ISO: ARE
***************************************************************************
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.
***************************************************************************

   MOHAMMAD ISSA AL SUWAIDI, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour and
Social Affairs of the United Arab Emirates:  The Emirates' Constitution
ensures equality, social justice, peace and security and equal opportunities.
 It also calls for demonstrating compassion within families and communities.
Women have a high status in the Emirates.  They occupy positions in medicine,
engineering, civil service and other areas.  Considerable efforts have been
undertaken to eradicate illiteracy.  Female school enrollment rates have
jumped dramatically over the past 10 years.  Many centres have been set up for
mother and child care.  Intensive training programmes have been established
with a view to enhance the health awareness of women.

   Many centres for rehabilitation and training have been established,
which has reflected favourably on women's economic opportunities.  Women have
come to constitute a substantial proportion of productive national work force,
increasing to 16 per cent.  Monotheistic religions, such as Islam, give a
special status to women and specify the right to life, which must be respected
by all means.

   Women and children are the main victims of such problems as illiteracy,
poverty and violence.  The women and children of Bosnia and Herzegovina have
been the victims of particular oppression.  Certain aspects of the draft
platform of action run counter to Islamic law.