Resolution on Equal Participation of Women and Men

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(Preliminary draft of the resolution as passed at the 2007 Diocesan Convention)

Resolution #1 - on Equal Participation of Women and Men
(adopted)

12 Submitted by: The Rev. Nan Arrington Peete; Rose M. Longmire; Meigan Chan; the Rev. Carlyle
13 Gill; Inez Thomas; Mabel N. Washington; Gloria Becker; Paula Singleton; Gloria Brown;
14 Margaret H. Gordon; Doris Attridge; Joanna Bergsten; Eulelia W. Smith; Karen A. Chane;
15 Novella F. Wright; Leslyn Aaron; the Rev. Julie Murdoch; the Rev. Sarabeth Goodwin; the Rev.
16 Susan N. Blue; the Rev. Anne Bathhurst Gilson; the Rev. Nancy Lee Jose; the Rev. Caroline
17 Fairless, St. James', Bowie; the Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud; the Rev. Betty McWhorter; the Rev.
18 Joan Beilstein; the Rev. Stephen Huber; the Rev. Hugh E. Brown, III, St. Thomas',
19 Prince George's County; Gerry Connolly, Christ Church, Washington Parish;
20 Emerson Markham; David McCahan; Bill Page; Daniel Page.

21 Resolved that the One Hundred Twelfth Convention of the Diocese of

22 Washington endorse, ratify, and implement Resolution 13/31 adopted by the Anglican

23 Consultative Council at its meeting in Nottingham , England in June 2005 stating that

24 there should be equal participation of women and men on all decision-making bodies

25 of the Anglican Consultative Council and that all Provinces of the Communion should

26 work to achieve that goal; and it further

27 Resolved that the Convention urge and encourage that all nominations

28 and appointments to diocesan decision-making committees, commissions, agencies

29 and boards, reflect this commitment to gender equity; and b e it further

30 Resolved that the Convention urge and encourage all congregations and other

31 institutions to work toward the same goal of equal participation of women and men

32 on all their decision-making committees, commissions, agencies and boards;

33 and be it further

34 Resolved that the Diocese of Washington urges the United States Senate to ratify

35 the 1979 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

36 Discrimination Against Women.

Explanation: The Diocese of Washington has a long history of support for the equality of women based on our understanding and commitment to our Baptismal Covenant. The leadership of decision-making bodies in the diocese is currently balanced by gender, with 48% women and 52% men. The commitment to "equal participation of women and men on all decision-making bodies," the third of the Millennium Development Goals, was adopted by the Anglican Consultative Council, endorsed by General Convention (D024) and commended to the provinces, dioceses and congregations. 2006 marked the 30 th anniversary of the adoption of the canon providing for the ordination of women, and this resolution provides a means of affirming and continuing our commitment to the full and equal participation of women and our embrace of the Millennium Development Goals.

Budget Impact: There is no budget impact for this resolution.

Recommendation: The Resolutions Committee recommends this resolution
for consideration.

Background Resolutions or Other Actions:

The 49th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

The Anglican Consultative Council:

• receives and adopts the Report of the ACC Provincial Delegation to the 49th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), and affirms the work of the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN) in responding to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Developments Goals (MDG), thereby carrying forward the full flourishing of God's Creation

• acknowledges the MDG goal for equal representation of women in decision making at all levels,
and so requests:

• i. the Standing Committee to identify ways in which this goal may appropriately be adapted
for incorporation into the structures of the Instruments of Unity, and other bodies to which
the Anglican Consultative Council nominates or appoints

• ii. all member churches to work towards the realization of this goal in their own structures
of governance, and in other bodies to which they nominate or appoint and to report on progress
to ACC-14.

• recommends that a study of the place and role of women in the structures of the Anglican Communion be undertaken by the Standing Committee in line with the objects of the ACC "to keep in review the needs that may arise for further study, and, where necessary, to promote inquiry and research"

• requests that each Province give consideration to the establishment of a women's desk for that Province

• thanks those Provinces which sent participants to the 49th Session of UNCSW, and encourages those who did not to review their decision in time for the 50th Session in 2006 in solidarity with all women of the Anglican Communion.

Resolution D024 - Gender Equality for Women in the Episcopal Church

Resolved , That the 75 th General Convention of The Episcopal Church endorse, ratify, and implement Resolution 13/31 adopted by the Anglican Consultative Council at its meeting in Nottingham, England in June 2005, stating that there should be equal participation of women and men on all decision-making bodies of the Anglican Consultative Council and that all Provinces of the Communion should work to achieve that goal; and be it further

Resolved , That the General Convention urge and encourage all provinces, dioceses, and congregations of The Episcopal Church to work toward the same goal of equal participation of women and men on all their decision-making committees, commissions, agencies, and boards; and be it further

Resolved , That a reporting mechanism be developed in order to record the achievement of such gender equality, reporting those achievements annually to the Executive Council and to the 76 th General Convention.

Explanation: The resolution was presented to the ACC by the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN) as a result of their participation at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March of 2005. Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE), an Episcopal Church based task force, played a major role in bringing together more than 100 Anglican women to attend the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Both the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals call for such gender equality as a means of addressing the many justice issues - poverty, violence, adequate health care and access to education - which particularly affect women. IAWN is the official network of Anglican women and as such brought the resolution calling for gender equality to the ACC meeting in Nottingham .

The Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, 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."

By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:

• to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;

• to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and

• to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life - including the right to vote and to stand for election - as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.