From: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org To: beijing-conf-digest@mail.edc.org Subject: Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #51 Reply-To: beijing-conf@mail.edc.org Errors-To: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org Precedence: Beijing Women's Conference Digest Friday, 18 August 1995 Volume 02 : Number 051 In this issue: Beijing and AIWN IWTC GLOBAL NET 31 RE: HOTELS CHINESE_PATROLWOMEN 16.8 GEN: Media Reaction - Beijing Women's Conference See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the Beijing Women's Conference or Beijing-Conf-Digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Thu, 17 Aug 1995 09:53:00 +0100 Subject: Beijing and AIWN ## author : Nancy.L.Jouwe@LET.RUU.NL ## date : 15.08.95 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASIAN INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S NETWORK P.O. Box 7691, GARCOM-Baguio(752) Tel:63-74-4425347/4435278 DAPO 1300, Domestic Rd., Pasay City Fax:63-74-4425205 PHILIPPINES E-mail:vtcorpuz@phil.gn.apc.org _______________________________________________________________ PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN FOR THE NGO FORUM DURING THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE OF WOMEN IN BEIJING INTRODUCTION The Asian Indigenous Women's Network (AIWN) is sponsoring on its own or jointly with other organizations a series of activities for indigenous women during the NGO Forum in Beijing. One of the objectives of the network is to facilitate the participation of indigenous women in international conferences so that their views and perspectives are articulated and projected. It is felt that the Beijing Women's Conference is an important arena where such perspectives should be shared. During the "ESCAP-NGO Conference on Women and Development" which was held in Manila last November l993, the AIWN actively participated. This is one of the first activities sponsored by the UN in preparation for the Beijing conference. The AIWN held a running workshop for the Asia-Pacific indigenous women where issues and situationers are shared and recommendations made for the Jakarta Ministerial Conference. The Jakarta Ministerial Conference which was held July l994 integrated some of the recommendations into the Plan of Action for the ESCAP region. The subsequent conferences in other UN regions and the first and second Preparatory Committee meetings of the FWCW, are very inadequate in terms of addressing indigenous women's concerns. Beijing will be the last chance for indigenous women to influence the official documents. There are talks of the possibility of a brief intersessional meeting because at the last prepcom 65% of the document is bracketed. So, if this will push through this can be another chance, if indigenous women can raise resources to take part in this. Realistically, it will be difficult to expect that the final official documents will adequately address most of the concerns and issues of indigenous women. Thus, the NGO Forum should be made use of to bring together indigenous women from all over the world. This will enable us to share our own situation, issues and struggles, and we can also collectively look at the official documents and make our own critique. Then we can come up with our own recommendations on how the official documents can be improved, together with a lobbying plan. It is in this light that the Asian Indigenous Women's Network proposes these activities and solicits suggestions and support and the active participation of other indigenous women's groups and advocate groups. ACTIVITIES l. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN DURING THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN DATES: September 3-4, l995. VENUE: NGO Forum Site, Huairou (The exact location will be announced later as the NGO Facilitating Committee in New York have not assigned specific spaces yet, nor have they determined what time slots will be given) OBJECTIVES: General Objective: To provide a forum whereby indigenous women will be able to formulate their own program and recommendations to the UN system on how their issues and concerns as indigenous women can be appropriately addressed. Specific Objectives: 1. to come up with follow-up programs and mechanisms beyond the Social Summit and the Beijing Conference for indigenous women which can be integrated as part of the program for the celebration of the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples. 2. to enable the women to formulate their suggestions on how the Plan of Action which will come out of Beijing can be more sensitive and responsive to the aspirations and perspectives of indigenous women. 3. to come up with a Declaration of Indigenous Women which can be presented at the official meeting in Beijing and at the NGO Forum and which will be used as a lobbying tool for intergovernmental and governmental bodies. PARTICIPANTS: All the indigenous women who are present at the NGO Forum are invited to participate. We are also inviting advocates but we prefer that they be observers more than participants. Some women are going to be asked to present an overview of their situationer, issues, and concerns in their regions or sub- regions. AGENDA: l. Overview of Situation of Indigenous Women in the Different Regions: Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe 2. Presentation of the Summary of the Draft Beijing Plan of Action: Comments and Responses 3. Formulation of a Beijing Alternative Declaration of Indigenous Women 4. Post-Beijing follow-up plan of action PROGRAM September 3, Sunday - - Welcome Remarks - - Orientation to the Roundtable Discussion - - Introduction of Participants - - Regional Situationers of Indigenous Women - Latin America - Asia-Pacific - Africa - North America - Europe - - Presentation and Discussion of the UN Draft Beijing Plan of Action: Recommendations for a lobby plan for the official UN meeting September 4, Monday - - Discussion of a Post-Beijing Follow-Up Plan of Action which could integrated into the program of the International Decade for the World's Indigenous Peoples - - Formulation of a "Beijing Declaration of Indigenous Women" SUPPORT NEEDED FROM OTHER INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND ADVOCATES: Originally, this was planned together with the UN Centre for Human Rights. However, at the last minute the expected logistical support from this body was not approved. Nevertheless, the AIWN still decided to push through with it because there is a clamor for such kind of activity. What is urgently needed at this point are the following: a. Names and contact addresses, phone, fax and e-mail nos. of indigenous women who are going to be in Beijing. b. Indication of whether you are interested to participate in this Roundtable and if you are would you be willing to do any of the following? - be a paper writer and presentor of your regional/subregional indigenous women's situationer. - be a member of the drafting committee for the Beijing Alternative Declaration of Indigenous Women - be a rapporteur - be a facilitator for a particular session - just an ordinary participant - be a drafter of recommended language to be presented to the government representatives for the UN Official Conference - form part of the indigenous women lobbying team (please mention if your organization or network is accredited to be an observer at the Official Conference. AIWN has been officially accredited by the UN.) - if you are an advocate organization or a donor agency will you be willing to provide support to augment some of the expenses which will be incurred? - would your organization be willing to be a co-sponsor of this activity? Being a co-sponsor means that you will be mobilizing women from your own organization to participate actively and you will be part of the steering committee which will plan and implement the day to day activities and ensure that follow-up programs will be sustained. If your organization would like to co-sponsor please get in touch as soon as possible. 2. WORLD PUBLIC HEARING ON CRIMES AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN This is an activity which is co-sponsored by the Asian Indigenous Women's Network and the Asian Human Rights Council. The idea here is for indigenous women to testify and present crimes committed against them or violations of their collective rights as indigenous women. There will be a panel of judges who will present a verdict against those responsible for the crimes or human rights violations. The cases which will be heard will be on the following: a. Development or maldevelopment projects which have destroyed indigenous peoples' communities and affected adversely the women. - hydroelectric dam projects - toxic industries or damping of toxic wastes and products - strip mining - deforestation - nuclear testing and nuclear waste dumping - coercive population programs, e.g. forced sterilization, transmigration programs,etc. - etc. b. Militarization and political repression c. Cases of ethnocide or genocide d. Trade liberalization e. indigenous traditions, if any, which are violative of the human rights of women f. piracy of biological genetic resources, like plants, micro- organisms, human genes, etc. g. others SUPPORT NEEDED: a. We already identified some women who will testify but we still need some who can testify on toxic industries, and nuclear testing and waste dumping. On the other issues, if there are indigenous women who are still willing to talk about their own situation in which their human rights are violated, please get in touch. b. If you cannot come, but you would like to project something happening within your community or country, please send us the documentation and we will try our best to publicize these too. DATE: September 1, l995 VENUE AND TIME: Not determined yet 3. INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S CAUCUS During the NGO Forum and at the Official Conference, we would like to convene a regular caucus of indigenous women. We hope that other indigenous organizations or networks can co-sponsor and co-facilitate this with us. NATURE AND OBJECTIVES: a. It is a regular meeting of indigenous women present during the Beijing conference, where they can come together and share updates on what is happening within the conference so far. b. Since there will be tens of thousands of people milling around, it would be a space where indigenous women can come together and get to know each other. c. Common plans can be undertaken for lobbying. d. Networking among us will also be facilitated during these caucuses. e. Activities which are being sponsored by various indigenous women's groups or activities of other groups which are involving the participation of indigenous women can be coordinated. The caucus can come up with a master list of activities of these nature so that those who would like to participate would be guided. SUPPORT NEEDED: a. If your network or organization is sponsoring activities during the NGO Forum and even while the official conference is going on, please send us the pertinent information. We can already start consolidating these various information and make an information packet on these. This will also help streamline activities and efforts because if there are activities with similar thrusts and involve almost the same people, then maybe these can be joined together. Please try to send these as soon as possible to the address written above. b. We need volunteers to chair the caucuses. c. One problem is the space for this. As it is there is no reserved space for an indigenous caucus. We will still try our best to find a space. However, for those who have reserved spaces but won't be using them, can you inform us so we may be able to use this? d. If you already have been assigned a place to stay in Huairou or in Beijing, please send to us the name and addresses of hotels, lodging places, room numbers, including telephone and fax numbers. This will facilitate the networking. Thank you very much for whatever support you can extend to these activities and we look forward to meeting you and sharing with you in Beijing. PLEASE COMMUNICATE TO US TO THIS ADDRESS: Asian Indigenous Women's Network c/o Victoria Tauli-Corpuz P.O. Box 7691, GARCOM-Baguio (752) DAPO 1300, Domestic Rd., Pasay City PHILIPPINES If this is mail by courier you can use this address: No. 16, Loro St., Dizon Subdivision Baguio City, 2600, PHILIPPINES Tel: 63-74-4425347 or 4435278 Fax: 63-74-4425205 E-mail: vtcorpuz@phil.gn.apc.org -end- vtc/21 June l995 ------------------------------ From: "International Women's Tribune Centre" Date: Thu, 17 Aug 1995 07:49:40 -0700 Subject: IWTC GLOBAL NET 31 GLOBAL FAXNET 31 International Women's Tribune Centre, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, Tel: (1-212) 687-8633. Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 . e-mail: iwtc@igc.apc.org PLEASE CONTINUE SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL YOUR NETWORKS. August 16th 1995 by Anne S. Walker Hotel Confirmation Letters, FWCW Information, More IWTC Publications and Help Wanted! 1. Hotel Confirmation Letters (HCLs): For all those who have still not received HCLs, we suggest that you go immediately to the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consul-General with your Registration Confirmation Letter (RCL) and passport, and officially apply f or your visa. A computer list of all those who have been sent HCLs is available at Chinese embassies and consuls. The people to contact in Beijing concerning HCLs are Mr. Liu Baoqui and Mr Ma Jiangua. Tel: (86-10) 522-5363 or 522-5364 or 522-5365 or 522-1 133, ext. 3006. Fax: (86-10) 522-5326 or 522-5329 or 238-5431 or 238-4294. Latin American household workers from the Confederation of Household Workers in Chile, Paraguay and Guatemala have still not received HCLs and have begun to give up hope of visas after sending faxes and express mail messages of enquiry to Beijing. Only 3 representatives of the household workers, all from Brazil, have received HCLs. 2. General Information: The Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW): Action for Equality, Development and Peace will be held at the Beijing International Convention Centre (BICC). The address is: FWCW, c/o BICC, N0.8 Beichen East Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101. Tel: (86-10) 493-8247/493-8244. Fax: (86-10) 491-0256/499-3993. The time distance between BICC and the centre of Beijing is approximately 25 minutes; between BICC and Beijing Capital Airport is 20 minutes; between BICC and Huairou (NGO For um on Women) is about one hour; between Beijing Capital Airport and Huairou is about 40 minutes. (All of these times are in non-peak hour traffic...) On the morning of Monday, September 4, a welcoming ceremony for the FWCW will be held in the Great Hall of the People. The formal opening of the FWCW will take place at 3 pm in the Plenary Hall (Hall 1) of the BICC. A centre for registration of participan ts and issuance of access/Identification passes to the FWCW will open at 9.30 am on Friday, 25 August, at the Tennis Hall of the Beijing Recreation Centre (BRC). Registration of accredited intergovernmental and NGOs will begin 28th August at the Tennis Ha ll. The official languages of the FWCW are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Official documents of the FWCW will be made available in these languages. 3. Latest IWTC Publications on Beijing: Three new publications have been completed by IWTC: a) Preview T95, #5, an advance organizer containing a map of Huairou, a calendar of days, an idea of a typical day at the Forum, outlines of some activities, and special sections on young people and women with disabilities. b) The Tribune #54: GO! An Acti on Pack for Beijing!, the third and final one of IWTCs Special Beijing Issues, designed to help you to continue taking part in the Beijing process both at home and in Beijing. It contains sections on women making history, women making policy, women buildi ng the Platform for Action, new voices, new alliances, information on communication tools, honing your political skills, resources and more. c) A Beijing Book of Days, an 80-page 5S x 7S booklet containing networking tools, information on the World Confer ence and NGO Forum, maps, a calendar, pages for you to make notes and to plan your days in Beijing, lists of UN Member States, outlines of the Platform for Action, summaries of regional priorities, quotes and graphics of women in action worldwide and more . To order any of these publications, please contact IWTC. There are special bulk prices for groups. 4. HELP WANTED! IWTC is in desperate need of volunteers to work with us at the various programmes with which we are involved at the NGO Forum, particularly the independent global womenUs bookstore being facilitated by Women, Ink. We are hoping people will join us for 2 to 4 hours a day for Week 1 or Week 2, and we offer Ron the jobS training! Also, for every hour volunteered, you will earn a RpointS, redeemable at the end of the NGO Forum with a t-shirt, book or poster! ------------------------------ From: "Lynn.Duggan" <23239MGR@msu.edu> Date: Thu, 17 Aug 95 16:08 EDT Subject: RE: HOTELS About 30 of us from the International Association for Feminist Economics haven't received confirmation of hotel reservations. So far, one of us who has spoken with a Chinese consulate (Chicago) has been told that her registration number is not included on the list of confirmations that was distributed to the consulates and at this point I know of no one in our organization who has been included on this list. I can't bear to think of the time and money that have gone into the preparations and airline tickets for this conference, only is to be held back from participating for lack of hotel reservation letters. Can anyone help us? Lynn Duggan 23239mgr@msu.edu ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Thu, 17 Aug 1995 21:19:00 +0100 Subject: CHINESE_PATROLWOMEN 16.8 DATE=8/16/95 TITLE=CHINESE PATROLWOMEN BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO DATELINE=BEIJING INTRO: AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF TRAINING, CHINA'S FIRST WOMEN PATROL OFFICERS ARE PREPARING TO HIT THE STREETS--JUST IN TIME FOR THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, WHICH WILL BE HELD HERE NEXT MONTH. AS V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, THE 66 YOUNG WOMEN OFFICERS WERE INTRODUCED TO JOURNALISTS AT A NEWS CONFERENCE (WEDNESDAY) IN BEIJING. TEXT: // MARCHING SOUND, IN FULL, FADE UNDER AND OUT // DRESSED IN IDENTICAL OLIVE GREEN UNIFORMS, CHINA'S FIRST PATROLWOMEN ENTERED THE LARGE AUDITORIUM AT THE BEIJING PEOPLE'S POLICE ACADEMY, MARCHING IN STEP TO ORDERS SHOUTED BY THEIR DRILL MASTER. THE BEIJING MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU LAST YEAR CHOSE THESE 66 YOUNG WOMEN FROM AMONG MORE THAN 300 APPLICANTS. OFFICIALS SAY THESE ARE THE YOUNGEST AND BEST-EDUCATED POLICEWOMEN THE CHINESE CAPITAL HAS EVER HAD. TO SHOW OFF THE MULTIPLE TALENTS OF THE NEW RECRUITS, AUTHORITIES ARRANGED A PROGRAM OF SINGING, DANCING AND DISPLAYS OF MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS. ONE YOUNG POLICEWOMAN, DRESSED IN A COLORFUL COSTUME, PERFORMED WHAT THE HEAD OF THE ACADEMY IDENTIFIED AS THE MONGOLIAN CHOPSTICK DANCE. // MUSIC FADE IN, ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER AND OUT // THE HOURS OF A PATROLWOMAN ARE LONG, AND THE YOUNG WOMEN ARE DISCOURAGED FROM HAVING BOYFRIENDS. MANY OF THE PATROLWOMEN SAY THEY HAVE WANTED TO BE POLICE OFFICERS EVER SINCE THEY WERE CHILDREN. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD LIU LIN, DRESSED IN A CAMOUFLAGE-COLORED OUTFIT FOR THE MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATION, SAYS HER MOTHER IS A POLICE OFFICER AND HAS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED HER TO BECOME A POLICEWOMAN, TOO. // LIU LIN ACT IN CHINESE, FADE UNDER REPORTER // MISS LIU SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH CHINESE WOMEN HAVE WORKED IN PUBLIC SECURITY POSITIONS BEFORE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS WILL PATROL THE STREETS. SHE SAYS SHE IS NOT AFRAID THAT PEOPLE WILL LOOK DOWN ON HER OR GIVE HER TROUBLE. SHE SAYS, JOKINGLY, THAT WITH 14 YEARS OF MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING SHE DARES THEM TO TRY. MEANWHILE, LIU LIN HOTLY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT THE FEMALE PATROL SQUAD IS A COSMETIC GESTURE IN HONOR OF THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE. // LIU LIN ACT IN CHINESE, FADE UNDER REPORTER // SHE SAYS SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES INTEND TO CONTINUE WORKING AS POLICEWOMEN EVEN AFTER THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS OVER. SHE ADDS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE BECOME TOO OLD TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES, THERE WILL BE OTHER WOMEN TO REPLACE THEM AND CONTINUE THE WORK. // MARCHING SOUND FADE UP AND UNDER SIGN-OFF // (SIGNED) NEB/HO/KK/SKH 16-Aug-95 7:30 AM EDT (1130 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Thu, 17 Aug 1995 21:51:00 +0100 Subject: GEN: Media Reaction - Beijing Women's Conference ## author : apakabar@clark.net ## date : 17.08.95 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BEIJING CONFERENCE: WOMEN OF THE WORLD UNITE! (Foreign Media Reaction Daily Digest) As the international community prepares for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September, foreign writers wondered whether delegates could embrace flexible enough perspectives to unite all women--rich, poor, Catholic or Islamic--on the issue of equality. Predictably, China's human rights record was addressed throughout the commentary. Western observers judged that a boycott of the conference would be counterproductive, and argued that the best strategy would be to use the conference venue to "apply pressure on China" to improve its human rights practices. Beijing's official Communist Party People's Daily felt that hosting the conference offered "a good opportunity for letting the world understand China better." For its part, the official Beijing Daily attempted to counter foreign criticism by focusing on the "prejudice against women" in American political and social life. The North-South debate which traditionally accompanies UN conferences was also evident. Pundits in Muslim countries, mostly in Bangladesh and Pakistan, complained that Muslim delegates must prepare themselves to defend "Muslim morality" from the "anticipated attack" by women's rights advocates in Western countries. Dhaka's pro-left Bhorer Kagoj piously noted that "the women's movement in this country has raised questions about the role of World Bank, IMF and other international organizations in development.... The Western organizations are busy with those issues which can only undermine our society and nation." In Latin America, Guatemala's business-oriented Siglo Veintiuno worried that "the international bureaucracy" would impose its authority over governmental rights and individual freedoms, especially in the area of reproductive rights. Honduras' left-of-center El Tiempo feared that its own delegation may have too "narrow an identification with the position of the Catholic Church," a position it deemed "vertical, patriarchal, (and) anti-liberal." Different and even conflicting perspectives notwithstanding, most delegates judged that the real consequence of the meeting will be to move the world's governments beyond investigative findings and judicial rulings on anti-women practices and into action. Delegates were urged to serve as activists once they return home. An opposition paper in Malawi, for example, said, "Citizens in every country, including ours, must hold their governments accountable to the commitments they have made." This survey is based on 29 reports from 14 countries, June 21-August 8. EDITORS: Gail Hamer Burke and Kelly McIntyre EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC CHINA: "To Be Good Hosts And Greet The World Women's Conference" The official Communist Party People's Daily said (8/5): "The fourth UN Women's Conference is an important conference which will be held by the United Nations for governments to jointly study and resolve women's issues. This is also the largest-scale international conference to be held by China. It will be of major significance for raising the status of women in various countries, and strengthening understanding and exchanges among women of various countries. Holding such a conference not only contributes to the international community but also is a good opportunity for letting the world understand China better. 'To be good hosts and greet the world women's conference' are common aspirations of our government and people. "Women and people of the whole country are hosts and should act as good hosts to show the style, the warmth and hospitality of a protocol nation. We should greet our sisters and friends from five continents with our new postures, new steps, new achievements and new phenomenon in the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics." "U.S. Women's Political Position Drops" Ning Xianxu opined in the official municipal Beijing Daily (8/7): "The political position of American women is weak. Although American women are more independent, compared to men the difficulties and obstacles they face are still very great. Family burdens shackle women's hands and feet. "In the United States, which claims that there is equality between men and women, prejudice against women not only exists but is also rather serious.... Without money, there is no way for them to enter election contests, let alone to be elected." PHILIPPINES: "Tatad And Women" The independent Manila Times said (7/29), "Women's groups are protesting... the appointment of...Tatad as chair of the committee.... And this is not without basis. In the first place, isn't it ironic to have a man handle women's affairs in the Senate?... To add insult to injury, the senator's sole track record on women and family issues is his medieval stand on family planning and birth control.... It's not too late to give the job to someone who can do better. Like a woman, for example." "Beijing Gabfest On Women" Economist and Opus Dei member Bernardo Villegas wrote (7/5) in the conservative Manila Bulletin, "Remember the Cairo conference last September 1994? Well, don't be surprised if condom-pushers will be active again in another UN conference scheduled in Beijing this September. In some of the draft documents...the phrases that serve as Trojan horses of population control are once again in great abundance.... The women delegates from the Phillippines must be ready to positively shift the discussion away from defeatist solutions like birth control to the authentic development of women through educational, market and political reforms." EUROPE NORWAY: "China Must Make A Choice" Leading conservative Aftenposten (7/7) called for trading partners as well as delegates to the upcoming UN women's conference to apply pressure on China to improve its human rights record: "Both the United States and the EU wish to influence Chinese attitudes toward human rights in general and toward dissidents in particular, because only unfettered dialogue in an open democratic society can prevent that kind of abuse.... The United States has vacillated with regard to how much improvement is enough, but has generally been more demanding than the EU. The time has come for the West to pressure China to make a choice and determine its own future.... "Norway too should consider the practical implications of protest. It would be wrong to boycott the September meeting in Beijing, not least because China's embassy in Oslo yesterday declared its willingness to work with Norway on improving the status of women in China. That Chinese authorities do not condone the documented atrocities is a good point of departure for improvement--which should be a key theme at the Beijing women's conference." "Chinese Officials Have Reason To Worry" Erik Sagflaat wrote (6/21) in social democratic Arbeiderbladet, "Chinese authorities fear demonstrations, protests and disturbances when the women of the world meet for the UN's...conference in Beijing in September. They have every reason to. Considering that the women's conference will take place in one of the countries in the world most hostile to women, the only reason to go there precisely is to demonstrate and protest." "Bible To China" Christian People's Party-affiliated Vaart Land asserted (7/18), "The State Department in Washington warns the envoys to the women's conference in Beijing against bringing a Bible in their luggage. Replying to this, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, said that 'if it is dangerous to bring a Bible, we should at once take steps to have the conference moved.' Considering the beautiful words of the UN Charter, and the warning against Bibles in the luggage, it is, for once, easy to agree fully with Gingrich." FINLAND: "A Watered-Down Cairo Population Conference" Leading independent Helsingin Sanomat in its main editorial commented (7/22): "The liberal plan of action, worked out with much pain by the Cairo Population Conference, threatens to become watered down in the Beijing meeting. "All the steps forward adopted jointly, although with reservations, at the Cairo conference are now in brackets, which means that not all of the participating countries will be ready to approve stipulations aimed at reducing the oppression of women and girls.... "The Cairo program was to serve as a basis for the Beijing conference in order to make recommendations for concrete action. Right now it seems that the women's conference will have to do its utmost to be able to save the achievements of the Cairo meeting. Triumphs in that battle can hardly be won by choosing not to go to Beijing." MIDDLE EAST KUWAIT: "Concern For POW Issue" Independent Al-Anba commented (8/6): "Kuwaiti women's interest in the (women's conference) is exemplified by the donation of $50,000 for the Arabic translation services. The main cause to be presented by the Kuwaiti participants will be the POW's issue." "On The Right To Vote And To Run For Office" Independent Al-Qabas (6/27) published this article by Dr. Ma Souma Al-Mubarak from Kuwait University: "Although we were pleased by such a step (to grant Kuwaiti woman political voting rights), the (legislative and legal affairs committee) divided that right into two halves, the right to vote and the right to stand for election.... By rejecting the right to stand for elections...the committee has fractionalized the entitlement.... We hope that the committee will address this deficiency.... We, Kuwait's women, will address this issue at the international conference on women which will be held in Beijing in September. Kuwaiti women appeal to members of the national assembly to adhere to democracy and the constitution by supporting the full and indivisible political rights of Kuwaiti women." SOUTH ASIA BANGLADESH: "The World Women's Conference '95; What We Have To Achieve" Pro-left Bhorer Kagoj editorialized (7/23): "Nowadays, we hear a lot of news about the absence of democracy and violation of human rights in China.... It would not be surprising if China wanted to keep the NGO forum away for this reason.... However, Tibet's struggle will continue and its conflict with China will not be over in the meantime.... It is not the time to express our attitude toward Tibet's struggle.... "But those who are launching propaganda against China because Beijing has been selected as the venue for the women's conference are not driven by honest intentions. "The world women's conference has become a place for Western women to boss the Third World women's organizations around. Western women come forward to save us with their concern for trifling matters in our culture and society. But they do not do their job of highlighting the real picture of European and American women and demanding solutions. "The women's movement in this country has raised questions about the role of World Bank, IMF and other international organizations in development. The movement has taken action against the racist, anti-poor and anti-women policies. While we are working on all international and national issues, the western organizations are busy with those issues which can only undermine our society and nation. We'd like to tell them that we are capable of dealing with these issues ourselves." INDIA: "More Power To Her Elbow" An analysis in the independent Hindustan Times (8/3) by Indira Kulshreshtha, President, Focus and Vimla Farooqui, Vice President of the National Federation of Indian Women stated: "The theme of the Forum at Beijing is 'to look at the world through women's eyes.'... "The need of the hour is to ensure that the issues must be projected correctly at Beijing. The Beijing Conference has triggered off women-related activity all over the world. The preparatory committee set up by the UN for the conference is paying close attention to the NGO Forum which will reflect women's aspirations and challenges faced by them at the grass roots level.... "To enable women to fight against their inferior status, it is necessary to empower them by ensuring their participation in decision-making bodies at all levels. These views are being expressed all over the world by women regardless of color, religion or group as they are united in their fight for equality, social justice and democratic rights. Human rights include elimination of discrimination against women. This has to be realized by the world today." "In Search Of Peace, Development And Equality" Columnist Saswati Ghosh in independent Ananda Bazar Patrika of Calcutta editorialized (8/2): "While the affluent countries insist on peace, the Third World is much more engaged in poverty eradication and questions of development.... The question, however, remains how far the hardcore Catholic or Islamic countries can unite on the issue of equality for women.... "India too shares a responsibility as one of the signatories in ensuring equality for women.... Questions are being raised about the venue in view of the records of discrimination against women in China.... For women laborers are subjected to immense exploitation in South China's process of development.... Therefore, those who feel that it is socialism alone which can remove all the maladies, should think afresh whether they will favor the Chinese methods. Still, whatever is available to women in the midst of differences involving the rich and the poor, religion and democracy or the aggressor and the agressed should be considered as a gain." "India Faces EU Pressure On Women's Issues" Prabha Jagannathan opined in the independent Telegraph (7/26): "The government of India is under intense pressure to fight the efforts of European Union (EU) nations to drop a crucial provision ensuring one-third reservation for women in local bodies from the basic document at the Beijing conference.... Significantly, the Indian government...is being asked by several EU nations...not to force the inclusion of this point on the final platform of action. So far, India is the only country which has such legislation.... "What is shocking is that the draft...for Beijing has bracketed as controversial several basic issues that were accepted unilaterally at earlier summits like Rio...." "Beleaguered By Differences, Controversies" Independent, Bengali-language Ananda Bazar Patrika of Calcutta commented (7/7), "Long before its session, the Beijing Women's Conference is beleaguered by differences and controversies...for, summits like these...are basically official in nature.... Naturally, the question is whether official versions reflect the opinion of citizens of the host country.... The document prepared by the government of India in this connection has already been criticized for its alleged failure to highlight problems facing women.... And here lies the importance of women's organizations acting as a driving force behind governments holding such conferences.. At the same time, they are to play the role of critics too.... Women's organizations will have to play the role of watchdogs.... "If organizations reflect only the official views, then there is nothing much to do.... Therefore, the conference that is being organized in tandem with the Beijing summit is no less important. Unfortunately, official sponsors are totally uncooperative with the conference. This makes clear that the state machinery is one of the means for the emancipation of women. But, at the same time, it is a hurdle too." NEPAL: "UN Beijing Womens' Conference" An editorial in the semi-official, largest circulation Rising Nepal (8/7) commented, "As the Beijing meet on women draws nearer by the day, women have come forward demanding equal status in every way possible. There is no doubt that women are being frustrated by their under-representation in every sphere of life. But such frustration should not lead campaigners to start looking for unrealistic and impossible solutions. They should rather focus their energies on removing the barriers that hamper their progress. Providing political posts should not be taken as a facility to emancipate women. Political posts are not spoils to be enjoyed; they entail responsibility that only a carefully planned meritocracy within a political party can handle. It is meritocracy and hurdles in its way that should be focused on. What women lack is opportunity, not someone else's grace." "Hard To Get Message Out In The Third World" An editorial in the independent Kathmandu Post (8/5) said, "The use of the global consensus that will presumably be struck in Beijing will mainly depend on how much national governments can implement the Beijing directives. Or whether the enlightened among women can take the message from Beijing to the villages where not only men, but even women, have perceptions that are usually different from the radical stance taken by advocates of women's cause. "It should not be forgotten that the struggle for women's rights must take place not in Beijing but right here. In this regard, the issuance of a directive by the Supreme Court to the government to formulate...laws pertaining to women's rights on the basis of equality...is likely to have a far greater impact on Nepalese women and their rights than the fanfare in Beijing." "Dhaka Resolution Adopted" The semi-official Sunday Despatch opined (8/6), "It is hoped (the Beijing Conference) will be less of a jamboree and more of a productive venture where participants will come up with practical solutions to uplifting their lot, programs that governments can accommodate within the country's socio-economic framework, without having to pay mere lip service. Merely attending conferences and presenting country papers will not solve their problems.... As women continue to be oppressed largely due to patriarchal dominating ideologies, and negligence of political parties, it is perhaps high time women also became politically involved to get what they want." "Women's Rights And Beijing Heights" Ms. Bharati Silawal-Giri observed in the semi-official, top-circulation Rising Nepal (8/4), "Women's rights continue to be violated everyday and everywhere despite the ratification of various UN covenants and declarations on women rights by more than 130 countries.... "No other region can boast of women's leadership as South Asia. And although women are at the helm of state affairs or political parties, women of this region are most deprived, poor, illiterate and most frequently abused and exploited. They do not have access to politics because of male-domination. If they do make it at all it is through the halo of the martyrdom of either a father or a husband.... "It is against this backdrop that the Fourth World Women's Conference has generated a lot of heat and dust in Nepal.... Instead of a country delegation comprised of dedicated women leaders and experts it is going to be a delegation of 29 members from a party that considers women unfit to rule.... "So all one can hope for is that the forthcoming UN world conference on women will not just be sound and fury signifying nothing." PAKISTAN: "Women's Lib In The Third World" The radical Muslim commented (8/1): "Enlightened people in Muslim countries are now seriously addressing the problem of improving the status of women and striving to ensure for them all that is their right as defined by Islam. If this were, done women would have much more freedom than the women in industrially developed countries. Under such a dispensation women would not be treated as saleable commodities nor be used as attractive icons to promote the sale of commodities.... "At all international conferences and meetings Western delegates assume that they are superior and that their way of life is superior to any other and hence as leaders of the world they have a duty to make their morality and culture prevail throughout the world. The conference of women parliamentarians in Islamabad must devise ways of presenting a united front against the anticipated attack on Muslim morality from the West in Beijing." LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN BRAZIL: "Beijing For The Women" Center-right O Estado de Sao Paulo asserted (6/28), "Four great lobbies have already charged their batteries to prevent their respective aspirations from being frustrated: the rich countries, the Vatican state, Islamic countries, and the Chinese government. The rich want to politicize the debate, avoid criticism of the neoliberal model.... The Vatican fears the heterosexual model and the monogamous family may be placed in question.... The Islamic countries do not accept that the feminine condition contradicts religious writings.... Pragmatically, the Chinese government sees the conference as an occasion for increasing tourism. But, it is aware of the risk for a nation where it is still considered a failure to have a woman as a firstborn child. And it wants to prevent declared women AIDS victims and lesbians from entering the country.... "In Brazil there are innumerable women's movements, many of these unorganized because of the neoliberal disenchantment.... The Beijing conference could be a propitious occasion for Brazilian women to mobilize, demonstrating they are warriors not just on the basketball and volleyball courts." CHILE: "Something More than Words" Influential, conservative El Mercurio (7/19) carried an op-ed piece by the left-of-center, government coalition Popular Democratic Party parliamentarian Maria Antonieta Saa which stated: "The importance of the Fourth World Conference on Women is clear, and it's also obvious that if multi-faceted oppression were not a part of women's lives, it would not have been necessary to hold the conference.... It's realization will mean not only a great step toward a better world for all women and men, but also a positive answer to the aspirations for the well-being of the community in general." "Chile Has A Great Debt To Pay For Discrimination Against Women" Government-owned La Nacion opined (7/13), "The discussion that will take place at the Beijing conference is very important from the perspective of establishing a global agreement on how to deal with discrimination against women and how to appreciate women's contributions in today's society. In Latin America and in Chile there is a great debt to pay in this sense. "It is positive that the Vatican is entering this international debate implying a favorable disposition toward the exchange of opinions on a subject that will determine the kind of civilization that will prevail in the next century." "Chile Will Subscribe To The Position Of The Vatican" Christian Democrat-affiliated, centrist La Epoca commented (7/12), "In many ways, the situation for women in Chile has improved notably, demonstrating that, in reality, there is real concern about this sector of society which has historically faced discrimination.... Given this framework, it is exciting that Josefina Bilbao, minister of the National Women's Service, has already stated Chile's positions in advance of the Fourth World Conference on Women.... With regard to abortion and reproductive rights, Bilbao has said that the issue will not be reopened for debate. In other words, Chile will subscribe to the position of the Vatican.... This Fourth World Conference on Women...will be conflictive since there is no consensus in important areas, among the sexual orientation, gender, health and reproductive rights." "Conference Will Not Reflect Reality" Influential, conservative El Mercurio commented (7/6), "The UN World Conference on Women, to be held in Beijing in September, is beginning to start a debate similar to the one generated by the conference held in Cairo on population and development. "The upcoming debate swings back and forth between two positions that contradict each other. On the one hand, there are those who see an attempt by radical feminists to subvert the natural order which establishes the place of women in society and defines and characterizes the family.... On the other hand, others see an opportunity for progress in the search for greater equality and equity for women in society by putting an end to institutions, mentalities, and traditions that limit women's development as human beings. "The most probable outcome, as shown by past experience, is that this conference will not reflect reality and will be reduced to a never-ending ideological discussion between two antagonistic positions." GUATEMALA: "Limit On Number Of Children Has Caused Human Rights Abuses" Business-oriented Siglo Veintiuno published a commentary (8/4) which held: "In Beijing, as in Cairo, the international bureaucracy will try to establish the criteria that governments have the authority to decide how much the population should grow, where it should live, and what it should do.... "Beware of the planners who try to take away people's freedom and their right to decide how many children they will have and when they will have them. Remember that the Beijing regime has imposed a limit on the number of children people may have. Consequently, the Chinese people have turned to killing (baby) girls, in order not to lose the opportunity of having a boy. "Beware of Beijing, because these international conferences...are the kind of legitimacy that dictatorships, like China, long for. Guatemala, whose government has such a hard time proving its commitment to respect human rights, should consider the possibility of supporting the request of...Harry Wu's wife to boycott the Beijing conference." HONDURAS: "The Rights Of A Woman" The as-yet formalized position of the Liberal Party on the Beijing conference prompted this editorial (6/28) in left-of-center El Tiempo. The paper characterized the Honduran delegation as having a "narrow identification with the position of the Catholic Church, dogmatically oppposed to essential human rights, nowadays proclaimed with vehemence by women all over the world. "The position which the government of Honduras is trying to carry to Beijing...is vertical, patriarchal, anti-liberal and contrary to liberal doctrine, to the summit and international conferences and the constitution of Honduras. "As we can see, a debate is being opened, like it or not. The Hondurans already had this discussion 200 years ago when liberalism created our republican institutions. Now things seem to be turned on their head, with a liberalism that is adopting old and already-discarded ultramontanism (favoring papal authority over the civilian government)." AFRICA GHANA: "No More Sweet Nothings" The government-owned, moderate Daily Graphic editorialized (7/25), "The reality of our times is that even where people publicly profess to accord women equal recognition, deep down they employ all manner of schemes including the language of sweet nothings to undermine the role of women and only make cosmetic gestures by giving token recognition to women.... "No effort should be spared in first providing education for women to the highest level depending on their competence as well as conditioning men to accept the reality of womanhood as an equal partner, rather than the illusion that whatever has been gained in the interest of women is from the generosity and charity of men." MALAWI: "How Practical Is The Beijing Meeting?" The lead editorial of the opposition Daily Times opined (8/8): "As the international community prepares for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing this September, there is real danger it will turn out to be no more than an excercise in empty political posturing.... "So far, however, progress in meeting the commitments made at (recent UN conferences) has been painfully slow. In fact, there are alarming signs that some of the developing countries may be moving backward. "Like other recent UN conferences, Beijing can help focus global public opinion on a crucial issue and help mobilize support for adressing that issue. But even if governments adopt a strong action program in China, it will have little meaning if governments are not prepared to meet the promises made...at other UN conferences. "Citizens in every country, including ours, must hold their governments accountable to the commitments they have made." For more information, please contact: U.S. Information Agency Office of Public Liaison Telephone: (202) 619-4355 8/11/95 # # # ------------------------------ End of Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #51 *********************************************** To subscribe to Beijing-Conf-Digest, send the command: subscribe beijing-conf-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@confer.edc.org". 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