BEIJING REPORT

						Number 4, 12 September 1995

Prospects Look Good for Adoption of Platform for Action at end of conference
on women next Friday.  After a rocky start, there is emerging consensus on the
contentious issue of guaranteeing women's rights to have control over their
reproductive health free of coercion, discrimination and violence.  As we go
to press, less than 300 brackets remain, mainly in the text on human rights,
health and money.  Consensus also emerging on creation of high-level post of
adviser on gender issues in Office of UN Secretary-General.  Issues of special
interest to UNDP include: recognition of role of Resident Coordinator in
national implementation of Platform for Action; people-centred sustainable
development; popular participation and NGO/government partnerships; gender
mainstreaming in programmes; and education for men and boys, especially in
safe and responsible sexual health.

UNIFEM Director Heyzer Calls for $1 a Year for Each Developing World Woman in
address to plenary on 8 September. "Currently UNIFEM receives less than one
cent a year for each woman in the developing world,"  Ms. Heyzer said.
"Imagine what we could if we had a dollar."  She added, "Our commitment to the
world's women is to ensure that the recommendations from the Platform for
Action are translated into catalytic and innovative programmes."  Ms. Heyzer
also expressed thanks to the Friends of UNIFEM Committee in Beijing which
arranged complete corporate sponsorship of the 20th anniversary celebrations
on 7 september.

Half-way Through the Conference on Women, senior UNDP officials summarize
regional perspectives:

Africa (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Regional Director, RBA): The African Group
maintains a consensus on the African Platform for Action adopted in Dakar in
last November and endorsed by African Heads of state in July.  Areas of
concern: peace on the conflict-afflicted continent, good governance, poverty,
education, health and the girl-child.  Africa is priority continent for UNDP
technical and financial assistance with focus on poverty elimination,
democratization and improved health.

Asia and Pacific (Nay Htun, Regional Director, RBAP): No clearly defined
regional or subregional position on Platform for Action due to variables
within and diversity of Asia and Pacific.  Delegations articulate concerns
through Group of 77 chaired by Philippines.  Areas of focus: nuclear testing
in the Pacific, Poverty alleviation, labour migration and trafficking of women
and girls, rights of indigenous communities, equity in the face of growth.

Arab States (Mohamed Berrezoug, Resident Representative, Tunisia): Biggest
challenge for region is how to reconcile cultural heritage and traditional
values of the Arab society with modernism and westernization.  Other areas of
concern: the situation of women living under occupation and under armed
conflict, rural women, women's education, health, and political and economic
participation.

Eastern Europe and CIS (Winston Temple, Resident Representative, Moldova):
NGOs and delegates from region are concerned about the recent setbacks
suffered by women in countries in transition and/or conflict and an apparent
lack of interest and money from the international community to address gender
issues.  Priority areas for action: political and economic empowerment,
adequate legislative framework for women's human rights and protection of
women against all forms of violence.  Special appeal made for additional
funding and presence of UNIFEM in region.

Latin America and Caribbean (Katika Cekalovic, Resident Representative,
Paraguay): Main areas of concern: poverty and structural adjustment, violence
and human rights and citizenship.
Regional consortium coordinated work of Latin American and Caribbean NGOs at
NGO Forum and appealed for closer links with governments, UN organizations,
financing institutions and Northern NGOs. Important role of young women
stressed. Proposed follow-up activities: regional meeting for comprehensive
analysis of regional Platform for Action adopted at ECLAC meeting and regional
project for implementation of Platform.

ELSEWHERE AT THE CONFERENCE ...

Human Development Report is firmly established as authoritative tool analyzing
progress made in closing gaps between men and women and mapping out future
action.  Report frequently cited at NGO Forum, in official conference,
meetings and in media stories.  In address on Parliamentarians Day, Speaker of
Philippines Senate and Chair of Group of 77 called report overdue "scientific
analysis" of women's work and urged all legislators to use it in their work.
Report also discussed in workshops led by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Human
Development Report Office Director.

Beijing Conference Live on the Net. Plenary statements by governments, NGOs
and international organizations, official documents, press releases and
photographs are available live to all Internet users worldwide, courtesy of
UNDP and partners.  The documents and other material are posted on two
locations -- within the conference site in Beijing and at UNDP headquarters in
New York.  They may be accessed through the Web at
http://www.undp.org/fwcw/daw1.htm, through the gofer at gofer.undp.org or
through an auto-answering electronic mail at: gofer@undp.org or
agora@www.undp.org. For the agora mail box users, specify in the body of the
message the location of the FWCW web site mentioned above.



Editor: Hilda Paqui
Director, Division of Public Affairs: Djibril Diallo