The
‘Post-2015 Development Agenda’ or ‘Post-2015’ are phrases used a lot for
Soroptimist International’s work at the United Nations. But what exactly do
they mean, and why is it important for Soroptimists to be involved? 

Post 2015 –
What is that all about?

The
Post-2015 Development Agenda will follow on from the Millennium Development
Goals. The content of this new development agenda is being discussed now, but
will be agreed by UN member states next year. During this process, SI’s UN Reps
are advocating for the needs of women and girls to be included in this new
development agenda (otherwise known as the Post-2015 Development Agenda). The
international community is optimistic its goals will be sustainable and
inclusive – but we must keep advocating to make sure!

You can read
more on the background and context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda here.

 

Photo: Governments and NGOs discuss the new development agenda at the UN. 

Why does
this matter to Soroptimist International?

Any new
development agenda will affect the actions taken by governments and other
organisations targeted at bettering the lives and status of women and girls. At
the UN, SI’s UN Reps are able to support governments by advising on ‘best
practice’, vital in achieving gender equality world-wide. This is done by
showcasing Soroptimist projects on issues like Trafficking, Education, Violence
Against Women and more.

 

Photo: Trafficking Gift Box installation. Members of the public can go into the ‘Gift Box’ and learn more about trafficking and the effects that it has. 

How are
Soroptimists contributing to the creation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda?

At the UN,
Soroptimists attend events such as the DPI/NGO Conference to advocate for the
needs of women and girls. This year, the theme at DPI/NGO was ‘2015 and Beyond:
Our Action Agenda’. This Action Agenda was developed and agreed by over 700
NGOs attending the Conference; it is powerful because it shows a united global
voice. Soroptimists in attendance played an active role by submitting comments
that would influence the final document. This final outcome document from
DPI/NGO is given to and is read by governments, telling them what people
on-the-ground need – this is therefore a real opportunity to influence the new
development agenda.

 

Photo: International President Ann Garive (right) and Past International President Alice Wells (left) at DPI/NGO.

Based on the
experiences and views of Soroptimists, SI advocates that the following points
must be included in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and have been
successfully included in the DPI/NGO Action Agenda. They are:

·        
A stand-alone goal for gender equality;

·        
The elimination of violence committed against
women and girls;

·        
To Ensure that all girls and boys complete free,
equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and
effective learning outcomes;

·        
Equal work for equal pay, and;

·        
That accessible and effective monitoring and
accountability systems should be in place.

You can read
the Action Agenda here, and you can read more about Soroptimists’ activities
at DPI/NGO here.

 

Photo: Soroptimist International Delegates for DPI/NGO 2014, including International President Ann Garve (second from right) and Past International President Alice Well (far right). 

What happens
next?

Moving
forward, Soroptimist International, and Soroptimists will continue to advocate
for the needs of women and girls at the UN. In November, a delegation of
Soroptimists will be attending the NGO Forum on Beijing+20 in Geneva, as well
as CSW59 that will be held in New York in March 2015. Additionally, Soroptimist
International’s 16 UN Representatives will be busy making sure the voices of
women and girls are heard at committee meetings and other events.

The aim of
all this is to ensure that every girl and every women has access to their human
rights and is empowered to make free choices about their lives. This is
something that all Soroptimists believe in, but despite much progress, has not
yet been achieved. Events like DPI/NGO give women and girls an opportunity to
be heard – and governments must listen! Opportunities like this do not happen
very often, and so, SI and Soroptimists will be working hard to do all they can
to contribute to the achievement of women’s rights and to highlight what
governments need to do make gender equality a reality for all people,
everywhere.