Resolution submitted by women’s media and information and communication organizations attending the 49th session of the UN CSW and the 10-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action

March 4, 2005

New York, New York Women's Media Pool - Concerned that women and media issues are excluded in the ongoing deliberations on the 10-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action despite the fact that regional reviews in Asia-Pacific and Latin American and the Caribbean underscored the role of media and ICTs in women's empowerment. Recalling that the UN DAW and the CSW highlighted the significance of these issues in its 47th session to follow through the agreements in the Women and Media section (section J) of the BPFA. Acknowledging that the Beijing Declaration and the BPFA called for an increase in participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication; and the promotion of a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media. Recalling that the five-year review of the implementation of the BPFA recognized that ICTs created new opportunities for women and contributed to knowledge-sharing, network and electronic commerce activities. Recalling that the agreed conclusions from the 47th CSW session addressed women’s equal access to ICT-based economies, activities and employment and put forward recommendations in areas of policy development and regulatory aspects, access, education, work and employment, partnerships, participation and cooperation, research, data collection and good practices, and resources. These conclusions considered ICT as a tool for the promotion of gender equality. Recognizing that in the past 10 years, issues of communication and media have become a critical cross cutting development issue and a vital instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women; and that the provisions on women and media in Section J provided the impetus that women and gender advocates have used in many national, regional, and international processes to strengthen and expand advocacy for women’s empowerment through media and communications. Emphasizing that the Millennium Declaration reconfirmed the urgency of ensuring the benefits of new ICTs stating that “all Member States were committed to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, as well as ensuring that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies were available to all” Acknowledging that at the World Summit on the Information Society in December 2003, 175 governments endorsed the WSIS Declaration of Principles and Action Plan that reflect a commitment to gender equality. We, women's media, information, and communications organization call upon governments to: *Ensure that the women, media, and ICT issues as outlined in this resolution are kept on the agenda of the Beijing + 10 review. *Support the achievements and the continuing efforts of women’s media and ICT activists, advocates and practitioners to contribute to the dialogue during the 49th CSW session. *Recognize and support community and independent media initiatives in the further implementation of the BPFA. *Ensure that the agreements in the 47th CSW session, the WSIS Declaration and Plan of Action, Millennium Declaration are affirmed and implemented. AMARC (World Association of Community Broadcasters) -Women’s International Network Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Networking Support Programme Asia Pacific Women’s Watch Feminist International Radio Endeavor FEMLINK Pacific Gender Education Research and Technologies GenderLinks South Africa International Association of Women in Radio and Television International Women’s Tribune Centre Isis WICCE NRO Frauenforum UK Gender Statistics Users Group Women’s Environment and Development Organization Women's eNews