Position Paper - Women in Governance - Sample

Committee: UN Women 2

Country: United States of America

Topic: Expanding the Role of Women in Governance

Delegates: MGC, MTP

In our minds we have always had an image of society where women are less appreciated and important than men. They were not valued as equal human beings and, in many cases, their ideas and knowledge are not taken into account, as seen historically and internationally in which women did not have the right to vote. This idea has been, and continues to be, present in the mindset of people in many cultures. As recently as August 2015, only 22% of the members in all national parliaments were women. Unless action is taken, this issue will continue in many countries. In the United States this past decade has been key to improvement.

Although statistics are quite promising, our main concern is in government. Only 19% of the seats in congress are held by women. Because of this low numbers, the United States believes that measures must be taken soon in order to achieve gender equality, especially in the political field. Not only is the current situation unfair to the individual rights of women, but this situation allows for society to ignore the potential of 50% of its population.

Although the United States has made several attempts to solve this issue as a whole country, agreements have not been possible due to the fact that the United States is a federal country and every state has different laws and regulations. Another controversial factor is the conflict between the imposition of certain regulations including quotas, fixed salaries and the free market system, in which the value of services is not regulated by the government, but negotiated directly by the parts based on open competition regardless of gender,race, age, etc. The equal rights amendment, which guaranteed equal rights for men and women is an example of this difficulty. This amendment has only been passed in 35 states.

On the other hand there have been some states which have shown a bigger interest in solving this issue and because of this they have taken measures.As recently as September 2015, the New California Pay Law was passed. This law supports and protects women in the field of work by saying that the amount of salary employees are paid shall not be decided because of their gender, but because of their work as an individual.

Internationally, the United States had not been as active in promoting women’s rights or increasing the role of women in governance as other countries. While the United States has yet to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty, the Carter administration signed the treaty in 1980. Although the treaty has been voted on by the Senate, it has yet to pass the required two-thirds vote.

The United States’ first proposal centers on education. We suggest that all willing countries collaborate with us in an international fund that collects money for the purpose of improving education, as we believe that it is an essential factor when changing the perception of having women in government. The money would be collected and organised for the purpose of sending it to those countries that are in need of it. Depending on each country’s yearly income and economic conditions, they would collaborate in the fund in a greater or lower measure.

A committee formed of a representative from several participating countries would administrate where the money would go to, taking into account each country’s situation. The money would be mainly destined for education purposes including the elimination of barriers such as health or safety issues that currently prevent children from having access to education.

As a part of this first proposal we want to create an educational program, first for those countries whose education and health conditions are in good state. Then it would also be introduced in the countries where with the help of the international fund, the conditions have improved. This program requires that at least 10% of the curriculum of the social studies subject focuses on gender issues so that future generations are aware of gender inequality issues and therefore are better equipped for our future government. The United States hopes that this proposal will help fight gender inequality. We believe that if we rely on education the problem that is affecting our society today will not be as prominent in the future. We believe this is how this injustice can be solved.