"Hold Our Government Accountable" Campaign
The activities associated with "Beijing +5" demand that women’s advocates assess how well governments, at all levels, are implementing the Platform for Action and the US Women’s National Action Agenda. Beginning in January 2000, US Women Connect invites you and your friends or colleagues to join a national effort to assess  the responsiveness of government officials and agencies to women’s and girls’ views and concerns.  This collective effort can strengthen our advocacy efforts by alerting   government officials and agencies that they are accountable and by documenting both progress and obstacles.

Our five areas of focus are based on the priority action areas of the US National Women’s Action Agenda, the US version of the Platform for Action that was created by more than 500 US NGOs in 1996-97. These are: economic security and justice; education and training; women’s health and reproductive rights; women and decision-making; and girls’ forum. In each area, the Action Agenda includes goals and actions defined by women and girls around the country.

How far have local, state, and national governments come in reaching these goals and in responding  to women’s needs and demands? US Women Connect is in the process of developing a common "report card" format that can be used for different issue areas and different levels of government. Women’s organizations and NGOs can use the report cards to enhance their own advocacy efforts. In addition, US Women Connect will collect the completed "report cards, compile the results, and share the findings amongst the USWC network. There are also great possibilities for media outreach based on the report cards, from local to national talk shows and press.

Would you like to be involved?  If so, please add your e-mail below:

Send your ideas to USWC at uswc@uswc.org