Issue: 118
United Nations Joint Programme for Promoting the Human Rights of Women has ended with a closing ceremony on 8th of September after its three years of successful implementation.
The Joint Program worked on the challenges related to women’s human rights in 11 provinces in Turkey, through its three components - Gender Responsive Budgeting, Purple Certificate and Sabancı Foundation Grant Program.
The Joint Program achieved remarkable outcomes by creating an “enabling environment” for accelerating the implementation of gender equality commitments at the local level and contributing to the development of sustainable capacities to promote, protect and realize women’s human rights and contribute to gender equality in various areas of life.
Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey, says that the Joint Program has taken important strides but he also underlines that the work is far from complete: “The key is to continue and build more solid partnerships and the ownership of all relevant stakeholders.”
The closing meeting of the Joint Program was held in Ankara on 8th of September. There was a broad participation from local and central administrations, municipalities, NGOs, international organizations and the media. The final beneficiaries shared their experiences during three years of the Joint Program at the ceremony.
What has been achieved with three components?
The Purple Certificate Program, successfully implemented by Sabancı University, raised gender awareness and supported high school teachers to develop a critical gender perspective. Since 2012, 145 teachers have obtained Purple Certificates and they are now better able to use gender equality education techniques in their in-class practices.
The Gender Responsive Budgeting component led by UN Women, made important contributions to improve gender equality policies and practices at a local level. The municipalities of the pilot provinces now have better plans and programs for gender equality and empowerment of women. They have also allocated significantly more funding for their implementation. With the raised awareness on gender inequalities, municipalities started to remove gender-based segregation of labor perception from their employment policies. Ultimately, the Municipalities now provide better services which take gender inequalities into account.
The Sabancı Foundation Grant Program, implemented jointly by the Sabancı Foundation and UNDP, supported local civil society organizations to address local needs to ensure women’s human rights. Twenty grant projects, in nine provinces, applied new and innovative methods. Not only women, but also men took part in activities in public spheres for as where traditional social values are often generated or reinforced, such as coffee houses. Various issues were covered - from combatting gender based violence to participation in professional life, civic rights and reproductive health. Grantees have worked on social and economic challenges faced by disadvantaged women, such as women with disabilities’, women in poverty and girl children.
As a result of the synergy between the Gender Responsive Budgeting and Grant Program Components, both municipalities and CSOs have improved their capacities for gender responsive planning and budgeting. Women’s organizations developed platforms in order to advocate for and monitor the implementation of gender responsive budgeting practices.
“We see this clearly in the world’s most vibrant and stable democracies, where Government and civil society work together for common goals,” he continued.
“Civil society acts as a catalyst for social progress and economic growth. It plays a critical role in keeping Government accountable, and helps represent the diverse interests of the population, including its most vulnerable groups.”
Yet, Mr. Ban pointed out, freedom to operate for civil society is diminishing – or even disappearing. An alarming number of governments have adopted restrictions that limit the ability of non-governmental organizations to work, or to receive funding, or both. That is why, he added, the theme of this year’s Day is space for civil society.
“On this Day, let us recall that progress and civic participation go hand in hand,” he said. “As the United Nations continues to work towards a democratic, pluralistic future for all, the State and civil society can and should be partners in building the future people want.”
Beyond the female labor supply effects, this study evaluates a demand-side economic rationale for public investment in the social care services sector.
This study simulates the impact of an additional 20.7 billion TRY expenditure on child-care centers and preschools - the estimated amount in order for Turkey to catch up with the average OECD preschool enrollment rate - on new employment opportunities, as well as on gender equality, income generation and poverty.
It is shown that an expenditure of this magnitude in early childhood care and preschool education (ECCPE) would create 2.5 times more jobs in ECCPE and indirectly in other sectors than the number of jobs likely to be created with the same amount of investment in the construction sector. 719 thousand new jobs are created via expenditures on ECCPE versus 290,000 new jobs via construction. In addition, while 73% of the new jobs created via an ECCPE expansion are estimated to go to women, as little as 6% of the new jobs created via a construction boom go to women.
Beyond the Turkish context, the results of this study also have implications for policy debates in other countries in the region, most of which lack social care infrastructure.
The findings are particularly relevant for a number of developing and transition economies in Europe and Central Asia, which have very limited provisioning of social care services, low female labor force participation, and/or high unemployment.
The study suggests that prioritizing fiscal expenditures for building a social care service infrastructure promises short-run economic returns in the form of hundreds of thousands of new jobs, improved gender equality in the labor market and alleviation of poverty through dual earner households.
Important findings of the conference were shared and discussed during the launch meeting organized on 18th of September.
The research report was prepared by Istanbul Technical University Women’s Studies Center and the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, with the partnership of the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Women (UN Women).
[BAGLANTILAR]
The project, which is funded by SIDA, is the first tripartite partnership of UNDP in Turkey, Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the Ministry of Justice in the field of legal aid.
“Recognizing the criticality of empowering individuals and groups with transparent, accountable and inclusive systems, this Project aims to address the gaps in legal aid system and empower the disadvantaged groups through development of context, group and age specific approaches to legal aid services in Turkey,” stated Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Turkey, while delivering her speech during the signature ceremony.
It will develop coordinated efforts for enhancing the quality of the legal aid services in Turkey as well as capacity of the attorneys, particularly addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups as well as Syrian population at southern provinces of Turkey.
In addition, the Project will also address the institutional needs of Bar Associations for an effective coordinated and monitored legal aid system.
Ombudsmen from all around the world, representatives of European, Mediterranean and International Networks of Ombudsmen, representatives of international organizations and pillars of national human rights machinery in Turkey discussed the good practices and lessons learned on the effective functioning of Ombudsman institutions in line with international standards, in a two-day meeting in Ankara, Turkey.
Participants emphasized the role of Ombudsman institutions for the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, especially women, children and person with disabilities. Different country experiences were shared and concrete recommendations for an effective functioning of Ombudsman Institutions were provided.
The Ombudsmen were also discussed specific issues like structures of national human rights systems and their role, as well as scope of the Ombudsman’s authority, particularly with respect to relations between Ombudsman and Judiciary, relations with the Parliament and Ombudsman’s right to take the case to the court or intervene the case.
“As an agent of change, UNDP seeks to place human beings and human rights at the center of its work as part of its human development approach and paradigm. In that sense, it is not surprising that UNDP has a strong commitment to the reform process in this critical area,” said Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey, during his opening remarks at the symposium.
International Symposium of Ombudsman Institutions organized for the third time in Ankara and it truly becomes a platform for mutual exchange of experience and knowledge between different countries where best practices and lessons learned in effective functioning of Ombudsman Institutions are discussed and essential recommendations are provided.
The Third International Symposium on Ombudsman Institutions was organized under the “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Ombudsman Institution” project which was developed by the Ombudsman Institution in Turkey together with UNDP.
The Grant Program supported the capacities of civil society organizations. New and innovative methods of awareness raising were supported by the grants, whereby not only women, but also men took part in activities.
Activities covered many areas, from advocacy against gender-based violence and in favor of women’s participation in professional life to promoting civic rights in reproductive health.
[BAGLANTILAR]
At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, more than 150 world leaders adopted the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will support governments around the world in tackling the new agenda and taking it forward over the next 15 years.
The 17 new Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, aim to end poverty, hunger and inequality, take action on climate change and the environment, improve access to health and education, build strong institutions and partnerships, and more.
“Ours is the last generation which can head off the worst effects of climate change and the first generation with the wealth and knowledge to eradicate poverty. For this, fearless leadership from us all is needed,” said Helen Clark. “If the global community collectively is prepared to step up to the challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, then there’s a chance of achieving sustainable development – and with it better prospects for people and our planet.”
With 50 years of experience supporting countries in their development, UNDP will be the first port of call for support for many governments as they implement the SDGs.
MDGs to SDGs
The SDGs build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight anti-poverty targets that the world committed to achieving by 2015. Since the MDGs were adopted in 2000, enormous progress has been made, but more needs to be done.
The SDGs have a more ambitious agenda, seeking to eliminate rather than reduce poverty, and include more demanding targets on health, education and gender equality. They are universal, applying to all countries and all people. The agenda also includes issues that were not in the MDGs such as climate change, sustainable consumption, innovation and the importance of peace and justice for all.
UNDP key partner in defining conversation on SDGs
As the lead UN agency mandated to eradicate poverty, UNDP has had a central role in shaping the new global development agenda. UNDP helped governments get together with civil society, the private sector and with people around the world to decide what the world's priorities were for the SDGs and make the process to determine the 2030 agenda open, transparent and global.
Since 2012, UNDP has led the global conversation on what to include on the agenda on behalf of the UN Development Group. That conversation sought the views and contributions of people from all over the world, including more than 8 million people through the MY World survey and World We Want 2015 platform.
“UNDP are committed to a strong global partnership that is key to the realization of the new agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals,” Clark said.
[BAGLANTILAR]
Social Good Summit Istanbul meet-up will be organized on October 7 by United Nations Development Programme with the support of Türk Telekom Group. The Istanbul meet-up is part of a global conversation taking place in more than 100 countries around the world where the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives will be examined.
Speakers of the meet-up this year will include Emine Etili, Twitter Turkey Head of Public Policy, Mert Fırat, Actor and Founder of ihtiyacharitasi.org, Nilay Erdem, Facebook Turkey Head of Public Policy and activists, artists and creative people from the region.
Discussions will center on how journalism can impact social good, as well as how innovation and new technologies can contribute to the realization of the Global Development Goals. The Summit will play host to the launch of the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub’s “Innovation in the age of the Global Goals” – an in-depth report exploring UNDP’s innovation work in Europe and Central Asia.
This year’s Social Good Summit coincides with the United Nations' ratification of its 17 Global Goals. More than 7 million people from around the world voted for the goals, making the international meetups a symbolic “ringing in” of what the UN calls “the people's goals”.
The Social Good Summit meet-up is organized by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of Türk Telekom.
What: Social Good Summit 2015 İstanbul meet-up
When: 7 October 2015, 09.00-17.00
Where: Marriott Hotel, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey
For more information, please contact:
[BAGLANTILAR]
“We want to provide young journalists in developing countries a unique opportunity to contribute to the global debate on climate change in the run-up to COP21, while building their capacity and providing recognition for excellence” noted Neil Buhne, UNDP Geneva Director.
UNDP targets journalists 35 years of age and under from developing countries who are already engaged in public writing and want to contribute – locally and internationally – towards greater public awareness on climate change.
The best stories will be published every day in the immediate run-up to COP21, carrying messages of struggle, opportunity and hope from the climate change frontlines worldwide. The authors of the top two prize-winning stories will be invited to attend and cover the COP21 UN climate summit in Paris this December.
Stories can be submitted by young journalists from developing countries in English, and in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish with an English translation, on a rolling basis until October 11th, 2015. Guidelines to participate are available on UNDP Geneva website.
A team of senior journalists reporting on climate change from top-tier international media outlets, regional media associations, and representatives from major international organizations, will review the entries and mentor the participants.
“The contest is an excellent initiative to promote investigative and innovative coverage from the young generation of journalists. It is also an opportunity for African journalists to reconfigure state-society relations and contribute to the development of the continent” added Sidi El Moctar Cheiguer, President of the African Network of Environmental Journalists.
Stories, once screened and scored will be published on UNDP’s website and disseminated through partners’ channels to ensure maximum outreach and support the call for an ambitious agenda to be endorsed during the COP21.
APO (The African Press Organization) and Oxfam Hong Kong are special partners of the contest.
Participating organizations: African Network of Environmental Journalists, Care International, China Dialogue, Global Call for Climate Action, International Center for Journalists, Global Village of Beijing, Innovative Green Development Program, InterNews, Pacific Islands News Association, RNTC, RTCC/Climate Home, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and University of the South Pacific.
We also thank the global network of climate vulnerable countries active in the Climate Vulnerable Forum currently chaired by Philippines for its support.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Bel – UNDP Communication Specialist
+41 22 917 8544
Social media:
Hashtag #Voices2Paris
For frequent updates follow also Twitter @UNDPGeneva and @TheCVF
Future is in Tourism is implemented in cooperation with Ministry of Culture and Tourism, UNDP and Anadolu Efes.
The deadline for the competition which is run in cooperation with Karabuk University is 6th November 2015.
Projects must be related to Safranbolu theme and products must be include local crafts. Applicants should be university students in related departments of universities in Turkey and they can apply individually or in a group.
The winners of the competition are announced in 15th January 2015.
The details for the competition and for the application:
To see all vacancies, click here.
Editor: Faik Uyanık
Assistant: Nazife Ece
Contributors to this issue: Berna Bayazıt, Ebru Özberk Anlı, Gökçe Bayrakçeken, İpek İlkkaracan, Seher Alacacı, Ülkem Önal