UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE Mobilizing international efforts in support of the Palestinian Government s State-building programme Helsinki, 28 and 29 April 2011 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY PLENARY II Looking ahead: Developing sovereign institutions and creating a sustainable Palestinian economy Paper presented by Ms. Alia El-Yassir Head of Office United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) West Bank and Gaza Office Jerualem 1
Role of Women in socio-economic development UN Seminar in Assistance to the Palestinian People April 2011 2
Looking Ahead: Components of State-building Ensuring SOVREIGNTY ADMINISTRATIVE Control Management of PUBLIC FINANCES Management of ASSETS Provision of INFRASTRUCTURE Services Formation of the MARKET Delineation of CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES Investment in HUMAN CAPITAL Rule of LAW INTERNATIONAL Relations 3
Women s role STATE COMMUNITY HOUSEHOLD INDIVIDUAL 4
Positive Trends Public Administration National women s machinery First-ever Cross-sectoral National Gender Strategy Management of Finances Commitment to Gender Responsive Budgeting Gender equality and women s empowerment budgeted in the new NDP 5
Infrastructure Positive Trends Commitment to developing good quality, integrated, sustainable, affordable and safe infrastructure systems and networks Commitment to developing and strengthening community-level infrastructure 6
Positive Trends International Relations Endorsement of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Policy Commitments Zero tolerance for discrimination and violence against women Justice and rule of law for all 7
What are the gaps? Women are the most under-utilized resource in socio-economic development Women s formal labour force participation is around 15%, among the lowest in the world Lack of diversification in women s employment employment of women is approximately 61% in services and 20% in agriculture 8
What are the gaps? Women are the most under-utilized resource in socio-economic development The highest unemployment rate 47% - is among young women between the ages of 15-24 26% of women with 13 or more years of schooling are unemployed 9
What are the gaps? Women s work remains hidden 6 out 10 working Palestinian women are employed in the informal sector Women s informal work considered only as supplementary income for households 10
What are the gaps? Women s work remains hidden Women s contribution to family-owned enterprises is largely unpaid Women s domestic work and care-giving is not considered in economic terms 11
What are the gaps? Women are not always reaping the benefit of economic participation Wage gaps persist for the same type of work Working women are not granted the same benefits/allowances as male colleagues Women are still a minority in decisionmaking positions 12
What are the gaps? Women are not always reaping the benefit of economic participation Rights are not protected in informal work Control over assets/resources in households is still restricted by traditional gender roles Female-headed households are more susceptible to food insecurity and poverty 13
What are the gaps? Women s economic participation hindered by social norms Families tend to revert to more traditional division of roles if the household s economic situation permits Gender asset gap: Building financial capital to start a business is difficult for women 14
What are the gaps? Women s economic participation hindered by social norms Women s low business capital in terms of networks and trusts in relationshipbased economy Women s dependency on support of male relatives Limited decision-making in household finances 15
ECONOMY CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? Targeted policy to increase women s participation in the labour market Protecting working women from discrimination Ensuring social security rights for unemployed women 16
ECONOMY CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? Ensuring legalized social protection for women participating in informal and home-based economies Legal framework validating domestic work as part of the national economy Custom facilitation for export of women s production Tax exemptions for women cooperatives 17
SOCIAL CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? Encouraging enrolment of women and girls in TVET Expanding TVET options in line with labour market demands Engendering school curricula and higher education institutions 18
SOCIAL CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? Taking all legal and legislative measures to ensure comprehensive health rights and services throughout their life cycle Media strategy to address negative social attitudes and norms regarding women s roles in Palestinian society 19
CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Provision of reliable and affordable childcare services Improve the regulation of the public transport sector to enhance women s mobility 20
CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? GOVERNANCE Institutionalization of Gender: Enforcement of governmental commitment on gender equality Ensuring provision/use of sex and age disaggregated data 21
CSNGS and the PDP: What needs to be done? GOVERNANCE Gender mainstreaming in ministerial planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation Taking legal, legislative and operational measures to reinforce gender equality and equity (personal status, civil rights, labour law, protection from violence) 22
Wrap-up Investing in women makes sense for socio-economic development and is an important part of state-building Palestinian Authority commitments and efforts in the promotion of gender equality and women s empowerment are commendable, now, these should be translated in implementation of the PDP and associated budgets There must be more concerted efforts to eliminate discrimination and protect women s rights There must be basic infrastructure and services in place to support individuals, households and communities Focus on development and nation-building 23
Wrap-up SG is committed to promoting a partnership between the United Nations system and Member States to ensure that at least 15% of United Nations-managed funds in support of peacebuilding are dedicated to projects whose principal objective, consistent with organizational mandates, is to address women s specific needs, advance gender equality or empower women 24
Case Study: Model of Socioeconomic Development Women-run school canteens Partnership: Government, UN, Donor Balance of socio-economic goals: Improving school children s health, nutrition and academic attainment Creating sustainable business opportunities for women 25
Case Study: Model of Socioeconomic Development STATE COMMUNITY HOUSEHOLD INDIVIDU AL 26
Case Study: Model of Socioeconomic Development Women-run school canteens Up-scaling 536,118 student beneficiaries Improved infrastructure in 1573 schools Almost 3000 rural women employed At least 280 women CBOs have sustainable income to serve around 170,000 rural women 27
THANK YOU 28