New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
BPW NZ
LEADERSHIP FORUM 2014 –
THE POWER OF RESOLUTIONS
Leadership Forum
2014 – The Power
of Resolutions
BPW New Zealand
Carolyn Savage, BPW NZ Immediate Past President
WHY A RESOLUTION?
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
WHY DOES BPW NZ
NEED YOUR
RESOLUTIONS
• Provides the power to use our voice
in different arenas
– Nationally, Internationally and
– United Nations
• Ensures credibility to our responses
or action against issues e.g.:
– Submissions, written or oral
– Press releases
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
WHY HAVE RESOLUTIONS?
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Can be submitted to umbrella
organisations or affiliations e.g.:
– National Council of Women
(NCWNZ) remits.
– BPW International Policy
• Result: more women have the
tools to speak on Issues affecting
women and their families.
WHY DOES BPW NZ
NEED YOUR
RESOLUTIONS
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Empowering Women
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
The story of a Resolution….
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
THE STORY OF A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
How to Start….
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Identifying what are issues that are
affecting women today:
– Economic Empowerment….or
lack of
– Imaging…the power of media,
both negative and positive
– Where are the barriers or
shortfalls for women?
THE STORY OF A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
An Idea Takes Hold…..
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Body Imaging:
– Who are most affected
– What impact is it having
– What types of media have an
impact on people
– Who are most impacted by the
media in its different forms
– Is it an issue for BPW to pick up
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Other Areas to consider
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Any particular reference back to the
Policy Document….e.g. for
example “Section 19: General
External Policy……”
• Does it fit within any sections of
CEDAW….and what is CEDAW….
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
The Convention of the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
(CEDAW)
•
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in
1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described
as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting
of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what
constitutes discrimination against women and sets up
an agenda for national action to end such
discrimination.
•
The Convention defines discrimination against women
as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on
the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of
impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or
exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status,
on a basis of equality of men and women, of human
rights and fundamental freedoms in the political,
economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
So some boxes are ticked yes!
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• But not all….
• So what next:
– Identify key factors
– Find supporting research
– Look at who it is you are
speaking for
– Who are strongly affected
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
What Action is Required from the
Resolution?
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• “THAT the New Zealand
Federation of Business and
Professional Women (BPW NZ)
Inc .....
– …Reaffirms it position…
– …Urges the Government…
– …Urges the Broadcasting
Standards Authority…
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
So…now how to write your
resolution…
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Identified the subject:
– Body Image
• What the resolution is to achieve:
– Changes in law
– Raising Awareness
– Has a directive within the context
to ensure it can be used in a
broad context.
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Open up for debate with your
members….
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Always good to have
others review it:
– Add strength
– Allows for other
areas maybe not
identified
– Look at a potential
seconder/club to
discuss with early
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Body Image…prepared…
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
G8: Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image
• THAT the New Zealand Federation of Business and
Professional Women (BPW NZ) Inc urges the
Government to introduce a Voluntary Industry Code of
Conduct on Body Image, asking the fashion industry
and all forms of media to stop portraying unrealistic,
extremely thin figures in their promotional material.
– Moved by: BPW Franklin
•
Rational: provide why this is required….but not how it is to be
implemented, the resolution provides that.
•
Action: what are the outcomes that should take place, e.g. letters to
Ministers, press releases etc, prepare for NCWNZ or BPW International
•
Costs: are there any potential costs to the Federation.
HOW TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Resolution passed…where to
next….?
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Remit prepared and passed
unanimously at NCW Conference
11-12 October 2014.
Then…
A RESOLUTION IS
PASSED…WHERE
TO NOW?
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Glassons’ ‘Skinny Mannequins”
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
•
Natalie Akoorie …Natalie Akoorie is a reporter at the NZ Herald based
in Hamilton. 5:00 AM Monday Oct 13, 2014
• Glassons taken to task over
skinny mannequin…
A RESOLUTION IS
PASSED…WHERE
TO NOW?
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Fashion Industry Icon…Get a life,
it's Queen St for God's sake.
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
Worried about skinny mannequin?
'Get a life' says fashion maven
•
By Patrice Dougan 4:10 PM Tuesday Oct 14, 2014
•
WORLD co-founder and chief executive Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and
the Glassons skinny mannequin. Photo / File, Twitter
People worrying about the influence skinny mannequins have on
teenagers and children should "get a life," the head of one of New
Zealand's biggest fashion brands says as she stands by her comments
that "clothes look better on skinny people".
WORLD co-founder and chief executive Denise L'Estrange-Corbet was
speaking on TV One's Breakfast programme this morning, in the wake
of a public outcry over the use of mannequins with visible ribs in high
street fashion chain Glassons, when she made the comments.
"Let's face it, clothes look better on skinny people," she told the show.
•
•
•
A RESOLUTION IS
PASSED…WHERE
TO NOW?
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
BPW NZ takes Action…..
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• IPP notified President…we need to
respond, we have it in our policy….
• Result press release prepared by
President Vicky, Media team
reviewed….
• Final result issued….
A RESOLUTION
TAKES FLIGHT
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
Media Release: BPW NZ calls fashion
industry to account…October 15th
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
The New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW NZ) joins the
call for action on the use of skinny models and mannequins as it is directly affecting the
self-esteem and health of many of our young people.
Research shows a direct correlation between published and modelled “perfect” body
image and the body dissatisfaction of young girls which results in health problems, low
self-esteem and greater risk of self-harm and suicide.
“BPW NZ calls upon the fashion industry and the media to act responsibly and introduce
a voluntary code of practice on body image” says President Vicky Mee.
“BPW NZ advocates for a Code providing accountability and guidelines that the industry
must follow.
“A code of practice on body image would provide the minimum standards to ensure
young girls and women are not being shown an impossible ideal.
“A code is an important and vital part of protecting our young women and allowing their
talents to flourish, not having them worrying about reducing their body size” says Vicky
Mee, President BPW NZ.
“It is time for action.”
A RESOLUTION
TAKES FLIGHT
For further information or to schedule an interview please contact:…..
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
BPW’s voice was heard……
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Glassons ditches skinny mannequins
•
Teuila Fuatai : Teuila Fuatai is a reporter for the NZ Herald, 8:05 PM
Thursday Oct 16, 2014
• Meanwhile the NZ Federation of Business
and Professional Women wants a code of
practice in the fashion industry to end
skinny models and mannequins.
President Vicky Mee said they directly
affected the self-esteem and health of
young people.
A RESOLUTION
TAKES FLIGHT
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage
THE RESOLUTION TAKES
FLIGHT…..
New Zealand
Federation of
Business and
Professional
Women
• Passed as a Remit for NCW
• Used in a press release
• Available for use in a submission
• Being prepared for
BPW International
Congress 2017
A RESOLUTION
TAKES FLIGHT
Presented by: BPW NZ Imm Past President, Carolyn Savage