ISO: JOR
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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN


Address of HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan
to the Fourth World Conference on Women

Beijing, China, Tuesday, 5 September, 1995
Translation from Arabic


Madame Chairperson,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I greet you with the Islamic greeting of mercy, love and peace.
Peace and God's mercy and blessings be with you. 

I have come here from a region which was the birth place of the 
monotheistic religions, noble principles and great ideas. These 
contributed, no doubt, to the development of human civilisation, and the 
uplifting of the living conditions of human beings, both men and women. 

Even though our region has undergone periods of unrest, conflict, and a 
waste of resources, which adversely affected our population, it is 
nevertheless now going through a new phase. We are bravely and devotedly 
building lasting and comprehensive peace to alleviate the suffering of 
our people and to pool all efforts and resources to help them achieve 
growth, development and prosperity. 

As a Jordanian Arab woman who believes in Islam as a faith and a way of 
life, that evolves around the life of human beings, both men and women, 
and the belief in the family as the nucleus of society, I feel that this 
important international gathering in Beijing gives us an invaluable 
chance to channel our efforts and mutual co-operation to address the 
major challenges faced by women in all walks of life. 

End of translation

Madame Secretary General of the 4th World Conference on WomenMadame 
ChairpersonDistinguished Delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,

This ancient land tells a story that extends far into the reaches of 
civilisation's memory. Parts of China's story start 500,000 years ago, 
at the time of some of our earliest ancestors. This magnificent city, 
Beijing, itself has a history of some 3000 years, and has played and 
continues to play its own special role throughout the story of China. 
How fitting then, that this great city should be the setting of such a 
momentous event in our own modern times. 

On behalf of the Jordanian delegation, I would like to express our deep 
gratitude to the government and the people of China for hosting this 
important international gathering and for the warm hospitality accorded 
to us. 

Our special thanks also go to H.E. Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali and to Mrs. 
Gertrude Mongella, whose ceaseless efforts have made this historic 
gathering a reality. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we gather here during the next ten days, the eyes of the world are 
focused on us. Women everywhere attach their hopes and aspirations on 
our meeting to come up with tangible solutions and actions to address 
their concerns and enable them to realise equality, development and 
peace. 

While these three words are worthy of being raised upon our banners 
here in Beijing, the worthiest of feats lie yet ahead. I think that we 
all agree that the focal point of this conference is its "Platform for 
Action", which, to my mind, would be of little meaning unless it is 
accompanied by a genuine commitment for genuine work. The time for 
rhetoric is over and it is now high time for deeds, not words. Action 
should be taken not only by governments and international g agencies, 
but by non-governmental organisations as well. In this process, women 
should be integrated as full partners in all sectors of activity and 
empowered to become major players in decision-making. I always hesitate 
before using the term "empower. Perhaps it is because it suggests that 
power is being bestowed upon those who were previously powerless. I do 
not hold this to be the case with women, for the power of women has 
always been present in our world, and has played a role throughout its 
history. Their power is not in question; the real issue is one of giving 
women the opportunity to put that power to use in our present world, 
allowing it to forge and improve our present reality. Their potential is 
already very much in existence. While there is much to be done, our real 
task is to see that work is delegated to women, along with authority and 
responsibility.Ladies and Gentlemen,

This century bears witness to tremendous upheavals across the globe. We 
in the Arab world have had our fair share of dramatic change. 

As a Jordanian I can proudly say that we have chosen to look bravely 
forward, keeping the dawn of the future firmly in our gaze. While we 
cherish our past, and hold dear our traditions, we must continue to 
believe in our culture's ability to grow and evolve with our ever 
changing needs and circumstances. 

I believe that our culture and values are strong enough to withstand the 
hazards of the journey into modernity, yet we must strive for clarity of 
vision at all times. All too often, we see the true essence of our 
culture being distorted by elements of insecurity and defensiveness. 

We must be aware that such a defensive posture can never be proactive or 
creative, although these two qualities should always be present against 
the backdrop of a vibrant culture such as ours. 

The family unit is one such fundamental and integral element of our 
society, to be guarded with the utmost conviction. Our true cultural and 
ethical values should remain the backbone of our society, capturing the 
essence of an Islamic heritage which forbade the killing of the girl-
child, emancipated the ,woman, and blessed the role of the mother. It is 
the spirit captured in the words of the Prophet Mohammed, may God's 
blessings be upon him, when he said: "For that man who has a daughter, 
who raises her and raises her well, and who educates her, and educates 
her well, that daughter shall be as a shield from the fires of hell." It 
is the spirit of a tradition that says that heaven rests beneath the 
feet of mothers. 

In Jordan we are trying to be true to our past, while attempting to 
serve the needs of tomorrow. For example, our educational enrolment 
rates at all levels are almost equal for males and females and are 
indeed among the highest in the region. 

Women's participation in public governance is gaining ground. There are 
now two cabinet ministers, two senators, one parliament member, a mayor 
and 9 municipal council members who are women. 

These achievements, however, are overshadowed by a number of areas that 
still need improvement Poverty is still a serious problem in the life of 
many Jordanian women. Unemployment rates among women are double those 
among men. 

In Jordan, both the public and private sectors are committed to women's 
advancement and promotion of equal opportunities, with the family as the 
basic unit of society, and women at its core. To advance and co-ordinate 
all these efforts, the Jordanian National Committee for Women was formed 
in 1992 as a policy forum, the first of its kind in the region. 

Its first output was the Jordanian National Strategy for Women which was 
formulated by national consensus and adopted by the government. It sets 
out the role as well as the needs and priorities of women in key areas, 
such as education, health, employment and legislation. 

The strategy has proven its effectiveness at the grass roots level in 
mobilising efforts and changing perceptions. For this purpose, Women 
Committees were formed as an implementing mechanism throughout the 
country. Of the ten women who won seats for the first time in our recent 
municipal elections, six were members of the Women Committees. 

These results showed how rapid success can follow organised effort. They 
also revealed that conservative attitudes towards the role of women were 
being replaced by recognition. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While many of us are becoming wary of the negative impact of 
globalisation, this conference bears witness to some of the positive 
aspects of the global trend. This World Conference provides an 
extraordinary opportunity for all of us to share knowledge and 
perspectives on a global scale. It is my hope that our co-operation and 
interaction will produce results of a global proportion. 

Let us see that our efforts here are translated into visible and 
tangible changes, changes that will herald a new era in which women in 
all sectors of society are recognised for their true worth and receive 
all the support they need for their full participation.... an era where 
their talents and skills can be channelled for the betterment of our 
world. 

Thank You"