Roads towards gender equity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The last two decades have witnessed far-reaching changes wrought by the influx of women into the public sphere. The results of these events include shifts in the labour market, educational achievements, significant decreases in fertility rates and a resulting modification in relationships within the family and major -though still insufficient- progress in terms of women's participation in decision-making. Nevertheless, most men still do not share in household work or in the array of unpaid care-giving activities entailed by membership in a community and society, and the outcome is that women still bear most of the burden of domestic work. Reconciling the public and private spheres poses challenges in terms of values and behaviours, and public policies are therefore required to promote the redistribution of family responsibilities between men and women. On another front, new institutions have been created as part of complex processes of State reform. Legislative changes have given rise to opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of the genuine and integral exercise of women's human rights. New knowledge and a wide range of policy experiences demonstrate that gender equality has positive effects on development. In this regard, two areas are extremely important both for the region and for the achievement of gender equality: overcoming poverty and empowering the citizenry within a democratic context. Roads towards gender equity is the central document being presented by ECLAC at the ninth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will also serve as the region's contribution to the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, to be held in March 2005. This study examines and assesses fulfilment of the commitments enshrined in the in the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995); and in the Regional Programme of Action for the Women of Latin America and the Caribbean, whose period of implementation was extended beyond 2001 by the Lima Consensus as adopted at the eighth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (Lima, 2000); forth. The study reflects extensive consultations with representatives of the member countries, which participated in three subregional preparatory meetings and two virtual forums In evaluating the events of the past decade, the study takes note of the broad agreement existing among the region's Governments as to the relevance and full validity of the international commitments related to the advancement of women that were adopted at world summits held during the 1990s, which culminated in the Millennium Development Goals.2 These commitments continue to serve as the international roadmap for achieving equality. As a result, this review of progress and challenges has been viewed as a collective learning process involving the identification and dissemination of best practices, together with a consideration of the main obstacles encountered and the tools and knowledge needed to improve policy. Gender mainstreaming in policy-making is still seen as being the most appropriate strategy, even though new challenges are being posed by technological development, problems in the world economy and uncertainty about the future of democracy A preliminary version of this document was submitted at the thirty-fifth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference (Havana, Cuba, 28 and 29 April 2003);.3 At that meeting, member countries recommended that the ninth session of the Regional Conference should focus on two thematic areas: "poverty, economy and gender equity" and "empowerment, institution-building and gender equity" (ECLAC, 2003c);. The first chapter of the document provides an overview of the progress made towards gender equity in the region. The second chapter analyses the links between poverty and the economic autonomy of women. Particular emphasis is devoted to the division of productive and reproductive work and the implications this has in terms of access to opportunities. The third chapter examines the progress made in the spheres of institution-building and political participation. Special mention is made of the contributions made by the gender-based approach to policy-making and implementation as they relate to the achievement of equality and the modernization of the State. The final chapter focuses on the lessons that have been learned and, on this basis, and while recognizing that there is no single model that will serve the needs of all, looks at the factors which, under certain conditions, may promote the achievement of objectives and which should therefore be part of any strategy. By way of conclusion, it is pointed out that, to some extent, the dialogue between gender policies and policies for economic, social and political development still have more to do with art than science.