Gender commentary on the 9th World Urban Forum
On 22 February 2018, IIED hosted the first in a series of seminars commenting on the gender equality dimensions of international events. Here's what happened:
- IIED director of Communications Liz Carlile chaired the panel discussion comprising experts who attended the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF9) and who work in the urban and gender sphere. They took different perspectives as they looked at how the forum and other international processes promote and inhibit progress towards gender equality.
- The event heard from urban social anthropologist and social policy specialist, Emeritus Professor Caroline Moser; Laura Lima, urban specialist at Cities Alliance; David Dodman, director of IIED's Human Settlements Group; and Alex Norodom, coordinator in IIED Human Settlements Group.
- We're looking forward to hearing from @dee_are_dee @lauramslima @anorodom and Caroline Moser at #gender #WUF9
- David Dodman opened with an overview of urbanisation trends and how they intersect with gender and international events.
- @dee_are_dee now telling us about the scale and nature of urban change - rapid increase in urban population gives rise to #gender issues #WUF9 pic.twitter.com/4Zywdfu8il
- @dee_are_dee Gender differentials in poverty, violence, land access, economic experiences & opportunities in urban centres - what does this mean for global agendas? #WUF9 pic.twitter.com/lW5P4wuXet
- Caroline Moser gave a detailed analysis of the gender equality aspects of WUF9.
- Alex Norodom provided insights straight from WUF9, having attended the Women's Assembly and other events at the international conference.
- Loving this look at #gender and the #WUF9 from @IIED . Lots to discover here not only on the future of women is shaping and benefiting from the New Urban Agenda but also on how to ensure equal participation and speaking opportunities to women within large conferences like WUF. https://twitter.com/IIED/status/966741952896126977 …
- Laura Lima looked across international events from the 1992 Rio Summit to the present day, with an analysis on their engagement with communities.
- Now from @lauramslima: If you see a #gender focal point in your organisation, give them a hug because they are fighting a difficult fight within their institution, and a fight against patriarchy.
- Progress made on bringing on board #gender issues in international forums, but not fast enough, says @lauramslima from @CitiesAlliance. And no one talks about #CEDAW which 180+ governments have actually signed #WUF9
- Thought-provoking questions from the chair and the audience kept the discussion lively. When asked about what to expect in the next five years, the panellists suggested we look to the grassroots for inspiration and answers.
- Question from @lizcarlile - what would you see different in 5 years time? Caroline Moser: grassroots groups are very important and are often strong on #intersectionality
- @dee_are_dee says that grassroots voices are more effectively used at events like #WUF9, due to both technology and their having sophisticated messages.
- @lauramslima: we have a system that produces poor people. If we don't treat the root of the system, we're just treating the symptom. Always look at the grassroots: what makes a community move forward? Representation is the first step but we need to deepen the discussion.
- A question about capacity building spurred some further interesting conversation.
- @lauramslima Also, on capacity, @CitiesAlliance works on the local, national and international level - there has to be a capacity to negotiate on all levels.
- @RosGoodrich @andynortondev @IIED So true. E.g., Repeatedly heard: Women in East Africa 15% less likely to own a mobile phone. Often heard: Implications of above. Hardly heard: What to do about it. Never heard: How to do it.
- Listing women and gender as part of a 'composite group of vulnerabilities' was discussed among the panellists. The main point being 'don't do this in your research or at your event...'
- @lauramslima suggests that getting the discussion of #intersectionality into #NewUrbanAgenda was interesting... ended up with a wish list.
- @lauramslima Question: How do we get rid of 'and women' at the end of a report or paper? How do we separate women from 'vulnerable groups' and work on #gender differently?
- @lauramslima @anorodom says when you think about 'and women': if you don't want to write that sentence you have to understand what it means to not write that sentence.
- @lauramslima @anorodom Moser: women just have to say that we don't want this list, these 'composite categories'.
- The full discussion was live-streamed on Facebook, with final thoughts coming from a colleague following along online - which showed the gendered benefits of live-streaming events.
- @CitiesAlliance Urban Specialist @lauramslima discusses how international events promote or inhibit progress towards #genderequality at @IIED #Gender #intersectionality #WUF9 Watch the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/theIIED/videos/10155442505242879/ …
- Find out more about IIED's ongoing gender transformative work and further discussion on gender at international events:
On a learning curve towards gender mainstreamingFrom the inside out, IIED is taking measures to integrate gender equality into every aspect of our work. Rosalind Goodrich and Morgan Williams report back on institutional learning so far- Putting gender into the heart of IIEDIIED's mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world using evidence, action and influence in partnership with others. But without gender equality and gender equity, there can be no social justice or sustainable development
- Missing voices: let's hear women's experience of climate changeThere was plenty of discussion at the global climate talks about how working directly with women in the global South is essential. But when it came to listening, those very voices were marginalised
