ISO: TZA *************************************************************************** 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. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN STATEMENT BY HON. ZAKIA HAMDANI MEGHJI HEAD OF DELEGATION OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN BEIJING, CHINA 5th SEPTEMBER 1995 Madam President Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Delegates, ladies and gentlemen Let me begin, like other speakers who have spoken before me, by congratulating you and members of the bureau on your election to lead the deliberations of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Let me also take this opportunity on behalf of my delegation to pledge our support to you in mating the conference a success. Allow me Madame President to express my delegation's gratitude for the warm welcome we received on our arrival and the hospitality we still enjoy from the great people of this country. May I also take this opportunity on behalf of my delegation to congratulate Madam Mongella the Secretary General of this conference and her team for the excellent preparations. I would like to assure her that her Tanzanian sisters and brothers are surely proud of her and we assure her our support and co-operation. While we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UN., we do so with mixed feelings particularly when we think of reasons behind the formation of the UN. The major objective for the establishment of the UN is to promote peace and understanding among nations of the world. A very small percentage of women have enjoyed peace and understanding 50 years after the formation of the United Nations. It is a pity that the will behind the formation of the UN has been deflected from the expected. Many nations are torn apart by wars and strife. Violation of human rights is on the increase, and political uncertainty hangs on the balance for many nations. Killings en mass in some countries is the order of the day and in all occurrences of war and strife - women and children are the hardest hit. Women and children in many parts of the world have cried for the beloved they lost, women and children in many parts of the world are left as widows and orphans respectively. We, women of the world assembled here today are also struggling for peace and we are fighting for equality and development of nations. Many governments spend funds which could have been used for development for waging wars. The amounts spent could be spent in uplifting the quality of life for women and children in poverty stricken areas as well as in areas where ethnicity and religion have caused misunderstanding. Madam President, while we gather today at this 4th World Conference on Women, we should recall where we came from. Indeed we have come a long way from when women were considered as second best to a position where we now assemble as women of the world standing for our equal rights in unison. Statistics available still show that in many nations equality has not yet been achieved in all levels of government machinery though it is true that in some nations, women representation in leadership positions in different sectors have fared well, to the majority of the nations there is still a long way to go. Globally, women constitute less than 20% of parliamentarians. In many countries, women ministers are the minority in their governments. Having few women in decision-making positions leads to women issues being put at the lower end of the agenda, thus many times, women developmental issues are marginalised. Madam President, education is a tool for liberation. Unfortunately, to the majority and particularly in the developing world, access to education and particularly to higher levels and training is a luxury. Traditions, norms and values to a large extent have been a major obstacle to women development. We as women have battled for many years against harmful practices which have affected our rights and many times our health. We have to congratulate ourselves that our being here is a symbol of the hard struggle of our predecessors who fought relentlessly to overcome traditions which barred them from participating in global issues for the advancement of women. Although we are here, we should not be too complacent of the success we have made because we still have a long way to go. We have to continue urging our governments to increase their commitment in uplifting the status of women. The advancement of the status of women status can be realised through deliberate efforts by our governments and the international community addressing the issue of equality at all levels and in all spheres of life. Madam President statistics in Tanzania show that some changes have taken place where women development is concerned. The number of girls and women enrolled in education have significantly increased, compared to the figures in 1985. The number of girls enrolled in secondary schools increased from 41% of the total in 1988 to 44 by the year 1993. Also enrolment in teachers' training colleges increased from 42 percent in 1988 to 50% in 1993. Although these are significant changes, we note with concern the decline in the quality of education provided as a result of the economic decline taking place in our countries. Many schools and colleges particularly in the developing world have fewer learning and teaching materials compared to ten years ago. While we might be satisfied with the efforts of our government and NGOs, we have a challenge of finding out ways of improving chances for the girl child as well as improving the school environment. Madam President, an improvement has also been made in health since 1985. Demographic survey show that about 90% of pregnant women attended Ante- natal clinics at least once, and about 60% of all deliveries in the rural areas take place with trained workers in attendance. Services also offered to women and children have increased and are varied in nature. Currently, about 2000 health units out of 3,056 provide family planning services. Out of the remaining health units, 600 run mother and child health services but do not provide family planning services. A lot of effort is still needed in order to increase the use of Family Planning services. Greater effort is also needed to reduce the occurrence of water borne diseases by providing clean and safe water near the community. Madam Presidents the basic issues which need serious concern have been clearly indicated in our platform for action to the year 2000. What is required now is to put efforts on how to address the basic issues which could act as a catalyst to the implementation of the areas of concern which are: poverty alleviation, attaining legal rights, participation in decision making, women and environment, women and employment, and alienating harmful practices and norms. In attaining these goals awareness raising through education is a basic pre-requisite. Government policies have clearly stated the government commitment in uplifting the status of women. Given the seriousness of these issues, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania commits itself to achieve the following: - I. Education: Presently the enrolment rates have fallen sharply. In 1990 of those of the school going age only 78% were enrolled. The drop-out rate among pupils is now extremely high. In 1986/87 only 52% of those who sat for standard IV examinations proceeded to standard V and only 15% of candidates who sat for standard VII examinations were selected to Form I. The peak of 90% literacy rate reached in 1984 has decreased and is estimated to be between 70% and 80%. Commitment: - Increase the enrolment in pre-school from under 2% to 50% by the year 2000 - Increase enrolment rate in primary schools from 78% to 100 by the year 2000- Increase the completion of primary schools to 80% by the year 2000 - Reduce illiteracy rate by 50% - Eliminate gender disparities in the education system. II. Enhancing Women Legal Capacity: Commitment: - To have all the discriminative laws revised and positive ones enacted and implemented by the year 2000 - 30% of women to have knowledge about their rights, and the ability to attain them by the year 2000. III. Economic Empowerment: - 30% of women to have access to credit by year 2000 by establishment of local Development Funds through community efforts. Encouraging friendly donors to provide credit component for women in all projects undertaken in the community. IV. Participation of Women in Decision-making Commitment: - To increase the number of women participants in politics and decision- making to 30% by the year 2000. Already local government laws have been revised and as from 1994, 25% of councillors in the local government are women, and not less than 15% of parliamentarians will be women, as from November this year. V. Women Environment and Sustainable Development: Women do not own land thus cannot control household sources of energy. Commitment: - 90% of women to own wood plots around the homesteads by the year 2000. VI. Health: Commitment: - To control waterborne diseases and reduce distances covered by women in search of water. The government commits itself that by the year 2002 each household should get safe and clean water within 400 meters - To reduce maternal deaths the government commits itself to reducing the distances of referral services. - To promote child survival, the government commits itself to continue monitoring the sustainability of objectives set for the l990s up to the year 2000. Madam President, charity begins at home. The government of the United Republic of Tanzania commits itself to pursue the implementation of the national platform for action in relation to the global platform for action by providing new and additional human and financial resource. We equally call on the international community to commit itself to making available new and additional financial resources for effective and meaningful implementation of the Global Platform for Action. Madam President, I thank you.