ISO: PAK *************************************************************************** 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 PAKISTAN: STATEMENT BY Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, LEADER OF THE DELEGATION AT THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, Beijing, 6 September 1995 MADAM PRESIDENT, EXCELLENCIES, LADIES & GENTLEMEN, The Pakistan delegation is delighted to see Madame Chen-Mu-hua presiding over the deliberations of the Fourth World Conference on Women. 2. On behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan, I would like to express our profound gratitude to the people and Government of the People's Republic of China for hosting this Conference. This is yet another manifestation of the tremendous contribution made by the people of this great country to the progress and enrichment of human civilization. 3. We would like to pay special tribute to Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, Secretary General of the United Nations, to Mrs. Gertrude Mongella, Secretary General of the Conference, and to Ms. Patricia Licuanan, Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women for successfully steering the preparatory process. MADAM PRESIDENT, 4. I stand before you today, proud to belong to a nation that has elected a woman Prime Minister for tile second time. This is an affirmation by the people of Pakistan, by our women and men, of their confidence and trust in the fullest potential of a woman to guide the destiny of a nation. This free and democratic choice of the people of my country reflects the new face of Pakistan. 5. We believe that men and women are born equal and share an equal responsibility for shaping the future. Equality is the minimum requirement for recognizing women's role in the evolution of global civilization. MADAM PRESIDENT, 6. For far too longs, men have been making decisions. It is time here and now, for us, the women of the world, to define our own place, to change the paradigm of exclusion and discrimination. 7. For far too long, women have been oppressed, abused and degraded. For far too long, our rights have been denied, our dignity injured and our existence as persons ignored. 8. It is time, here and now, for us, the women of the world, to put an end to these indignities. At this Conference, the largest gathering of women in history, let us express our collective will through the Platform for Action. MADAM PRESIDENT, 9. My delegation reaffirms in unequivocal terms Pakistan's commitments made at Nairobi, Cairo and Copenhagen. Pakistan, as an Islamic state, stands committed to equality, peace and development. Islam enunciated these principles of social justice 1400 yeas ago, giving women legal, political, economic and social rights to ensure their full participation in all spheres of life. 10. The Constitution of Pakistan declares that all citizens are equal without any discrimination on the basis of sex. Within a short span of less than 2 years, the government of Prime Minister Bhutto has moved decisively to dismantle discriminatory laws against women. We have taken a bold and historic step to accede to CEDAW. For the first time in Pakistan, women have been appointed as Judges in the High Courts. More women today are active participants in decision-making from the highest office to the grass roots level. ll. To enhance women’s participation in the political process, a minimum of 33% of local governments' seats have been allocated for women. Free Legal Aid and Support Centres for women, Women Police Stations, increased recruitment of women in the police force, a large network of women's banks managed by and for women, special access to credit for women in agriculture and for women entrepreneurs constitute some of the concrete steps taken towards economic and political empowerment of women. 12. Pakistan has launched a massive and comprehensive programme to integrate women in the mainstream of national development. The National Consultative Committee for Women articulates women's concerns, defines issues and recommends action for women's advancement and integration. The recommendations of the Pakistan Commission on the Status of Women covering effective safeguards for women's rights, provision of health, education and employment to women, and integration of women from minorities into national life are being implemented by the Government. To have an effective and expeditious mechanism for addressing cases of human rights violations, including violation of women’s rights, Prime Minister Bhutto has decided to create a separate and independent Human Rights Ministry. 13. The Ministry of Women Development and Youth Affairs, the national machinery and the focal point for women acts as a catalyst for initiating programmes for women’s resource development. The funds allocated by our Government for this purpose have more that doubled in the past year. 14. A major and unique intervention for empowerment of women and girls is the Social Action Programme which aims to expand access to basic education, primary health care, population services, clean drinking water and sanitation. 70 per cent of the 34000 new schools planned over the next three years will be for girls. 100,000 women are being trained as primary health care workers to provide maternal health care, child nutrition and nutrition and population planning information and services. To achieve the goal of universal primary education the Compulsory Education Act has been passed. For the first time, social services are mobilizing women both as participants and beneficiaries across the country. MADAM PRESIDENT, 15. We have undertaken a carefully constructed programme to economically empower women in Pakistan. 932 Women's development projects, comprising 16,000 units, have been operationalised. These projects encompass income generation, literacy, technical know-how, vocational training, including computer literacy and secretarial skills, health care centres and hostels for working women. 16. The government recognises the important role of NGOs in civil society and development, and lends its full support to a partnership with NGOs, specially for empowering women in all spheres of life. MADAM PRESIDENT, 17. Proliferation of conflicts has spelt disaster for many women across the globe. Women and girls bear the brunt of the brutality of armed conflicts. 18. It is in this context that the Prime Minister referred to the plight of the women of Jammu & Kashmir and Bosnia Herzegovina in her statement made two days ago. It is most regrettable that at this Forum, an attempt was made yesterday to deflect attention from systematic state-sponsored violence against women in Kashmir by a gross distortion of facts. MADAM PRESIDENT, 19. Let me put the record straight about the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. - Jammu & Kashmir is not a part of India. It is disputed territory and recognized as such by the United Nations. - The people of Kashmir are resisting occupation and forcible incorporation into another country. The forces of occupation have resorted to murder and terror in order to suppress the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including use of rape as an instrument of war. - The international media has reported these facts and independent human rights organizations have documented them. - Pakistan has consistently and unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the taking of hostages and killing of innocent people. 20. Crimes against women are crimes against humanity. The world community must assign individual and collective responsibility for the perpetration of such crimes. The cries of agony of all women trapped in war and conflict must be heard in the halls of this Conference. This is a Conference of commitment and action. We cannot, we must not remain silent any longer. We must act to provide relief to women victims of war, just as much as to women victims of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. Poverty is a crime against humanity and the poorest of the poor are women and girls. MADAM PRESIDENT, 21. Developing countries, like Pakistan, are often required by international financial institutions to undertake adjustment programmes. These programmes are aimed at establishing macro-economic stability and necessary structural reform in the long run. But in the short run they adversely impact upon the welfare of weaker groups, particularly women and children among the poor. In the short term, we cannot accept that women and children of the developing world should pay the price for the transition to long term economic benefits. The Platform for Action must bring benefits to all, selective sacrifice of the weaker sections of society must not be a necessary corollary to the new world economic order. Pakistan, therefore, advocates that the Platform for Action should provide for increased flow of international assistance and resources to countries undertaking such Programmes. 22. In conclusion, MADAM PRESIDENT, Pakistan believes that the culture of women is the culture of peace. Therefore, let us, the women of the world strive together to bring about a future of peace. The past is history. Let us make the future her story.