ISO: SLV *************************************************************************** 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 ADDRESS BY FIRST LADY OF THE NATION, MRS. ELIZABETH A. DE CALDERON SOL, ON THE OCCASION OF THE IV WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, PEKING, CHINA. SEPTEMBER 6, 1995 NOTE: This address is subject to change at the moment of its delivery without prior notice. FRIENDS: ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF SALVADORAN WOMEN, IT IS A PLEASURE TO WARMLY AND CORDIALLY GREET WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD REPRESENTED AT THIS "IV WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN" BEING HELD AT THE HOSPITABLE CITY OF BEIJING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS. I WISH TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO ALL THE DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES WHO CHAIR THIS WORLD CONFERENCE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO WIDELY ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS THAT PREVENT WOMEN FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONS ON EQUAL TERMS AS MEN. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FINAL RESOLUTIONS THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS FORUM -- WHERE ALL NATIONS, RACES AND CREEDS ARE REPRESENTED -- WILL PROVIDE THE GUIDELINES FOR GOVERNMENTS, NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE APPROPRIATE MECHANISMS FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN'S CONDITION AND POSITION WITHIN SOCIETY. THE WORLD CONFERENCES THAT PRECEDED THE ONE BEING HELD IN BEIJING WERE THE FIRST SCENARIOS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF ISSUES INTIMATELY LINKED TO WOMEN'S WORLD ROLE IN THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FIELDS. OTHER INTERNATIONAL EVENTS HAVE ALSO ADDRESSED WOMEN'S ISSUES, SUCH GS THE "THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT" HELD IN SEPTEMBER OF LEST YEAR IN CAIRO, WHERE WOMEN'S LEAD IN ALL ACTIVITIES OF SOCIETY WAS HIGHLIGHTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED, AS WELL AS WOMEN'S RIGHT TO HEALTH, EDUCATION, SECURITY, ACCESS TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES, GENDER EQUALITY, AND THEIR VITAL FUNCTION ~S THE CORE OF FAMILY AND THE BASIS OF SOCIETY. THE NEED FOR WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH COUNTRY IS AN UNQUESTIONABLE REALITY. NEVERTHELESS, IN MOST COUNTRIES WOMEN ARE AT A GREAT DISADVANTAGE IN RELATION TO MEN AND THIS FACT CLEARLY IS AN INJUSTICE AND AN OBSTACLE FOR ACHIEVING A SUSTAINED AND INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONS. ALLOW ME TO POINT OUT THAT IN MY COUNTRY, BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND EQUITY SET FORTH IN OUR POLITICAL CONSTITUTION, WE HAVE ENACTED A FAMILY CODE THAT INCLUDES THE MOST ADVANCED JURIDICAL CONCEPTS REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY NS R WHOLE. WE HAVE ACHIEVED SOME PROGRESS IN THE INCORPORATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS AND THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE WOMEN HOLDING POSTS IN THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES, FIELDS THAT UP UNTIL RECENT YEARS WERE FORBIDDEN TO THEM. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR PARTICIPATION IS STILL INADEQUATE, BUT WE TRUST THAT THIS ON-GOING PROCESS WILL BE IRREVERSIBLE. FOR THE SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY. EDUCATION IS ITS MOST POWERFUL TOOL TO ENHANCE HUMAN CAPITAL SO AS TO INCREASE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SALVADORAN PEOPLE AND ENHANCE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING. WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK, WOMEN MUST BE THE MAIN RECIPIENTS OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN RECOGNITION TO THEIR VALUABLE ROLE AS EDUCATORS WITHIN FAMILY AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. WE OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WOMEN'S EDUCATION IS SOMETHING ESSENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONS. TO FULFILL THE OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CONTAINED IN THE SOCIAL PLAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION HEADED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, DOCTOR ARMANDO CALDERON SOL, THE NATIONAL FAMILY SECRETARIAT THAT I AM HONORED TO CHAIR AND THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES IS IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES AIMED AT IMPROVING WOMEN’S CONDITIONS IN AN INTEGRAL MANNER: 1. THE SECRETARIAT SPONSORS AND PROMOTES ACTIONS IN FAVOR OF WOMEN IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, HOUSING, EDUCATION, TRAINING IN NON-TRADITIONAL TRADES, AND RECREATION. 2. IT COORDINATES AND CO-EXECUTES THE "FAMILY RELATIONSHIP RESTORATION PROGRAM" THAT PROVIDES PROTECTION TO THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE, WHO ARE MOSTLY WOMEN AND GIRLS. 3. THE "PROGRESS BANKS" PROGRAM HAS BEEN CREATED AND IS BEING FINANCED TO ASSIST POOR WOMEN BY ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TRAINING AND INCOME. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO RURAL WOMEN FOR AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE "FOOD FOR WORK" PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE SAME FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS STATED BEFORE. 4. IT PROVIDES FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN THROUGH THE "FOOD FOR EDUCATION" MODALITY. 5. IT SUPPORTS THE "CENTER FOR WOMEN'S READAPTATION" BY ASSISTING FEMALE INTERNS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING EFFORTS: ACTIVATION OF AWAITING JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED BY THE CENTER, AND PROVISION OF HUMAN AND LABOR TRAINING TO EASE THEIR REINSERTION INTO SOCIETY. 6. CURRENTLY, THE SECRETARIAT IS PREPARING A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN AND POLICY ON WOMEN AND IS WORKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGULATORY INSTITUTION THAT WILL EXECUTE THEM. WITHIN ITS COORDINATING FUNCTION, THE NATIONAL FAMILY SECRETARIAT MAINTAINS COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REGARDING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS COMPRISED BY WOMEN'S ISSUES WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FIELDS. s IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT IN PREPARATION FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC HELD A PEOPLE’S REFERENDUM ON WOMEN WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE SALVADORAN SOCIETY WHOSE INPUTS STRENGTHENED OUR COUNTRY S STANCE IN THIS CONFERENCE. . I AM PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT BEFORE LEAVING MY COUNTRY TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE, AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IN A SOLEMN SESSION UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIED THE "CONVENTION ON PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND ERADICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN", AN INSTRUMENT THAT WILL HELP GUARANTEE THE RESPECT FOR WOMEN S DIGNITY. DEAR FRIENDS: WE CHERISH THE HOPE THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRENGTHENING OF THE DEFENSE OF WOMEN S FUNDAMENTAL VALUES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. I WANT TO CLOSE BY RESPECTFULLY INVITING YOU TO REFLECT ON ALL THESE ISSUES WITH G PROFOUND SENSE OF HUMAN SOLIDARITY AND THAT TOGETHER, WOMEN AND MEN, STRIVE TO INCREASE RESPECT FOR WOMEN S DIGNITY, INSURING THAT WE WILL ENJOY THOSE RIGHTS THAT CAN SATISFY OUR LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS. WE FORESEE THAT THE RESULTS OF THIS CONFERENCE WILL LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF A NEW WORLD SOCIETY BASED ON JUSTICE, FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY, AND THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE OF ALL NATIONS. WE FERVENTLY HOPE THAT BEIJING WILL BE A MILESTONE IN HISTORY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO OVERCOME DISCRIMINATION BARRIERS THROUGH THE TRUE ENFORCEMENT OF EQUALITY AND EQUITY AMONG WOMEN AND MEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEPTEMBER 6, 1995.