In the realm of women’s rights and gender equality, there is an ongoing battle to challenge the status quo, particularly when it comes to the economic policies that have often led to the violation of women’s human rights. In this pursuit, the Women and Media Collective (WMC) and the International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW-AP) joined forces to conduct a transformative five-day residential training workshop. Held from August 28th to September 1st, 2023, at the picturesque Jetwing Lagoon in Negombo, this workshop was dedicated to advancing gender equality through feminist, human rights-based economic advocacy.
At its core, the workshop sought to equip its 30 participants, who brought a wealth of experience from diverse fields related to women’s rights, with the knowledge and resources to challenge the prevailing neoliberal capitalism approach found in macroeconomic policies. These policies have, more often than not, been at odds with the principles of human rights and gender equality. The workshop also aimed to empower participants to incorporate macroeconomic analysis into their respective areas of work, thereby fostering a more holistic approach to advocating for women’s rights. Additionally, the workshop served as a guiding light, showing participants how to draft CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) shadow reports and engage effectively with the CEDAW review process, all while keeping gender equality and macroeconomics at the forefront of their efforts.
The workshop kicked off with two illuminating sessions. In the first session, participants were introduced to the world of UN treaty bodies and conventions. They gained a solid understanding of CEDAW, exploring its foundational principles from a feminist perspective. A fascinating aspect of this day was the categorization of participants into four groups, each focusing on specific CEDAW articles: Article 11 (Employment), Article 12 (Health), Article 13 (Economic and Social Life), and Article 14 (Rural Women). Each group embarked on the task of mapping out the actors responsible for ensuring compliance with these CEDAW articles.
Building on the foundation laid on the first day, the second day delved deeper into the CEDAW framework. Participants were provided with an in-depth understanding of key thematic areas, including Non-discrimination, Substantive Equality, and State Obligations. Continuing in their groups, participants honed in on topics relevant to their assigned articles. They examined issues, consequences, root causes, and contributing factors, all through the lens of CEDAW’s core thematic areas.
The workshop’s third day began with a comprehensive discussion on Sri Lanka’s country report for the years, 2017 and 2022. This segment included an exploration of the List of Issues, General Recommendations, and shadow reports submitted by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). In the second session, the workshop shifted its focus to the practical aspect of the participants’ work. Groups began the meticulous process of designing their CEDAW reports, aligning them with their respective articles. This entailed identifying key issues and areas requiring emphasis, with the challenging task of producing both a descriptive report (within 6,600 words) and a concise summary report (within 1,200 words).
Armed with a deeper understanding of the CEDAW framework and its practical applications, participants embarked on the fourth day with renewed vigor. The day began with a brief yet essential introduction to the CEDAW committee, its functions, reporting cycle, and the structure of shadow reports. Building on this knowledge, the groups delved into the drafting process. They planned activities, distributed responsibilities among team members, and presented their progress to the larger gathering, inviting valuable insights and feedback from their peers.
As the workshop drew to a close, participants convened for the final day’s activities. In the first session, each group had the opportunity to present their draft reports, showcasing their collective efforts and the depth of their understanding of their respective CEDAW articles. The second half of the session focused on charting a path forward. Participants discussed their future work plan, scheduled dates for upcoming activities, and laid the groundwork for their continued advocacy. The five-day workshop culminated with each participant encapsulating their experience in a single word, reflecting the impact of this transformative journey.
