ISO: BOL
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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.
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AS WRITTEN


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                       Excerpt from Press Release.
  The written statement was not available in a scannable language at the
                time of presentation in the conference.
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   ZIMENA SANCHEZ DE LOZADA, First Lady of Bolivia:  Bolivia seeks to
eliminate all forms of gender discrimination.  In such a multi-ethnic,
multicultural country, inequality between men and women is a cultural
phenomenon.  We need to overcome gender discrimination, based on respect
for women's autonomy, strengthening of their self-esteem, and respect for
women's decisions in the area of sexuality and fertility in the context of
shared family responsibilities.  It must also be based on consolidation of
their right to education, respecting different cultural identities, and
fostering and valuing women's productive role. 

   Bolivia's democracy is being extended through laws on participation of
the people, educational reform, and the capitalization of public
enterprises. Bolivia's law on popular participation seeks to close the gap
of injustice which separates rural from urban areas.  The educational
reform law is intercultural and bilingual, aims at universalizing
education, eliminating illiteracy and improving teaching methods,
administrative structures and community participation, ending all
discrimination against women, and promoting their access to all forms of
science and technology.  The law on capitalization seeks to convert public
enterprises into motors for development. 

   The Conference should promote shared responsibility within the family
and pay special attention to women heads of households in poverty
situations. Individuals and couples have the right to choose the number
and spacing of their children, in a context of mutual respect between men
and women. Abortion constitutes a public health problem which should under
no circumstances be considered a method of family planning.  In Bolivia,
abortion is illegal unless the pregnancy puts the mother's life at risk,
or in cases of rape or incest.  We are attacking the root causes of the
problem.  Special measures must be taken to ensure the full participation
in society of indigenous women.