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<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=surf-hdr-stats@undp.org
href="mailto:surf-hdr-stats@undp.org">Shipra Bose</A> </DIV>
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size=2><U></U></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT size=2> I believe<STRONG>
“Gender” as a concept has been depoliticized</STRONG> to the extent that people
feel at ease with it. The same level of comfort often is not witnessed when
terminologies such as “Women’s Empowerment” or challenging “patriarchies” are
put forth. I personally believe that the general expressions of institutions and
individuals of “Gender Mainstreaming” is problematic and have contributed to
that effect (this has to do with both knowledge and political positions) as
well. In a way, depoliticisation of gender has created a scenario whereby the
political essence of Gender Power Relations and structural causes in that regard
no longer seem to matter much. Hence the progress in relation to overcoming
existing gender inequality is not remarkable. These are equally valid for both
programmatic responses and oraganisational (internal cultural and governance of
agencies/institutions/organisations) issues. This has been compounded by the
fact of an existing lack of sound knowledge and understanding of
Gender Matters, and lack of adequate expertise, skills/capacity that is required
to make gender a “living practice”. I tend to agree with thise that
say that <STRONG>even for the UN system the capacity for gender
mainstreaming is a big challenge</STRONG>. Furthermore I would like to add that
political positions/wills, in their true meaning, and readiness to effect
change are a key factor.</FONT></DIV>
<P></FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Shipra Bose<BR>UNV
Programme Officer<BR>Zambia<BR></FONT></P></FONT></BODY></HTML>