ISO: EGY
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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


Ministry of Information
State Information Service
Address by Mrs .Suzanne Mubarak

before Beijing's World Conference on Women


Ladies and Gentlemen, 

On behalf of the people and government of Egypt, I express our thanks to 
the people and government of China for hosting our conference, and to 
the UN for its organisation, as well as deep appreciation to all of you 
who have come from all over the world to know more and contribute better 
to the resolving of a basic issue which is of great concern not only to 
women but to humanity as a whole . 

Our issue, has already been discussed in several international 
conferences, some held specially and specifically for it and others 
disused it explicitly or implicitly. All previous efforts are useful and 
made significant contributions . we are therefore not starting from the 
beginning and we do not need to keep repeating what was already 
discussed and decided upon on previous conferences such as the Cairo 
Conference . 

Another fact is that in spite of the many instances of inequality and 
inequity inflicted on women all over the world, the principle of the 
right of women to their full rights as human beings is now greatly and 
generally accepted, the responsibility of women to participate in the 
process of  development and their role in improving the quality of life 
has also been established . 

Even more than that some methods and mechanisms towards action and 
implementation of these goals have been identified and recommended such 
as the need for female education, modifying attitudes about women, 
legislative reform, educating women about their rights and duties, and 
many others . We would be doing justice to the world community, and to 
ourselves, if we concentrate in our debates here on how to implement 
these programmes and how to translate our recommendations and decisions 
into action. 

We are not here to repeat previous discussions or confirm what has been 
proven. Moreover, we are not here so that some of us may impose certain 
values or beliefs which others may consider to be against their religion 
or their moralist 

A sound reading of human rights' principles should be, "if you have the 
right to believe in what I reject, I also have the right to reject what 
you believe in, or believe in what you reject". otherwise relationships 
would be based on oppression and submission and not on equality and 
justice . 

Twenty years after our first meeting, we are now at a cross-roads; we 
look back into the past to evaluate our experiences and achievements in 
order to know where we succeeded and how, and where we failed and why . 
At this cross-roads, we are also looking forward into the future hoping 
for a better world. To achieve that we have to identify and understand 
the dimension and problems of the world, which could and might, affect 
the success of our attempts to achieve our target .

Following this pattern" looking back into the past for national 
experience and looking forward into the future for global co-
ordination", allow me to brief you on the main features of the Egyptian 
experience and then attempt to identify some features of this new world 
which we should consider and correct if needed, so as to reinforce our 
ability to co-operate towards achieving our common goals . 

Since the dawn of history, Egyptian women have participated in public 
life, reigned and ruled . However their modern awakening coincided with 
the Egyptian renaissance and with the movements for independence. This 
is natural since women are part and parcel of society affected by all 
the events, choices, decisions and policies shaping their society. 
Egyptian women have affected and have been affected by every course of 
action adopted . 

This is * Egypt has opted to choose the course of Peace. based on the 
fact that it is the optimal course for the security and welfare of 
people and without it there would be no development and no equality. 

By choosing peace, Egypt averted the calamities of war from which all 
mankind suffer and which subject women in particular to violent death, 
deformation, rape and leave them orphaned, widowed or bereaved of their 
children, and thus increase their poverty and misery . 

To ensure peace, we are disseminating that Culture of Peace" as a 
civilised approach to thinking and conduct. 

The weapons of mass destruction are not self triggered, it is people who 
decide to use them. Peoples' behaviour is the outcome of their culture . 
We hope that spreading a culture of peace, not of violence and 
aggression, world become an international target. 

Citizens * Egypt has chosen Democracy. In a democracy, enjoy justice and 
equality. They have freedom of speech and the right to express their 
demands and lawful rights. In adherence to equity and as a response to 
women's demands, specialised councils for mother- hood and childhood 
were established. A national committee for women was formed . A national 
conference on women, attended by thousands of men and woman, adopted 
"The Egyptian Action Plan." This plan `being carried out in stages . 

Numerous non governmental organisations were formed and they contribute 
vigorously to the implementation of this plan Those organisations 
propose legislation, file legal action and legal suits to attain 
equality, monitor women's image in the media as a media watch. They also 
prevent practices which jeopardise mothers and girls' health. 

In addition, they launch campaigns that are designed to help women 
become more aware of their legal rights as well as of their role in 
confronting problems of the age such as environmental pollution and 
depletion, over-consumption, over-population, addiction, violence, 
extremism and terrorism, all along with emphasising the role of women 
within the family which is the real and natural nucleus of society. 

This popular participation and community action provided by non-
governmental organisations is the best guarantee for the success of the 
State’s plans . 

With democracy, freedom prospers and movements of emancipation and 
liberation flourish . Here I would like to clarify that for us 
liberation does not mean rebellion against religions and lofty values . 
On the contrary, it means liberation from currents of deviation and 
forces that entice against teachings! of religions and sound values 

In a democracy, law is supreme and the rule of law prevails . We respect 
the clauses of the Constitution which provides for Islam as the religion 
of the state as well as the other clauses in the same Constitution which 
guarantee the rights and status of women . 

Egypt has also chosen the path of Economic Reform in order to attain a 
sound, equitable, sustainable and human development, and made noticeable 
headway in its implementation. To avoid some of the accompanying social 
temporary negative results of economic reform such as unemployment, high 
costs and rising of prices, all of which are problems affecting working 
women,( especially those who provide for their families,) we increased 
the small scale handy-craft programmes for women . 

We were also very careful not to let the structural adjustments be at 
the expense of social programmes and we were able, after considerable 
effort, to triple the budget of education with emphasis on female 
education. We believe that education is a basic requirement for the 
infrastructure needed for democracy, development, peace and equality. 

An educated woman realises her rights, and assumes her responsibilities. 
She believes in a small family and does not jeopardise her health and 
that of her children etc. Besides, in times of need she can overcome 
poverty by productive work. 

Last year, we started a programme to establish three thousand one-class 
schools, in a bid to eliminate women's illiteracy. 1250 of these schools 
have already been established this year. I am pleased to add that 70% of 
those who have been helped to conquer the stigma of illiteracy during 
this last year were females . 

Egyptian women who have always enjoyed an independent financial status, 
had access to commercial dealings, and always received similar pay for 
similar work, have all the constitutional, legal and practical -rights 
which enable them to occupy leadership posts and to exercise full 
political participation. Several social, cultural and health programmes 
and services are provided for women, specially those in villages and in 
city slums, to families supported by women and in the area of 
reproductive health. Time does not allow to enumerate the rest of the 
achievements, but these can be reviewed in the report which you have 
received.

In spite of what we accomplished, we must admit that we still have a 
very long way to go. Our objectives and aspirations are rapidly 
increasing. Problems and obstacles are also multiplying and accumulating 
at even a faster rate. Some programmes are stumbling, or not succeeding, 
due to an implementation gap caused by lack of financial and technical 
resources or due to inherited habits and unhealthy traditions which have 
come down through thousands of years. These deep-seated habits are 
difficult to uproot quickly, at the same time it is dangerous to 
eleminate them by force 

If we move to the international arena to identify some of its main 
features, especially those who could affect our goals and targets, we 
find that inspite of many achievements and accomplishments, some serious 
problems and obstacles prevail. I will not reiterate the achievements 
but will only highlight some facts which could obstruct our efforts . 
These we have to face . Otherwise our decisions and recommendation could 
be reduced to wishes, hopes and aspirations.

Several contemporary political, economic cultural and environmental 
changes have drawn up a new map for the world of today as we all know. 
Some new powers have emerged, others submerged. The balance of power has 
been disturbed and alternatives have not yet settled down. Violence, 
conflicts, Wars and massacres are increasing. People have been drawn 
closer together through the media but further apart in feelings of 
compassion and common interests. The economic gap has widened between 
the haves and have nots, between those who know and those without access 
to information. Only .some have monopolised science, knowledge and 
technology. Values have been reversed; human beings became the slaves, 
while money and material gains have become the master. Donors have come 
to believe that the money they give is out of charity and the recipients 
have come to think that they can take and ask for aid without end. 

In a world like this, any talk about women's rights and duties is no 
longer only an issue related to democracy, and human rights, but it 
becomes an inevitable need for survival and facing disasters . 

The status and condition of women is not an independent item, it is a 
part of a whole; that whole is the international society in which we 
live and in which future generations will live . 

Today our youth grow up in an atmosphere of anxiety, strife and family 
disintegration. They also find themselves in a world torn between a 
trend rejecting religious beliefs and thus suffer the emptiness 
resulting from atheism, and another trend which misinterprets religions 
and uses them for personal or political gain, thus resorting to violence 
and terrorism. We believe that if fanatics do not comprehend the 
religions of others, extremists of any kind on the other hand do not 
even know their own religion since all religions call for peace, love, 
peace and coexistence. 

In this respect, I would like to assert that in Egypt - the cradle of 
monotheism where Moses peace be upon him was born, where Jesus peace be 
upon him took refuge, and from whose people Muhammad peace be upon him 
chose his wife - people are proud of their Arab, African and Islamic 
affiliation. They reject both extremism and atheism, The Muslims and 
Christians of Egypt reject whatever contradicts their creeds and 
doctrines. They consider any encroachment on such values a violation of 
humanity and of the dignity of human beings, men and women

Another feature of our time is that we are living in an era which is 
dominated by overpowering attempts and currents to wipe identities, 
social heritage and cultural diversity. Culture diversity is an 
intellectual and social necessity that enriches the minds and not any 
less important than bio-diversity which enriches nature. The acceptance 
of cultural diversity is an important stride on the way towards 
international democracy and understanding, since it endorses the 
acceptance of differences between people and promotes understanding 
between the different groups which constitute mankind.

Women are much more competent of maintaining culture and cultural 
identity and bequeathing them to the coming generations. An educated 
woman is the best guarantee to such a goal 

Another feature of our international community is that we often do not 
do what we say and do not speak out what we do.

** We advocate women's rights to self-determination, but deny entire 
nations, men and women, of such a basic right.

** We call for peace, but we amass an arsenal which has enough weapons 
to destroy the world twenty times over . One fourth only of what we 
spent on weapons is sufficient to solve the problems of education, 
potable water, health and others .

** We call for the halting and prevention of violence against women, but 
fail to firmly stand up to the intimidation, killing, rape and all forms 
of violation of her humanity which are part of a heinous war of ethnic 
cleansing.

** Aid is given to developing countries, part of which is earmarked for 
women's programmes. This is a good thing . But to receive such aid, 
developing countries are required to undertake economic reform and 
structural readjustment, which is usually accompanied by shortcomings 
which hit women and the family the most . ** We complain of hunger and 
lack of services, yet we give birth to many children and increase our 
burdens and our reasons for complaint and need for aid . ** We emphasise 
our needs for sustainable development these rights or obligations or 
identify the mechanism for implementation, nor do we determine or 
establish the responsible authorities of jurisdiction, (whether these 
are special tribunals or a special Ombudsman for future generations,) 
that would ensure fairness and inter-generational equity, without which 
the rights of women and children could be jeopardised . 

The balanced normal human being is one who enjoys a harmony between 
words, thoughts and deeds. Our international community which is full of 
all these contradictions and paradoxes will not be sound, if what we say 
is contrary to what we do. Such an international community makes it 
difficult to correct the conditions and status of any group of people. 
In order to be able to improve the status of woman or any other group 
for that matter, these contradictions should be removed or mitigated. 
The liberation of woman capabilities is, beyond any doubt one of the 
most effective means of alleviating the social ills of these 
contradictions; ills which we all cause and from which we all suffer . 
We are all guilty and we are all victims and only together can we face 
them . 

The assistance from the donor states is not a give-away, but a 
universal, global obligation and is needed for their own protection . 

By the same token, the conformity, social discipline and adherence to 
requirements of reform by recipient states, is not a luxury, or a 
favour, but a social global commitment and a contractual ethical 
obligation . 

The responsibility here is international, universal and global. It is 
one glove facing one fate. 

As the proverb says we are literally, n in the same boat". True, some 
travel first class, others on deck, or suffer in the bottom with 
machines and luggage. Yet, the waves are high and ruthless with no mercy 
on any on board. If the ship sinks, it will go down with all its 
passengers; rich or poor, those who know and have, and those who have 
been living in the darkness of ignorance or the deprivation of poverty. 

Ladies and Gentleman; 

Despite all these contradictions and problems I sincerely believe that 
goodness still exists, that generous giving continues and that 
achievements and stories of success are many and encouraging. 

The will to cooperate and seriously confront our problems continues to 
express itself. Our meeting here today is a proof of that and a true 
expression of the sincere desire and interest to work together. 

I hope that we shall meet again under improved global conditions of a 
better world and I am confident that it will be a better world when we 
ensure equality and equity to Half the Worlds People so they can 
contribute effectively to Peace and development. 

Thank you for your attention.