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Session Title: Gender and Human Rights Evaluation
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Panel Session 318 to be held in SEGUIN B on Thursday, Nov 11, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM
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Sponsored by the Feminist Issues in Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Divya Bheda, University of Oregon, dbheda@uoregon.edu
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| Discussant(s):
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| Donna Podems, OtherWISE, donna@otherwise.co.za
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| Divya Bheda, University of Oregon, dbheda@uoregon.edu
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| Abstract:
Since the development of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards in 2005, UN entities have made efforts to achieve progress on integrating gender equality and human rights in evaluations, given that these two principles are at the heart of the UN work and should be guiding all its operational activities. Evaluation frameworks for gender focused programs have not always been in synch with principles associated with the furtherance of a human rights mission. This panel will examine UNIFEM's mandate for evaluation of gender focused programs, a transformative framework that shifts the focus directly on human rights, and strategies associated with grassroots movements in such contexts.
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United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG): Evaluation in a Human Rights Framework
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| Belen Sanz, United Nations Development Fund for Women, belen.sanz@unifem.org
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| Inga Sniukaite, United Nations Development Fund for Women, inga.sniukaite@unifem.org
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The presentation intends to contribute to the panel discussion by highlighting the key principles that emerge from human rights and gender equality frameworks in evaluation in the UN, to then present the evaluation approaches that are consistent to these principles derived from the existing evaluation literature and debate such as feminist research and transformative paradigms. It will then focus on sharing the work done by the UNEG to elaborate guidance for the UN system on integrating human rights and gender equality in evaluation, and will share lessons learned and challenges for UNIFEM and other UN agencies in developing and applying this guidance and approaches.
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Transformative Lens Applied to Gender Focused Evaluations
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| Donna Mertens, Gallaudet University, donna.mertens@gallaudet.edu
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Mertens will provide an overarching philosophical framework that is specifically focused on furthering human rights and social justice as a way of envisioning bridges between the demands for evaluation from multi-lateral agencies and the desire to further human rights. She will examine points of overlap and points of tension between the transformative paradigm and the UN's evaluation framework as it applies to gender focused evaluations.
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Human Rights Enhancement From a Grassroots Community Change Agent
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| Denice Cassaro, Cornell University, dac11@cornell.edu
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Based on her many years as a community change agent who focuses on gender-related issues, Cassaro will present strategies that offer promise in terms of linking evaluation efforts with social change to enhance human rights.
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