ISO: MAR *************************************************************************** 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 *************************************************************************** Excerpt from Press Release. The written statement was not available in a scannable language at the time of presentation in the conference. *************************************************************************** ABDELHADI BOUTALEB, Counsellor to the King of Morocco: Women's issues require the concerted efforts of all peoples. The international community made great progress with its conclusion of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In Morocco, women participate at all levels of Government. Implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies have achieved positive results. Efforts made throughout the world to achieve the goals of the Strategies have often met with resistance in the form of customs and traditions which are not in harmony with the Strategies. Greater efforts are still necessary to bridge that gap and achieve full equality between the sexes. Legal reforms, in and of themselves, are not enough. It is education that will help consolidate the gains made. The solution of women's problems requires study of the organic link between women's needs and development. The grave economic situation on the African continent has adversely affected the situation of women there. In rural areas, women are afflicted by drought, desertification and poor sanitary conditions. Islam recognizes the equality between men and women. Women are recognized as man's sisters in terms of property, management and marriage. Marriage imposes no impediments to women's enjoyment of their civil and political rights under Islam. Women play an important role in environmental protection. Particularly in rural areas, the environmental potential of women must be tapped. Through reform of its family code, Morocco has made it possible for women to enjoy far-reaching rights, which has strengthened the family unit. Similar reforms are under way in the area of labour and the criminal code. On behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Morocco expresses its full support for the women of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have been victimized by ethnic warfare. Morocco calls for an end to such practices.