Action is an agenda for women's empowerment. It aims at accelerating the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and at removing all the obstacles to women's active participation in all spheres of public and private life through a full and equal share in economic, social, cultural and political decision-making. This means that the principle of shared power and responsibility should be established between women and men at home, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities. Equality between women and men is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and is also a necessary and fundamental prerequisite for equality, development and peace. A transformed partnership based on equality between women and men is a condition for people-centred sustainable development. A sustained and long-term commitment is essential, so that women and men can work together for themselves, for their children and for society to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

2. The Platform for Action reaffirms the fundamental principle set forth in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, that the human rights of women and of the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. As an agenda for action, the Platform seeks to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all women throughout their life cycle.

3. The Platform for Action emphasizes that women share common concerns that can be addressed only by working together and in partnership with men towards the common goal of gender equality around the world. It respects and values the full diversity of women's situations and conditions and recognizes that some women face particular barriers to their empowerment.

4. The Platform for Action requires immediate and concerted action by all to create a peaceful, just and humane world based on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the principle of equality for all people of all ages and from all walks of life, and to this end, recognizes that broad- based and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social development and social justice.

5. The success of the Platform for Action will require a strong commitment on the part of Governments, international organizations and institutions at all levels. It will also require adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels as well as new and additional resources to the developing countries from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources for the advancement of women; financial resources to strengthen the capacity of national, subregional, regional and international institutions; a commitment to equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal opportunities and to the equal participation of women and men in all national, regional and international bodies and policy- making processes; and the establishment or strengthening of mechanisms at all levels for accountability to the world's women.

Twelve Critical Areas of Concern:

Women and poverty .

·         Strategic objective A.1. Review, adopt and maintain macroeconomic policies and development strategies that address the needs and efforts of women in poverty. ..

·         Strategic objective A.2. Revise laws and administrative practices to ensure women's equal rights and access to economic resources. ..

·         Strategic objective A.3. Provide women with access to savings and credit mechanisms and institutions. ..

·         Strategic objective A.4. Develop gender-based methodologies and conduct research to address the feminization of poverty. ..

Education and training of women .

·         Strategic objective B.1. Ensure equal access to education. ..

·         Strategic objective B.2. Eradicate illiteracy among women. ..

·         Strategic objective B.3. Improve women's access to vocational training, science and technology, and continuing education. ..

·         Strategic objective B.4. Develop non-discriminatory education and training. .

·         Strategic objective B.5. Allocate sufficient resources for and monitor the implementation of educational reforms. ..

·         Strategic objective B.6. Promote lifelong education and training for girls and women. ..

Women and health .

·         Strategic objective C.1. Increase women's access throughout the life cycle to appropriate, affordable and quality health care, information and related services. ..

·         Strategic objective C.2. Strengthen preventive programmes that promote women's health. ..

·         Strategic objective C.3. Undertake gender-sensitive initiatives that address sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health issues. ..

·         Strategic objective C.4. Promote research and disseminate information on women's health. .

·         Strategic objective C.5. Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health. ..

Violence against women .

·         Strategic objective D.1. Take integrated measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women. ..

·         Strategic objective D.2. Study the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of preventive measures. ..

·         Strategic objective D.3. Eliminate trafficking in women and assist victims of violence due to prostitution and trafficking. ..

Women and armed conflict .

·         Strategic objective E.1. Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution at decision-making levels and protect women living in situations of armed and other conflicts or under foreign occupation. ..

·         Strategic objective E.2. Reduce excessive military expenditures and control the availability of armaments. ..

·         Strategic objective E.3. Promote non-violent forms of conflict resolution and reduce the incidence of human rights abuse in conflict situations. ..

·         Strategic objective E.4. Promote women's contribution to fostering a culture of peace. ..

·         Strategic objective E.5. Provide protection, assistance and training to refugee women, other displaced women in need of international protection and internally displaced women. ..

·         Strategic objective E.6. Provide assistance to the women of the colonies and non-self-governing territories. ..

Women and the economy .

·         Strategic objective F.1. Promote women's economic rights and independence, including access to employment, appropriate working conditions and control over economic resources. ..

·         Strategic objective F.2. Facilitate women's equal access to resources, employment, markets and trade. ..

·         Strategic objective F.3. Provide business services, training and access to markets, information and technology, particularly to low-income women. ..

·         Strategic objective F.4. Strengthen women's economic capacity and commercial networks. ..

·         Strategic objective F.5. Eliminate occupational segregation and all forms of employment discrimination. ..

·         Strategic objective F.6. Promote harmonization of work and family responsibilities for women and men. ..

Women in power and decision-making .

·         Strategic objective G.1. Take measures to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision-making. ..

·         Strategic objective G.2. Increase women's capacity to participate in decision-making and leadership. ..

Institutional mechanism for the advancement of women .

·         Strategic objective H.1. Create or strengthen national machineries and other governmental bodies. ..

·         Strategic objective H.2. Integrate gender perspectives in legislation, public policies, programmes and projects. ..

·         Strategic objective H.3. Generate and disseminate gender-disaggregated data and information for planning and evaluation ..

Human rights of women .

·         Strategic objective I.1. Promote and protect the human rights of women, through the full implementation of all human rights instruments, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. ..

·         Strategic objective I.2. Ensure equality and non-discrimination under the law and in practice. ..

·         Strategic objective I.3. Achieve legal literacy. ..

Women and the media .

·         Strategic objective J.1. Increase the participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication. ..

·         Strategic objective J.2. Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media. ..

Women and the environment .

·         Strategic objective K.1. Involve women actively in environmental decision-making at all levels. ..

·         Strategic objective K.2. Integrate gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable development. ..

·         Strategic objective K.3. Strengthen or establish mechanisms at the national, regional, and international levels to assess the impact of development and environmental policies on women. ..

The girl-child .

·         Strategic objective L.1. Eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl-child. ..

·         Strategic objective L.2. Eliminate negative cultural attitudes and practices against girls. ..

·         Strategic objective L.3. Promote and protect the rights of the girl-child and increase awareness of her needs and potential. ..

·         Strategic objective L.4. Eliminate discrimination against girls in education, skills development and training. .

·         Strategic objective L.5. Eliminate discrimination against girls in health and nutrition. ..

·         Strategic objective L.6. Eliminate the economic exploitation of child labour and protect young girls at work. ..

·         Strategic objective L.7. Eradicate violence against the girl-child. ..

·         Strategic objective L.8. Promote the girl-child's awareness of and participation in social, economic and political life. ..

·         Strategic objective L.9. Strengthen the role of the family in improving the status of the girl-child. ..

Adopted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Conference_on_Women,_1995

Gender Mainstreaming in Development

Introduction:

According to the ECOSOC, gender mainstreaming is a strategy for making women's

and men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. This definition covers:

1. Process

2. Output

3. Goal

In simple, gender mainstreaming is the strategy of attaining gender equality.

Importance of Gender Mainstreaming:

1. It puts the people at the heart of the policy making.

2. It leads to the better government.

3. It involves both women and men and makes full use of human resources.

4. It makes gender equality visible in the mainstream of the society.

5. It takes into consideration of the diversity among men and women.

Conditions required for Gender Mainstreaming:

a.     Political will

b.     Specific gender equality policy

c.      Gender Disaggregated Data

d.     Gender Studies

e.     Stakeholder involvement

f.       Gender expertise

g.     Accountability mechanisms

h.     Implementation plan

i.        Resources

j.        Structures

Tools of Gender Mainstreaming

1. Define tools

a. Gender Studies

b. Gender Analysis

c. Gender impact assessment

d. Gender Stakeholders Consultations

2. Plan Tools

a. Gender Budgeting

b. Gender Procurement

c. Gender Indicators

3. Check Tools

a. Gender Monitoring

b. Gender Evaluation

4. Act tools

a. Gender Equality training

b. Gender sensitive institutional transformation

c. Gender awareness rising

d. Gender budgeting

Adopted from: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/what-is-gender-mainstreaming