Fourth World Conference WOM/BEI/30 on Women 12 September 1995 13th Meeting (PM) CONFERENCE DRAFT PLATFORM CALLED 'STRONGEST CONSENSUS STATEMENT ON WOMEN'S EQUALITY EVER PRODUCED BY GOVERNMENTS' Pacific Island States Express Concern Over Nuclear Weapons Testing in Region The draft platform for action of the Fourth World Conference for Women was "the strongest statement of consensus on women's equality, empowerment and justice ever produced by governments", the Co-Chair of the Women's Environment and Development Organization, Bella Abzug, said this evening, as the Conference continued its general exchange of views. The draft, she added, was "an agenda for change based on a transformational vision of a better world for all. After Beijing, the world will never be the same". Expressing concern over the resumption of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific, the Minister of Social Services of the Marshall Islands, Christopher Loeak, stated that his nation was still struggling to overcome problems caused by nuclear weapons testing programmes in the Pacific, which had plagued its women with harrowing birth anomalies, stillbirths and miscarriages and made cancer of the reproductive system the leading cause of death among women. To compound the problem, this was occurring in a culture which did not discuss failed pregnancies, making it harder to get accurate information or help women understand more about their reproductive health problems. Opposition to renewed nuclear testing in the Pacific was also expressed by the Secretary for Health of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Consul-General of Nauru in Auckland; the Secretary of the Ministry for Youth, Women, Sports and Recreation of the Solomon Islands; the Minister Responsible for Women's Affairs of the Cook Islands; and the Minister for Environment and Social Development of Kiribati. (more) Conference on Women - 2 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 11th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 The Consul-General of Nauru, Marlene Moses, stressed that fear was the root cause of the failure to bring about equality, development and peace. Those in power had to be liberated from their fear before the desired goals could be reached. Unless fear was prevented from controlling families, countries and future generations, the social revolution needed to ensure women's rights would never come about. Statements this afternoon were also made by the Secretary of State and Director of the National Office for the Advancement of Women of the Dominican Republic; the Minister for Labour and Home Affairs of Botswana; the Minister of Higher Education of Syria; the Minister and Commissioner for the Promotion of Women of Mali; Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy of Azerbaijan; the Minister for Health and Family of Zaire; and the Ambassador of Yemen to China. Also speaking were the Minister for Women's Affairs of Ethiopia; the Minister for Social Affairs and the Advancement of Women of Chad; the Vice- Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica; the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam; the Director of the Governmental Office for Women's Policy of Slovenia; the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan; the Vice-Minister at the Ministry of Health of Albania; the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan; and the Under- Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education of Kuwait. Statements were also made by the Senior Deputy Director of the Legal Office of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); the President of the Ministerial Coordination Committee "Women and Development"; the Chief of the Field Education Programme in the West Bank of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); and the President of the Women's Commission of the Latin American Parliament. Representatives of the following non-governmental organizations also spoke: Women's Environment and Development Organization; Somali Women's Trust; Association for Progress and the Defence of the Right of the Women of Mali; and the Forum of African Women Educationalists. The representatives of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iraq and Kuwait spoke in exercise of the right of reply. Also this afternoon, the President announced that the Conference had received messages from the President of the Russian Federation, the President of Ghana, the Prime Minister of Turkey, and the President of the Philippines. Those messages would be made available as official Conference documentation. The Conference will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 13 September, to conclude its general exchange of views. (more) Conference on Women - 3 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 B.K. TEMANE, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs of Botswana: Social integration and development are necessary conditions for the eradication of poverty and the reduction of unemployment, and in the fight against any form of social exclusion or polarization. Botswana spends more than 40 per cent of its national budget on the provision of social services. The constitution prohibits discrimination based on sex. All laws discriminating against women and disadvantaged groups have been surveyed and the process of amending laws has begun. Women constitute not only the majority of the world's poor, they are the poorest of the poor. In Africa, the situation is aggravated by the number of female-headed households and other socio-economic factors such as rapid population growth, environmental degradation, armed conflicts and civil strife, recession and structural adjustment programmes. The improvement of women's health, the promotion and protection of women's land and property rights and betterment of their access to and advancement in education and employment are basic components of women's emancipation as well as economic and political empowerment. Botswana is rated by the UNDP as number one in Africa in the promotion and protection of human rights. The Government is fully committed to making the platform of action relevant to Botswana. It has adopted a general framework for the national action plan for the advancement of women. Poverty, education and violence against women have been accorded the highest priority. Access to health facilities is high and 90 per cent of pregnant women attend prenatal clinics. SALHA SANKAR, Minister for Higher Education of Syria: The Government of Syria considers that the women's cause should be given priority because women and men are the motor that runs the construction of the homeland. The women's question is not a conflict between men and women. Economic development has looked to the human development of both sexes. Women's education has been promoted to raise their consciousness, increase their knowledge and intellect and qualify them for work. The "Corrective Movement" has enabled women to enter the work world. Increasing attention is given to work benefits such as kindergartens and paid maternity leave. Attention is also being given to health care for women and to safety in the work place. The participation of women in the work place with men has laid the way for their participation in power and decision-making positions. Women now represent 9.6 per cent of the Parliament. Because of traditional norms and values which enforce social control over anything that is not morally unacceptable, family violence is not a significant phenomenon in Syria. But the Syrian women in the Syrian Golan Heights in south Lebanon and occupied Arab lands suffer the violence of occupation, displacement, armed conflict, environmental catastrophes and economic crises. The international community is urged to support Syria in the defence of legitimate rights. While it (more) Conference on Women - 4 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 condemns terrorism, it considers the national struggle against occupation as a legitimate right of the people. Dealing with women should be based on respect for human rights. ROSA ROA DE LOPEZ, Secretary of State and Director of the National Office for the Advancement of Women of the Dominican Republic: Latin American societies are approaching the end of the century together with a greater democratic life and greater participation in political decision- making. However, such problems as the poverty of women, inequality in their access to political and economic structures, and violence against women persist. The gender perspective is now included in the programmes of the Government. There is a total recognition within Dominican society and Government of the need to adopt explicit policies in support of women. Dominican women have been appointed to a significant number of administrative posts in Government. Measures must now be taken to foster a realistic image of women, the sharing of family responsibilities, and the right of all women to a life free of violence. The Government is endeavouring to enable women to fully exercise citizenship within the framework of sustained and equitable, democratic development. Policies aim at ensuring the empowerment of women and their equitable access to power structures, eliminating poverty, fostering the elimination of cultural models which distort the role of women, and promoting unrestricted respect for all women's rights. MONICA N MBANEFO, Senior Deputy Director, International Maritime Organization (IMO): Until recently the IMO, a highly specialized United Nations agency concerned with maritime safety, was dominated by men. However, it has built up a pragmatic programme to incorporate key United Nations recommendations on resources development and capacity building. It aims to increase the percentage of women within the maritime sector; improve women's access to maritime training and technology; integrate them into mainstream maritime activities; and promote women's self-reliance and access to employment. The IMO is one of only three agencies which has actually met its target percentage of female professional staff. It has also established a policy and procedures on sexual harassment and is considering work/family actions to improve recruitment and retention of women. SHEILA BAPPOO, President of the Ministerial Coordination Committee "Femmes et Developpement": We are full of hope that a new world will emerge in which women have their duly deserved position and the relations between men and women will be based on principles of social justice. Autonomy and empowerment are the premises of a lasting and sustainable development, of which women will be the pillars. For the world to take on a new shape in which social justice prevails, the status of women must be enhanced. Reactionary forces which try to hide the role of women in development must be countered. (more) Conference on Women - 5 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 Matters requiring priority attention include the questions of poverty and exclusion, peace in the world, the role of women in maintaining peace, girl-children, and the participation of women in decision-making. Clear timetables and priorities must be established. The countries of Africa are suffering from the heavy burden of debt. Structural adjustment must take account of women and children. DIAKITE FATOUMATA N'DIAYE, Minister and Commissioner for the Promotion of Women of Mali: The situation of African women remains characterized by low literacy rates, insufficient access to education and health care, difficult access to resources and an unequal access to decision-making bodies. Innovative approaches are required; national machinery must be set up in all the areas which are critical to African women. The Government of Mali has set up such machinery. The women's associations and non-governmental organizations in Mali have made an excellent contribution to the advancement of women. The Government has renewed its commitment to defend women's rights and to ensure the equality of all its citizens. However, improvements in women's situation remain weak, because they cannot be separated from the situation of the country as a whole. Today the international community must accept the radical solution of cancelling the external debt. In view of the impact of armed conflict and civil war on women, the issue of peace deserves special attention. FATMA ABDULOLAZADE, Head of Humanitarian Policy Department of the President's Office, Azerbaijan: While women's rights are human rights and human rights are women's rights, they are not realized in life. There is no parity between men and women in governance. The underestimation of the role of women in society threatens to dehumanize society as a whole. Strategies worked out in Nairobi have given hope that it is possible to achieve equality, development and peace on the international, national and regional level through women's efforts. However, those strategies have not been implemented. The Azerbaijan delegation brought a flag to the Conference which bears the signatures of thousands of displaced women under the words "Return me to my home". Driven to despair, women forced out of their homeland and living in the miserable conditions of tent camps are ready to return home even at the risk of crossing mine fields with their children in their arms. They choose death rather than living in humiliation and hopelessness. Todays's situation of "no war, no peace" in Azerbaijan undermines the belief that the world community can control the aggressor or guarantee the territorial integrity of sovereign Azerbaijan. Twenty per cent of Azerbaijan's territory has been seized by the Armenians and 486 Azerbajani women and children are being held captive by the Armenians. There has been no comment on this issue since the Conference began. Azerbaijan has asked the Conference to focus on ways to free not only those hostages (more) Conference on Women - 6 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 but women hostages in all trouble spots of the world. If even one step is made towards the release of captured women and children it would be a great credit to the Conference. NEIJON EDWARDS, of the Marshall Islands: The international community should pledge the necessary financial and technical resources to implement the objectives of the Conference. The Government will strengthen the Women's Affairs Division in the Ministry of Social Services and its non- government counterpart, the National Council of Women. It will also establish a contact point in each ministry and a relevant agency to help implement the National Women's Policy. Gender sensitivity training will be conducted at all levels of national and local government and the Office of Planning and Statistics will include gender in all data and studies. Support will be given to 11 critical areas of concern identified by women, including education, health, culture and support for women's initiatives. Population education will continue to combat the 4.2 per cent growth rate. The Marshall Islands is still struggling to overcome problems caused by nuclear weapons testing programmes. The lingering effects of radiation has caused health and environmental problems which the country lacks the resources and ability to solve. Unfortunately, women have been suffering silently and differently from men. Throughout the islands they are plagued with birthing and related problems and cancer of the reproductive system is now the leading cause of death among women. There is a direct correlation between the distance from ground zero, where women live and the incidence of birth anomalies, stillbirths and miscarriages. The Marshallese are experiencing these harrowing births in a culture which does not discuss failed pregnancies and that makes it harder to get accurate information to help women understand their reproductive health problems. The Marshall Islands understands the devastating effects that radiation can cause and joins other countries in denouncing the resumption of nuclear tests in the region. It is immoral and arrogant to continue to use the Pacific as the world's nuclear testing ground. FLORENTINE SOKI FWANI EYENGA, Minister for Health and Family of Zaire: Today, women are still victims of inequalities. In Zaire, cultural obstacles prevent the implementation of legislation to improve the status of women. The number of illiterates is great, the majority of whom are women. Zaire is making a commitment to ensure implementation of the Conference's plan of action. The Government intends to cooperate closely with non-governmental organizations in that process. Zaire has always been a land of asylum, but today the issue is of ever-greater concern. Zaire is no longer able to sustain the presence of over a million refugees in the east of the country. This overpopulation has destroyed the ecosystem of the region and led to conflicts with the local inhabitants, making Zaire citizens refugees in their own country. Armed gangs had sprung forth, and their victims were mainly women. The (more) Conference on Women - 7 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 international community must exert all its efforts to see that peace is restored in this part of the world. ELIUEL K. PRETRICK, Secretary for Health of the Federated States of Micronesia: In the Federated States of Micronesia, women have traditionally assumed domestic responsibilities which are complementary to the responsibilities of men and dictate a mutual power sharing status between them in family and community relationships. Although women are traditionally accorded a mutual power sharing status, colonization and imported value systems negated their position and initiated the disempowerment and marginalization of women. That loss of power sharing changed the role and status of women from being active and productive to being passive and reactive. The Government has just begun to restore women to a position of full and equal participation in all spheres of life. Efforts to ensure access to education is sometimes met with resistance because traditional practitioners believe that formal education does not prepare a woman for marriage and its obligations. The Government has tried to educate traditional communities about the changing roles of women. If women cannot maintain their health, empowerment in other areas will be meaningless. They have access to family planning services and pre- natal care. Efforts are being made to help women understand more about reproductive health so they can make informed decisions about their own reproduction. That will benefit the entire nation. Environmental degradation directly impacts on women. Their health and livelihood are threatened by pollution and the depletion of coastal and marine resources. The Government joins other speakers from the Pacific region in opposing further nuclear tests. TADELLECH HAILEMICHAEL. Minister of Women's Affairs of Ethiopia: For the first time, Ethiopians recently elected a democratic Government. The Constitution, which was ratified last December, includes provisions emphasizing women's civil, political and economic rights. It underscores their right to citizenship, to bequeath pensions and to acquire and inherit property. In recognition of previous discrimination and inequities, women are entitled to remedial and affirmative measures. The Government has also taken a major step in making human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women part of Ethiopian law. A Women's Affairs Office in the Prime Minister's Office has been set up, with regional branches in major communities and in other ministries. It coordinates health, education, population and other social issues which concern women and integrates gender issues in Government policies and programmes. The Office has issued a "National Women's Policy" based on provisions in the Convention and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. It aims to ensure respect for women's human rights, (more) Conference on Women - 8 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 including economic, social and political rights, and alleviate the problems of rural women. The Policy also seeks to change traditional beliefs of women's inferiority and to help them become decision-makers at all levels of government. SELGUET ACHTA AGUIDI, Minster for Social Affairs and the Advancement of Women of Chad: Women's contribution to society has been repeatedly stressed. The Government seeks to improve the status of women with regard to education, training, employment, health, the private sector, rural development and the environment. The Government is constant in its will to integrate women fully into development. The Ministry for the Promotion of Women has intervened directly in development projects through rural women's groups and other bodies. Grassroots participation has been encouraged, and women are learning to take their own future in hand. The integration of women is not an insurmountable obstacle. The means to achieve it is by means of increased awareness and mobilization within society. A basic priority of the Government is education for girls, by providing incentives for their school enrollment. Important contributions are being made to the advancement of rural women through training and the issuance special publications. Women's associations have been established to defend women's rights, support their education and promote solidarity. The importance for women in mobilizing new resources for programmes in literacy, education for young girls, health, peace and poverty must be stressed. ALICIA FOURNIER VARGAS, Vice-Minister of the Presidency of Costa Rica: Costa Rica has set itself new and ambitious goals. Sustainable development is that which respects the great balance of forces which make long-term development possible. That involves political stability, social equity, balance in economic relations and harmony with nature. Costa Rica is working from representative democracy to complex forms of participatory democracy. Costa Rican law obliges the State to guarantee equal rights for men and women in economic, social and cultural spheres. Among the main challenges are the need to ensure women's access to higher employment and to provide appropriate conditions to working mothers. It was necessary to combat family violence, assist poor women, prevent domestic violence and address social patterns which tend to perpetuate gender discrimination. Real gender sensitivity must be ensured in the formulation of public policy, and women's access to decision-making roles must be enhanced. PEHIN DATO HAJI AWANG HUSSAIN, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, of Brunei Darussalam: Women have benefited from the country's progress and development, although there is no specific policy on women. Development efforts are made for all Bruneians regardless of race, ethnic grouping or gender. Educational opportunities are readily accessible to women and men. There are more women at all levels of education and they have a literacy rate of 85 percent, with illiteracy primarily (more) Conference on Women - 9 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 confined to the older generation. High priority is given to preventive health care for women, including comprehensive safe motherhood and reproductive health programmes. Female life expectancy is 76.6 years -- six years higher than that for men. Women make up nearly 47 per cent of the labour force and they are employed in major professional, technical and administrative occupations, with increasing numbers holding executive and managerial positions. Women are no longer just vendors of goods and services but work in modern and fiercely competitive businesses. They are proprietors, managers, directors and partners in national and international companies. These positive developments in women's status are a result of free education and equal access to socio-economic activities. Nevertheless, the Government is aware of the ills of abuse and violence against women and children. The crime rate, while still comparatively low, is partly due to an erosion of traditional family values. The traditional role of women as mothers and their unique role in humanizing society should not be underestimated. VERA KOZMIK, Director of the Governmental Office for Women's Politics, of Slovenia: The economic and social impact of the transition from socialism to democracy has not affected women in Slovenia as much as it has in other eastern European countries. Women have also been able to preserve some of the advantages they hold over women in western democracies. Female unemployment has not risen as strongly as it has for men; women's representation in politics has not decreased dramatically and the quality of public health and childcare has remained high. Slovenia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted a human rights ombudsman and instituted a national mechanism for promoting equality between men and women. The parliamentary Commission on Women's Politics and the Government Office of Women's Politics, together with numerous non-governmental organizations, are working actively to improve equality between men and women. Some 27,000 refugees, mainly women and children, from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have legal status in Slovenia, which is trying to deal with how and when to ensure a safe return for many women who want to go home. Events in Croatia and Bosnia are a reminder that women's rights can be quickly lost. The appeal for solidarity is a necessary precondition for a successful Conference. It should think beyond narrow national concerns, without ignoring women's own interests and specific needs. Special attention must be given to women whose situation is hopeless and whose voices are not heard -- those women in the poorest parts of the world, usually in rural areas. Aid programmes and government involvement must be rethought, and controls established to implement proposed measures more effectively. The Conference should also issue a severe condemnation of the use of rape as an strategy of war and support punishment of those responsible for such war crimes. (more) Conference on Women - 10 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 DILBAR GOULYAMOVA, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan: Our century has been characterized by great changes in the role of women. The implementation of economic reforms and changes in employment in Uzbekistan have changed the status of women. Since independence, the country has been moving towards a market economy. Its Constitution proclaims the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race or ethnic background, and provides for equal education for women. Women also have equal political rights with men. The right to life and equal development applies to all children, regardless of their sex. Uzbekistan has adopted a law on employment by which the State ensures social welfare for women who have been without work. Women are entitled to two years of maternity leave. We are now working out a national programme to protect women's and children's health. ZAMIRA SINOJMERI, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Health of Albania: One of Albania's main concerns is to ensure the political, economic and legal conditions to promote the participation of women in Albanian society and prevent inequalities from arising. Albania supports the conclusion of the Vienna Conference on Human Rights which states that the rights of women and young girls are an inalienable part of human rights. The general trend of development in Albania is proof of its affirmation of democratic values. The education of women in the country is considered to be a powerful social means for generating confidence, self-respect and independent thinking. Particular attention has been placed on women's health, and programmes have been established to safeguard the health of mothers and children. The right of women to freedom of choice in reproductive matters is a relatively new phenomenon for Albania and the question of abortion is still being debated. Abortion cannot be seen as a means of family planning but as part of the right of women to choose freely. Considering it as a crime could violate the right to life, as abortions might then be carried out in unsatisfactory conditions. MARLENE MOSES, Consul-General in Auckland of Nauru: Although women in Nauru enjoy equal pay, equal opportunities for education, the right to vote and participate in politics, they still struggle against traditional discrimination. They struggle for a social and cultural equality in which the particular role and capacities of women are valued. The right to a healthy environment in women's most special capacity, the bearing and nurturing of children, is now threatened by nuclear testing. The tests conducted by China and by France are a clear violation of the principle of equality among nations. The consequences of nuclear accidents, the results of previous testing and the use of atomic weapons have resulted in fetal damage, birth defects and infertility. The future of the Nauru people and nation is gravely threatened by the tests. (more) Conference on Women - 11 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 The French test showed a blatant disregard for the peoples of the South Pacific region. Both the French and Chinese tests violate the spirit of the recent Non-Proliferation Treaty Review. The people of Nauru are outraged at the negation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and fundamental moral principles. Women's voices and the voices of small island nations have a right to be heard. Fear is the root cause of the failure to bring about equality, development and peace. Those in power have to be liberated from their fear before the desired goals can be reached. Unless fear is prevented from controlling families, countries and future generations, the social revolution needed to guaranteed women's rights will never come about. It is a sin to continue neglecting those whom we have the power to help. ELIAM TANIRONO, Secretary of the Ministry for Youth, Women, Sports and Recreation of the Solomon Islands: The goals and objectives of the 1985 Nairobi Forward-looking Strategy for the Advancement of Women were far too ambitious to be realized in the Solomon Islands over a 10 year period. The Government is now in a position to work towards implementing that document and it is committed to changing the status of women. Education is neither universal nor compulsory and 40 per cent of the population have no formal education. The female literacy rate is 17 per cent, which means that women are becoming increasingly disadvantaged. The lower educational status of females is due to the fact that parents prefer to educate male children; female labour in the home is valued. Solomon Islands has an annual growth rate 33.5 per cent. The use of family planning methods is very low. While the Government encourages the practice of traditional medicine, it has made a number of advances in primary health care. Culture, family and religion are the main support systems in the Solomon Islands. Socio-economic changes, however, put pressure on cultural values and kinship systems. Women's role as food producers and resource managers is neither recognized nor supported in agriculture or fishing. They are denied access to new technologies, improved farming methods, food processing, marketing and distribution and advisory services. Training in relation to land use has been targeted to men. Power and decision-making bodies are largely dominated by men. While there is no official data on violence against women, a victim support centre has been established. The Government strongly condemns the resumption of nuclear testing. BOZGUL DODHUDUEVA, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan: The situation in Tajikistan is determined by the extent to which human rights are respected. The country is committed to the principles of international law. Tajikistan is now forming national machinery to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women. Certain such mechanisms are already in operation. The work of defending women's interests and enhancing their role in society is also being dealt with by women's non-governmental organizations. Grassroots women's committees of various kinds have also been created. (more) Conference on Women - 12 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 Tajikistan's constitution affirms equality of spouses in marriage and divorce. Women have equal access to the civil service and to elective office. Today, women scientists head special educational establishments and are working in all sectors of the national economy. Legislative authorities are doing a great deal to improve the status of women in the country. However, a stereotype of distrust of the business abilities of women limit their entrance into business. With economic difficulties, it is primarily women who have been losing their jobs. TIRIAMATE NGATOKORUA, Minister responsible for Women's Affairs, Cook Islands: To insist on maintaining a superior level of nuclear capability is a passport to continued human suffering and destruction, with women and children the most affected victims. It is time for women to take up the reigns of control in all countries so resources and energies may be directed towards developmental programmes, which will bring peace and equality among nations. The Government supports the stand taken by other countries in their efforts to stop nuclear testing at Moruroa. It is also disappointed at the decision by China to continue testing nuclear weapons. Important cultural values which are fundamental to sustainable development must be maintained and respected. Chiefs and traditional leaders of the various tribes have been recognized and included in certain decision-making processes. Traditional rituals have been incorporated into the country's development programmes, acknowledging that people are agents for as well as beneficiaries of development. The role of women in cultural development issues is important. A National Policy on Women was recently adopted and reflects regional and international views set forth in the Asia/Pacific Declaration, approved in Jakarta last year, and the Conference's Plan of Action. Continuing education at all levels is vitally important; resources will be directed towards this important area of development. TIMBO KEARKIKI, Minister for Environment and Social Development of Kirbati: Ten years after the Nairobi Conference, the international community is still grappling with the same issues. Are these problems so difficult to overcome or is there simply a lack of the commitment to overcome the obstructions to women in economic, political and social activities? The interests and policies of the more developed nations have never been sympathetic to the unique situation of the Pacific nations, as evidenced by the French nuclear testing. Kiribati strongly rejects the tests. Because of its lack of resources, the main solution to the unique problem of Kiribati lies within its 80,000 people, half of whom are women. In the past, women were considered to be an integral part of the community with their own roles to perform. Changing times have necessitated that the areas of concern for women be addressed separately. The Government has developed a series of activities and programmes for women which are supported by many women in the country. More men are in decision-making positions because traditionally, in these fields, women were (more) Conference on Women - 13 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 not educated. Now, however, there are more women in the high schools than men and there are now a number of young women holding key positions in the public sector. Change, however, must be monitored so that it is compatible with culture. Progress is only possible if there is cooperation between the Government and the people. The Government has pledged to address health problems and needs of women. Efforts are being made to train the traditional birth attendants to lower the high infant and maternal mortality rate. Review of legislation and public awareness programmes are planned in the effort to eradicate domestic violence. LAMIS ALAMI, Chief of the Field Education Programme in the West Bank of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA): The overall aim of UNRWA's education department is to provide nine to 10 years of basic compulsory education, vocational education and teacher education for Palestine refugees. It serves a school population of almost half a million. Its schooling is open to all refugee children, regardless of sex, half of whom are girls. In teacher training, 191 of 360 students are women. The proportion of women in vocational training is 23 per cent -- still relatively low. So far 48,000 students have graduated from eight colleges. UNRWA operates many clinics, as well as a small hospital in the West Bank. Its basic community health programme includes maternal and child care, immunization, school health programmes, family planning services and environmental sanitation in the refugee camps. It has also established a college of nursing in Gaza. UNRWA also provides a range of additional social services. Women's programmes have been brought into the mainstream of the restyled relief programme. RASHA AL-SABAH, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, of Kuwait: Before and since independence, Kuwait has prepared its women through free and compulsory education to help build the State and society. The provision of health services and educational programmes have contributed to a big decline in maternal mortality rates. Kuwaiti women made great sacrifices during the Iraqi invasion, and their resistance led to detention, physical torture, rape and psychological terror. Kuwaiti women are still detained in Iraq's prisons, and wives and mothers are waiting for their husbands and sons to be released. The international community should call for the immediate release of Kuwaiti prisoners of war. After liberation, Kuwaiti women played a unique role in the country's reconstruction, helping experts extinguish oil fires. Today, they work alongside men in formulating developmental policies. The Kuwaiti women's movement has made significant contributions to society and has functioned as an effective representative at international conferences, including the non-governmental forum. The Plan of Action should be sensitive to the special nature of each society and respect the various (more) Conference on Women - 14 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 religions, customs and traditions. Kuwait cannot agree to matters which contradict the customs and traditions of its Islamic society. HAYDEE DE LAY, President of the Women's Commission of the Latin American Parliament: It was important to address the inequality, instability and growing poverty which affect major sectors of the population in Latin America. Unemployment and underemployment, abject poverty and marginalization of women are on the rise. Increasingly, the responsibility for providing social services is being transferred to the private sector, to the detriment of the poor. The feminization of poverty is a dramatic fact affecting the continent. Women are overexploited; denied education and health care; and are subjected to violence in family and social circles. A contributing cause is the fact that the developing countries are investing unilaterally in combatting drug trafficking, without assistance from the developed countries. Developed countries must contribute to this struggle, helping to overcome the drug trafficking problem, which is overwhelming. Governments are urged to sign and implement international agreements and commitments on the status of women. Gender perspectives must be incorporated in public policy. Support services must be provided for working women and men. FATIMA ALAOUI, President of the Women's Information Research and Training Agency: The Conference must promote establishment of political and economic national gender committee. Gender parity means equality between men and women. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has allocated funds for the promotion of gender parity in its programmes for 1996-1997. Women and men should have equal access to and control over the productive resources of the earth. They must have an equal voice in decision-making in general, and political and economic decision-making in particular. BELLA ABZUG, Co-Chair of the Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO): From kitchen tables to peace tables, women are turning the tables on the status quo. They challenge all corporations to play by fair rules and governments to ensure that the rules are fair. They are moving a political, social and economic agenda for equality and democracy -- democracy within homes, markets and the state. Imperfect though it may be, the platform for action is the strongest statement of consensus on women's equality, empowerment and justice ever produced by governments. It is an agenda for change based on a transformational vision of a better world for all. From Beijing, the world will never be the same. Women must also find ways to change the process because the present institutions want to hold on to power and keep the status quo. Women are being brought into politics to change the nature of politics, to change the vision, to change the institutions. Women are not wedded to the policies of the past. They did not craft (more) Conference on Women - 15 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 them. They were not allowed to. The fact that so many women participated in the Conference is a testament to the seriousness of the agenda. They will ensure that others know about the provisions agreed to and the commitments made and millions will press their governments to follow through. The Linkage Caucus has proposed five steps to focus on achieving gender justice: implementation, integration, accountability, enforcement and resources. It is certain that when the Conference ends, women will still be looking at their governments -- closely, critically, urgently and hopefully -- to ensure that they hold to and make real the commitments entered into here. SHAMIS HUSSEIN, Consultant on Development, Somali Women's Trust: When policies go wrong between and within States and there is armed conflict, women are at the receiving end of problems created by men. Having experienced the catastrophe of civil war, Somali women demanded peace in all regions and have been successful in some areas. Without peace there cannot be development nor can civic society be achieved. There have not been Somali "war ladies". It is thus vital for women to participate in the peace process and to take part in nation-building, to give women access to education, legal information and enhanced security. International support is needed to achieve those goals. The Trust calls on the world not to forget Somalia, now that the cameras are off and it is not in the headlines. FATOUMATA SIRE DIAKITE, of the Association for Progress and the Defence of the Rights of the Women of Mali: The French speaking non- governmental organizations took an active role in the regional preparatory meetings leading up to the Conference. Many participants from developing countries who benefited from the meetings were unable to travel to Beijing. Governments must show the necessary political will and marshal the resources necessary to implement the Platform of Action. Women must be given their due in the development process and common strategies implemented. Those who have taken part in the Conference have an historic responsibility to ensure it is not a mere assembly of orators and documents. Millions of women and men who are not here are placing their hopes on the world meeting and should not be disappointed. French speaking non-governmental organizations have elaborated their own strategies which complement the Platform of Action. Non-governmental organizations are working for a post-Beijing era. AISHA BAH, Founder and Member of the Executive Committee of the Forum of African Women Educationalists: This panel of female education ministers was formed to highlight priorities and stimulate the education of girls and women in the region. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 26 million eligible girls are not enrolled in school. Knowledge of the substantial social and economic benefits accruing from the education of girls and women is not being translated into gender responsive policies and programmes. The FAWE has gained support from African governments, local and international partners who believe girls' education is an important tool for empowering women and for development. Most countries can achieve basic education for all by the (more) Conference on Women - 16 - Press Release WOM/BEI/30 13th Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 year 2000, but particular attention will have to given to stem the high dropout rate in African primary education, and the poorest countries will need special assistance. Effective mobilization and involvement of parents and local communities will ensure they become the custodians of their children's education. Communities can be watchdogs to censure parents who fail to enrol or withdraw their daughters from school. Rights of Reply The representative of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: The name of our State is the Republic of Macedonia. The name of a State is an exclusive and integral right of that State. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is not a name but a reference. The representative of Iraq: The representative of Kuwait spoke of the need for solidarity to accomplish common objectives. Yet she knew that Iraq had invited the League of Arab States to make sure that there were no Kuwaiti prisoners in Iraq. Iraq has freed all Kuwaiti prisoners. The subject is being kept alive to maintain sanctions against Iraq and to continue the sufferings of the Iraqi people. The representative of Kuwait: The questions of Kuwaiti and prisoners of other nationalities is a concern for Kuwait. The International Committee of the Red Cross claims that there are still prisoners in Iraq and is attempting to free them. People who tell lies begin to believe in them. The best means for lifting the sanctions would be for Iraq to implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The representative of Iraq: Iraq, in its statement, had only spoken about issues concerning the Conference. Everyone knows who started the bickering. The presence of committees in Iraq did not mean there were prisoners. The representative of Kuwait: We are not here to start bickering once again. The Security Council has called for the Iraqi regime to release all prisoners of war and to allow visits to Iraqi prisons. * *** *