ISO: BHS *************************************************************************** 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 UNITED NATIONS FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN STATEMENT BY HER EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE JANET G. BOSTWICK MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS BEIJING, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 1995 MADAM PRESIDENT PLEASE ACCEPT MY DELEGATION'S SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. WE ALSO EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU AND ASSURE YOU OF OUR FULL CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT, IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME IF I FAILED TO COMMEND MRS. MONGELLA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THIS CONFERENCE FOR HER UNTIRING WORK AND PERSEVERANCE IN PREPARATION FOR THIS CONFERENCE. AND WE THANK MR. BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO THE STRUGGLE OF WOMEN AND FOR HIS ASSISTANCE WITH THIS CONFERENCE. TWO FULL DECADES HAVE PASSED SINCE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SEIZED OF MATTERS RELATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN. MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SINCE THAT TIME AND OUR PRESENT AGENDA FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, IF IMPLEMENTED, WILL MAKE FULL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND MEN BY THE YEAR 2000 A REALISTIC POSSIBILITY. THAT IS MADAM PRESIDENT A LAUDABLE GOAL. IT IS A GOAL WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF A REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE THEORISED, DISCUSSED, STRATEGISED AND ANALYSED PRESENT AND PAST SITUATIONS AND CONDITIONS SUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE SUSTAINED POSITIVE ACTION TOWARD EMPOWERMENT RESULTING IN EQUALITY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. HAVING ACCEPTED THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT PROPOSITION, IT FOLLOWS THAT THIS FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN SHOULD BE OUR LAST UNITED NATIONS MEETING BEFORE THAT WHICH REPORTS THE GREATEST SUCCESS STORY OF THE NEW MILLENIUM - THAT IS, THAT WOMEN AND MEN ENJOY EQUAL STATUS IN MOST COUNTRIES OF THE EARTH. TO ACHIEVE THIS, HOWEVER, OUR ACTIONS MUST BE FOCUSED AND SWIFT. GREAT PROGRESS WAS MADE DURING RECENT IMPORTANT GLOBAL CONFERENCES; THE WORLD SUMIMIT OF CHILDREN, THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, THE SOCIAL SUMMIT, THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (ICPD) AND THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS). AND NOW FULLY IMPREGNATED, WE TAKE PART IN THIS THE MOTHER OF ALL CONFERENCES. I AM VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE, SO FAR, RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO RE- OPEN ISSUES DISCUSSED AND POSITIONS ADOPTED AT THE EARLIER CONFERENCES AND IN PARTICULAR THE CAIRO MEETING. .THUS WE ARE NOW POISED TO GIVE BIRTH TO THOSE EMBRYONIC CONCEPTS AND IDEALS CONCEIVED DURING THOSE EXHAUSTIVE ENCOUNTERS. IT IS WELL THAT THIS GLOBAL CONFERENCE AND ITS PREPARATORY PROCESS HAVE INVOLVED A GREAT NUMBER OF PERSONS FROM MORE COUNTRIES AND MORE DIVERSE SITUATIONS THAN HAVE ANY OTHER UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES IN THE PAST. THE PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THIS CONFERENCE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS SEEN A MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN OF ALL LEVELS AND ALL REGIONS . THERE HAVE BEEN WOMEN AT THE GOVERNMENTAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL LEVELS, OLD, YOUNG AND DISABLED WOMEN AND THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN MEN; ALL ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FORMULATING A SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY TO GUIDE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DECADE, AND TO CHART THE COURSE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. OUR CRY FOR CHANGE HAS BEEN LONG AND LOUD; OUR PAIN IS INTENSE. WE CAN BE IGNORED NO LONGER. HOW CAN WE? THE WHOLE WORLD HAS BEEN SENSITIZED, THE WORLD HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PLIGHT OF THE GIRL CHILD, THE FORCED AND UNSAFE ABORTIONS, THE FORCED PROSTITUTION, SEXUAL MUTILATIONS, FORCED MARRIAGES, MARITAL RAPES, THE FEMINE FACE OF POVERTY AND ARMED CONFLICT. THE WORLD CAN NO LONGER PRETEND TO BE IGNORANT OF THE DISCRIMINATORY CONDITIONS WHICH WOMEN CONSTANTLY FACE, I SAY THAT WE CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORED WITH CERTAINTY FOR I DO NOT ACCEPT THE CYNICAL PROPHETS OF DOOM WHO SAY WE ARE ALL HERE PUTTING ON A TERRIFIC SHOW; WE WILL PLAY OUR PARTS RETURN TO OUR HOMES AND BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE AS USUAL. PUBLIC OPINION HAS BEEN MOBILIZED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT POSITIVE ACTION MUST AND WILL BE TAKEN! ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN IN MY COUNTRY. MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM HONOURED TODAY TO BE THE LEADER OF THE DELEGATION FROM THE BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS. I AM PLEASED THAT MOST OF THE ELEVEN CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN IDENTIFIED IN THE DRAFT PLATFORM OF ACTION HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED OR ARE ALREADY PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE BAHAMAS. THIS IS EVIDENT IN THE RELATIVELY HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE GENERALLY ENJOYED BY BAHAMIAN WOMEN, AND THE RECOGNITION OF WOMEN AS VITAL PARTICIPANTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SOCIETY. IN ADDITION TO THREE WOMEN CABINET MINISTERS, MORE THAN 50% OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES(I.E. TOP PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE) ARE WOMEN; FURTHER, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF THE HOSPITAL, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE OF THE BAHAMAS, SENIOR. SUPREME COURT JUDGE AND SO VERY MANY OTHERS ARE WOMEN. IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE PASSED LAWS DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND OTHER SEXUAL OFFENCES AND MATERNITY LEAVE AND BENEFITS; WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A DOMESTIC COURT, WE HAVE CREATED OUR FIRST STATE OF THE ART EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE CENTRE WHICH WILL PROVIDE 24HRS SERVICE TO CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS, WE HAVE BUILT NEW SCHOOLS AND ADDED KINDERGARTEN FACILITIES TO EXISTING SCHOOLS, CONSTRUCTED NEW HEALTH FACILITIES, CONDUCTED TOGETHER WITH NGO'S VIGOROUS LEGAL LITERACY PROGRAMMES, INTRODUCED CONTINUED TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INCLUDING THOSE INVESTIGATING SEXUAL OFFENCES. IN ADDITION, WE ARE CONSTRUCTING SOME 1500 LOW COST HOMES AS WELL AS LOW COST RENTAL UNITS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. ALL THESE SOCIAL PROGRAMMES HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BAHAMAS, LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES, HAS EXPERIENCED THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF CHANGES AND UNCERTAINTY IN GLOBAL ECONOMIC CLIMATE. IN ADDITION, THE BAHAMAS IS ATTEMPTING TO DEAL WITH A SERIOUS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT PROBLEM AND HAS ONLY THIS YEAR BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A REPATRIATION PROGRAMME WITH ONE OF OUR SISTER CARIBBEAN NATIONS FROM WHICH THE MAJORITY OF SUCH ECONOMIC IMMIGRANTS COME. UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO ENJOY WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION ALL OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICES! DESPITE ITS ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS, THE BAHAMAS HAS THE POLITICAL WILL TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS AND REMEDY THE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES TO WHICH WOMEN HAVE BEEN LEGALLY AND CULTURALLY SUBJECTED. AND MADAM PRESIDENT, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED! THE POLITICAL WILL! BUT THAT IS NOT ALL WHICH IS NEEDED. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MAY, TO A GREAT EXTENT, HELP THEMSELVES, BUT TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS ALSO NEEDED FROM DONOR AGENCIES AND OTHER SOURCES. I AM CONSTRAINED TO MENTION THAT I SHARE A GROWING CONCERN AMONG DEVELOPING NATIONS THAT THEIR NEED IS BEING SUBSUMED BY THE NEEDS OF COUNTRIES WHOSE ECONOMIES ARE IN TRANSITION. SOME FORMULA MUST BE WORKED OUT SO THAT THEIR IS EQUITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING RESOURCES. MADAM PRESIDENT, I MAKE BRIEF MENTION OF TWO FURTHER MATTERS OF CONCERN. MY MOTHER ALWAYS TAUGHT ME THAT ONE MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER IS VISIONARY IN ITS RECOGNITION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY, RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF THE HUMAN PERSON. ITS ACTIONS HOWEVER HAVE FALLEN SERIOUSLY SHORT OF ITS WORDS WITH COMMITMENT TO THE EQUAL STATUS OF MEN AND WOMEN. ITS FAILURE IN THIS REGARD DOES NOT REFLECT WELL UPON AN ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS DONE SO MUCH TO ENHANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO REMEDY GLOBAL INEQUITIES. THERE ARE ABLE, FULLY QUALIFIED AND AVAILABLE WOMEN WHO WOULD BE HONOURED TO BE EMPLOYED AT THE DECISION MAKING LEVEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THE SECRETARY GENERAL IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR HIS COMMITMENT FOR WOMEN TO COMPRISE SOME 40% OF THE UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL BY 1997 - MAY I SUGGEST T HAT THE UNITED NATIONS MAKES THAT 50% BY THE YEAR 2000. THIS WOULD BE OF ITSELF A POWERFUL STATEMENT OF THAT AUGUST BODY'S COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY OF THE SEXES WHICH WOULD ENABLE IT TO AUTHORITATIVELY SUGGEST TO MEMBER NATIONS "DO AS WE DO". SECONDLY MADAM PRESIDENT, UNDOUBTEDLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN SEVERAL AREAS IN THE LAST DECADE. WE MUST HOWEVER DECRY THE TENDENCY IN SOME DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO MEASURE WOMEN’S PROGRESS' BY CERTAIN CRITERIA, PARTICULARLY THE SUCCESSFUL ATTAINMENT BY A FEW WOMEN OF HIGH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE OFFICE AND THE ABSENCE OF ATROCITIES AND DISADVANTAGES ENDEMINIC IN OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD. ALMOST INVARIABLY IN SUCH CASES THE ARGUMENT OR INFERENCE IS WHAT MORE DO WOMEN IN THE MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WANT? THIS ATTITUDE, MADAM PRESIDENT DOES A DISSERVICE TO THE CAUSE OF WOMEN AS IT REKINDLES AND PERPETUATES A PHILOSOPHY THAT PRESCRIBES CERTAIN ROLES AND QUOTAS FOR WOMEN BEYOND WHICH THEY DARE NOT CROSS. WE MUST SMASH THE GLASS CEILING. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARE TO BE COMMENDED ON THE FINE ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THIS CONFERENCE, AND THE HOSPITABLE MANNER IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. ON BEHALF OF MY DELEGATION, I WISH TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM MOST SINCERELY. MADAM PRESIDENT THIS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING IS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD IN THE REALIZATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING THE PROTECTION OF THE FULL RIGHTS OF MORE THAN 50% OF THE WORLDS POPULATION WHICH IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR CONTINUED SECURITY, STABILITY, FAMILY VALUES AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS. LET US MOVE RESOLUTELY FORWARD. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT.