WHRnet Beijing +10 watch: Central Asian Meeting of Women's NGOs Beijing +10

Representatives of women's NGOs from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan met on October 14-16, 2003 in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan under the theme of Integration of Central Asian Women's Issues into Beijing+10 Review Process. Participating NGOs are members of the network "Central Asian Forum of Women's NGOs" which has been functioning since 1997

Please find attached results of the Cåntral Asian women's NGOs meeting in Bishkek. The working meeting was organised by the Forum of women's NGOs of Kyrgyzstan. Outcome document of October meeting of CA Forum of WNGOs include:

Single position on Beijing +10 issues
Single program for review of BPFA in Central Asian countries
Single schedule of events for 10-year anniversary of BPFA in Central Asian countries.

Objectives of the meeting are:

Discuss international process of Beijing +10
Develop a CA plan for monitoring of implementation of Beijing Platform for Action

Preparations for B+10

The Central Asian meeting meeting has discussed the following agenda:

Agenda:
1. Discussion of the international Beijing +10 process.
2. Position of Central Asian WNGOs to BPFA review after 2005.
3. Central Asian Strategy for review of BPFA implementation and preparation for Beijing +10 events.
4. Country positions:

BPFA review in Central Asian countries for 2003-2005
Proposals for BPFA review under Beijing +10 process at the country and Central Asian levels
Alternative reports - format and timing
Proposals for Beijing +10 events

Outcome Document of the meeting of Central Asian Women's NGOs Integration of Central Asian women's issues into Beijing +10 review process October 14 - 16, 2003 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Representatives of women's NGOs from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan met on October 14-16, 2003 in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan under the theme of Integration of Central Asian Women's Issues into Beijing +10 Review Process. Participating NGOs are members of the network "Central Asian Forum of Women's NGOs" which has been functioning since 1997.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss implementation of the women's advancement program in Central Asian countries. The key issues on the agenda were:

1. Discussion of the international process of Beijing +10 and determining position of Central Asian NGOs on no-negotiations on the text and timing of the next World Conference on Women.
2. Development of the Central Asian Program for Review of the Beijing Platform for Action
3. Preparations for 10-year anniversary of BPFA in Central Asian countries.

The Outcome Document of the October meeting of CA Forum of WNGOs comprises the following components:

Single position on Beijing +10 issues
Single program for review of BPFA in Central Asian countries
Single schedule of events for 10-year anniversary of BPFA in Central Asian countries.

Position of CA Forum of WNGOs on Beijing +10 issues

1. Having discussed results of the meeting of Asia- Pacific NGOs in Bangkok, July 2003, and of the meeting of NGOs at the 47th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2003, CA Forum of WNGOs joins their views and urges not to let negotiations of the BPFA text as negotiations will result in backlash and endless debates.

2. CA Forum of WNGOs (hereinafter Forum) believes that the 5th World Conference on Women must be held no later than 2007. The purpose of the Conference will be to demand Governments' reports on implementation of BPFA. Such conferences put pressure on Governments to report on progress or lack of it.

3. The Forum understands the importance of integration of Central Asian NGOs into the international process of Beijing +10 in various formats, including on-line participation. Forum must ensure participation of Central Asian delegates at the 49th session of CSW in 2005.

4. The Forum believes participation of Central Asian sub-region in regional, international and global events in the Beijing +10 process is important. Central Asian Conference on review of BPFA in light of Beijing +10 process must be held. Central Asian NGOs welcome any support, including political and information, from women's NGOs and other actors of the Beijing +10 process.

5. CA Forum of WNGOs has volunteered to act as a focal point for Central Asia to continue discussions on the international process of Beijing +10 at the regional and international levels.

6. The following organizations volunteered to act as focal points at the country level to continue discussions on Beijing +10 in their countries.

Kyrgyzstan - Forum of WNGOs, Djanaeva Nurgul, janay@elcat.kg
Kazakhstan - Feminist League, Kozyreva Eugenia, kozyreva@women.kz
Uzbekistan - Association of Women- Entrepreneurs "Tadbirkol Ayol", Khamidova Gulchahra, bwa@freenet.uz, dildoradilia@hotmail.com
Turkmenistan - Journalists' Union "Shamchy", Chuli-Kuli Sona, Arkdag@cpart.ash.tm, Sona@ngotm.org, caaj@cpart.asb.tm

Program of Review of the Beijing Platform for Action implementation in Central Asian Countries

The purpose of the review is to identify constraints which hinder achievement of goals and to develop new actions to overcome the constraints.

1. Steering Committee of CA Forum of WNGOs is elected to ensure the Forum is integrated in the international process of Beijing +10 and to manage BPFA review in Central Asian countries.

2. Critical review of CA government reports on BPFA implementation must be made.

3. NGOs must ensure their participation in preparation of alternative reports.

4. Alternative reports must be sent to all existing networks.

5. Draw up a monitoring map for BPFA.