The Minister has initiated a review of NZAID, with the possibility of reintegrating it within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite requests from a number of non-governmental organisations, there is no provision to receive submissions from the public to this exercise. The review includes a reconsideration of NZAID’s core policy of poverty elimination.

NZAID was reviewed twice since its inception in 2002, by the OECD and by Dr Marilyn Waring, a former politician from the Minister’s party. Both reviews were very positive about the work of the agency, praising its semi-autonomous status and its focus on poverty elimination.

UNIFEM’s main concern is the possible effect of any changes on the women in developing countries who have benefitted from NZAID’s policies on both poverty and gender. Women in those countries are likely to be the poorest. If they survive the possibility of death in childbirth, they are then threatened by preventable diseases or violence. Many raise children alone with no financial support.

We support the economic development focus – if the development is targeted to benefit those in greatest need, and the poor are part of the necessary planning. Economic development should ensure that all of the people, including women, can be at a level where they can participate. This implies access to basic education and good health services as a starting point – rather than as an outcome of the process. It requires good governance processes at all levels, peace building and conflict prevention. Fair trade and private sector development are also components to increase income generation for all.

Aid must not become a tool of foreign policy, a carrot used to persuade developing countries to support New Zealand’s political agenda or a stick to punish those whose policies we do not like. There are other ways to ensure that effective aid gets past corrupt governments to where it is needed, especially through working with civil society organisations in those countries. NZAID funding support for governance programmes from the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific has been stopped by the Minister. These programmes, often led by women, have been invaluable in a number of Pacific countries.

“We add our voice to those asking to have input to the review of NZAID. Empowerment of women through aid is too important to be sacrificed to political whims”, concluded Rae Julian.

Contact: Rae Julian (04) 499 8975 or 021 708 288 raejulian@paradise.net.nz

Launched one year ago, the ‘Say NO’ campaign is an Internet-based awareness raising and advocacy initiative that UNIFEM designed to feed into the campaign of the UN Secretary-General on the same issue.

“I want to thank you for raising your voices,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Social mobilization is the spark that ignites action. I am delighted that governments, civil society organizations and the private sector have come together through the ‘Say NO’ initiative.”

“Through ‘Say NO’, people in the farthest corners of the world have become engaged. This is a large new constituency that we will continue to involve and mobilize in the years to come,” said UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi.

“I am delighted to welcome a vast global team of new Goodwill Ambassadors on the issue,” said UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman, who has served as the spokesperson of the campaign. “As long as one in three women and girls may be abused in their lifetimes, violence against women must be everybody’s business.”

Violence against women is probably the most pervasive human rights violation. Women are abused at home, trafficked across borders or victim to widespread and systematic sexual violence in conflict.

The ‘Say NO’ campaign also received high-level governmental support. Heads of State and Ministers representing 60 governments added their names as a public expression of commitment to the issue. More than 600 Parliamentarians from over 70 countries also signed on.

“This high-level support for the issue is crucial,” said Inés Alberdi. “Without strong political will, there will be no decisive action,” she added.

Ms. Alberdi urged governments to use the momentum created through the ‘Say NO’ campaign to implement laws and policies to protect women and adopt accountability frameworks with minimal standards of protection and response, including prompt police response, health and legal services, shelters and safe options, national hotlines, an accountable judiciary, and national action plans.

The ‘Say NO’ campaign was developed for UNIFEM on a pro bono basis by the London offices of advertising agency Leo Burnett, with additional pro bono support by Arc, an associated Internet company.

UNIFEM recognises that women are powerful agents of change for themselves, their families, their communities and their countries. Progress for women is progress for all.