Document Abstract
Published:
2011
The global financial and economic crisis and its impact on women: a human rights perspective
How has the global financial and economic crisis impacted on south Asian countries, and how has it affected women and men differently? Common economic analyses have highlighted the social impact using financial indicators. But this approach ignores those sections of society not counted in traditional economic spheres, including many women. Many are concerned that without an integrated gender and human rights approach to understanding the crisis, strategies to address it will continue to increase women’s marginalisation and vulnerabilities rather than address them.
In south Asia, there is an urgent need for engaging, sharing, discussing these issues and formulating alternative policies, strategies and recommendations. So in August 2010 the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in partnership with UN Women and Heinrich Böll Foundation, hosted a two day workshop in Delhi. It was intended to enable experts to develop policy and advocacy tools in order to address the negative impact of the crisis from a gender and human rights perspective.
This report was written as a result of the workshop. It begins by setting the context for women and the economic crisis, both globally and in south Asia, and discusses how the human rights agenda fits within this context. It goes on to present perspectives from south Asia on the crisis and food security, food sovereignty, migration, trade, social security, conflict, labour rights, international aid, natural resource management and climate change. The report is packed with regional and local material, including from India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. A range of ‘ways forward’ are then presented, with recommendations around responding to the crisis, comprehensive sustainable development, food sovereignty, conflict, aid and funding, and promotion of women’s rights. Workshop participants also expressed a wish for a South Asia regional task force to monitor these issues and work collectively to develop human rights indicators from a feminist perspective. All agreed that further work in this area is necessary.
In south Asia, there is an urgent need for engaging, sharing, discussing these issues and formulating alternative policies, strategies and recommendations. So in August 2010 the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in partnership with UN Women and Heinrich Böll Foundation, hosted a two day workshop in Delhi. It was intended to enable experts to develop policy and advocacy tools in order to address the negative impact of the crisis from a gender and human rights perspective.
This report was written as a result of the workshop. It begins by setting the context for women and the economic crisis, both globally and in south Asia, and discusses how the human rights agenda fits within this context. It goes on to present perspectives from south Asia on the crisis and food security, food sovereignty, migration, trade, social security, conflict, labour rights, international aid, natural resource management and climate change. The report is packed with regional and local material, including from India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. A range of ‘ways forward’ are then presented, with recommendations around responding to the crisis, comprehensive sustainable development, food sovereignty, conflict, aid and funding, and promotion of women’s rights. Workshop participants also expressed a wish for a South Asia regional task force to monitor these issues and work collectively to develop human rights indicators from a feminist perspective. All agreed that further work in this area is necessary.
