Are governments REALLY committed on Gender Equality?

Description of the tool

1. the trainer explains briefly the meaning of the most important international agreements terms (i.e. convention , declaration, ratification, signature, reservation). Participants are provided with the glossary grid [10’];
2. participants are divided into 4 group: The feminine islands [10’]:
a. the trainer starts by asking if the word ISLAND is of feminine gender in the participants languages (very quickly);
b. on the floor there are 5 big circles: everyone symbolises an island (all with women’s names but one: St. Helen, Victoria, Queen Charlotte, Bella and Sandwich);
c. the participants have to choose quickly the island where they would like to live in and jump in its circle (all the circles need to have an equal number of INHABITANTS);
d. the trainer advises that one island is going soon to sink and says it;
e. the participants of the island need to find shelter in a new island (all the circles again need to have an equal number of INHABITANTS);
3. each group receives the set of the 4 agreements information cut in pieces and mixed (all the data are the same for everyone) [2’];
4. every group receives its envelope with both the general task, which is read and explained in plenary, and the specific one, which must be read secretly within the group [5’] :
a. general task: “your group has to build up a scheme with the basic information concerning the convention or agreement indicated on your specific task: check in the set provided the data which – in your opinion - are suitable it as answers to the following questions:
i. in which year was it first signed?
ii. How many were the first signatory countries?
iii. Which is its first article?
iv. How many countries have ratified it at the moment?
v. List 2 obligations imposed on the states.
vi. Which are the mechanisms used for monitoring compliances?
vii. Further information (added by the participants)
5. every group receives the specific task (Barcelona declaration, CEDAW, COE Declaration on equality or Beijing Platform)
6. the groups retire for fulfilling their tasks (they remain in the room but split in the 4 corners). Trainers pass by every group to give support and check the proceeding of the group work [20’];
7. back in plenary every group has to present the results achieved about the convention-agreements assigned: the results consists in the cards arranged on the with board [5’ per group];
8. short discussion on the outcomes and suggestions to changes: cards can be moved from one agreement to the other [10’];
9. participants receive the key tables (4 each participant) but they are not explained;
10. a PPP is shown and explained concerning all the international treaties taken into consideration (Beijing Platform, COE declaration, Barcelona declaration). A more detailed PPP is shown on CEDAW [20’];
Short discussion on the agreements and on the knowledge acquired [20’] .
Possible questions:
- did you already know the agreements we have been dealing with?
- Did you broaden your knowledge?
- How important can be for your work the knowledge of international agreements?
- How difficult was it discussing in group and coming to a common result?