Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Greetings from the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN-ISDR)!

We are pleased to invite you to the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance which will be held on October 19-22, 2008 at the Dusit Hotel, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The theme of the congress is "Gender and Climate Change".

Women and environment experts have raised concern over the absence of women in the discourse and debate on climate change, a global mainstream issue that is currently impacting the entire world. The involvement of women in areas of environmental management and governance should not be perceived as an afterthought. Women's roles are of considerable importance in the promotion of environmental ethics.

The current imperative is for women to understand the phenomenon of climate change and its impacts and implications at the individual, household, community and national levels. Studies show that women have a definite information deficit on climate politics and climate protection. Only with this information can women take their proper, significant and strategic role in the issue of climate change.
Invited to this congress are women parliamentarians, women in decision - making and governance, environment organizations, youth Leaders and Media Practitioners
The Congress will have the following objectives:

Overall Purpose: To provide a forum for women legislators, and women in decision making and environment organizations at all levels, in formulating gender-responsive legislation and policies.

Specific Objectives:
a) To understand the phenomenon of climate change, its impacts and implications;
b). to review and examine the gender aspects of climate change and formulate appropriate actions to address such;

c). to define the roles women can play in addressing the issues of climate change at the global, national and sub-national levels; and
d). to identify and define the action agenda for parliamentarians, policy advocates and women leaders to support global and national actions to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Congress Proceedings:
The discussion on gender and climate change will be organized around identifying the challenges to action as well as defining the appropriate responses to effectively address the impacts of climate change. Inputs to the discussion will be collected and organized around: 1) geographic location and 2) types of actions: i.e. preparedness, risk reduction: building community resilience; adaptation; and mitigation. Cross cutting these discussions will be the identification of technologies in aid of responding to climate change.
The focus of the discussions will revolve around defining and elaborating actions (i.e. preparedness, disaster risk reduction, adaptation, and mitigation) to cope with climate change and its impacts.

Preparedness and disaster risk reduction is about building individual and community capacities to position themselves and their communities so that the likelihood of climate change-induced disasters is reduced; the intensity or adverse impacts of disasters are cushioned and that inhabitants are able to respond promptly, expeditiously and effectively. Adaptation entails actions that moderate harm, or exploit benefits, of climate change. Mitigation entails actions that minimizes or cushions the adverse impacts of climate change.
In all of these actions, special attention will be given to defining how women and gender could be mainstreamed. In other words, the Congress should define how women can be given the social space to participate, influence, and benefit from global and local responses to climate change.

The registration fee for the four day congress is One thousand five hundred fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,550.) per person for twin room sharing accommodations (two persons in one room) and one thousand nine hundred fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,950.) per person for single room accommodations (one person in one room). We are sending you the detailed information sheet below, which contains the registration form.

The training will be held on Oct 19-22, 2008. However, the participants will be requested to be in Manila the day before, October 18, 2008 and leave Manila only on October 23, 2008. The overnight hotel accommodation on October 18, 2008 is already included in the fee. Participants will be billeted in the Dusit Hotel, the venue of the congress and hotels near the Dusit Hotel, accessible within walking distance. Room accommodations in the Dusit Hotel, the venue of the Congress will be on a first come - first served basis.

You can also download the full information sheet and registration form for this Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance from our website,

Importance of the Congress

Today, on the average, one person out of nineteen in a developing country will be hit by a climate disaster, compared to 1 out of 1,500 in an OECD country. Climate change creates life time traps: in Niger, a child born during a drought is 72 percent more likely to be stunted than a child born during a normal season.

We hope that your organization can send participants to the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance. The Theme of "Gender and Climate Change" is the first time this will be discussed in a forum whose objective is to formulate gender responsive legislation and policies for national governments and parliaments.

We truly hope that the environment organizations will find this forum a good opportunity to advocate gender and climate change policies and programs through gender responsive legislation to the women parliamentarians, decision makers, the youth leaders, media and the funding agencies/organizations. Let us join hands in promoting gender responsive governance through transformative leadership and citizenship. We are looking forward to your participation.

Very truly yours,

(signed)
Jung-sook KIM (Ed.D.)
President
Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
YSTAPHIL Building, 4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street, Baclaran,
Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel. (632) 8516934 (632) 8516954; Tele Fax: mobile phone +639184596603
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] ; [email protected] Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

INFORMATION SHEET

The Third Global
Congress of Women in
Politics and Governance

Focus on Gender and Climate Change

Organized by the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) in partnership with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN-ISDR)

For Women Parliamentarians, Women in Decision - Making and Governance; Environment Organizations;
Youth Leaders and Media Practitioners; Funding/donor agencies/organizations

October 19-22, 2008
Dusit Hotel, Makati City
Metro Manila, Philippines

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Tel: (632)8516934; Tele Fax:(632) 8522112; mobile phone +639184596603
Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

I. Background and Context

Climate change is the 21st century crisis. According to the United Nations Human Development Report "(I) it is still a preventable crisis The world is now at or near the warmest level on record in the current interglacial period, which began 12,000 years ago. There is strong evidence that the process is accelerating."

The urgency of climate change was underscored by Faith Birol, the Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency: "Without serious policy shifts, we may be heading toward the double crisis of energy insecurity and climate change. The macroeconomics is clear, with prevention now costing a good deal less than adaptation later: 1 % of GDP if we act now and 5-20 % if we wait. .We must treat the earth as if we intended to stay." The world has less than a decade to change its course.

Today, on average, one person out of 19 in a developing country will be hit by a climate disaster, compared to 1 out of 1,500 in an OECD country. Climate change creates life time traps: in Niger, a child born during a drought is 72 percent more likely to be stunted than a child born during a normal season.

"The direct economic cost of disasters is on the rise, recently costing $7.5 billion to China due to snowstorms, and $12.5 billion to Japan from one earthquake in 2007, and $5.5 billion to Germany from the windstorm Kyrill. Moreover, the indirect economic cost is usually more than that of direct economic cost. The political costs of neglecting substantive disaster reduction and management policies are also becoming increasingly clear. Public confidence in all levels of the United States government dropped in 2005 after perceived inadequacies of the government's preparedness for Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and in reaction to the inequalities the Hurricane revealed. Meanwhile, approval ratings of President Alan García of Peru rose five points on public perception of effective government disaster management immediately after the Peruvian earthquake of 2007."

Increased exposure to drought, to more intense storms, to floods and environmental stress is holding back the efforts of the world's poor to build a better life for themselves and their children. In short climate change would stall and reverse progress in human development, including cutting down extreme poverty, health, education, nutrition.

Key mechanisms through which climate change could stall and then reverse human development:

1) General impact - climate change will affect rainfall, temperature and water availability for agriculture in vulnerable areas. For example, drought affected areas in sub-Saharan Africa could expand by 60-90 million hectares, with dry land zones suffering losses of US $25 billion by 2060; other developing regions will experience losses in agricultural production; those affected by malnutrition could rise to 600 million;
2) Water stress and water insecurity - an additional 1.8 billion people could be living in water scarce environment by 2080; Central Asia, Northern China and the

northern part of South Asia face immense vulnerabilities; seven of Asia's great river systems will experience an increase in flows over the short term;

3) Rising sea levels and exposure to climate change - over 70 million people in Bangladesh, 6 million in Lower Egypt and 22 million in Viet Nam could be affected; small island states in the Caribbean and the Pacific could suffer catastrophic damage; with over 344 million people currently exposed to tropical cyclones, more intensive storms could have devastating consequences for a large group of companies;

4) Ecology - Climate change is transforming ecological systems - with a 3 degree centigrade of warming, 20-30 percent of land species could face extinction;

5) Human health - major killer diseases could expand their reach due to the impacts of extreme summer and winter conditions and heat waves; for example, an additional 220- 400 million people could be exposed to malaria which already claims 1 million lives annually.
Global discussions on climate change have attempted to sketch a road map for coping with climate change. Actions must include: how to stop and reverse further global warming so that greenhouse gas emissions must fall to avoid rise in temperatures over 2 degrees centigrade from pre-industrial levels; how to live with the degree of global warming that cannot be stopped and how to design a new model for human progress and development that is climate proof and climate friendly and gives everyone a fair share of the natural resources on which we depend. In other words, coping efforts must include: 1) preparedness and disaster risk reduction and building community resilience; 2) adaptation; and 3) mitigation.
Climate change is global but its impacts are local. Concerted actions must therefore be undertaken at both the local and global levels. In this regard, certain preconditions must be observed as suggested by Bjorn Stigson, the President of the World Business for Sustainable Development:
· The first need is a common perception that we have a problem that must be addressed with some sense of urgency.
· We need a willingness by governments to actually do something about it; that belief is lacking as politicians do not yet see climate change as a decisive election issue
· We need a feeling that there is an equitable sharing of the costs for solving the problem.
· We need realistic options for solutions, for example, technologies that can create a more resource-efficient economy and/or eliminate greenhouse gases, such as carbon capture and storage. We do seem to possess an effective arsenal of technology options.
· We need the tools to implement these options: regulations, standards, economic instruments, voluntary actions by citizens and business, etc.: We possess those tools, but need the political will to use them
· We need funding for actions like technology development and deployment, as well restructuring societal infrastructure; such funding is lacking, but it could be provided if it was a political priority;
· We need a willingness on the parts of all economic actors to change behavior toward more sustainable lifestyles. This will depend on a number of the above-mentioned factors, but also on whether the actions are "profitable" within the prevailing economic paradigm.
· We need constructive cooperation between the key parts of society - governments, business and civil society. Such cooperation is lacking.

Why gender and climate change?
Differential impact on men and women. The Gender and Climate Change website states: "Climate change is not a neutral process; first of all, women are in general more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, not least because they represent the majority of the world's poor and because they are more than proportionally dependent on natural resources that are threatened. The technological change and instruments that are being proposed to mitigate carbon emissions, which are implicitly presented as gender-neutral, are in fact quite gender biased and may negatively affect women or bypass them.
The negotiation process tends to be driven by a masculine view of the problem and its solutions. Participation of women in the whole process, at international, national and local levels, is very low, both in the South and in the North; probably skills and resources need to be developed to overcome this.
Gender, like poverty, is a cross cutting issue in climate change and needs to be recognized as such. In fact, gender and poverty are interrelated and create mutually reinforcing barriers to social change. There is a need to be strident to overcome the uninformed view of many involved in climate change that climate change is neutral, and real life examples are needed to make the alternative case clear and convincing." (Gender and Climate Change web site: )
For example, women comprised the majority of those killed and who were least likely to recover in the 2005 Asian Tsunami. In Aceh, more than 75 percent of those who died were women, resulting in a male-female ratio of 3:1 among the survivors. As so many mothers died, there have been major consequences with respect to infant mortality, early marriage of girls, neglect of girls' education, sexual assault, trafficking in women, and prostitution. (In Gender aspects of climate change, Gender and Disaster Network, 2005/REF).
If action on climate change is partly about reducing vulnerability and building resilience, then it is important that vulnerable groups do not suffer disproportionately from its adverse effects. Women figure among such vulnerable groups. (Point de vue, Bulletin African Bioressources, Oct 2001)
Lack of women's participation. Women and environment experts have raised concern over the absence of women in the discourse and debate on climate change, a global mainstream issue that is currently impacting the entire world.
A document from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development states: "An overall assessment of the climate change debate to date shows women are patently absent in the decision-making process. Their contributions in environmental policies are largely ignored. Decision-making and policy formulation at environmental levels such as conservation, protection and rehabilitation, and environmental management are predominantly male agenda. The climate change debate is an indicator of how gender issues tend to be omitted, leaving room for complex market-driven notions equated in terms of emission reductions, fungibility and flexible mechanisms.
Nevertheless, in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development reflected in Agenda 21, one notes the key role ascribed to women as principle actors in the management of natural resources and the development of sustainable and ecologically sound policies. Perhaps the fact that there are few trained women environmental specialists tends to accentuate this gender deficit in environmental policy. Institutional weakness in women's organizations and under-representation informal decision-making are factors that lend to swing the pendulum away from their oft-valuable input."
Women can contribute to the solution. The involvement of women in areas of environmental management and governance should not be perceived as an afterthought. Women's roles are of considerable importance in the promotion of environmental ethics. Their efforts in waste management through recycling and re-use of resources are an indication of the extent of their significant input to community development. Women in rural areas, due to their daily contact with the natural habitat for the provision of food, fodder and wood, tend to have sound ecological knowledge that could be useful in environmental planning and governance.
For example, during a drought in the small islands of the Federal States of Micronesia, it was local women, knowledgeable about island hydrology as a result of land-based work, who were able to find potable water by digging a new well that reached the freshwater lens. ((In Gender aspects of climate change, Gender and Disaster Network, 2005/REF)
Women must understand and engage in mainstream issues. Gender must therefore be taken up as part and parcel of these issues. Women must understand therefore how women are affected by these as well as how women can become part of the solution. In this spirit, the Third Global Congress of Women in Politics and Governance will be organized in October 19-22, 2008, and its focus will be on gender and climate change.
"Discussions on action to alleviate the impacts of climate change are not simply a scientific debate. It is about questioning the ability of countries and their peoples to anticipate and respond effectively to the adverse human and physical effects of climate change. From a livelihood perspective, poor communities are potentially the big losers in the scramble for markets within the overall emissions trading and climate policy debates. Thus, efforts must be devoted to creating a situation in which all stakeholders - women included - can derive some benefit. Measures should include the demystification of the climate change issues in order to generate popular consensus. It is about creating opportunities that the poor could benefit from; giving them greater responsibility in environmental management: and creating environmentally friendly technologies that would generate revenue and jobs. "(Fatma Denton, Point de Vue, p. 2)
The current imperative is for women to understand the phenomenon of climate change and its impacts and implications at individual, household, community and national levels. "Studies show that women have a definite information deficit on climate politics and climate protection." (Gender and Climate Change - a forgotten issue? In Tiempo Climate Newswatch)
Also, there is an urgent need for political leaders and legislators to commit to creating an enabling environment for responding to climate change and to address disaster risk reduction at a national and international level. More and more politicians and legislators have shown growing interest in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, but much of this has been concentrated in Europe. It is vitally important to extend the dialogue, and to involve legislators from different regions, especially those most vulnerable to the impact of disasters and climate change.
2. Objectives of the Congress
Specifically, the Congress will have the following objectives:
Overall Purpose: To provide a forum for women legislators at all levels in formulating gender-responsive legislation.
Specific Objectives:
a) to understand the phenomenon of climate change, its impacts, and its implications;
b) to review and examine the gender aspects of climate change and formulate appropriate actions to address these;
c) to define the roles women can play in addressing the impacts of climate change at the global, national and sub-national levels; and
d) to identify and define the action agenda for parliamentarians, policy advocates, and women leaders to support global and national actions to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
3. Papers
The discussion on gender and climate change will be organized around identifying the challenges to action, as well as defining the appropriate responses to effectively address the impacts of climate change. Inputs to the discussion will be collected and organized around: 1) geographic location; and 2) types of actions i.e. preparedness; risk reduction; building community resilience; adaptation; and mitigation. Cross cutting these discussions will be the identification of technologies in aid of responding to climate change.
The focus of the discussions will revolve around defining and elaborating actions (i.e. preparedness, disaster risk reduction, adaptation, and mitigation) to cope with climate change and its impacts.
Preparedness and disaster risk reduction is about building individual and community capacities to position themselves and their communities so that the likelihood of climate change-induced disasters is reduced; the intensity or adverse impacts of disasters are cushioned and that inhabitants are able to respond promptly, expeditiously and effectively. Adaptation entails actions that moderate harm, or exploit benefits, of climate change. Mitigation entails actions that minimizes or cushions the adverse impacts of climate change.
In all of these actions, special attention will be given to defining how women and gender could be mainstreamed. In other words, the Congress should define how women can be given the social space to participate, influence, and benefit from global and local responses to climate change.

Proposed Plenary Papers
· Perspectives in Climate Change: Development Challenges and Ways Forward and Technologies for Clean Energy and Environment Management
· Gender and Climate Change: What Can Women Do About Climate Change? A Proposed Action Agenda
· Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Legislation
Environment organizations and all the other participants are welcome to share papers for distribution during the congress. These papers should be emailed in advance so that they can be included in the CD of resource materials that will be distributed to the participants during the congress.
4. Proposed Program
Date Activity

Day 1
Oct 19, 2008
Sunday

Morning session

800 - 900 Registration

900 - 1030 OPENING CEREMONIES

Opening Speakers
· Host country
Welcome Remarks

Keynote Address:

Setting the Stage for Gender Responsive Legislation on
Climate Change

1030 - 1245 Plenary Session 1

Perspectives in Climate Change:
· Development Challenges
· Solutions and Ways Forward

Gender and Climate Change:
· What Can Women Do About Climate Change?
· Gender-responsive Legislation on Climate Change - What have we done so far?
· A Proposed Action Agenda

1245 - 1345

LUNCH

Film Showing: "The Inconvenient Truth"

FREE AFTERNOON

1900 - 2200 Welcome Dinner/Cultural Night

Day 2
Oct 20, 2008
Monday

Morning session

830 - 1030

PLENARY SESSIONS

Panel 1: Women in Politics and Governance
· Progress of Women in Politics and Governance: Updates, Gaps and Areas for Further Action
· Gender responsive Legislation in Aid of Climate Change Responses: Are women legislators engaged in the climate change responses?

1030 - 1230 Panel 2: Gender and Climate Change
· Mainstreaming Gender and the Role of Women in Climate Change Responses: Challenges, Approaches & Strategies
· Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction and Legislation
· Technologies for Responding to Climate Change: Do Women Have a Role to Play?

LUNCH

Evening Session
WORKSHOPS
Regional Perspectives on Climate Change:

Focus: Challenges, Solutions and Ways Forward

o Asia-Pacific
o Western Asia
o Africa
o Caribbean and Latin America
o Europe and North America

(Workshops will draw up a Gender Responsive Legislative Agenda for Action: National, Regional and Global)

Day 3
Oct 21, 2008
Tuesday

Morning Session Regional Perspectives on Climate Change:

Focus: Drawing up the Gender Responsive Legislative
Agenda

o Asia-Pacific
o Western Asia
o Africa
o Caribbean and Latin America
o Europe and North America

Plenary Session 2

Workshop Reports:

1300 - 1400 Asia Pacific
1400 - 1500 Western Asia
1530 - 1630 Africa
1630 - 1730 Caribbean and Latin America
1730 - 1830 Europe and North America

Day 4
Oct. 22, 2008
Wednesday

Morning session Plenary Session

Synthesis and Integration:

Call to Action for a Gender Responsive Global Governance and Legislation for Managing Climate Change - Manila Declaration on Gender and Climate Change

Lunch

Afternoon Session Closing Programme:

Closing Speakers

· Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
· Representative from Asia Pacific
· Representative from Western Asia
· Representative from Africa
· Representative from Caribbean and Latin America
· Representative from Europe and North America

Signing of the "Manila Declaration on Gender and Climate Change"

Address

Farewell Dinner/International Night

5. Knowledge Fair/Exhibition on Gender and Climate Change
A knowledge fair/Exhibition on Gender and Climate Change will be organized at the venue of the Congress: the Dusit Hotel. Participating organizations are invited to exhibit their materials for display or for sale. Those who are interested should contact the secretariat to make their booth reservations. There will be minimal charges for the rental of the booth. This is aside from the space that will be made available for all organizations to display and distribute materials that you would like to share with the other participants.

6. Expected Output
Expected Output: Gender Responsive Legislative Agenda on Climate change

7. Who Can Join?
· Women Parliamentarians
· Women in Decision-Making and Governance
· Environment Organizations
· Funding/donor organizations/agencies
· Members of media
· Youth Leaders
8. Venue of the Congress:
The Dusit Hotel, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines (www.dusit.com.ph )

9. About the Organizer:
Global Network of Women in Politics
The Global Network of Women in Politics is a project of the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP). It is a loose network of organizations and individuals who are committed to the agenda of transformation in leadership, politics and communities.
This network is committed to be the forum for Women Parliamentarians to meet every two years and learn about relevant gender issues that will enable them to promote gender responsive legislation.
From the beginning, CAPWIP has recognized the need for broad international support to effectively promote women's participation in politics. The Center studied previous efforts to create a global network for WIP. They found that some of the factors that hindered the creation of an effective network were that efforts had been confined either to a small group of elite women or research institutes and/or that it had a narrow focus of interest. Realizing that CAPWIP has no real model for a global network, the group decided to work slowly toward this ultimate objective.
Time and again, CAPWIP took advantage of opportunities to talk about what it was doing. One such break was the 1994 Taipei Global Summit on Women's Leadership in Politics. The summit brought together women interested in WIP and key CAPWIP personalities, among them Supartra Masdit, Kanwaljit Soin, Sylvia Ordonez, Irene Santiago, Sochua Leiper, Annette Lu Hsiu Lien, Leticia Ramos Shahani, Kao Tien Shang, Anne Summers, and Solita Monsod. International luminaries included Bella Abzug, Monica Barnes, Joaquima Alemay, Betty Bigombe and Kazimiera Prunskiene. The group agreed to work towards forming a global network and to meet at the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the Beijing World Conference to be held in New York in March 1995.
At the PrepCom, CAPWIP posted its invitation for a "Planning Workshop for the Preparatory Activities in Beijing for the Organization of the Global Network of Women in Politics." Hosted by the African-American Institute, the 17 March workshop was attended by a large group of women which included: Christine Pintat (Inter Parliamentary Union); Anita Amlen (Swedish Federaton of Liberal Women); Jytee Lindgard (National Council of Women in Denmark); Sdalwa Sharawy Gomaa (Social Research Center, Egypt); Malena de Montis (Centro Para La Participation Democratica y El Desarrollo, Nicaragua); Nadia Raveles (Women's Parliament Forum, Surinam); Dr. Pam Rajput (Punjab University); Slote Wananisan (Fiji Mission to the UN); Dr. Ilina Sen; NandiniAsad (Working Women's Forum, India), and Ayesha Khanam (Bangladesh Mahila Parishad). The African-American Institute, which had planned a WIP meting in Botswana, later, hosted the Planning Meeting for the Global Network of WIP held in Beijing.
Several steering committees were formed that would produce Regional WIP Platforms for Action for the Beijing Women's Conference. Focal points were established for the different regions: Nadia Raveles for Africa, Jytee Lindagard for Europe-North America, CAPWIP for Asia-Pacific, Salwa Gomaa for West Asia, and Malena de Montis for Latin America-Caribbean.
It was also agreed that a Global Network of Women in Politics (GLOBALNET) would be organized with CAPWIP serving as the permanent secretariat. In 1995, GLOBALNET was formally incorporated with CAPWIP serving as the permanent secretariat.
Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
The CENTER FOR ASIA-PACIFIC WOMEN IN POLITICS (CAPWIP) is a non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental regional organization dedicated to promoting equal participation of women in politics, governance and decision-making. CAPWIP was established in 1992 by a group of women from the Asia-Pacific region who have defined their paradigm for change as:

Politics that is both TRANSFORMED and TRANSFORMATIONAL.

TRANSFORMED because...

it uses power to create change, to develop people,
and to build communities;

it is non-hierarchical and participatory in its
structures and processes; and

it accords priority to the disadvantaged sectors,
such as the poor grassroots women in rural and
urban areas and indigenous women;

TRANSFORMATIONAL because...

it is development-oriented, issue-based,
and gender-responsive;

it seeks economic, social, and political equity between sexes
and among sectors; and

it builds a society that is just and humane and
a way of life that is sustainable.

CAPWIP operates through a network of national affiliates clustered into five sub-regional groupings: Central Asia, East Asia, Pacific, South Asia and Southeast Asia. These sub-regional coordinating focal points and national affiliates are autonomous organizations actively involved in women's political empowerment in their respective countries.

CAPWIP supports its network through technical assistance in organizational and program planning, training, research and information sharing, advocacy and networking. CAPWIP receives administrative and program support through voluntary contributions from its board members and grants from bilateral and multilateral aid agencies such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asia-Pacific Gender Equality Network (UNDP-APGEN), Regional Programme on Governance in the Asia-Pacific (UNDP-PARAGON), Southeast Asia Gender Equity Programme of the Canadian International Development Agency (SEAGEP-CIDA), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

CAPWIP's programs on training include developing modules and training programs for women's leadership and responsible citizenship based on the framework of transformative leadership and conducts trainer's training for women's political empowerment, transformative leadership and gender-responsive governance.

The CAPWIP Institute for Gender, Governance and Leadership (CIGGL) aims to provide trainings to women and men involved in:

? Electoral politics (in all levels: national, provincial, city/municipality)
? The bureaucracy (in all levels: national, provincial, city/municipality)
? Political parties (officials and members)
? Training institutes (government, private sectors and non-government)
? The development of governance policies, programs and projects
? Working with NGOs, civil society groups interested in gender, governance and leadership; or
? Women and men who are simply interested in the question of gender, governance and leadership

10. Secretariat

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Tel: (632) 8516934; Tele Fax :( 632) 8522112; mobile phone +639184596603
Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

11. Congress Cost per participant

Congress Cost Per participant with Twin Sharing Accommodation:
One thousand five hundred fifty five US Dollars (US$ 1,550.)

Congress Cost Per participant with Single Room Accommodation:
One thousand nine hundred fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,950)

These fees are inclusive of:

Congress fees
Transfer in and out of the hotel
Accommodations at the designated hotels
All congress materials
All meals during the Congress
Accommodations(excluding meals) for one night before the congress (October 18, 2008)

This fee, which does not include airfare and airport terminal fees, is non-refundable and must be paid in advance as soon as the reservation to the congress is confirmed. Congress fee payments should be sent/remitted to:

Account Name : Center for Asia-Pacific Women in
Politics or CAPWIP
Account Number : 710 271000417 4
Account Type : U.S. Dollar Savings Account
Bank's Name : Metropolitan Bank and Trust
Company (METROBANK)
Bank's Address : Magallanes Branch, Paseo de
Magallanes, Magallanes Village,
Makati City, PHILIPPINES
Swift Code : MBTCPHMMXXXX

Unfortunately, scholarships are not available from the organizers. You are encouraged to seek your own funding from various donor/funding agencies or your own institutions. The organizers will rely solely on the congress fees to fund the congress expenses.

Please email us a copy of the wire transfer/remittance document as soon as funds have been remitted. Also, bring this document to the Congress for verification. Payments upon arrival are NOT allowed.

All participants must confirm their attendance on or before July 31, 2008. If we get fully booked before this date, you will be informed. This is the reason why you are all encouraged to book as early as possible. All accommodation types are available on a first-come first-served basis. If you are alone and you would like to request for a twin accommodation, we will inform you if we can pair you with another participant, otherwise, you may have to pay for a single room. Please send all registration forms to:

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Tel: (632) 8516934; Tele Fax :( 632) 8522112; mobile phone +639184596603
Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

Accommodations beyond the congress period can be arranged. Participants will have to pay for the hotel charges in advance to secure the booking. These will also be remitted to the CAPWIP account.

12. Congress Schedule: 19-22 October 2008

The Congress is scheduled on October 19-22, 2008 .Participants are required to arrive one day before (Oct. 18) the start of the Congress and leave the day after the last Congress day (Oct 23,2008). This fee only includes the accommodation for the Oct 18, 2008 all meals for October 18 is for the personal account of the participants. Depending on your departure schedule, all meals for the October 23, 2008 except for the breakfast will be on the personal account of the participants. Meals for personal account of the participants will have to be paid in cash every time you incur them at the hotel. Charging of personal accounts in restaurant outlets of the hotel will not be allowed.

13. Target Participants

· Women Parliamentarians
· Women in Decision - Making and Governance;
· Environment Organizations
· Youth Leaders
· Media Practitioners
· Funding/donor agencies/organizations

Note: The policy of "first come - first served" will be applied in selecting the participants from among the applicants. Therefore, it is best that registration is made at the earliest possible time.

14. Medium of Instructions

English is the medium of Instruction. No translation will be available.

15. Congress Venue

The Dusit Hotel
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

16. Accommodations

The participants' accommodation will be booked at the Congress venue (Dusit Hotel) and other hotels in the same vicinity, all within walking distance from the Congress venue. For purposes of organization, the assignment of the hotels will be on a "first come first served" basis. The first that will confirm and pay their fees will be given accommodations at the hotel venue.

17. Food

The following meals, LUNCH, SNACK and DINNER, will be served at the Dusit Hotel. Breakfast will be served at your respective hotels (if you happen to be billeted at a hotel other than the official venue of the congress). We will be serving a variety of international dishes. We will also be serving one "halal" dish and one vegetarian dish with every meal.

18. Registration Form

Please fill up the Registration form found in pages 20 to 23 of this document and email it back to us together with the following documents:

· Latest Curriculum Vitae or Bio Data
· Latest electronic Photo (2x2)
· One (1) page narrative describing your reason/s for participation

The Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP),
4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines
Tel: (632) 8516934;Tele Fax? (632) 8522112; mobile phone +639184596603
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected] Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

19. How to Get to the Congress Site

The CAPWIP staff will assist and bring the participants to the venue upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT) will meet each participant at the immigration arrival section of the airport and will escort them to the area where the CAPWIP staff will be waiting. CAPWIP will also provide transfer from the venue to the airport.

20. Reconfirmation of Return Flights

The CAPWIP Secretariat will assist the participants in the reconfirmation of their return flights.

21. Information about the Philippines

The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. It has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese and the Japanese. Spain's colonization brought about the construction of Intramuros in 1571, a "Walled City" comprised of European buildings and churches, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. In 1898, after 350 years and 300 rebellions, the Filipinos, with leaders like Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, succeeded in winning their independence.

In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only colony of the United States. Following the Philippine-American War, the United States brought widespread education to the islands. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, particularly at the famous battle of Bataan and Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance and saved Australia. They then waged a guerilla war against the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The Philippines regained its independence in 1946.

Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt regimes. The Philippines is a vibrant democracy, as evidenced by 12 English national newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.

Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.

Climate: March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is 77%.

Currency: The Philippines' monetary unit is the Peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotel, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank of America Card, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

Language: The Philippines is the world's third-largest English-speaking country next to the United States and the United Kingdom. There are over 100 regional dialects. The national language is Filipino.

Visa requirements: For most foreign visitors, visas are not needed for stays of less than 21 days. Three-month visa can be obtained in advance and cost around US$35. Multiple-entry (lasting six to 12 months) visas are also available but are expensive and only allow for stays of 59 days at a time. Visa extensions are possible and generally faster to obtain in regional areas.

Basic tourist info: Information and tour brochures are available upon request. You can also the internet for more information on the Philippines: .

22. Information Regarding Visas to the Philippines

The Philippine government allows nationals from certain countries to enter the country without visas for a stay not exceeding 21 days, provided they hold valid ticket for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination. The Philippine Foreign Affairs Department also requires that passports are valid for a period of not less than six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. But Immigration Officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty (60) days beyond the intended period of stay.

Nationals from the following countries, however, must secure entry visas to the Philippines:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Bosnia-Herzegovina
China, Peoples Republic of (PROC)
Croatia - Regular passport holders only; diplomatic and official passport holders do not need entry visas.
Cuba - Regular passport holders only; diplomatic and official passport holders do not need entry visas.
East Timor*
Egypt *
Estonia
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
Georgia
India*
Iran*
Iraq*
Jordan*
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lebanon*
Libya*
Lithuania
Moldova
Nauru
Nigeria*
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)*
Pakistan*
Palestine*
Russian Federation
Sierra Leone
Slovenia - Regular passport holders only; diplomatic and official passport holders do not need entry visas.
Sri Lanka*
Sudan*
Syria*
Tajikistan
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Yemen*
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro)

* Nationals from these countries may only apply for 9(a) temporary visitor's visa at their country of origin or place of legal residence.

The following are also required entry visas to the Philippines:

Holders of Taiwanese passports
Holders of Documents of Identity (DI), Certificates of Identity (CI) or Travel Documents ("Titre de Voyage")
Stateless Persons

The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days:

Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports
Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports
Holders of Macau-Portuguese passports
Holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports

Important Note: Nationals who are subjects of deportation/blacklist orders of the Department and the Bureau of Immigration shall not be admitted to the Philippines.

Further inquiries may be addressed to the Visa Division (Telephone numbers: (63 2 834-4854; 834-4853 & 834-4961), Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines or to any Philippine Embassy or Consulate abroad. Also, visit their website at: www.dfa.gov.ph

Registration The Third Global Congress of Women in Politics
And Governance: Focus on Gender and Climate Change
Congress Venue: The Dusit Hotel Manila, Makati City, Philippines
Congress Schedule: 19-22 October, 2008

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines
? Tel (632) 8516934; Tele Fax? (632) 8522112; mobile phone+639184596603
E-mail: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Web: www.capwip.org www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

Name _________________________________________________________________________ Sex ( ) female ( ) male

Designation _________________________________________________ organization ______________________________________________

Educational background _________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tel no. _________________ Fax no. ____________________ E-mail address _________________________________

Website: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

who is funding your participation? ______________________________ How did you come to know about this congress?_______________

Seminars/Trainings/congresses attended related to gender and governance:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you expect to learn or achieve from this Congress?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Congress Cost Per participant with Twin Sharing Accommodation:
One thousand five hundred fifty five US Dollars (US$ 1,550.)

Congress Cost Per participant with Single Room Accommodation:
One thousand nine hundred fifty US Dollars (US$ 1,950)

These fees are inclusive of:

Congress fees
Transfer in and out of the hotel
Accommodations at the designated hotels
All congress materials
All meals during the congress
Accommodations(excluding meals) for one night before the congress (October 18,2008)

This fee, which does not include airfare and airport terminal fees, is non-refundable and must be paid in advance as soon as the reservation to the congress is confirmed. Congress fee payments should be sent/remitted to:

Account Name : Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics or CAPWIP
Account Number : 710 271000417 4
Account Type : U.S. Dollar Savings Account
Bank's Name : Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (METROBANK)
Bank's Address : Magallanes Branch, Paseo de Magallanes, Magallanes Village, Makati City, PHILIPPINES
Swift Code : MBTCPHMMXXXX

Please email us a copy of the wire transfer/remittance document as soon as funds have been remitted. Also, bring this document to the Congress for verification. Payments upon arrival are NOT allowed.

Unfortunately, scholarships are not available from the organizers. You are encouraged to seek your own funding from donor/funding agencies or your own institutions. The organizers will rely solely on the congress fees to fund the congress expenses.

All participants must confirm their attendance on or before July 31, 2008. Upon receipt of the confirmation of attendance by the Congress secretariat, payment for the congress fees should be remitted immediately. All accommodation types are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Please send the registration form and other pertinent documents to:

Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)
4227-4229 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines,
Tel: (632) 8516934; Tele Fax:(632) 8522112; mobile phone +639184596603
Email: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Web: www.capwip.org ; www.onlinewomeninpolitics.org

Accommodations

Please check accommodations needed:

Twin Sharing accommodations (US Dollars US$1,550. per person)

Single Room accommodations (US Dollars US$ 1,950. per person)

Flight details and Information:

Please specify expected dates of arrival and departure from the Philippines (if available)

Arrival: (date) _____________ (time) ________________ (airline & flight details) ______________
Departure :(date) _____________ (time)_____________ (airline & Flt details)________________

Special Dietary Requests:
______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________