Transcript Co-operative Summit of the Americas

Co-operative Summit of the Americas-2009
ICA America VI Continental Meeting of
Women Co-operators
Topic: Global crises panorama and its
impact on Women’s lives
A Report from ICA Asia Pacific
Presented by Savitri Singh, ICAAP, India
What is Global Crises ?
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Crises is the plural of crisis.
a. A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point.
b. An unstable condition, as in political, social, or economic affairs,
involving an impending abrupt or decisive change.
c. A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward
either improvement or deterioration.
d. An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person's
life.
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A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest
tension and must be resolved.
Ten of the most serious challenges facing the
world today:
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Climate Change,
Communicable Diseases
Conflicts
Education
Financial Instability
Corruption
Migration
Malnutrition and Hunger
Trade Barriers
Access to Water
Impact on women: Climate
change
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Drought & flood affect agriculture
De forestation
Lack of fire wood, cattle feed
Shortage of Water
Non availability of safe drinking water
Communicable Diseases
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HIV/AIDS
Malaria and TB
Care giving to family members
Earning to support family
Innocent victim of HIV
Conflict
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War in Kuwait, Afghanistan , Israel and
several other places
UN: 70% war refugees/orphans are
women and children
War Leeds women to single parenting,
poverty, all forms violence including
rape and trafficking
WTO & Free trade
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Trade Barriers :women in traditional sectorsagriculture and textile ( weavers, artisans,
fisheries,dairy)
Competition: case of women coop in Delhi
Faminisation of labour: low paid labour
intensive jobs in export units-garment, food
First to lose jobs- Shrilanka,
Bangladesh,Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines
Financial/Economic crisis
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Financial crisis leads to all these crises:
Education
Corruption
Migration
Malnutrition and Hunger
The current Financial Crisis
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The current global financial crisis began in July 2007 when a
loss of confidence by investors in the value of securitized
mortgages in the United States resulted in a liquidity crisis that
prompted a substantial injection of capital into financial markets
by the United States Federal Reserve, Bank of England and the
European Central Bank.
In September 2008, the crisis deepened, as stock markets
worldwide crashed and entered a period of high volatility, and a
considerable number of banks, mortgage lenders and insurance
companies failed in the following weeks.
Impact of financial crisis in Asia in general
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So far the intensity of the impact is not clearly known
The periodical news from several countries –
manufacturing and agricultural export and tourism
are badly affected
The trend can be understood by looking at reports
and studies on what happened in 1997 Asian crisis
The US and European economy was stable and
Asians could export out-1997-98
The US and European economy crashed, no export
out resulting into major market (job and revenue)
loss
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Slowing down over all growth and
sustainability
Economic slow down resulting into loss of
employment to individuals and revenue to
governments resulting into lessening or
stopping public spending by governments
Lack of public spending by govt. affects badly
to poor and women and children
Impact of Crises on Cooperative
Institutions in particular
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The cooperatives so far have not reported any significant
impact of crisis in Asia Pacific region.
Hegen Henry, Chief of the ILO’S Cooperative Branch has
said that there are few instances and ILO has commissioned
a study for in depth information.
there are instances of slow down of business activities of
coop banks and credit coops, consumer coops, low business
turnover etc.
Some examples
Raj Lakshmi Women Bank in India
experienced slow down in business turn
over, low deposit and borrowing,
increase in bank’s NPA
 JCCU- a big consumer coop chain in
Japan trading caution
 NACF, South Korea: 20%cut on
expansion plans
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Impact of crises on various aspects of
human life in general
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Price rise of essential commodities such as food,
medicine, housing, education etc.
Loss of income resulting into low self esteem, school
drop out, malnutrition, health issues, drug addiction
and economic crime, domestic violence, human
trafficking
Impact of crises on gender and women in
particular
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Crises impact women and men differently ?
Any crisis put disproportionate burden on poor and women due
to their vulnerable situation
The Asia Pacific Region has second highest ratio of employed
women at 48.9% -UNIFEM
ILO report: 22 million women have lost jobs in manufacturing
sector due to present economic crises.
Rising crime against women
Assumed to be secondary income earner ( men are first choiceKorea)
Unskilled and semi skilled, distress employment
Perceived to be a cheaper labour substitute for men’s labour
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60-90%labour in clothing sector, food production,
electronics, call centre and financial services are
women
Temporary, casual and seasonal nature of jobs lack
security and benefits such as insurance, medical,
pension etc.
Crisis led to cut in benefits such as leave, subsidized
food, free transport, incentives et
Asian crisis-1998-women First to lose jobs as men
considered “Bread winners”
Opportunities resulting from the crises
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Mr. Ban KI MOON, UN Secretary General: “The global financial
crisis is forcing all of us to save and cut costs wherever we can.
But our work for the women of the world must continue
undiminished.”
UNIFEM: We must urgently ensure that fiscal stimulus packeges
are engendered. These must encompass investment in women
dominated industries and provide support to educational
initiatives, women’s health and agricultural extension services
The cooperative sector should study the impact of crisis on
cooperative institution and take initiative to mitigate impact
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Increase public spending and investment in
agriculture as 60% women still employed in
agriculture in Asia
Cooperatives protect and enhance micro
credit
Practice smart economics-Invest in women
and girl child
Gender-disaggregated analysis of labour
market impact
ICAAP initiative for gender mainstreaming
and women empowerment