Taskforce BPW

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Taskforce Women for Water BPW 

Download zipped word documentТактическая группа Международной Федерации  «Женщины для Воды»

Action Plan 2003 – 2005

GoBasic principles and Organization Taskforce

GoWomen act locally, and join forces globally

GoOpinions

GoActivities and planning

Go2002/2003

Go2004

Go2005

Basic principles and Organization (concept) of the Taskforce.

The taskforce aims to further:

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the implementation of “the Dublin Principles” in order to help safeguard the right of women and men to safe, affordable drinking water, protection from “to much water” and clean water resources

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work together with other (women)groups to assist in achieving the goals of Agenda21 (Go) and the Milleniumgoals on the subject of “water”: 

Ø    To halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation.

Ø     To develop, by 2005, integrated water resource management (IWRM) plans for the efficient use of water in all countries.

and create awareness on the all important issue of safeguarding our water and getting women involved.

This translates into the following:

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enabling and empowering local (women’s) groups in such a way, that they are able to participate successfully in any form and every level of integrated water resource managemen

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acting as a “linking pin”, mediators, translators between (inter)national partnerships and local groups, 

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Setting up a knowledge “bank” and “think tank”

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Acting as facilitators (made to measure, depending on local wishes and necessities)

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monitoring developments , evaluate and assist in adjusting plans and facilities

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developing a concept and strategy.

 The taskforce should:

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 cover the world / every region

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be (able to) involve as many women as possible by having local and regional “footholds” - Every woman’s input is important and worthwhile

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be able to start and/ or stimulate Projects involving women in Integrated Water Resource Management on all levels a.s.a.p.

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be easily accessible for every BPW – member and other women(groups)

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use existing knowledge, experience and projects and build on that

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work closely with the Standing Committee on Environment (and Sustainable Development) of BPW International

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work closely with other women networks, who are part of the Women for Water Initiative

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be the voice of (BPW)women on the international stage on the subject of IWRM.

Women act locally, and join forces globally

The following women are members of the Taskforce Women for Water (2006-2008):

bulletRita Assogna, Germany, BPW member and member AG Wasser BPW Germany  
bulletNikki Bennett-Willetts, UK, international director BPW UK
bulletMaria Gavra,  Arad, Romania
bulletDianne Glenn, New Zealand, former regional coordinator BPWI
bulletMangala Karanjit,  Nepal
bulletYara Rosenmann – Blochtein, Brasil, Chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and sustainable development of BPW International 
bulletLesha Witmer, Chair and one of the coordinators of “women for Water Initiative”

For contact: click on a name and send an e-mail.

 The taskforce (members) will have the following tasks:

        

  1. Set up of taskforce:

  2. (at least) One member in every region

  3. Link up with members standing committee on environment and regional coordinators 

  4. Define issues and projects and find partners

  5. “Spread the word” and motivate women all over to participate

  6. find and/or create tools for women to participate, get ideas about their involvement, their (possible) contribution

  7. get funding (EU, national governments, “private” funds)

  8. Find and “coach” “women for water ambassadors”

  9. On request – assist Federations in setting up national taskforces on “water”

  10. Set up website for info exchange and communication

  11. Set up knowledge bank / databank:  “best practise” and information

  12. stimulate and assist in building in gender accountability into policies and accounts in the water and sanitation sectors by assisting in further developing the necessary tool(s) and lobby for the use

  13. Set up “Women for Water Watch” to monitor the development of Agenda 21 and the millennium goals as far as “Water” is the issue

  14. Participate actively in influencing of government-policies regarding IWRM f.i. by taking part in international (UN) conferences related to the subject

  15. stimulate (and assist) BPW women at national / regional level to participate actively in the influencing of government-policies regarding IWRM 

  16. Together with the Standing Committee on legislation assist to set up free high-quality legal services to assist in understanding the consequences of public-private partnership negotiations, so that public control over public-private partnership can be guaranteed

  17. Assist in setting up of (local) projects, funding, course-development.

Off course the general idea is to involve as many women as possible as soon as possible and “delegate” (parts of) these tasks.

 The tasks of the “water ambassadors” entail:

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Be the liaison between the Taskforce and active women in their region/community

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Report about projects, good examples, ideas etc. on water (-management)

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“translate” information both ways; help create awareness

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Assist local groups or “organize” assistance (from the Taskforce or others)

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assist / be part of the “Women Water Watch”, monitoring the Beijng+10  and millenniumgoals in relation to water issues

Opinions

The Taskforce will advocate the following opinions and recommendations on all the platforms where we have or will obtain “a voice”:

·         Gender Responsive Budget Initiatives (GRBIs) should be introduced in the water sector, as these will enable governments, donors, multi-lateral agencies and civil society organizations to be accountable to their commitments to gender equity, poverty eradication, sustainable development and rights-based governance.

An inter-ministerial dialogue on gender should be established and incorporated into the existing ministerial networks. This should be supported by regular contact between the public sector and civil society in order to ensure an ongoing exchange on the progress made on gender mainstreaming in Integrated Water Resource Management. 

Women's organisations should form a Global Women's Water Watch enhancing the implementation of the Women's Water Agenda. Such a platform could provide governments with valuable feedback on the impact of globalisation as well as national and local water policies on gender equality goals.

Qualitative indicators are needed to monitor the impact of gender mainstreaming and empowerment of women on sustainable development.

Gender-sensitive, environmentally sound, locally appropriate and affordable technologies are needed to realize the water and sanitation targets established at the WSSD and in the work program of the CSD (Un committee for sustainable development).

“Water for Life” is a good initiative, but that we don’t want to wait until 2012 or 2015 to get safe water. Low cost sustainable solutions can be implemented immediately and even help create local employment. Successful programmes need to be carried by the local communities, should have a gender perspective and require equal participation of women at all levels.

Promote affordable efficient sustainable solutions such as eco-sanitation, organic farming,  rainwater-harvesting and decentralized waste-water treatment

free high-quality legal services should be provided to local authorities, national authorities and civil society organisations to fully understand the consequences of public-private partnership negotiations, so that public control over public-private partnership can be guaranteed.

Activities and planning

2002/2003

Set up the Taskforce

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Start “spreading the word” by having members of the taskforce and others hold speeches and workshops about the subject at least at all the regional meetings in 2003 and the first half of 2004

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Find “Water ambassadors” and get them started

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Collect ideas and information to help (local) groups to get started

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On request – assist or find assistance for Federations in setting up national taskforces on “water”

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Start a website as focal and distribution point for all the information collected 

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Start fundraising

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Find projects by BPW members, governments, etc. already in existence, that are water-related or can expand to water-related issues involving women in a broad sense ( see Read Report Women's Global Peace Village)

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Participate in World Water Forum 3 in Kyoto (March, see report Read Report) and the ILO/WHO conference in Geneva (December) and regional platforms of the “Water for life” programs (of the EU, Arabic Countries, etc.)

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define issues, measurement instruments, indicators for monitoring the Beijng+10 - , WSSD - and WWF3 goals in relation to water issues for the UN conference together with one of the Universities (European centre for Gender, Maastricht, the Netherlands?) and/ or the International Council of Academic Women 

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and start setting up the “Women Water Watch” with the assistance of the Water Ambassadors (using IT tools)

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participate in the activities of the Standing Committee on environment

GoReport taskforce until oktober 2003 (Worddoc, 55 kb)

2004
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Start of the “Women Water Watch”, monitoring the Beijng+10  and WSSD (millennium) goals in relation to water issues for the UN conference/ report

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Set up a database, together with other organizations of the “Women for Water Initiative” and the IIAV

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Improve and expand the website(s)

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Hold - together with the Netherlands Council of Women, WECF and others - an international conference on best practise, ideas etc. involving women participation in IWRM, start up (at least three) projects and partnerships

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Collect opinions and ideas in preparation of the conference of the Commission on Sustainable Development of the UN (april 2004)

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Liase with the Standing Committee on legislation of BPW to see whether a framework for legal support for local women groups on water control etc. can be set up

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Continue fundraising

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participate in the activities of the Standing Committee on environment

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(if possible) Assist in developing new projects or getting funding

GoReport taskforce until june 2004 (Worddoc, 1700 kb, or without photo's 144 kb)
GoReport and photo's from Rita Assogna about her activities in Italy, Austria and Germany until june 2004 (Worddoc, 28 kb)

2005
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continue the “Women Water Watch” and prepare the report for BPW International

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evaluate the steps taken so far, prepare the report and recommendations for the World Congress in Lucerne, Switzerland

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document the projects thus far and assist in measure to be taken for continuation of the successful one’s

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participate in the activities of the Standing Committee on environment

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find successors!