NEW YORK-(MaraviPost)-The United States of America (US) has introduced a draft resolution at the ongoing Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70). The resolution is aimed at protecting women and girls by adhering to the original meaning of the term “gender” as used in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The resolution reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and notes the work of the contact group tasked with addressing the meaning of the word “gender” in the context of the preparations of the Platform for Action.
The contact group’s final statement, as described in Annex IV of the Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, is a crucial part of the context for understanding the intended meaning of “gender”.
In recent years, the term “gender” has acquired many meanings or connotations that are different from its accepted prior usage, prompting concerns about the potential for reinterpretation.
The Commission on the Status of Women recognizes these developments and is taking steps to clarify the meaning of “gender” in UN documents.
The draft resolution reaffirms that the word “gender” as used in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is intended to be interpreted and understood as referring to men and women, and there is no indication of any new meaning or connotation of the term.
This clarification is essential to protect women and girls from potential harm caused by reinterpretations of “gender” that are not consistent with the original understanding.
The US urges member states and the United Nations system to protect women and girls by adhering to the original terminology and definitions.
This means using the term “gender” in its ordinary, generally accepted usage, as referring to men and women, and avoiding any reinterpretations that could undermine the rights and freedoms of women and girls.
The draft resolution is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the meaning of “gender” and its implications for women’s rights and freedoms.
The outcome of the CSW70 negotiations is far from certain, but one thing is clear: the definition of “gender” will have significant implications for global policies on women’s rights and freedoms.