South Asia NGO Meeting for Beijing +5 Review: 11-14 August, Kathmandu, Nepal

UN Process

At the Beijing Meeting, it was agreed that a review of the implementation will take place at the end of 5 years. Govt. who committed themselves to implementing the BPFA are therefore asked by CSW and DAW to report on the process they have made. DAW has sent out questionnaires to Govts. and is compiling their reports. In addition, DAW has identified 4 cross-cutting themes from the BPFA and outlined emerging issues for govts. To focus on during the review. NGOs have lobbied for the framework process to be kept open.

At the regional level UN ESCAP has convened an Expert Group Meeting in April '99 to preapre for a Ministerial Review Meeting for Beijing +5 scheduled between 26-29 Oct, 1999.

Following this meeting UN CSW will meet in March 2000 to continue its preparation for a UN special session to review the implementation of the BPFA during 5-9 June 2000.

NGO Process

The Asia Pacific NGO Symposium on the Beijing +5 Review will take place in Bangkok from August 31st to September 3rd, 1999. The meeting will review the implementation of the BPFA in the region and identify emerging issues that concern the women's movements in the region.

In the run-up to the NGO Regional Symposium in August 1999, various women's NGOs from the region convened in Malaysia in June 1999. They recommended that national and sub-regional reports be integrated into a regional NGO report for review in Bangkok. The meeting also decided to present the regional report at the ESCAP Ministerial meeting in October 1999. ESCAP a decision was taken to identify lobbying strategies from women's groups in order that women's voices are heard at the ESCAP meeting.

Therefore the South Asian sub-regional meeting in Nepal hopes to finalise the sub-regional report and put in place the sub-regional lobbying strategy after identification and prioritisation of emerging issues of concern. The meeting will highlight success stories on implementation and explore solutions to problems encountered.

Linking the UN + NGO Processes

In order for NGOs to influence the UN process, lobbying strategies are being put in place. NGO participation at UN meetings is facilitated by accreditation. NGO having consultative status with ECOSOC and those applying for accreditation will be given access to these meetings. Information on the accreditation process can be got from Asia Pacific watch and Isis International Isis International in coordinating the as on concern at the UN meetings.

The South Asian Sub-Regional Meeting

The meeting will bring together women activists from the sub-region and facilitate the recording of women's perceptions and experiences and allow for the planning of the South Asian lobbying strategy at the UN meetings.

Tentative Schedule for South Asia Meeting

1st Day

9.00 - 9.30 am	Registration
9.30 - 11.00 am	Inaugural Session Welcome Remarks Objectives of the Meeting Inagural by the Prime Minister Thanpuying Sumalee Chartikavanij Chair, NGO Regional Symposium; Honorary Chair APW Mr. Nigel Fisher, Regional Director, UNICEF ROSA Ms. Chandni Joshi, Advisor, UNIFEM South Asia Dr.Pam Rajput, Chair, APW Prime Ministry's Remarks Chair: Anjana Shakya
11.00 - 11.30 am	Tea Break
11.30 - 5.00 pm	Session I: Country Reports, Sharing Information Progress Made Problems Encountered and Future Plans 11.30 - 12.00 pm: Bangladesh Country Report 12.00 - 12.30 pm: Bhutan Country Report 12.30 - 1.00 pm: India Country Report 1.00 - 1.30 pm: Maldives Country Report 1.30 - 2.30 pm: Lunch 2.30 - 3.00 pm: Nepal Country Report 3.00 - 3.30 pm: Pakistan Country Report 3.30 - 4.00 pm: Tea Break 4.00 - 4.30 pm: Sri Lanka Country Report 4.30 - 5.30 pm: Round Table Discussion of Common issues and concerns

2nd Day

9.30 - 10.00 am	Recap of Day I Agenda for Day II Comments from the floor
10.00 - 11.00 am	Plenary highlighting priority issues, success stories and problems encountered. 10.00 - 10.20 am Bangladesh 10.20 - 10.40 am Bhutan 10.40 - 11.00 am India 11.00 - 11.30 am Tea Break 11.30 - 11.50 am Maldives 11.50 - 12.10 pm Nepal 12.10 - 12.30 pm Pakistan 12.30 - 12.50 pm Sri Lanka
12.50 - 1.30 pm	Round Table Discussion on lessons learnt and moving forward
1.30 - 2.30 pm	Lunch
2.30 - 4.00 pm	Working groups of Country to identify and prioritise emerging issues, success stories, obstacles encountered,and solution explored. Reports in point / bullet format.
4.00 - 4.30 pm	Tea Break
4.30 - 6.00 pm	Rapid Presentations by groups

3rd Day

9.30 - 10.00 am	Recaps of Day II Setting agenda for Day III: Linking the national process to the regional and global levels.
10.00 - 11.00 am	Discussion of formation of task force to prepare lobbying document based on working group reports. Inputs for task force.
11.00 - 11.30 am	Tea Break
11.30 - 12.30 pm	Presentations on preparation of Beijing +5 at regional level and international level.
12.30 - 1.30 pm	Linking the national, regional and international lessons from Beijing and moving the process forward.
1.30 - 2.30 pm	Lunch
2.30 - 4.00 pm	Plenary Discussions on sub-regional lobbying strategy for APW meeting and Beijing +5.
4.00 - 5.00 pm	Tea Break

4th Day

9.30 - 11.00 am	Presentation of lobbying document, clarifications and finalisation
11.00 - 11.30 am	Tea Break
11.30 - 12.30 pm	Finalising sub-regional lobbying strategy
12.30 - 1.30 pm	Farewell Lunch Closing Ceremony Press Conference