Moving from Formal to Substantive Equality
TABLES OF CONTENTS
Report writing
Lisane Thirsk
Design and layout
Thaïs Martín Navas
Editing
Sarah Deshaies
Photographs
© Senate of Mexico
Disclaimer
This publication summarizes the presentations and certain interventions made at the 6th Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of ParlAmericas.
ABOUT US 2
ABOUT THE GROUP OF WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS 2
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE GROUP OF WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS 3
SESSION 1 – ACHIEVEMENTS IN GUARANTEEING EQUALITY: EXPERIENCES
PROMOTING LEGISLATION AND PROGRAMS BENEFITING WOMEN 8
Progress towards Gender Equality: CEDAW and the Legislative Agenda in the Americas 8
Advocating for Women’s Equality in Parliament: Success Stories 11
Strategies for “Positive Listening” in Jamaica 11
The Women’s Parliamentary Group in El Salvador: Working Across Party Lines 15
Alternatives to Gender Quotas: The Canadian Experience 18
Decriminalizing Abortion in Uruguay 21
Advice for Forging Ahead in the Struggle for Gender Equality 24
SESSION 2 – BARRIERS TO REAL EQUALITY 26
Towards a Transformative Equality for Women 26
Parliamentarian Perspectives on Barriers in their Countries 29
Poor Health, Poverty, and Lack of Education: Challenges in Saint Lucia 29
Exposing Political Harassment in Peru 31
The Fight for Gender Equality in the Context of Reconstruction and Political Instability in Haiti 33
The Challenge of Meaningful Political Participation in Mexico Despite Quotas 35
Overcoming the Barriers: Transforming the System by Means of a Critical Mass 37
STRATEGIC PLANNING – BRIDGING THE GAP: PARLIAMENTARIANS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE 38
Preventing Violence Against Women 41
Employment and Economic Empowerment for Women 42
Women’s Political Leadership 43
A Practical Skills Set for Parliamentarian Activism 44
WORDS INTO ACTION – A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE GROUP OF WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS, 2014 – 2015 46
“WE ARE PARLAMERICAS”: CLOSING MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH BY GUADALUPE VALDEZ 48
SOLIDARITY WITH VICTIMS OF KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA #BringBackOurGirls 52
CONCLUSION 53
APPENDIX 56