ISO: STP *************************************************************************** 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 Mrs. Maria do Carmo Braganca Neto, Head of Delegation of San Tome and Principe to the Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing, China, September 12, 1995 Madame President, Ladies and Gentleman, On behalf of the Sao Tome and Principe delegation, I would like to extend to you excellency my warmest congratulations upon your election as president of this Fourth World Conference on Women. I would like to express my deep gratitude to United Nation's Secretary General for his concur by supporting the organization of this important event. To Mrs. Gertrude Mongela, our deep appreciation for her strong effort, given for a preparation of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which has been taken place this year, the year of the United Nations anniversary. Madame Chairperson, Sao Tome and Principe is a small country in Guinea gulf, where the women represent 50.6% of the population. After two decades we have been talking about the women's participation in modern society in some institutions as, Sao Tome and Principe Women Organisation, the infant maternal programme, family planning the social security. All of these institutions have been warning the society about women discriminations. participation in the world affairs and in particular in Sao Tome and Principe. Debates, seminaries, conferences have taken place recently in the country and after that many changes have taken shape and the law of the social security on family has become in full force. From Nairobi to Beijing, the situation of women in Sao Tome and Principe has improved a little bit in some areas such as: Education, social security, health, family planning, political, juridic and employment. In juridic area the law stated that all citizens are equal, that is the women and the men have the same rights and obligations. In economic field there is not mechanisms in order to facilitate the women’s promotion. However, the women is involved in all sectors of development. Her participation is more active in agriculture, trade handicraft, and fish industry. Related to political participation the government created the structure to fulfill the real integration of the women and the family in the development of the country. In the education sector in the levels of primary and secondary school, the percentage of female students are good. In the other levels, we can not say the same, because the social and economic constrain has increased the female drop out and that creates problems for them in order to get a good job. Concerning to the health, we observe the decrease of infant dead. The family planning has been developing slowly. About 14% of women has been using the technics of baby control. Related to employment, the law gives equal opportunity to everybody. However the percentage of women participation on the market labor force is only 30%. Madame Chair women, Notwithstanding some improvements of women in social life, santomeen female confronts many challenges. As an example, the most of women has been the head of family. The statistic has shown that the women have little participation in the political field. At this moment, there is not any woman in the government. Other problem, is the violence against woman. His phenomenu is observed in the country side, as well as in the city, involving all social stratus. Besides all these problems, the women as to confront all the negative effects of the adjustment of economic program. Madam Chair woman, lately the international community adopted the plan of actions such as: environment and development, population, and social development, Which recommendations has not been fulfilled. The Beijing plan of action must be a reality in the near future in order to beneficiate the woman and the mankind as whole. To finish, I would like to thank the people and the government of the People’s Republicof` China for the organization of this very significant conference and the people of Beijing, in particular, for their hospitality and friendly welcome. Thank you.