Could Dunedin become New Zealand's first "Cedaw city'', asks the Rev Carol Grant.
CEDAW is the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and is often described as an international bill of rights for women.
Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
The convention defines discrimination against women as ". . . any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field''.
Dunedin is known for its innovative relationships in many fields, its relationships with sister cities, and partnerships.
Portland, USA, is a Cedaw city, despite the US not being a signatory to the convention.
Many others like San Francisco and Los Angeles are also Cedaw cities.
Dunedin has a proud history of advancing education for women and girls, and some outstanding former women leaders.
Dunedin is blessed with a wealth of talented women leaders and decision-makers in a variety of fields.
The city has many men and boys who actively support the empowerment of women and gender equity.
New Zealand, as a country, has a proud record of leading the way in women's suffrage and celebrating its women leaders, who have become role models for so many women achievers.
For the past three years, each March, I have led strong delegations to the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.
Along with thousands of women and girls from around the world we have reflected on progress made since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and set global goals for a sustainable future.
Everyone has a role to play for our common good.
There is increasing evidence that empowering women empowers humanity.
Economies grow faster, families are healthier and better educated, and communities are safer places for us all.
During the global debates I realised that although the New Zealand Government ratified Cedaw on January 10, 1985, and regularly reported progress on how, as a country, New Zealand is eliminating discrimination against women in its periodic reports to the United Nations, there are still many ways the country, its cities, and its citizens can continue to improve eliminating discrimination.
Thirty-one years later we still have much to do.
Today, there is not one country in the world that has achieved gender equality and there is not one city in New Zealand, which has had the courage to become a Cedaw city.
So I wondered if, in 2016, our proud city could make a bold statement in support of its women and girls by taking a positive stand to further empower them by becoming the first Cedaw city in New Zealand to actively work towards eliminating discrimination against the women and girls who contribute so much overall to our city as workers and volunteers, and through its policies and decision-making work towards making the wise decisions that eliminate discrimination.
If the Dunedin City Council supports this move it would make our city a leader in this field, serve as a role model and example for other cities around New Zealand and around the world.
It would raise awareness among the many students who come to study here, and be a point of difference for our city for international visitors.
It would make a very powerful statement about how the city values human rights, the empowerment of its women and girls, and we could all openly celebrate the contribution women make to the economic, social and political health and richness our city holds dear.
In other places such as the US, cities have discovered that becoming a Cedaw city makes a measurable difference in public safety, budgetary allocations and employment, and greatly contributes towards ending violence against women, closing the wage gap, and releasing women's full potential at all levels.
Looking at every policy through a gender-equal lens will not only inspire city-wide initiatives but give the city safer environments with lower rates of violence on our streets, and in our homes, and workplaces.
Such a move would encourage the women leaders of our city and the men who support them, and would encourage and support the girls of our city who will become its leaders in the future.
- The Rev Carol L. Grant, of Dunedin, is the United Nations Convener for the Presbyterian Women of Aotearoa NZ. www.cities4cedaw.org
