Gender, Women mentioned in G8 Leaders' Declaration

This newly released document from Canada and 7 other economic-leader countries states a number of commitments to women - may be useful to remember when asking government to meet those commitments in future. Excerpts that mention women and gender follow - emphasis ours. - FW

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/g8/summit-sommet/2009/declaration.aspx

Responsible Leadership for a Sustainable Future
Annex: G8 Preliminary Accountability Report (July 8, 2009)

37. Social and employment policies are a crucial pillar in the context of a new global framework. Measures should provide income relief for people and households and prevent long-term unemployment, with particular reference to the most vulnerable groups, taking into consideration gender issues. ...

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Strengthening G8 and global initiatives to achieve the MDGs

110. We are aware of our responsibility in pushing forward the achievement of the MDGs, particularly in Africa. The interrelated nature of these Goals calls for comprehensive, coordinated and complementary development policies. These policies will be inspired by the principles of sustainability, inclusiveness and gender equality as well as by the five pillars of the Paris Declaration: ownership, alignment, harmonization, results-based management and accountability. We will promote gender equality as a key issue for aid effectiveness and to reduce poverty. We will frame our initiatives within partnerships involving all relevant stakeholders at global, regional and national level. In line with the AAA, where possible we will build upon existing partnerships and ensure that these are effective and inclusive, promote better coordination and division of labour, reduce fragmentation of aid, be aligned to partner countries’ priorities and strengthen these countries’ systems, with particular attention to specific objectives and instruments for fragile and post-conflict environments.

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115. In line with our comprehensive approach to development and building on existing UN and other international and regional institutions, the GPAFS should address food security by promoting sustainable agricultural development, taking account of climate impacts, and building resilient societies. The GPAFS should generate political momentum for a comprehensive, inclusive, action-oriented and effective response to food insecurity at national, regional and global levels. It should enable all relevant stakeholders (e.g. consumers and producers, smallholders and women farmers, civil society, private sector and academia) to share best practices, coordinate actions and improve resource management.

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121. In the current global financial crisis we reaffirm our commitment to address the health needs of the most vulnerable, especially women and children. In this regard, we encourage the WHO, World Bank and other partners to monitor the impact of the crisis on health and advise on actions to be taken at country and global level. In order to advance the goal of universal access to health services, especially primary health care, it is essential to strengthen health systems through health workforce improvements, encompassing both health professionals and community health workers, information and health financing systems including social health protection, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable. We reaffirm our commitment to address the scarcity of health workers in developing countries, especially in Africa and we note the 2008 Kampala Declaration and the Agenda for Global Actions launched by the Global Health Workforce Alliance. We encourage the WHO to develop by 2010 the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. We will also begin to address substantial gaps in knowledge about how to manage, organize and deliver health care in Sub-Saharan Africa through a variety of strategies, including by developing networks of researchers and by working with our African partners to establish a consortium of interdisciplinary centres of health innovation. As an enabling first step in developing the consortium, we will convene a planning meeting in late 2009 with African partners to establish a roadmap. We will work with partner countries and international institutions to promote well-functioning information systems. We also encourage multilateral institutions – including WHO, World Bank, GFATM, GAVI, UNITAID and UN Organizations – to continue to support health system strengthening. We encourage them to further improve coordination with plans and processes in partner countries and international health partnerships.


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122. We promote a comprehensive and integrated approach to the achievement of the health-related MDGs [UN Millennium Development Goals], also maximizing synergies between global health initiatives and health systems. We will accelerate progress on combating child mortality, including through intensifying support for immunization and micronutrient supplementation, and on maternal health, including through sexual and reproductive health care and services and voluntary family planning . We warmly support building a global consensus on maternal, newborn and child health as a way to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals for both maternal and child health, through (i) political and community leadership and engagement; (ii) a quality package of evidence-based interventions through effective health systems; (iii) the removal of barriers to access for all women and children, free at the point of use where countries chose to provide it; (iv) skilled health workers; (v) accountability for results. We encourage the work of the WHO, WB, UNICEF and UNFPA are doing to renew international efforts on maternal and child health. We will implement further efforts towards universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010, with particular focus on prevention and integration of services for HIV/TB. We will combine this with actions to: combat TB and Malaria; address the spread of Neglected Tropical Diseases and work towards completing the task of polio eradication; improve monitoring of emerging infectious diseases. In this regard, we stress the importance of addressing gender inequality. We commend the strong African leadership in addressing health challenges and welcome the launch of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance on the occasion of the 64th UNGA in September 2009.

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123. We also recognize the need to strengthen the link between health sector and other policies by promoting the strategic approach of “health as an outcome of all policies”. We aim at addressing the key determinants of health through mutually reinforcing policies across sectors such as poverty reduction, food and nutrition, water supply and sanitation, education, gender equality, employment, housing, justice, environment and science and technology. We commit to counter any form of stigma, discrimination and human rights violation and to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and the elimination of travel restrictions on people living with HIV/AIDS.