ISO: VEN *************************************************************************** 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 Venezuela Fourth World Conference on Women 7 September 1995, Beijing, China BY COMING TOGETHER AT THIS FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE WE TAKE UPON OURSELVES THE COMMITMENT OF HUMANITY TO WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHO ARE STILL AWAITING DEFINITIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THEIR FULFILLMENT AS PERSONS, WITH THE RESPECT DUE TO THEIR HUMAN DIGNITY AND TO THEIR STATUS AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. I WISH TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF CHINA IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA FOR THEIR PROVERBIALLY WARM HOSPITALITY, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR ORGANIZING THIS HISTORICAL CONFERENCE, THE LAST IN THE PRESENT MILLENIUM. OUR HOPE IS THAT THE TALKS BETWEEN ALL THE DELEGATIONS WILL BE FRUITFUL, RESULTING IN THE BEST CONCLUSIONS AND COMMITMENTS, TO BE SHARED BY THE MAJORITY. THESE COMMITMENTS SHOULD REFLECT WHAT, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IS AT THE CORE OF THIS WHOLE EFFORT: --- IMPROVED STANDARDS OF LIVING FOR WOMEN AND CONSEQUENTLY FOR FAMILIES, THROUGH PROGRAMS GUARANTEEING THEIR ACCESS TO DECISION-MAKING LEVELS; -- ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND VIOLENCE; -- WOMEN'S ACCESS TO EDUCATION EQUALLY AS MEN; -- THEIR ACCESS TO JOBS, HEALTH AND HOUSING....IN SUMMARY, TO ARRIVE AT THE EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. LET ME VERY BRIEFLY SUM UP THE RESULTS OF THE THREE PREVIOUS WORLD CONFERENCES ON WOMEN, ALL STRIVING TO CLEAR THE WAY TO THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF THE SITUATION OF WOMEN, AND ALL ENDORSED BY THE MAJORITY OF UNITED NATIONS MEMBER STATES. “EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE” WAS THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE FIRST CONFERENCE IN MEXICO IN 1975. THE “INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR” WAS PROCLAIMED THAT SAME YEAR. THE SECOND CONFERENCE IN COPENHAGEN, 1980, EVALUATED THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AND READJUSTED PLANS BASED ON EXPERIENCES AND ATTAINMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD. THE THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE IN NAIROBI, KENYA IN 1985, EVALUATED ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE UNITED NATIONS WOMEN'S DECADE. THE UNITED NATIONS EMPHASIZE OVER AND OVER THAT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN IS NOT ONLY UNJUST AND VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT ALSO SLOWS DOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DISRUPTS SOCIAL PEACE. THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND UNFAIR TREATMENT OF WOMEN. CONSEQUENTLY, TO A LARGE EXTENT THE TREND OF THEIR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS ALSO DEFINES THE PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT. ADMITTEDLY, THE LEGAL STATUS OF WOMEN IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY IN THE COURSE OF THE WOMEN'S DECADE; MANY COUNTRIES, ADHERING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY, ESTABLISHED SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONS DEALING WITH WOMEN'S AFFAIRS AND PROGRAMS OF ASSISTANCE IN VARIOUS FIELDS. THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN MUST BE SEEN AS INDISPENSABLE IN AND FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THESE MUST COMPRISE MECHANISMS INVOLVING WOMEN'S FULL PARTICIPATION IN EVERY SORT OF INITIATIVE AND ENSURING THEIR FULFILLMENT AS HUMAN BEINGS. THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF POVERTY -- A PRIORITY FOR VENEZUELA -- AGGRAVATED BY STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENTS TAKING PLACE SINCE THE '80s, HAS SPECIALLY AFFECTED WOMEN AND COMMITS US EVEN MORE TO ACHIEVE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE, TO REVERT EXCLUSION AND TO REDUCE POVERTY. THE INEQUALITIES FACED BY WOMEN MUST BE OVERCOME. “OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL FIELDS OF SOCIAL LIFE WILL LEAD TO INCORPORATE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY REPRESENT FOR THE BETTER DEMOCRACY WHICH IS OUR COMMON GOAL.” THIS IS A BASIC, EXPLICITLY ESTABLISHED GUIDELINE IN THE NINTH NATIONAL PLAN OF VENEZUELA FORMULATED BY OUR PRESIDENT, DR. RAFAEL CALDERA, AND HIS GOVERNMENT. THIS FOURTH CONFERENCE WILL APPROVE OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES TO ERADICATE POVERTY: VIGOROUS ACTIONS TO ELIMINATE “HAND-OUT” AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ATTITUDES IN EACH COUNTRY THROUGH GREATLY EXPANDED PROGRAMS INCORPORATING WOMEN INTO THE LABOR MARKET, UNDER CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO PERFORM AS FULLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS AND THUS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THEIR EFFORTS.. VIOLENCE, A WORLD-WIDE SOCIAL EVIL, IS AN OBSTACLE TO WORLD PEACE, EQUALLY ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS FOURTH CONFERENCE. INVOLVEMENT IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TRANSGRESSIONS UNDERMINING THE SOCIAL STRUCTURES OF NATIONS AND OF THE WORLD ITSELF IS IMPERATIVE. THIS GLOBAL VIOLENCE INCLUDES INTRA-FAMILY AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, WITH ITS PROFOUND -- IN MOST CASES IRREVERSIBLE -- PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS. ADEQUATE MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO DETERMINE ITS CAUSES AND EFFECTS, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE APPROPRIATE LEGAL NORMS AND THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS LEADING TO UPROOT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. IN VENEZUELA, WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DESIGN AND CARRY OUT -- WITH THE HELP OF ALL PERTINENT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS -- PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO DEFINE THE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF SUCH VIOLENCE, IN ORDER TO PREVENT -- RATHER THAN TO PUNISH -- AND TO INCREASE THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES. WOMEN'S OVERALL HEALTH IS ANOTHER COMMITMENT OF THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT; A COMMITMENT TO LIFE, ENTAILING PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE, BESIDES INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AT ALL LEVELS THROUGH GRASS-ROOTS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH TO ACHIEVE THE NEEDED COUNTRY- WIDE COVERAGE. THE PRINCIPAL INDICATORS OF POPULATION HEALTH HAVE DETERIORATED, MAKING IT IMPERATIVE TO WORK TOWARDS THE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY; BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (AMONG WHICH AIDS NO LONGER SPREADS ONLY BY THIS MEANS) AND THE PERIODICALLY EPIDEMIC TROPICAL DISEASES THAT MOSTLY AFFECT THE UNDERPRIVILEGED INNER-CITY AND RURAL POPULATIONS. THE NECESSARY HEALTH PROGRAMS -- FROM PREVENTION INFORMATION TO VACCINATION, TREATMENT AND RESEARCH -- REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS AN ADEQUATE ATTENTION TO PREGNANCY, PARTICULARLY IN ADOLESCENTS, PREVENTING TOO-EARLY PREGNANCIES BY MEANS OF SEXUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DIRECTED TO THE FORMATION OF COUPLES, WITH THE COOPERATION OF PARENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES. FAMILY PLANNING MUST LIKEWISE RESPECT PEOPLE'S HUMAN DIGNITY AND PERSONAL FREEDOM IN DECISIONS AS TO THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES WITHOUT UNDUE PRESSURE OR INFLUENCE. THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND WOMEN'S HEALTH ARE CLOSELY RELATED PROBLEMS. THE GOAL OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE APPROACHED NOT ONLY BY SEEKING TO PREVENT DISEASE, BUT ALSO BY DEEPER RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF THE ABOVE. ANOTHER PRIORITY-RATED COMMITMENT IS TO DEVELOP EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT WILL GUARANTEE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH WOMEN AND MEN. THE ADEQUATE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS CAN LEAD TO ESTABLISH AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE INVOLVING TRAINING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AT ALL LEVELS IN NON-TRADITIONAL FIELDS, TO PROVIDE THEM WITH VALUABLE TOOLS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE OBLIGATIONS THAT VENEZUELA ASSUMES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS CONFERENCE, AS INDISPENSABLE INSTRUMENTS TO INCORPORATE WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRIES. PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE DEFINITION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES AND THEIR PRESENCE AT DECISION-MAKING LEVELS ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF CHANGE THAT SOCIETY DEMANDS TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY. THIS HAS BEEN A CLAIM OF EVERY INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT; INITIATIVES ARE ALWAYS ENDORSED, BUT SUFFICIENT MEASURES TO OVERCOME THE EXISTING INEQUALITIES ARE YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THIS FOURTH CONFERENCE MUST PUT FORTH EVERY EFFORT TO SUCCEED FINALLY IN CONVINCING MEMBER STATES OF THE NECESSITY TO ADOPT MEASURES THAT WILL EXPAND THE INDISPENSABLE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AT ALL LEVELS OF POWER: IN THE UNITED NATIONS ITSELF; IN THE STATE; IN MANAGEMENT AND DECISION- MAKING SPHERES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR; IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND LABOR UNIONS; IN POLITICAL PARTIES AND PUBLIC OFFICE, AWARE THAT HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH SUCH INTEGRATION AND PARTICIPATION. SWEDISH MINISTER FOR DEVELOPMENT PIERRE SCHORI SAYS THAT »WOMEN HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT POWER AND MEN HAVE POWER WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITIES«. THIS SHOULD MAKE US REFLECT ON CHANGE AND ASSUME POWER WITHOUT DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY, HAVING MEN ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES BY SHARING POWER. ALTHOUGH TWENTY YEARS HAVE GONE BY SINCE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE FIRST WORLD CONFERENCE WERE APPROVED, MOST OF THE DEMANDS AND INEQUITIES REMAIN IN FORCE. WE MUST ATTACK THE CAUSES BY MEANS OF DECISIONS AND COURSES OF ACTION CAPABLE OF CHANGING CONDITIONS OF UNFAIRNESS AND OF MODIFYING DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOR. THE CHALLENGE IS TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN THAT STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY, AND SO DIGNIFY WOMEN AS MOTHERS AND AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. THE SIGN OF OUR TIME SWINGS BETWEEN EXTREME POVERTY AND THE CONQUEST OF SPACE. LET US MAINTAIN OUR STATUS OF HUMAN PERSONS, WITH INALIENABLE RIGHTS INHERENT TO OUR ESSENCE AND SO NOT SUBJECT TO INDIVIDUALS OR TO SOCIETIES, WHICH UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWS US TO CORRECT MISTAKES AND SHORTCOMINGS AND TO BUILD UPON THEM -- WITH VOCATION, INTELLECT AND WILL -- A PRESENT REALITY THAT WILL ALLOW AN EVER IMPROVING USE OF RESOURCES DIRECTED TOWARDS REDUCING DIFFERENCES AND RAISING ALL PEOPLE TO A LIFE WITH DIGNITY, BECAUSE IT IS OUR RIGHT. MANY MILLIONS OF WOMEN WHO STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, LOOK FORWARD TO THIS RESPONSE FROM THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE.