Girls in the Platform for Action

by Misrak Elias

The Executive Board approved, in 1994, the Strategy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Girls and Women. The paper provided the directions for our preparations for the Beijing Conference. Quietly, the Women in Development moniker was changed to Gender in Development Section.

The Vienna Conference on Human Rights: The first success 

“The Girl Child: An Investment in the Future” was hurriedly prepared in time for the distribution at the Vienna Conference on Human Rights, in June1993. However, dark clouds were forming. The idea of promoting gender equality through action for girls was not embraced by internationally renowned women’s rights activists. It was a wake-up call for us. Closely collaborating with the “Girls Lobby”, we succeeded in formulating Article 18 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. It states: “The human rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights”.

Alliance Building

We then began to use the motto: “Today’s Girls are Tomorrow’s Women” to get wide recognition that “girls’ rights are women’s rights”.

Collaborating with the NGO coalition for the Girl Child, UNICEFwas instrumental in bringing the “girls” to the global discourse in the early 1990s. We sponsored events at the Association of Women in Development (AWID) International conference held in Washington D. C., October 1994 and forged new partners. Partnerships with other influencers in the US, such as the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and the University Women’s Association and Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), broadened our alliance network.

Critical Role of African NGOs and Governments

In preparation for the 1995 Beijing Women’s ConferenceIn, countries everywhere engaged in developing Regional Platforms for Action (PFA). Looking back, it was the African NGOs, who were instrumental in highlighting “the Girl Child” in the African Regional PFA. UNICEF worked closely with important and influential African NGOs, particularly the Nairobi based FEMNET, which was the African Women’s Network coordinating NGO activities, and the Federation of Women Educationalists (FAWE). UNICEF supported and guided the preparation of the conference paper on the “Girl Child” for the November 1994 African Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Beijing Conference held in Dakar. My close working association with African NGOs helped in our advocacy and the Africa region became the first and only region to have a chapter on girls in its PFA.

The Challenges of including girls in the Beijing PFA

UNICEF now had the indomitable task of lobbying and mobilization to have a “Girl Child” chapter in the global PFA. And we succeeded: the Conference Secretariat accepted the text that we prepared for inclusion in the Draft PFA.

The global gender focal points meeting held in New York in February 1995 was pivotal in placing girls in the Beijing PFA. The WCARO Regional Gender Advisor, who was a New York based diplomat before joining UNICEF, facilitated an informal meeting with African diplomats accredited to the UN. They were from the missions of Zambia, Namibia, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Botswana and Ghana. These six diplomats committed themselves to fight hard to have “Girls” on the Beijing PFA. This was a great win for the HQ Gender Section and the UNICEF country office focal points.

However, our sigh of relief was short-lived. We learned that the European Union and JUSCANZ (a grouping of Japan, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) were opposing the inclusion of the “Girl Child” chapter.

The January and March 1995 Preparatory Committees in New York were decisive forums for having “Girls” as part of the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA). Our African diplomat allies quickly mobilized the G 77 (the Group of 77 non-aligned countries) to fully support our cause. LIkewise, the New York and Geneva based Girl Child Coalition linked up with girls’ networks in different countries and worked with the African diplomats in pushing for the inclusion of the “Girls” chapter.

Sree Gururaja and I held regular vigils outside the conference hall to hear the outcomes of the March Preparatory Committee. We were relieved and exhilarated when Stephen Lewis emerged from the final midnight session and said “You have won! Girls are in the PFA !” The showdown had ended.

Onwards to Beijing

The Task Force for UNICEF’s preparations for the Beijing Women’s conference led by Karin Shampoo with the Gender Section as Coordinator and Secretariat worked for over a year on strategies and activities. The UNICEF Beijing Office was responsible for setting up facilities for the UNICEF delegation on the ground. Carol Bellamy led the UNICEF delegation of 12 members to the official Conference. It was her first International conference as UNICEF Executive Director. The team included representation from HQ divisions, Regional and Country offices and included Baquer Namazi, our feminist male colleague.

High Visibility for UNICEF

UNICEF organized a full “Day of Girls” on 6 September where Heads of States, prominent women leaders and activists, grassroots mobilizers as well as girls from all parts of the world met and shared their experiences in this high-powered event. Some of the prominent personalities were Madam Khalida Zia, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Specioza Kazibwe Vice President of Uganda, Princess Basma of Jordan, Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, and Bella Abzug of WEDO.

At the NGO Forum at Huairou, UNICEF organized 17 events and an exhibition “Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Women”. Carol met with many officials and activists at the UNICEF stand in each of the Regional tents; which helped to build strategic alliances.

Then, Carol, in her official statement as Executive Director - at 2.00 A.M in the morning! - announced UNICEF’s commitment to increase and double its resources for the education of girls.

Only two persons were allowed from the UNICEF delegation at the official opening of the Conference. It was decided that Carol Bellamy and Pratima Kale would represent UNICEF. I was at the UNICEF conference office when Carol rushed in saying “You don’t work for 2 years for this Conference and be banned from attending the opening”. She had me in tow marching to the conference; none of the security guards dared to stop her. That day was the first opportunity I had to see the thoughtful and caring side of Carol.

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