Abortion Debate; Involved Fathers; UN Women: Beijing+20

>> THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY" FIRST, A NEW STRATEGY FOR PROLIFE ACTIVISTS?

THEN, INVOLVED DADS GET A BOOST, BUT INVOLVED MOMS LAG BEHIND.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, TWENTY YEARS LATER.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, LEGAL WRANGLING OVER ABORTION A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS THIS WEEK ABOUT A HOTLY CONTESTED TEXAS LAW THAT COULD BE THE NEW FRONTIER FOR THE ABORTION RIGHTS DEBATE.

THE LAW MANDATES A STRICT SET OF BUILDING CODES FOR CLINICS REQUIRING UPGRADES THAT COULD COST MILLIONS.

PRO-LIFE PROPONENTS SAY THEY'RE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WOMEN.

BUT PRO-CHOICE GROUPS SAY THE CLINICS DO NOT NEED THE UPGRADES, CAN'T AFFORD TO COMPLY AND WILL CLOSE.

ABORTION RIGHTS GROUPS CLAIM THEIR OPPONENTS ARE USING AN UNDERHANDED STRATEGY TO CLOSE CLINICS AND LIMIT ACCESS BY PRETENDING THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH.

FIFTH CIRCUIT JUDGES IN NEW ORLEANS WILL DECIDE IF THE LAW IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

IS THE NEW STRATEGY FOR PRO LIFE GROUPS BY WRITING CLIP PARTICULARS UPGRADE AND IN EFFECT CLOSING THEM?

>> PRETTY MUCH, BONNIE.

SO FAR THE RIGHT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BRING DOWN A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

SO THEY'RE TRYING TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO KEEP WOMEN FROM EXERCISING IT.

>> THIS IS TRYING TO PROTECT WOMEN.

SAYING ANY FACILITY THAT TREATS WOMEN MEDICALLY ALSO HAVE TO LIVE BY SAME STANDARDS AS ANYBODY ELSE THE ABORTION CLINICS HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THAT.

>> SAYING ABORTION IN WHICH SECTION IMMORAL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH UPGRADES OR HEALTH OR SAFETY IT'S AFFRONT TO WOMEN'S BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY.

>> THAT MANY HAVE NOTHING TOE DO BUT FOR PATIENT SAFETY.

>> TELL ME HOW THOSE -- THE KIND OF GUIDELINES THAT PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT'S BEING PUT ON ABORTION CLINICS IN TEXAS?

>> THESE RESOLUTIONS ENCAPSULES ARE DANGEROUS 46789 CLINICS WHEN THIS LAW WAS PASSED.

>> DIDN'T THAT SIMILAR LAW PASS IN VIRGINIA?

>> IT DID.

>> GOT THROWN OUT?

>> ACTUALLY IT'S BEING AMENDED, I WAS AT THAT STATE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING IN RICHMOND RECENTLY WHERE WE DISCUSSED THAT.

BUT IN TEXAS WEPT FROM 41 CLIP PARTICULARS 17.

ONLY GOING TO BE 7 IF THESE SURGICAL CENTER REQUIREMENT IS UPHELD.

>> BASICALLY IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH -- >> NO, NO, THERE'S A NEW STUDY OUT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO THAT SHOWS ABORTION IS OVERWHELMINGLY SAFE.

WE'RE TAKING ABOUT A QUARTER OF 1% OF ABORTION, THIS IS OVER 50,000 HAD MAJOR COMPLICATION.

COMPLICATION RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER AT GETTING YOUR WISDOM TEETH REMOVED.

TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT.

>> LET ME GET CONTEXT WE MAKE OUR VETERINARY CLINICS THAN ABORTION CLINICS.

THIS IS WRONG.

TO SUGGEST NO CLINICS I THIS COUNTRY PERFORM ABORTIONS ARE NOT NEEDING TO HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS LOOK AT THE KERMIT CLINIC IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT WAS SHUT DOWN HE WAS PUT IN PRISON BECAUSE WOMEN DIED IN HIS CLINIC.

NOT BECAUSE OF JUST UNUSUAL THINGS, BASIC CLEANLYLESS WAS NOT UPHELD BECAUSE NOBODY OF MAKING SURE.

WHY WOULD WE NOT FOLLOW CLEANLINESS STANDARDS.

>> YOU HAVE TO COME TO REAL ANALOGY.

AN ABORTIONIST THAT HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY EVERYBODY.

>> BUT THE -- >> NOBODY WAS CHECKING -- >> NOBODY WAS DOING THEIR JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THE EXISTING REGULATIONS WERE BEING -- >> NO.

>> WANT TO GET -- >> WHAT ARE THE CLINICS OBJECTING TO, THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE WIDER HALLWAYS?

>> WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OFTENTIMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN UPGRADES TO COMPLY WHICH IS WHY THE CLINICS ARE FORCED TO CLOSED.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE EXPANSIVELY WIDE HALLWAYS TO ABLE TO DRIVE A TRUCK DOWN THE MIDDLE.

>> WHY NOT IN OTHER CLINICS?

WHY DO WE REQUIRE THE -- >> I JUST WANT TO HEAR -- >> TAKE A DEEP BREATH FOCUS ON WHAT THESE CLINICS ARE HE BEING FORCED TO COMPLY WITH.

>> WIDE HALLWAYS, WHAT ELSE?

>> DIFFERENT -- WHAT'S THE WORD FOR IT.

HANG OVER THING OF THE FRONT DOOR.

>> THE LIGHT?

>> NOT THE LIGHT.

>> AWNING.

YES.

THANK YOU.

AWNINGS.

IT'S JUST EXPANSIVE RIDICULOUS REQUIREMENTS.

THING IS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PATIENT SAFETY.

THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS OVERWHELMINGLY STOOD UP IN THE FACE OF THESE SAY THESE DON'T HELP IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AT ALL.

I JUST NEED TO GO BACK AND RESPOND TO SOMETHING, I FIND IT HEARTBREAKING, ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE OF WOMEN'S BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY.

WE TALKED ABOUT ANIMALS AND VETERINARY CLINICS.

>> BECAUSE YOU GUYS THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS FOR ANIMALS THAN WE DO -- WE HAVE VETERINARY CLINICS HIGHER STANDARDS IN TERMS OF -- >> THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IN ABORTION CLINIC IS USUALLY NOT SURGICAL.

YOU GO TO A VET THEY HAVE TO BE EQUIPPED TO DO ANYTHING THAT THE PET REQUIRES -- >> BUT THE -- >> GET THEIR -- >> IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO CUT HIM ONLY THEY DON'T JUST BRING HIM THERE TO DO A SIMPLE PROCEDURE, ONE TIME, VERY NARROW PROCEDURE TO COMPARE WHAT A FULL SURGICAL CLINIC IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEDURES TO AN ABORTION CLIP CHICK NORMALLY IS NOT SURGICAL.

AND IS A VERY SIMPLE COMPARE TO NOT JUST APPLES AND -- >> ONLY WOMEN WHO ARE FOUR WEEKS PREGNANT GET ABORTIONS, PEOPLE UP TO 20 WEEKS GET ABORTIONS THERE IS PLENTY OF SURGICAL ACTIVITY INVOLVED IN THAT.

I DON'T -- LOOK, NOBODY IS FORCE CAN THESE CLIP PARTICULARS SHUT DOWN.

THE CLINICS THEMSELVES CHOOSE NOT TO MAKE THE -- >> AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD -- >> GENEVIEVE, IT SEEMS BEYOND ABSURD FOR ME TO -- FOR TO YOU SAY THAT NO ONE IS FORCING THEM TO CLOSE DOWN WHEN THE PROPONENTS EVER THESE REGULATIONS KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE THOSE RENOVATIONS.

>> BONNIE, IF THEY NEED THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHY CAN'T PLANNED PARENTHOOD A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY WHICH GETS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVERY YEAR, WHY CAN'T IT GIVE MONEY TO THE LYNN FIX IT'S SO CONCERNED ABOUT IT?

I THINK WOMEN'S HEALTH MORE IMPORTANT THAN MILLION DOLLARS INDUSTRIES THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> I WENT TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS DOWN IN RICHMOND WHO WAS STANDING UP IN FAVOR OF THE CLINIC REGULATIONS IN VIRGINIA.

ONE MAN SAID TO THE GROUP, HE OPENED STATEMENT WITH I BELIEVE IT'S A MAN'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT A WOMAN DOES THE RIGHT THING.

YOU HAVE MEN HOLDING SIGNS THAT SAY "ADORING HURTS WOMEN" THEY HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS NOTHING TO DO -- IN FACT THESE REGULATIONS MAKE WOMEN LESS SAFE.

WOMEN HAVE TO DRIVE IN TEXAS, WE'RE TALKING EIGHT HOUR ROUND TRIP TO GET AN ABORTION IF YOU'RE GOING FROM RIO GRAND VALLEY UP TO SANOFI AVENTIS.

>> THE GOVERNOR ELECT SAID LET THEM GO TO THE CLINIC IN NEW MEXICO.

>> IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A CLOAK FOR CLOSING DOWN THE CENTERS, WONDER WHAT YOU THINK OF THE REQUIREMENT IN SOME STATES FOR ULTRASOUND AND TO BE READ TO THE WOMEN.

YOU THINK THAT IS ABOUT WOMEN SAFETY?

>> WHAT I THINK IS THAT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS IS ISSUE THAT FRANKLY WOMEN OF ALL SIDES COULD HAVE COME TOGETHER ON.

BECAUSE IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH STOPPING -- >> I JUST THINK -- >> OBVIOUSLY -- >> WHERE THEY ALSO -- >> ULTRASOUNDS ARE DASH.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE TO BE FORCED.

>> WAIT.

ONE AT A TIME.

PLEASE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VAGINAL ULTRASOUND.

>> I AM.

>> I THINK THAT WAS RIDICULOUS.

BUT I DO THINK -- >> IN TEXAS.

>> BUT VAGINAL -- JUST REGULAR ULTRASOUND.

HERE IS THE DEAL.

ULTRASOUNDS ARE GREAT TECHNIQUE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE WOMB.

ONE REASON ADORING IS -- >> I WANT TO GET YOU IN HERE.

>> I DON'T SEE WHAT THE FUSS IS ABOUT.

I COME FROM A MEDICAL FAMILY MY PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING IN WEST VIRGINIA THEY OWN A PRIVATE CLINIC, PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, THE SAME CODES ARE BEING AT THEM.

MAKE HALLWAYS BIGGER, PUT THE AWNING IN.

THE PRO LIFE PEOPLE FOUND BACK WAY TO DO THIS.

IF THEY WISH.

BUT I THINK OTHER CLINICS ARE BEING GIVEN THESE SAME REGULATIONS, WHATEVER SPECIALTY THEY'RE IN.

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS VERY BIG IT GETS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE TO BE FAIR WHY CAN'T THEY PAY FOR THE RENOVATIONS FOR THE TEN CLINICS IN TEXAS THAT WILL CLOSE?

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING FIRST.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES GET GOOD CHUNK OF FEDERAL MONEY BUT NONE TOSSING ABORTION SERVICES.

THERE IS LOT OF FUNDING.

THAT'S A MISNOMER TO THINK THEY'RE CONNECTED.

LOT OF THE CLINICS ARE INDEPENDENT CLINICS, A MOM AND POP SHOP WHERE A COUPLE PEOPLE, FANLY RUN BUSINESS TRYING TO HELP OUT PATIENTS AS IS BEST THEY CAN.

YOU CAN'T HAVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD SWOOPING IN SAVING EVERYONE.

FRANKLY PLANNED PARENTHOOD, TOO, IT'S MISLEADING TO PORTRAY PLANNED PARENTHOOD LIKE THE SAX FIFTH AVENUE OF HEALTH CARE.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE PROVIDING A LOT OF FREE LOW COST SERVICES ON THE BASIS OF NEED.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AGAIN IT'S NOT LIKE A RITZY PLACE.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

FROM REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TO WORKING PARENTS.

INVOLVED FATHERHOOD HELPS MEN'S CAREERS WHILE INVOLVED MOTHERHOOD HARMS WOMEN'S CAREERS.

THOSE ARE THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY BY A GROUP OF BOSTON PROFESSORS TO BE PUBLISHED THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES A STUDY OF NEARLY 1,000 WORKING FATHERS FINDS THE MORE TIME MEN SPEND WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON A TYPICAL DAY, THE MORE SATISFIED THEY ARE WITH THEIR JOBS AND LOYAL TO THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

FOR MEN, INCREASED PARENTING TIME TRANSLATES INTO LESS WORK FAMILY CONFLICT.

THAT'S IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE WORK-FAMILY DILEMMA WOMEN EXPERIENCE.

RESEARCHERS BELIEVE WHILE WORKING FATHERS FACE AMBIGUITY AROUND THEIR FATHERING IDENTITY, THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEIR WORK IDENTITIES ARE THREATENED.

RESEARCHERS CREDIT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR FATHERS.

SO WHY THIS DICHOTOMY?

MEN SPEND MORE TIME DOING CHILD CARE AND THEY DO BETTER ON THE JOB, WOMEN GET BLAMED FOR IT.

>> LET'S START OUT WITH THE GOOD NEWS, RIGHT.

CHILDREN DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR FATHER INVOLVED OR I WANT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGING SAME SEX PARENTS AS WELL.

CHILDREN DO BETTER WHEN TWO PARENTS ARE INVOLVED WHEN EVERYONE IS INVOLVED.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> AND MOTHERS WOULD YOU THINK WOULD DO BETTER AS WELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE LESS TIME THAN -- TO DEVOTE TO CHILD CARE THEY E THEY HAVE TO DEVOTE MORE TO THEIR WORK LIFE.

>> EXACTLY.

GOOD FOR THE FAMILY.

GOOD FOR THE CHILD.

GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS TO START OUT WITH.

OF COURSE ALSO NOW WE SEE THE NEW STUDY THAT IT'S GOOD FOR THE FATHER'S CAREER THAT HE'S MORE COMMITTED TO HIS WORKPLACE THAT HE'S HAPPIER HAS BETTER JOB SATISFACTION THAT'S GOOD THING FOR THE BOTTOM LINE.

ISSUE IS HOW DO WE MAKE THIS MORE FAIR FOR WOMEN?

WOMEN WHO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN EXPERIENCE MORE CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

ONE INTERESTING THING TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT CAN WE DO IN TERMS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AND SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE.

BOTH TO WOMEN AND TO MEN.

UNFORTUNATELY OUR COUNTRY IS WAY BEHIND ON THIS.

WE DON'T HAVE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FROM THE VAST MAJORITY OF WOMEN BUT ALSO IF WE PROMOTED IT FOR MEN THAT HELPS MEN GET EARLY INVESTED EARLY ON.

>> YOUR THROTTLE.

>> I DO THINK -- I THINK ONE REASON MEN ARE GETTING ALL THE ATTENTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SO LONG WOMEN HAVE JUST BEEN DOING THIS.

WHO ALWAYS TOOK OFF TIME TO GO TO THE GAMES, TAKE THEM TO THE DOCTOR.

MORE GUYS ARE NOW DOING THAT AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOT OF GUYS IN MANAGEMENT MAYBE THINK, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TOO.

I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE TREATED FAIRLY IN THE SENSE THAT -- >> I THINK MEN OUGHT TO COME IN TAKE OVER THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, PERIOD.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT MEN AND CHILD CARE.

HE FOR SHE CAMPAIGN, HAVE MEN JOIN IN FOR GENDER ISSUES.

>> HERE WE GO.

I WORK WITH COUPLE AT HERITAGE, MAN AND WOMAN WHO ARE MARRIED HAPPEN TO WORK IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT THEY TAKE OFF TWO DAYS A WEEK SHE PICKS UP THE KIDS EARLY, THEN HE DOES, DOESN'T GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG THEY'RE BOTH TREATED EQUALLY.

IT'S A FAIRLY NEW PHENOMENON.

>> I THINK THIS IS COUNTER INTUITIVE AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT THAT THE MEN ARE GETTING SO MUCH OUT OF THE DISCOVERY.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING THAT THIS REALLY IS A GOOD THING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST GENERATION OF MEN.

FOR WOMEN THEY STILL IN THE OLD SCHOOL AND OLD SCHOOL SAYS, FORGET ABOUT THIS BEING THE 21st CENTURY SUPPOSED TO BE AT HOME THEY HAVEN'T QUITE MOVED UP TO THE POINT THAT THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THAT SATISFACTION IN PART BECAUSE FOR ALL THE SATISFACTION THAT MEN HAVE THEY STILL ARE LEAVING MOST OF THE JOB TO WOMEN AT HOME.

WHEN SHE GETS HOME SHE'S STILL DOING DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE WORK WHILE HE'S BEEN HAVING A GOOD TIME AT THE OFFICE, COMES HOME, SITS AND PLAYS WITH THE CHILDREN, SHE DOES THE WASHING, WHEN IT ALL GETS TO BE EQUAL THEN EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY.

>> I THINK THAT DAY IS LONG AND FAR AWAY.

SITTING AROUND THE DINNER TABLE MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS WHERE UNFORTUNATELY IT ISN'T ABOUT WOMEN, THE GUYS ARE LIKE, I'D LOVE TO STAY HOME AND PLAY WITH THE BABY.

YOU WANT TO GO TO WORK, RIGHT?

THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE JUST SHOWING US THAT MEN ARE AWAKENING, FINDING OUT THAT FATHERHOOD IS EXCITING AND FUN THEY CAN MAYBE TAKE A LOAD OFF.

>> LIKE MORE THAN PROBABLY COUPLE OF WEEKS THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE.

>> I LOVE IT THAT SOME OF THE STAN DA NAVYIAN COUNTRIES ALLOW PARENTAL LEAVE ARE SAYING, ARE YOU CRUISE IT OR LOSE IT.

>> IT'S MANDATORY AND PAID.

>> AND THAT IT HAS TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

APPARENTLY FOUND OUT THIS THEY WERE REINFORCING SEXISM BECAUSE IT WAS THE WOMEN AND ONLY THE WOMEN WHO WERE TAKING IT.

THAT'S IN THE REALLY WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

I THINK THEY HAVE LESSONS FOR US.

>> HOW LONG BEFORE -- THE FACT THAT WOMEN HAVEN'T BEEN HAVING AS EASY A TIME IS THAT CHANGING, TOO, GOING TO GET EASIER AS MORE MEN TAKE THE TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MORE FATHERS ARE INVOLVED BETTER IT IS.

SAME THING FOR SAME SEX COUPLES.

MORE THAT YOU HAVE TRUE PARTNERSHIP IN SHARING THE BETTER IT'S GOING TO BE FOR EVERYONE.

I WANT TO ALSO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE FOR I19 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER MY HUSBAND IS THE FIRST WHO CHANGES HER DIAPERS WHENEVER SHE WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

WHAT I FIND BOTH WONDERFUL AND ALSO REALLY SAD, I LOVE IT, OF COURSE, BUT WHENEVER I SHARE THAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE THEY'RE LIKE, THAT'S AMAZING.

CONGRESSWOMAN SAID IT'S WOMEN DOING A LOT OF THIS GRUNT WORK SIDE AND NOT JUST SWOOPING IN DOING THE FUN STUFF LIKE SINGING THE SONGS AND THROWING THE KID IN THE AIR ALL THE FUN THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES.

IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN AND ITS GOAL OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE HEAD OF UN WOMEN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S TRANSPIRED IN THE TWO DECADES AND WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED FOR FUTURE PROGRESS.

>> WE CANNOT DEPEND ON INCREMENTAL PROGRESS.

POST 2015 AND BEIJING PLUS 20 THERE IS A MOMENT FOR BOLD STEPS, STANDING ON FIRM GROUND OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.

>> THE YEAR WAS 1995.

THE CITY WAS BEIJING.

LEADERS FROM 189 COUNTRIES CAME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK TO PROMOTE "GENDER EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF ALL WOMEN, EVERYWHERE."

>> IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO DISCUSS WOMEN'S RIGHTS AS SPATE FROM HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> TO COMMEMORATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION, MEETINGS AND EVENTS ARE BEING HELD IN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE AS ACTIVISTS AND ADVOCATES ASSESS PROGRESS ON GENDER EQUALITY.

>> SOUTH AFRICA WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAVE REACHED GENDER PARITY FOR GIRLS AND BOYS.

IN LATIN AMERICA, A COUNTRY LIKE ECUADOR, JUST THE WAY THEY DELIVER SERVICES IS VERY MUCH GENDER RESPONSIVE, YOU HAVE THE MINISTER OF FINANCE, THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION LITERALLY WORKING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY DELIVER THE SERVICES, THEY HAVE GOT THE BEST POSSIBLE IMPACT ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF GIRL CHILDREN AND WOMEN.

>> U.N. WOMEN ARE ALSO EVALUATING OUTSTANDING NEEDS.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NQCUKA SAYS LATER U.N.

INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS MAY HAVE LEFT OUT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

>> A LOT OF THE GOALS HAD STRONG RELEVANCE FOR WOMEN GIVEN THAT A SUSTAINABLE IMPACT IN DECREASING POVERTY DEPENDS ON WOMEN.

THE GOAL THAT WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS GENDER EQUALITY, ONLY PICKED UP TWO ASPECTS AROUND WOMEN.

ONE WAS ON EDUCATION AND THE OTHER WAS ON EQUALITY, ESPECIALLY MORE REPRESENTATION, AS YOU KNOW, GENDER INEQUALITY IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT, >> AN ONGOING CONCERN ACROSS THE GLOBE IS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

>> VIOLANCE IS THE MOST DEHUMANIZING FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.

WHEN WOMEN ARE BEATEN UP SOMETIMES, IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING DEMOBILIZED FROM ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BY A CONTROLLING PARTNER AND TO SOME EXTENT, THAT VIOLENCE MEANS THAT WOMEN'S HEALTH-MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH-IS AFFECTED AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO WORK.

>> IN SOME WAR-STRICKEN COUNTRIES, IT'S MORE DANGEROUS TO BE A WOMAN THAN A SOLDIER.

>> IN ALL OF THOSE HOT SPOTS OF THE WORLD YOU CAN LOOK SAY WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED THAT IT IS MUCH WORSE FOR WOMEN, AND SOMETIMES WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS THAT IT IS NOT REPORTED AS SUCH, THE DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY ARE HAVING, IS NOT ALWAYS DESEGREGATE.

>> U.N. WOMEN LAUNCHED THE HEFORSHE CAMPAIGN ENLISTING MEN TO BE PART OF A SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.

>> YOU ACTUALLY WANT MEN OUT THERE, IN THE COMMUNITY, AS DECISION-MAKERS, AS BROTHERS, AS FATHERS, TO ACTUALLY TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPACE TO MAKE THINGS DIFFERENT.

WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN ARE RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MEN WHO ARE IN STRATEGIC POSITIONS, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THE POWER THAT THEY HAVE.

>> NQCKA EMPHASIZES INCLUDING MEN SHOULD NOT UNDERMINE WOMEN'S EFFORTS, BUT GENERATE A MOVEMENT THAT CAN ADDRESS ISSUES ON A LARGER SCALE.

>> THE ADVOCACY THAT WE NEED AMONGST MEN IS RELATIVELY NOT RESOURCE INTENSIVE.

WOMEN AND MEN MUST STAY ENGAGED TOGETHER SO THAT WOMEN CAN ACTUALLY GUIDE THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE THIS IS AFTER ALL, A WOMAN'S STRUGGLE.

WOMEN MUST HAVE A SAY ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE FUTURE TO BE.

>> I WAS THERE 20 YEARS AGO AS WAS OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CARRIE STEIN.

THERE WASN'T EVEN ANY TALK.

ALL THIS TALK ABOUT INVOLVING MEN LIKE WE'VE DONE EARLIER IN THE SHOW DIDN'T EXEST IN '95.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THOUGH, NOT HAVING BEEN THERE, ARE WE BETTER OFF, IS THE WORLD BETTER OFF, WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD BETTER OFF.

>> A LOT OF NUMBERS WOULD SAY THAT IN TERMS OF NUTRITION, SO FORTH.

THAT SAID WE HAVE A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO.

I THINK REACHING OUT GETTING MORE MEN TO BE INVOLVED IS AN IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE, LOOK, SO MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES, WOMEN ARE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS, MANY OF THE COUNTRIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNTIL MEN IN THOSE COUNTRIES CHANGE THEIR THINKING ABOUT THAT, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THOSE THINGS -- BE MUCH HARDER FOR OTHER THINGS TO CHANGE.

>> I AGREE.

THE TWO ISSUES THAT MOST CONCERN ME IS A TREMENDOUS PROGRESS MADE, EXCUSE ME, THE EASIER ISSUES.

TWO ISSUES THAT MOST CONCERN ME, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND PREFERENCE FOR BOY BABIES OVER GIRL BABIES AND SOCIETIES LIKE CHINA AND INDIA, WHICH ARE DISRUPT THE ENTIRE SOCIETY.

NATURE NEVER MEANT IT THAT WAY.

I DON'T SEE PROGRESS ON THOSE TWO ISSUES.

>> YOU DON'T SEE PROGRESS.

>> I DON'T SEE PROGRESS.

>> I'M MORE OPTIMISTIC.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT MY GENERATION, THE MILLENNIALS, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH THESE NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGY TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR VOICES, PEOPLE LIKE MALALA EDUCATING FOR EDUCATION, VIOLENCE IN INDIA, BRING TO THE SURFACE OF SOCIETY BECAUSE WOMEN ARE CHOOSING NOT TO STAY QUIET USING ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE.

>> THAT'S FABULOUS.

I WANT TO SAY, TOO, THAT IN '95 WHEN WE WERE IN BEIJING I FELT LIKE THE U.S. WAS THE LEADER ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE WORLD.

AND THAT -- THOSE TABLES HAVE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE HAD WOMEN PRESIDENTS, PRIME MINISTER, MANY, BEFORE BEIJING MANY SINCE BEIJING WE ARE NOT CLOSE TO A FEMALE PRESIDENT AT THIS POINT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE -- WE'RE CELEBRATING BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUNDRED WOMEN IN CONGRESS OUT OF 435.

MUCH BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY THAN MANY OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE WOMEN ARE ACTUALLY PRESIDENT OR PRIME MINISTER.

I THINK -- >> I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MORE WOMEN IN CONGRESS, POINT BEING THAT JUST ELECTED OFFICE NOT THE BEST MEASUREMENT.

ARE WOMEN ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE STILL LIVING IN AN AGE WHERE WE ARE SEEING DRAMATIC NEW RESTRICTIONS BEING ADOPTED ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE DO STILL HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

ANOTHER THING TALKING ABOUT GLOBAL WOMEN'S RIGHTS NEED TO RAT RAT E RATIFY THE U.N. CONVENTION ON WOMEN.

>> NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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