Fourth World Conference on Women WOM/BEI/31 Main Committee 12 September 1995 3rd Meeting (PM) MAIN COMMITTEE BEGINS APPROVAL OF WOMEN'S CONFERENCE DRAFT PLATFORM TEXTS SUBMITTED BY WORKING GROUPS Agreement Reported on Wording Relating to Armed Conflicts; Power Sharing; Poverty; Institutional, Financial Arrangements The Main Committee of the Fourth World Conference on Women this afternoon approved language on the impact of armed or other conflicts on women; on the sharing of power between men and women in the family at the decision-making level; the burden of poverty on women; institutional arrangements for fundamental change; and financial arrangements to contribute to the advancement of women. The Main Committee acted as it considered a series of amendments to the Conference's draft Platform for Action, forwarded for its approval by its various working groups and subsidiary bodies, which have been debating still-contentious language in the draft Platform. The Committee is responsible for negotiating agreement on disputed language in Conference final documents, which will then be sent on to the Plenary for final adoption. While many issues remain to be resolved, this afternoon's meeting went a considerable way towards finalizing the draft Platform for Action of the Conference. Before the Main Committee were six informal papers, forwarded by its subsidiary groups and containing amendments elaborated by those groups. Chairman Patricia Licuanan (Philippines) told the Committee that the amended texts would retain their unofficial status until formally approved by the Committee, at which time they would be officially incorporated into the draft Platform for Action for submission to the Conference plenary. (more) Main Committee - 2 - Press Release WOM/BEI/31 3rd Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 The Chairman further urged delegations wishing to state their reservations over particular sections of the amended text before them to do so in the Main Committee today, rather than in the plenary session of the Conference. Those reservations would be duly reflected in the Main Committee's final report. Report of Working Group II The Chairman of Working Group II, Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl (Austria), introduced the results of the Group's week-long deliberations. She pointed out that the amended texts -- representing three sections of Chapter IV of the draft platform for action -- included a substantial number of paragraphs whose language was still in dispute and which was therefore still contained within square brackets. Consequently, there was considerable initial confusion in some delegations, which had anticipated being asked to decide on "clean", wholly- resolved texts. It was finally agreed that the Committee would approve undisputed paragraphs, leaving the still-bracketed sections to be further discussed in working groups and informal consultations. Impact of Armed Conflict on Women In Section F of Chapter IV of the draft Platform, which concerns the impact of armed conflict on women, the Committee approved new language calling for "action to promote equal participation of women in all fora and peace activities at all levels, including in the Secretariat of the United Nations" (paragraph 144 (a)); language urging governments to hasten "conversion of military resources to development and peaceful purposes" (145 (a)); a paragraph -- 147 (e) "reaffirming that rape in armed conflict constitutes a war crime and under certain circumstances an act of genocide"; a call for condemnation of "all forms and manifestations of terrorism" (147 (g)); for measures to alleviate the "negative impact of economic sanctions on women and children" (147 (k)); a paragraph urging "respect of the principle of non-refoulement of refugees, while ensuring the right of refugee and displaced women to voluntary return" (149 (d)); and language calling for protection of "women and children who migrate as family members from abuse and denial of their human rights" (150 (b)). Inequality in Sharing Power and Decision-Making at All Levels In Section G of Chapter IV, concerning inequality between men and women in sharing power and in decision-making at all levels, the Committee approved language recognizing that "discrimination can start with unequal power relations between men and women within the family", and that "local, non-formal networks of decision-making that reflect a dominant male ethos restrict women's ability to participate equally" (187); a call for commitment to "gender balance in governmental bodies, public administration and the judiciary" (192 (a)); a call on (more) Main Committee - 3 - Press Release WOM/BEI/31 3rd Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 governments to encourage political parties to "integrate women in elective and non-elective public positions in the same proportion as men (192 (b)); to "encourage, where appropriate, that government-funded organizations adopt non- discriminatory policies and practices" (192 (h)); to "recognize that shared work and parental responsibilities promote women's increased participation in public life, and take appropriate measures to achieve that goal" (192 (i)). It approved a formulation calling on women's organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade unions, and industrial and professional organizations, to "establish databases, consistent with data protection legislation, on women for use in appointing women to senior decision-making and advisory positions" (196 (c)). Increasing Burden of Poverty on Women In Section A of Chapter IV, concerning the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women, the Committee adopted language on the feminization of poverty (para 50); removed the brackets from text calling on governments to "integrate women living in poverty and socially marginalized women into productive employment and the economic mainstream" (60 (m)); called on national and international non-governmental organizations and women's groups to mobilize to improve the "effectiveness of anti-poverty programmes directed towards the poorest and most disadvantaged women, recognizing that social development is primarily a responsibility of governments" (62 (a)); to develop a comprehensive national strategy for improving services to girls and women of all ages living in poverty" (62 (d)) and "contribute to the development of training policies to ensure that women acquire skills to meet new demands" (62 (f)). Among issues left unresolved and bracketed in this section were questions of resource allocation as well as the issue of "women's right to full and equal access to economic resources, including the right to inheritance". Report of Working Group II: Access to Communications Systems, Media On Section J of Chapter IV of the report of Working Group I, concerning inequality in women's access to and participation in all communications systems, especially the media, the Main Committee approved a paragraph condemning "negative and degrading images of women in media communications" (paragraph 236) and a call to governments to "support women's training to ensure their equal access to all levels of the media" (240 (a)). It approved language urging the media to "develop, consistent with freedom of expression, forms of media self- regulation to promote presentation of non-stereotyped images of women" (244 (a)) and similarly to "establish guidelines addressing violent, degrading or pornographic materials concerning women in the media" (244 (b)). (more) Main Committee - 4 - Press Release WOM/BEI/31 3rd Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 Left unresolved were questions concerning the "mobilization of the media to promote awareness of equality and positive images of women". Institutional Arrangements In Chapter V of the draft Platform for Action, concerning institutional arrangements for implementation of the Platform, the Main Committee approved a call for the "elimination of sexual harassment" (para 290). It approved language calling on "States and the international community to respond to the challenge [of implementation] by making commitments for action" (293); it approved wording on "support of other institutional actors, including feminist groups" (295); and a call on the "United Nations to carry out follow-up programmes with the necessary resources and support" (310). The Main Committee further approved the lifting of brackets from the entire section focussed on the enhancement of the mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women "and further development of its catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in United Nations activities" (318,319, 320, 321). Language was approved calling on the United Nations Secretary-General to "establish a high-level post to advise on gender issues and help ensure system-wide implementation of the Platform" (237). Financial Arrangements In considering Chapter VI of the draft Platform for Action, concerning financial arrangements for its implementation, the Main Committee endorsed language urging that "the outcome of the [1995 Copenhagen] World Summit for Social Development regarding debt management and reduction, as well as of other United Nations conferences, be implemented in order to facilitate realization of the goals of the Platform" (para 358). It further approved a paragraph calling for "adequate resources for efforts by United Nations Funds and specialized agencies in promoting the empowerment of women" (361). Reservations by United States The representative of the United States then offered interpretive comments on her delegation's position concerning the text just approved by the Main Committee. She said a number of institutions and organizations had been asked to take actions to implement the Platform. However, Governments alone would implement the Platform. It must therefore be understood that the Platform was inviting such actions; it could not require them. Paragraphs 234 and 235 of section J (the media), she said, contained references to actions the media might take; those were simply suggestions, and might not be construed to impinge on the freedom of the press. On paragraph 293 of Chapter IV of the draft Platform, it was understood by the United States that references to what the Platform "requires" were consistent (more) Main Committee - 5 - Press Release WOM/BEI/31 3rd Meeting (PM) 12 September 1995 with the fact that the Conference Platform, Declaration and commitments made by States were not legally binding. Similarly, concerning paragraph 354 (official development assistance) of Chapter VI, she reiterated that the United States was not one of the countries that had accepted an "agreed target" for official development assistance, nor had it made a commitment to fulfil such a target. The Main Committee will meet again at a time to be announced. * *** *