ISO: BWA *************************************************************************** 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 BOTSWANA COUNTRY STATEMENT TO THE UN FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND HOME AFFAIRS, HONOURABLE B.K. TEMANE, BEIJING, CHINA, 4-15 SEPTEMBER, 1995 Madam President The Secretary General of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women - Mrs. Getrude Mongella Your Excellencies Distinguished Delegates Ladies and Gentlemen It is indeed my pleasure to address this august assembly on behalf of the Republic of Botswana. The Fourth World Conference on Women signifies great achievement in the integration of women in development, the advancement of their status and the general improvement of their welfare. What makes this Conference significant is that it presents, through the Platform of Action, a programme of action and crystallized ideas emanating from Mexico and Nairobi Conferences and the various regional preparatory activities. The Platform of Action also represents an integrated approach to human development as it has taken full cognizance of the preceeding initiatives; the Rio Conference on environment, the Human Rights Conference (Geneva), Cairo Conference on Population and the Social Summit (Copenhagen). The resolutions and agreements reached at these fora should assist us as a world community gathered here in Beijing, to reach consensus on the critical areas of concern presented through the Platform of Action. At the World Summit held in March this year, the world leaders committed themselves to the eradication of poverty; as well as the promotion of social integration. Social integration and development are necessary conditions for the eradication of poverty and the reduction of unemployment, and indeed in the fight against any form of social exclusion or polarisation of any group of people in any given society. In as far as the concept of 20/20 is concerned, I am pleased to state that Botswana already spends more than 40% of its national budget on the provision of social services. The Constitution of Botswana prohibits discrimination in all its forms including discrimination based on sex. In this regard, a survey of all laws discriminating against women and disadvantaged groups has been made, a consultation process carried out, and the process of amending such laws has begun. Consequently, the Citizenship Act has been amended to allow citizenship by descent of both the father and mother if one of the parents is a Motswana. This is indeed along the principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the ratification of which will be the next step Botswana undertakes to further the process of improving equality for women. Madam President, The United Nations, through its Human Development Report of 1995, has indicated that 70 percent of women in the world are affected by poverty, and 50% of them live in absolute poverty. This means that women do not only constitute the majority of the world's poor, but that as a group, they are the poorest of the poor. The persistent and increasing burden of poverty has been recognised to affect the empowerment of women as well as child survival and development. In Africa, the situation is aggravated by the increasing numbers of female headed household; and other socio-economic factors such as rapid population growth, environmental degradation, armed conflicts and civil strifes, recession and structural adjustment programmes. The improvement of women's health, the promotion and protection of women's land and property rights, and improvement of their access to and advancement in education and employment, constitute some of the basic factors and components of women's emancipation as well as economic and political empowerment. The UNDP Report also indicates the level of Botswana's achievement in the promotion and protection of human rights. In this Report Botswana has risen from position 87 to 74 out of 174 countries outlined and Botswana is rated No.l in Africa on human rights as well as on gender development index. Madam President, The effectiveness and relevance of the Platform of Action would be measured by what nations have undertaken to implement. In the case of Botswana, Government in collaboration with the Non-Governmental Organizations, is fully committed to making the Platform of Action relevant to our situation. To this end, at our last preparatory national conference for Beijing held in August 1995, Botswana adopted a general framework for the National Action Plan. The National Action Plan constitutes both the national programme of action for further advancement of women, and the national follow-up activities to this Conference. Our national package contains six critical areas in which poverty, education and violence against women have been accorded the highest priority. The other areas of highest concern to Botswana are health, political empowerment and the girl child. With regard to women's health we have made progress especially in terms of the provisions of the Alma-Ata Declaration. Access to health facilities is 85 - 90% in the rural areas and 97% in urban areas. It is also worth mentioning that 90% of expectant women attend ante-natal clinics and 70% deliver in health facilities. We also pay full salary to women public officers when they are on maternity leave. I thank you.