New Database Additions  Short Summary Title Beijing and Beyond: Putting Gender Economics at the Forefront. Fifteeen Years after the IV World Conference on Women (in English and Spanish) Author Cardona, N., Duhagon, E. and Hamed, A. eds Publication Date February 2010 Publisher Social Watch Summary In Asia, Latin America, The Middle East, Africa and Europe those involved in women's movements have acknowledged the general positive effect that international instruments have had on the lives of women and girls. So what have been the real gains for women since the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA)? This occasional paper includes thematic reports where civil society organisations from different regions and countries analyse achievements and setbacks on the status of women and girls since 1995. It was repeatedly noted that different challenges within each region must be taken into account when analysing advances and setbacks in relation to women's status. Also some regions are registering increasing levels of religious extremisms and/or right-wing conservatism that impact on the propagation of discriminatory laws against women. Political oppression of women is often also compounded by conflicts and militarization seen as a form of 'security'. Across regions, women emphasise the negative impact of the global financial and economic crisis on women, aggravated by the fact that state responses to the crises have mainly been gender blind. National economic policies have focused on male dominated sectors and in many cases have not taken into account the growth of precarious work (where women have often been pushed in) or the relation between paid and unpaid labour. Women's participation in the informal economy and in 'voluntary' work has increased as social protection measures are removed and national governments have cut on spending in public services (where women tend to be employed). For recommendations and specific articles, click on the Long Summary link above. Complete Document View Document