Women's Views on News |
| CEDAW: still advancing gender equality Posted: 03 Dec 2014 04:37 AM PST
Nicole Ameline has been a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) since 2008 and its Chair since 2013. She is a Deputy in the French National Assembly and, among the many roles she has held, was Minister for Equality in Employment. She currently sits on the French National Advisory Committee on Human Rights and the French Foreign Affairs Committee. She recently spoke to UN Women about the role of the CEDAW Convention and the Beijing Platform for Action, as we near its 20th anniversary. Q: What is the value of the CEDAW Convention? A: Today we have 188 States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. We have to be proud of this kind of universal ratification. We have to transform this Convention into a sort of roadmap to accelerate de facto equality. CEDAW is the only legal Convention to protect and promote women's human rights and its Committee is probably the most fundamental instrument for women's human rights. But we have to have a comprehensive and interactive approach. Our Committee has to work together with other UN entities, including UN Women of course. Q: Is the CEDAW Convention the right instrument for advancing gender equality? A: I'm sure that CEDAW and other legal instruments have transformed the lives of millions of women. I'm sure of that because I often evaluate the reality of the results on the ground. Thanks to State Parties, thanks to NGOs and thanks to the UN system, now the question is not about having new instruments. We have the legal framework; now we have just to implement it. We have to counteract the fragmentation of international law. It is time for action and it's very urgent. Women's rights today are probably more important than ever. If countries were to implement all aspects of the Convention, we could have a very big jump in terms of democracy, well-being and peace. We don't have to look for another Convention today. We have to implement what we have. When we speak about violence, we have to say that the basis that the foundation of the violence against women is discrimination. Discrimination is the root of all violence. That's why we have to reinforce visibility of the Convention as the framework to address violence against women. Q: CEDAW is touted by many academics and feminists and actors in the international community as the women's bill of rights. At the same time, many people don't know about it. How can we increase visibility? A: The CEDAW Committee does not have sufficient visibility. And it's one of the first questions that we raise when we welcome a State Party. I think that more and more civil society is very aware of our Convention. At the same time, we have to do more with State Parties. We could be more forceful on the question of national development policies or international aid policies. I know this matter perfectly because as a Member of Parliament, I am in charge of such policies. I think that we can ask State Parties to integrate, in a more visible manner, women's rights as a priority in their development policies. Women's rights are a priority for sustainable development. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is very committed but I think that the UN system has to bring this message very strongly, everywhere. If not, we risk regression. I hope strongly that next year with all of these important events – Beijing+20 but also the post-2015 development agenda – we'll have the opportunity to reiterate that the CEDAW Convention is the only legal Convention to protect and promote women's rights. Q: How does the work of the CEDAW Committee intersect with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action? A: [The Beijing Platform for Action] is for us – as for everybody in the world – a very fundamental platform and both human rights and development policies have to be founded on this basis. For women, Beijing+20 raised strong hopes and we have to transform this hope into reality. The first big challenge today is the concrete implementation of our Convention, but also of the Beijing Platform for Action. And we have to make next year – with Beijing+20 and with the post-2015 agenda – a great year for transformation. Q: How can we mutually reinforce existing human rights instruments? A: Beijing is considered as a fundamental platform so I think that we have to associate Beijing+20 and the CEDAW Convention, which is the operational instrument for Beijing, as it is for other declarations of universal commitment. And I think that your role as UN Women is very important. You are at the centre of this issue because you are in charge of the promotion of women's rights and the situation of women. I think that our roles are very close. So the time has come to act together and I have no doubt about your commitment.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2014 01:33 AM PST
New research from a national campaigning charity, the Empty Homes Agency, and the Halifax has found more than three quarters of British adults believe the government should prioritise the issue of empty homes. The Empty Homes Agency is an independent charity that raises awareness on the waste of empty homes and campaigns for more empty homes to be brought into use for the benefit of those who need housing. And the Halifax has adapted its lending policy to allow greater flexibility around uninhabited, mortgaged properties. The results of the research showed that over a third (36 per cent) said that empty homes are a blight on their local area, and nearly three quarters (74 per cent) believe their local authority should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes. The research also highlighted that those people surveyed severely underestimated the number of empty homes in England, with 80 per cent of English adults believing there were fewer empty properties in England than there actually are. The survey, released on 1 December to coincide with the start of National Empty Homes Week, found people on average thought there were around 377,000 empty homes in England, whereas statistics from the Empty Homes Agency show the figure is over 610,000. The Empty Homes Agency launched the survey results as part of its campaign to get all the Westminster political parties to pledge that should they form the next government, they will adopt a plan to tackle empty homes within their first year in power, as part of a wider approach to tackling housing needs. Key findings: More than three quarters of British adults (78 per cent) think the Government should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes; Nearly three quarters of British adults (74 per cent) believe their local authority should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes; with over a third (36 per cent) saying empty homes are a blight on their local area. English adults estimate there are on average 377,000 empty homes in England, whereas statistics from the Empty Homes Agency shows the figure is over 610,000.; Young first-time buyers are clearly a concern for the British public, as two thirds of respondents (66 per cent) selected "making use of empty homes to help young people get on the housing ladder" as one of the top three policies in this area they would like the next government to implement; British adults of all voting intentions think that Government should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes, with 81 per cent of those intending to vote Labour, 80 per cent UKIP and 78 per cent Conservative, agreeing with this; Half of British adults (50 per cent) gave a priority to the next government committing within its first year to creating a policy focused on bringing long-term empty homes into use, selecting it as one of the top three priorities in this area that they would like to be implemented. Support for this was strong across the political spectrum rising to 56 per cent of those intending to vote for UKIP, with 50 per cent of Conservative voters and 45 per cent of those intending to vote Labour also supporting this policy; and Just a third of respondents (34 per cent) believe that turning empty homes into usable homes is not going to help solve the housing crisis. The full set of data tables may be viewed at: www.comres.co.uk Craig McKinlay, Mortgages Director at Halifax, said: "Halifax has adapted its lending policy to allow greater flexibility around uninhabited, mortgaged properties. "In order to assist with returning empty homes to a habitable condition, requests for consent to enter into Private Sector Leasing arrangements are now considered once eligibility has been confirmed by the local authority. "With over 610,000 empty properties in England alone there is a real opportunity to introduce a range of incentives for owners to bring these properties back into use. "A lot has been achieved over the last few years, but there is a need for all affected parties to continue to work together to address the issue of empty homes." Helen Williams, Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency, said: "There is clear support from voters of all political persuasions for the next government to commit to tackling empty homes. "[ ] We are launching a campaign asking all the Westminster political parties to pledge that, if they form the next government, they will adopt a plan to tackle empty homes within their first year, as part of a wider approach to tackling housing need. "There appears to be widespread recognition amongst political parties of the need to build more homes – this makes perfect sense. However, we now need political parties to catch up with public opinion and also give a priority in the future to bringing empty homes back into use to help young people and others access the housing they need, at a price they can afford." Many local authorities have an empty homes plan or strategy, but they are not required by law to do so. If you want to help, you can ask your local authority for a copy to find out more about the approach it is taking. Issues to look for are: Does it use its powers to charge a 150 per cent Council Tax premium where a property has been empty for two or more years? Is there are empty homes team and what is their budget? Is it working with housing providers and community groups to attract government investment to buy and refurbish empty homes and let them out to people in housing need? Does the plan or strategy include action in neighbourhoods where there are high number of empty homes? How are local people involved in that? How does the local authority work with individual property owners and what enforcement powers does it use? If your local authority does not have a plan or strategy you could raise this as an issue with your local ward councillor. Ask them what they could do to make the case for developing a strategy and drawing on best practice in other areas. For more information click here.  |
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