AS WRITTEN

Statement to the World Summit on Social Development

Representative of the War-torn Nations
on behalf of the Women's Caucus

By

Sochua Mu Leiper Cambodia March 08, 1995.


Dear Chairperson, Your Excellencies and friends:

 Thank you for giving me this unique opportunity to share the concerns of 
women from the war-torn nations. I also thank the members of the civil 
society who have organised this Summit and the NGO Forum '95.

 I represent the deep apprehension and uneasy concerns of women, who live 
in war-torn nations of the world such as Afghanistan, Mozambique, Angola, 
Kuwait, Somalia, Sudan, former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Cambodia, which are 
still in the process of gaining peace and national reconciliation.

 In my country, the tragic political events that occurred between 1970-1979 
left women with more responsibilities in the socio-economic life of 
Cambodia that demand a new definition of the "family" as many male members 
either died in the conflict or were rendered disabled. Now,

 -  About two-thirds of the adult population over 35 years are women;

 -  More than one-third of the households are headed by women; and

 -  Women constitute 56 per cent of the workforce.

 Our Concerns

 Our anxiety is based on a reading of the Draft Declaration and Draft 
Programme of Action for the World Summit where the currently fashionable 
market-centred model of development is considered as a magic solution for 
all socio-economic-political-cultural problems and issues. This development 
model will further burden women in war-torn nations to a life of 
deprivation and chronic poverty.

 To ignore the potential and the power for positive change abounding the 
war-torn nations through women is to court peril in the search for unity, 
peace and prosperity. Therefore, I seek your intervention to recognise the 
significant role played by women in the families, and enable them to 
participate in the national peace pursuits.

 Our Appeals

 We strongly recommend that:

 - world Governments commit themselves to the Agenda 20:20 so that a 
substantial budget is allocated to cover expenses of the social development 
sector that include access to and control over basic needs, resources, 
education and health care.

 This firm commitment will guarantee:

 - Advancement and empowerment of women, and encourage citizens to foster 
enduring and equitable partnership between men and women, people and the 
government towards formation of civil society.

 We strongly urge and call upon the world Governments to:

 - commit themselves to implement the proposals contained in the Programme 
of Action to enable these war-torn nations build civil society which should 
allow women to play an important role.

 I echo the call made by other NGOs and groups throughout the world for the 
Social Summit to adopt a people-centred agenda for social and economic 
development which will include:

 - stricter control and virtual elimination of arms transfer; and

 - nations to ban production, stockpiling and supply of land mines;

 Finally, for the launch of the 180 Days/180 Ways a Women's Action 
Campaign, we will present today at the NGO Forum - 100 meters of the 1,000 
meters of the Cambodian Women's Ribbon to Beijing 1995.

 The Cambodian Women's Ribbon is a part of Women Weaving the World 
Together, a global action campaign to invite women from all over to send 
their woven pieces to make a 20 kilometer ribbon in Beijing which will 
demonstrate women's support to the conference themes: Equality, Development 
and Peace.

 Thank you.