WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 1/6;
Conflict Prevention: 0/6;
Disarmament: 0/6;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/6;
Participation: 1/6;
Peace Processes: 1/6;
Peacekeeping: 0/6;
Protection: 0/6;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 1/6;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 1/6;
Implementation: 0/6;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 0/6;
Human Rights: 1/6.
S/PV.7361: "Gender equality is not only one of our most fundamental human rights; combating every form of discrimination between men and women is also a factor in development, in the stabilisation of countries in transition and in peace."
WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 1/2;
Conflict Prevention: 0/2;
Disarmament: 0/2;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/2;
Participation: 1/2;
Peace Processes: 1/2;
Peacekeeping: 0/2;
Protection: 1/2;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 0/2;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 1/2;
Implementation: 0/2;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 0/2;
Human Rights: 1/2.
S/PV.7374: "To begin with, the participation of women makes operations on the ground more effective to the degree that they are involved in devising strategies for protecting civilians. For example, they can help to design camps and protection sites so as to better meet their needs in terms of secure access to services and basic infrastructure. Women’s participation in peace operations is also a way for peacekeepers to have a closer relationship to local communities and thus win their trust, which is clearly essential to protection."
France used its veto right 0 times out of 2 vetoed draft resolutions in 2015.
National Action Plan:
At the political level, committed to strengthening its mobilisation to promote the women and peace and security agenda nationally, internationally and regionally. At the national level, it will increase the visibility of its plan of action. France, more than 20 per cent of whose ambassadors are women, is committed to achieving the target of 40 per cent women appointed to high-level diplomatic positions by 2018. That process is well under way.
Peacekeeping:
It will pursue its efforts in the Security Council to ensure that the provisions of resolutions on women and peace and security are well represented in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, as they are in the United Nations organisation stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated stabilisation Mission in Mali and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic.
Inclusion and Protection:
Will continue to advocate for the inclusion of women in the Common Security and Defense Policy and to support the protection of women in conflict situations and in crisis resolution. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Accountability: At the operational level, which, through the deployment of over 900 military and police personnel, is contributing to six peacekeeping operations — is committed to the utmost vigilance and resolve to ensure compliance with the rules laid down by the United Nations in the fight against sexual abuse and respect for human rights. The recruitment, training and deployment of our personnel to operations will continue according to a national process that ensures compliance with these rules. In the case of recent allegations of sexual abuse, our political leaders are deeply committed to the adoption of the most stringent sanctions, in addition to the judicial response, where such cases prove legitimate.
Protection:
Will continue to advocate for the inclusion of women in the Common Security and Defense Policy and to support the protection of women in conflict situations and in crisis resolution.
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Accountability:
At the operational level, which, through the deployment of over 900 military and police personnel, is contributing to six peacekeeping operations — is committed to the utmost vigilance and resolve to ensure compliance with the rules laid down by the United Nations in the fight against sexual abuse and respect for human rights. The recruitment, training and deployment of our personnel to operations will continue according to a national process that ensures compliance with these rules. In the case of recent allegations of sexual abuse, our political leaders are deeply committed to the adoption of the most stringent sanctions, in addition to the judicial response, where such cases prove legitimate.
Financial commitments:
Will contribute €50,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women. The most recent biennial General Assembly resolution on the fight against violence against women (resolution 69/147), which France and the Netherlands have led since 2006, calls on States to contribute to the Fund. France hopes that other States will follow. This contribution complements the financial support to the tune of €100,000 that France will offer UN Women to strengthen women’s access to justice.
Arms Transfer Revenue: $2013,000,000
__________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution: $1,100,000
France receives 0% due to the high difference between the Arms Transfer Revenue and UN Women Total Contribution.
Arms Transfer Revenue in 2014: $1,734,000,000
_________________________________________
UN Women Government Total Contribution in 2014: $2,700,000
Other WPS-related projects that France has contributed to:
- Implementation of a “Gender and Social Cohesion” programme (€1.3 million, 2013-2016) on the employment of young men and women in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, in partnership with UN Women.
France was ranked 19th.
International HR Documents:
"International Standards," OHCHR
Status of Ratifications:
"Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General: Status of Treaties," United Nations Treaty Collection
"Status of Ratifications: Interactive Dashboard," OHCHR
Women from France are on duty in the following peacekeeping missions:
MINURSO (0),
MINUSCA (1),
MINUSMA (0),
MINUSTAH (2),
MONUSCO (0),
UNIFIL (39),
UNOCI (0),
UNTSO (0).
Peacekeepers from France were involved in (approximately) 3 out of 106 allegations against civilian, military, police and other peacekeeping personnel in 2015.
Two French soldiers were suspended over allegations they sexually abused two children while on a peacekeeping mission in Burkina Faso.
April 2015: A leaked UN internal report obtained by Aids-free World reveals that between 10 and 12 boys, aged eight to 15 and lacking food and shelter, were forced into rape and sodomy by UN peacekeepers from France, Chad and Equatorial Guinea, in exchange for food and money, at a centre for internally displaced people in Bangui, the capital of conflict-ridden Central African Republic (CAR) (Guardian, 2015).
S/PV.7558: "Many speakers have said this but it merits repeating, there is a gender element. We must deploy a greater number of female police officer to facilitate relations with the population, especially those who are most exposed to human rights abuses — women and children — and they certainly bring a value added to sexual violence investigations."
Press statement SC/12010 on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Central African Republic was adopted by consensus.
"Meeting Records," United Nations Security Council
"Allegations by Category of Personnel Per Year (Sexual Exploitation and Abuse)," United Nations Conduct and Discipline Unit
"Timeline of UN Peacekeeper Sexual Abuse Cases," Child Rights International Network
"French soldiers accused of raping CAR children," AlJazeera
Governmental support for women's civil society:
- Engagement in joint government/NGO efforts: Yes
- Funding provided by the government: Yes
France receives 89% because:
Even though the government is engaged in collaboration with women's civil society, financial support to women's organisations is inadequate, the number of projects on the Women, Peace and Security agenda in existence is low, and the civil society's influence on governmental decision-making is low.
Key women's organisation's (Women's Lobby - French Coordination) efforts in regard to gender issues include the following:
- Number of conferences: 20+;
- Number of publications: 1 (annual report);
- Social services provided: coordination, networking, and policy championing between national NGOs, international NGOs, and governments.
Types of social support provided:
Education: Yes
Anti-violence: Yes
Women's empowerment: Yes
Gender-related training: Yes
Political participation: Yes
Anti-human trafficking: Yes
Women's health: Yes
Lobbying and policymaking: No
Fundraising: No
France hosted the following high-level events in 2015:
- International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women;
- International Human Rights Day;
- OECD-DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) event "From Global Commitments to Local Solutions: Integrating Gender Equality in Climate Change Action;"
- Thirteenth annual meeting of the OECD-DAC Network on Gender Equality;
- International Women's Day Event.
**Note: The information about the high-level events has been collected using available media sources.
"France - Civil Society, Think Tanks, Academia," Donor Tracker
"Constant increase in resources for NGO initiatives," AFD
"About us," The French Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby
"United Nations – Human Rights - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25, 2015)," France Diplomatie
"Events organised by the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET)," OECD
"List of Women's Organizations," Ministry of Women's Rights
“State of Civil Society Report: 2015,”CIVICUS
"National Action Plan For France: Implementation of the 'Women, Peace and Security' resolutions of the United Nations Security Council," WILPF/PeaceWomen
Valasek, Kristin, Agneta M. Johannsen, Megan Bastick. "Gender and Security," UN Women
"The Paris Action Plan," Government of France
"Draft European Union handbook of best police practices on overcoming attrition in domestic violence cases," Council of the European Union
France launched their second revised National Action Plan (NAP) in 2015. The updated NAP takes into account the numerous initiatives created toward the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The updated NAP contains an additional pillar, "fighting impunity" and expanded their pillar " Developing political and diplomatic action" to "Promoting the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda regionally and internationally".
The revised second NAP supersedes the country's previous commitments in this area.
The French National Action Plan relies on 5 pillars:
Pillar 1: Participation of women in managing conflict and post-conflict situations;
Pillar 2: Protecting women against violence and protecting women’s rights during conflict and postconflict periods;
Pillar 3: Fighting impunity;
Pillar 4: Prevention by raising awareness of the issues linked to the fight against gender violence, women’s rights and gender rights
Pillar 5: Promoting the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda regionally and internationally
Pillars 1 to 4 have been designed with ambitions in terms of Domestic policy; Bilateral activities and Cooperation programmes; Multilateral activities.
NAP Monitoring and Evaluation:
During the commitment phase of second revised NAP (2015-2018), the implementation of the NAP will be assessed through half-yearly meetings of a steering committee (composed of relevant ministries and administrations). The French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) and the French High Council for Gender Equality (HCE) will attend one steering committee meeting per year. HCE and CNCDH will also contribute to mid-term and final evaluations of the NAP implementation. The final report will be presented to the relevant Parliamentary committees. It has also been decided that throughout the commitment phase of the NAP, best practices would be exchanged with other EU members.
NAP Development:
Civil society was consulted during the draughting phases of the NAP, which largely came out of the May 2010 meeting of the CEDAW/CEDEF Committee in Paris with many international institutions, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, human rights organisations, and unspecified NGOs.
NAP Implementation:
Civil society has an ongoing specified role in the implementation Steering Committee. This includes women’s organisations and the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights, an independent body with a pluralistic civil society membership, charged with advising the government on human rights issues.
NAP Budget:
The second revised NAP does not include an allocated budget but points out the many financial contributions they made during the period of the previous NAP in Women, Peace and Security related programmes
NAP Monitoring and Evaluation:
Specific monitoring and evaluation parties were not mentioned in the NAP.
Military Expenditure: $50,860,000,000
______
The NAP does not include an allocated or an estimated budget.
Military Expenditure in 2014: $63,614,000,000
______
The NAP does not include an allocated or an estimated budget. No indicators or actions are included that formulate strategies for fundraising, detail what level of funding is required for which specific activities, or what accountability mechanisms will ensure funding is raised and used in implementing the NAP.
Women made up 25.6% of the Parliament.
Lower: 26.2%;
Upper: 25.0%.
50% of ministerial positions were held by women.
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.
17.9% of law enforcement positions were held by women.
**Note: Data is available for 2010.
64.2% of judges in France were women.
Professional judges sitting in First instance Courts:
Women: Women: 3142,86;
Men: 1818,68.
Professional judges sitting in Second instance Courts:
Women: 908,22;
Men: 786,68.
Professional judges sitting in Supreme Courts:
Women: 153;
Men: 223.
Women's labour participation rate was 67%.
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.88.
Unemployment rate (percentage of female/male labour force):
Female: 9.7%;
Male: 10%.
Estimated earned income (PPP US$):
Female: 32,312;
Male: 40,000;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.81.
Legislators, senior officials, and managers (%):
Female: 33, Male: 67;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.48.
Professional and technical workers (%):
Female: 49, Male: 51;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 0.98.
Enrolment in primary education: 99%;
Enrolment in secondary education: 98%;
Enrolment in tertiary education: 66%.
The enrolment difference between males and females is provided below (The theoretical maximum value is 100%. Increasing trends are considered a reflection of improving coverage at the specified level of education):
Literacy rate (%):
Female: 99;
Male: 99;
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.
Enrolment in primary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.
Enrolment in secondary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.02.
Enrolment in tertiary education:
Ratio (0 = Inequality, 1 = Equality): 1.25.
While gender perspectives within the legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective, and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.
"The current situation of gender equality in France – Country Profile 2013," The European Commission
"Does the constitution take at least one approach to gender equality?," World Policy Center
"Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database," UN Women
"Constitution of 4 October 1958," Constitutional Counsel
"Constitutional Provisions on Women's Equality," Library of Congress
"France: Law on Violence Against Women," Library of Congress
"France and Sexual and Reproductive Health," Ministry of Gender Affairs
"France," Social Institutions and Gender Index
While legal frameworks exist, they are not always fully effective, and discrimination (i.e.: gender, racial, and economic discrimination) can cause some groups to have disproportionate challenges equally accessing justice and utilising their rights.
The government of France fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government adopted a national anti-trafficking action plan for 2014-2016, which outlines prosecution, protection, and prevention activities and a fund to protect and assist trafficking victims. The government significantly increased the number of convictions obtained under the trafficking statute 225-4-2. Robust cooperation with law enforcement in the European Union and source countries continued, and its success was demonstrated by the prosecution of many members of sex trafficking and forced begging networks. The government continued to protect and provide assistance to a large number of victims and partner with destination countries to address child sex tourism by French nationals. However, the government’s efforts to combat labour trafficking were weaker than those undertaken for sex trafficking, and the implementation of victim protection policies remained inconsistent among regions and municipalities.
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of sexual violence exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
While veterans services for women veterans exist, the quality of service, outreach to engage female veterans in service access and utalisation, and the availability of gender-sensitive services at all locations are not fully effective.
Issues remain in unequal access and utilisation of services for women and men.
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of sexual violence exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
1 national helpline and 66 regional helplines specified to provide service for victims of domestic violence as well as for professionals working with women affected by violence.
52 women’s shelters providing specified services for women survivors of violence.
While specialised services to support victims/survivors of human trafficking exist, the service quality, resource provision, geographic availability, adequate service availability based on national demand, and the functionality of national mechanism are not fully effective.
The government had a formal procedure for identifying victims and an NGO-run referral mechanism. The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the City of Paris provided funding for the Ac-Se system, an NGO-managed network of 50 NGO-run shelters assisting vulnerable adult victims of sex and labour trafficking. Local governments provided French language classes to victims, and some victims could qualify for subsidised housing and job training programmes. The central and municipal governments also partially funded the operation of a shelter in Paris and a small number of emergency apartments external to the Ac-Se system. Child protective services placed child trafficking victims into generalised children’s shelters. The government continued to operate a hotline for children in abusive situations, including trafficking. The government had an NGO-run referral programme to transfer victims detained, arrested, or placed in protective custody by law enforcement authorities to institutions that provide short-term care. The government also provided witness protection services for victims who worked with police to prosecute traffickers.
"Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by France." GRETA: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings & Council of Europe
"Trafficking in Persons Report: 2015," U.S. Department of State
"The Policy on Gender Equality in France," The European Parliament
"Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime," UNCHR
While a wide range of services and resources are made available to refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs, these services are usually provided by local service providers, therefore making these services and resources less available in some geographic locations.
Total population of refugees, stateless persons, IDPs, and asylum-seekers: 337,509;
Gender/age breakdown of the total numbers of applicants in 2015: 37.3%.
French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and the Asylum Service of the MinistryEach programme provides resettled refugees with medium-term, temporary housing and assistance to find a permanent housing solution. of the Interior, provide suitable housing for resettled refugees and places resettled refugees in one of the five resettlement programmes according to availability.
Resettled refugees are “recent immigrant”: contrary to spontaneous asylum seekers, they do not have time to get familiar with the language or the functioning of administrations. Forum réfugiés-Cosi provides them with tailored and reinforced support for 12 months. Social workers assist them with all administrative and socio-professional issues that may arise within that time.
Resettled refugees benefit from housing-related support: discovering of the apartment and the neighbourhood, familiarising with the public transport system, etc. They also get support regarding their socio-professional integration process: language and vocational training possibilities, access to job opportunities, etc.
Asylum seekers and migrants living in destitution in the port city of Calais experience harassment and abuse at the hands of French police. Most migrants and asylum seekers in Calais have no shelter from the cold and the rain, no access to sanitation, and very limited access to running water. Many depend on food provided by local organisations and volunteers. As of mid-December, local nongovernmental organisations estimated that 200 women and young children were living in camps and that 50 women and young children were in a centre run by a local organisation.
Approximately 5,000 migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees continued to live in harsh conditions in an informal settlement in the northern city of Calais.
"Refugee Resettlement in France," SHARE
"France by the government of France," UNHCR
"Migrant Access to Social Security and Healthcare in France," Council of Europe
"Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2015," UNHCR
"France: Migrants, Asylum Seekers Abused and Destitute," Human Rights Watch
"France 2015/2016," Amnesty International
"Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR)," Asylum Information Database
"National Country Report: France," Asylum Information Database
"Female Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in France," UNHCR
WILPF/PeaceWomen themes covered:
General Women, Peace and Security: 5/17;
Conflict Prevention: 2/17;
Disarmament: 2/17;
Displacement and Humanitarian Response: 0/17;
Participation: 4/17;
Peace Processes:3 /17;
Peacekeeping: 1/17;
Protection: 5/17;
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding: 2/17;
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: 5/17;
Implementation: 1/17;
Justice, Rule of Law, SSR: 1/17;
Human Rights: 3/17.
S/PV.7533: "First, it is a political revival, in the best sense of the term. Indeed, the women and peace and security agenda is a political agenda and should be treated as such by States and the United Nations. States have the responsibility to ensure the more active participation of women in political processes, peace negotiations and conflict resolution and prevention mechanisms."