Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand)

Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand) Inc. was established after the UN 4th World Conference on Women, Beijing,1995 to monitor, review and report on the status of women in New Zealand and is an umbrella NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2010, ‘Working for Gender Justice’. 

PWW(NZ) was a founder member of the Asia Pacific Women’s Watch (APWW), the over-arching ‘Women’s Watch’ which monitors, review and reports to the UN on the status of women across theAsia-Pacific Region.  Over 60 percent of the world’s women live in the Asia-Pacific Region, one of the five regions recognised by the United Nations.  TheNew Zealandorganisation, which became incorporated in 2001, is part of a Pacific sub-regional network reporting within the wider region. 

Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand) focuses on monitoring the implementation withinNew Zealandof the Beijing Platform for Action, the UN General Assembly outcomes document, other programmes for action and UN instruments, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand) has the following objectives

  • To ensure women’s voices from the sub-region  and especiallyNew Zealandare heard internationally
  • To be a communication link betweenNew Zealand  non-governmental women, the sub-region and internationally
  • To monitor the Beijing Platform for Action and any subsequent plans of action for the advancement of women
  • To share strategies to measure and assess changes in women’s status
  • To recognise views and expectations of Tangata Whenua

To keep up-to-date, public conferences are held regularly and outcomes of their focused workshops are documented – for publications visit their website.  

Project 2012
Pacific Women’ s Watch (NZ) CEDAW Panel and AGM 2012

Pacific Women’ s Watch will hold their AGM on Thursday 5 July, 7.30 pm – Somervell Community Centre, cnr Remuera Rd and Greenlane East, Auckland.  The AGM will be followed by a panel discussion: ‘Ready, Set, GO!’  chaired by Dr Peggy Fairbairn Dunlop, Institute of Public Policy, AUT.
Panelists are Dr Judy McGregor, Human Rights Commission and 4 keyAuckland contributors to NZ NGO Alternative CEDAW Reports.  

They will discuss what issues they have chosen to bring to the attention of the UN CEDAW committee and why. 

New Zealandwill present its 7th Report to UN Committee inNew York, week of 16 July 2012. 

Special guests: Kim Ngarimu, Acting Chief Executive of Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Deb Moran, the Ministry’s International Specialist.

This is an Open Meeting – All welcome

Driving Forward Equality for New Zealand Women, 17 November

As a follow up on CEDAW’s concluding observations on New Zealand in 2012  and in preparation for NGO input into CSW57 in March 2013, Pacific Women’s Watch (NZ) is holding a conference on Saturday 17 November from  9.00 am-1.00 pm at the Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road, Western Springs.
 
PWW (NZ) Patron, Professor Marilyn Waring, Institute of Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, will make an opening statement on the Conference theme and be followed by a ‘Panel of Five’:

  • Janet Fanslow,  Associate Professor, Auckland University School of Population and Health Studies: Research Update
  • George Parker,  Senior Policy Analyst, Women’s Health Action Trust:  Health and Transgender Issues
  • Debbie Hager,  Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children: Violence, especially Impacts for Disabled Women
  • Shila Nair,  Senior Advisor, Shakti Community Council:  Refugee and Migrant Issues
  • Deborah Moran, Director, Policy, Ministry of Women’s Affairs:   Targets and Benchmarks.

After morning tea/networking break, Heather Henare, Women’s Refuge New Zealand’s Chief Executive will present her keynote statement. A focus group discussions and a plenary Report-back will complete the Conference.
 
Registration $20, Payment methods:

a)    by cheque to PACIFIC WOMENS WATCH (NZ) Inc – addressed to PWW(NZ) Conference,  P.O.Box 99-464, Newmarket, Auckland 1149 with your full  contact info;

b)    by Direct Transfer to  PWW(NZ), ASB Bank, Remuera / Account: 12 3030 0653903 00.Please note ‘particulars’:  Conf/Your name… on pay in slip. Kindly advise Nicky Spicer, Treasurer  of your registration;

c)    on-the-day registration open from 8.40am
Notes: A reduction for students and un-waged may be available.

The priority theme for 2013′s UN Commission on Status of Women, New York, 4-15 March is: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

Contact: Beverley Turner,  beverleyturner@nznet.gen.nz

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