As an INSTRAW-sponsored panel on gender statistics, feminist leaders from Italy and New Zealand urged collaboration between statistics produces and users as a strategy to improve the status of women.
By improving research methodology and shaping areas of data collection, feminists can influence policy priorities and resource allocation related to women, according to Daniela Colombo of Italy Colombo called for more quantitative and qualitative research in the areas of credit access, genital mutilation, unpaid work, and the contribution of women to family and national welfare.
Judy Lawrence, Chief Executive of New Zealands’ Ministry of Women, stressed the importance of gender impact analysis as feminist strategy. She also urged the training of women’s rights activists in statistics in order to make sure data is collected in important areas and to maximize the use of gender statistics.
Colombo and Lawrence commended INSTRAW’s pioneering role in conducting and disseminating research on women worldwide and applauded platform language preserving the agency’s autonomy.
