From: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org To: beijing-conf-digest@mail.edc.org Subject: Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #56 Reply-To: beijing-conf@mail.edc.org Errors-To: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org Precedence: Beijing Women's Conference Digest Monday, 21 August 1995 Volume 02 : Number 056 In this issue: USA on Beijing 3 USA on Beijing 4 USA on Beijing 5 Time to Challenge the Anti-Prostitution Lobby 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: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 10:09:00 +0100 Subject: USA on Beijing 3 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE June 1995: Overview of Draft Platform for Action for 4WCW GLOBAL CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT June, 1995 OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT PLATFORM FOR ACTION AS NEGOTIATED AT THE FINAL PREPARATORY CONFERENCE FOR THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN UNITED STATES ACTIONS AND PRIORITIES INTRODUCTION The UN Fourth World Conference on Women will be held in Beijing from September 4 - 15, 1995. The final preparatory meeting for the conference was held at the United Nations in New York from March 15 - April 7, 1995. At this meeting, held during the annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the preparatory body for the conference, delegations negotiated a draft Platform for Action to be considered for adoption in Beijing. This is an overview of the Platform as it was negotiated at the New York meeting, describing U.S. actions and priorities. OVERALL MESSAGE The final draft of the Platform for Action to be adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, contains distinct elements that reflect a developing consensus around the world -- a consensus that did not really exist ten years ago. The U.N. decade for women, 1975 to 1985, and the document adopted at its culmination, of the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies, (a plan for the years 1986-2000), sought to advance the status of women working under the broad themes of equality, development and peace. The experience of the past ten years, a combination of research, analysis, legal reform, development work and the networking and organizing efforts of women themselves have brought the world to a realization that the only way to bring about equality, development and peace is to empower women by integrating them into the mainstream where they can work in partnership with men in all levels and structures of society. This directly mirrors the overarching goal for the conference set by the United States. From the first paragraph of the Mission Statement through to the final chapters on Institutional and Financial Arrangements for Implementation and Follow-Up, the draft Platform is a call for the empowerment of women; integration of women into the mainstream of all institutions of society and of a gender perspective into all systems; and an equal partnership between men and women for the good of society. PRIORITY The overall priority of the U.S. is to build on the commitments made at the past world conferences on women, and on the recent world conferences on the Environment and Development, in Rio; on Human Rights, in Vienna; on Population and Development, in Cairo; and on Social Development, in Copenhagen. PLATFORM AREAS REQUIRING FURTHER AND EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATION HUMAN RIGHTS Three sections involve human rights -- violence against women, the impact of armed conflict on women, and the human rights of women. Support for strong language in these sections, and leadership to retain such language, came from all regions of the world. The U.S. underscored governments' responsibility to ensure the human rights of women, and to advance women's legal equality and civil and political rights. African delegations in particular led the effort to call on governments to address harmful practices that led to violence against women, and to review civil and customary law so as to reduce legal discrimination against women, in such areas, for example, as inheritance and property rights. The Violence against Women section provides a comprehensive definition of what constitutes such violence, and calls on governments to take responsibility for preventing and punishing acts of violence. The platform also addresses the importance of preventive action, including through counseling and rehabilitative programs for offenders. The sections on Human Rights and on Promoting Peace seek to draw attention to the fact that the human rights of women are, as stated in the Vienna Declaration adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993, an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, and that action must be taken by governments and international organizations to ensure the protection of these rights. While there is already agreement on a number of important issues, there was a strong effort by some countries to prevent any language that might broaden UN efforts in the area of human rights, and efforts by some countries to inject political issues into the debate. Thus, large portions of these sections remain bracketed. Nonetheless, consensus was reached on a number of important issues. The Platform calls on the UN to integrate concern for the human rights of women into all its human rights activities. The U.S. took the lead on committing governments to train officials, including security and military personnel, in human rights and humanitarian law, and to punish violations against women. The Platform recognizes that if women are to fully exercise their rights they must be informed about those rights. The U.S. was part of a broad consensus recognizing that innovative programs must be developed to help women to achieve legal literacy so that they understand and exercise their rights. INEQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SHARING OF POWER AND DECISION-MAKING AT ALL LEVELS Drawing from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that everyone has a right to take part in the government of his or her country, the Platform includes a section on the importance of increasing the participation of women in politics. While there was disagreement over the types of mechanisms for facilitating this participation (with some countries favoring more affirmative measures), there was little disagreement expressed about the importance of this. HEALTH The U.S. goal was to take a lifespan approach to health, broadening the attention given to health for women of all ages and from a diversity of situations and backgrounds. In addition to these issues, progress was made in negotiating language on preventive programs, research, increased resources and follow-up on women's health. Issues related to breast and cervical cancer, as well as other cancers of the reproductive system, menopause and other conditions associated with aging, nutrition, substance abuse and environmental and occupational health hazards are all addressed. Much of the text remaining in brackets is language that was previously agreed to in September, 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo. Bracketed text primarily addresses reproductive and sexual health including in the sections addressing HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive rights, unsafe abortion, unwanted pregnancies, condoms and contraceptives and the number of times language addressing parental involvement in adolescent services is included in the document. GIRLS Through the leadership of African states, the G77 introduced a new section for the Platform focusing on eliminating discrimination and ensuring the rights of girls. The U.S. worked at the prepcom to strengthen the proposed section, by making it applicable globally rather than regionally. Bracketed language remains concerning discouragement of early marriage, addressing son preference that leads to prenatal sex selection, disparities in access to food, health services and education, and on reproduction, and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. POVERTY The Platform calls attention to the increasing burden of poverty on women, (the feminization of poverty) and places women's situation in the context of the global economy and the effects of global economic policies. For this reason, there is a considerable amount of bracketed language, much of it involving "cause and effect" relationships, calling for foreign debt cancellation and the allocation of resources. The US supported, and consensus was reached, on strong language calling for economic opportunities for women and inclusion of women in economic policy making, for access for women to credit and to savings mechanisms, and support services. Although much of the text related to macroeconomic policies and structural adjustment programs is bracketed, consensus language calls for structural adjustment programs to be designed to minimize their negative effects on vulnerable groups and to review the impact of structural adjustment programs by means of gender- sensitive social impact assessments. EDUCATION AND TRAINING The U.S. supported the Platform's emphasis on full participation of women and girls in life-long learning and in educational policy- and decision-making. The Platform calls for equal access to education for women and girls; education, training and re-training policies for women, particularly those re-entering the labor market; curricula free of gender stereotypes; the reduction of female illiteracy and the promotion of family engagement in learning. Bracketed areas involve barriers to schooling for pregnant girls and young mothers, teacher training programs and materials to promote mutual respect and shared responsiblities between girls and boys, and religious expression in educational institutions. ENVIRONMENT The U.S. actively supported recognition of and action to address the data gap concerning women's susceptibilities and exposures to environmental hazards and toxic substances, the particular situation of women with low incomes, indigenous women, and women belonging to minorities, the participation of women and girls at all levels of decisionmaking in both formal and informal arenas that influence environmental quality, and equal access to education, information and resources in furtherance of environmental protection and natural resource management objectives. U.S. langauge relating to risks to women's health in low income areas with high concentrations of polluting industrial facilities remains bracketed. ECONOMICS In the section on Economic Structures, the U.S. supported and introduced new language that focused on the need for wider acceptance of basic worker rights as minimum labor standards for women; facilitating women's access to credit and capital markets, training, and development of new financial intermediaries to serve their needs, including reaching hard to serve women such as those in rural areas. MECHANISMS There is much in this chapter that was supported by the U.S., including improved gender-sensitive analysis of statistics, information and policy analysis; anti-discrimination; promotion of family-friendly policies for both women and men; and the acceptance and use of life-long learning for women and men in and out of school environments. The Platform urges governments to make efforts to measure and better understand unremunerated work, and to seek to develop methods to asssess its value in quantative terms, for possible reflection in accounts that are separate from but consistant with core national accounts. DOCUMENT-WIDE FEATURES GENDER To the surprise of most delegations, a handful of countries moved to delete or bracket the word "gender" throughout the text. In order to resolve this issue, a special working group met in New York in May. The U.S. joined consensus on the adoption of a Chairman's statement that will appear in the report of the Conference. The statement reaffirms that "gender" as used in the Platform is intended to be interpreted and understood as it is in ordinary, generally accepted usage. DIVERSITY As promised, the U.S. made inclusiveness a priority, working to ensure that the diversity of women was recognized as well as the fact that some women face additional barriers to their advancement because of factors other than gender. This concept is recognized throughout the document. For example, the U.S. and other supporters, working with women themselves, were successful in including women with disabilities and women from ethnic and racial minorities. One paragraph early in the Platform describes the diverse situations of women which should be incorporated into action plans. Because it is bracketed, it remains to be negotiated in Beijing. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs) The U.S. strongly supported recognition of the role NGOs play in policy planning, development, implementation and monitoring of programs for the advancement of women, and urged in several places in the document that governments work in partnership with NGOs, grant NGOs legal status and protection, and permit the independence of NGOs, including financial independence. Some delegations within the G-77 strongly oppose a monitoring role for NGOs. The U.S. has consistently supported inclusion of monitoring. YOUNG WOMEN Working with the youth caucus, the U.S. introduced language in the Global Framework calling attention to the importance of young people in shaping the next century, and the commitment that the international community must make to them to prepare them for their future role. Young women need to be part of the process - working to ensure that their needs are addressed and helping to form their future. The U.S. also supported specific references to young women or youth throughout the document. IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP The U. S. supported language in the document introduced by Australia that invites governments to come to Beijing ready to state specific national commitments for priority action within the context of the Platform. These commitments are seen as first steps toward implementation, not as a substitutes for action on the entire document. Currently, the U.S. is giving serious thought to the nature of commitments and types of initiatives it may bring to Beijing that will result in practical outcomes for women and girls in the U.S. The U.S. also supported and contributed to language that calls upon governments to consult with relevant institutions and non-governmental organizations, preferably before the end of 1995, on how to best develop implementation strategies for the Platform. Further, governments are called upon to have such plans developed and in place within a year. The U.S. is committed both ideologically and because it is effective to an ongoing process between government and non-governmental organizations on achieving full equality and partnership between women and men in the political, economic and social structures of the U.S. In this time of tight resources, the U.S., as was true of donor nations in general, took a conservative approach toward finances and resources for implementation, urging refocusing and reallocation of existing where possible. Also, because the U.S. is interested in overall reform of the UN and better coordination and linkage between its agencies and the whole series of international conferences that have been held in the past ten years, the U.S. concentrated on ensuring that implementation of the Beijing Platform be in concert with this overall process. (###) ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 10:10:00 +0100 Subject: USA on Beijing 4 U.S. Department of State 95/06/16 Focus: 4WCW Update on Preparations Bureau of Public Affairs Focus on 4WCW Update on Preparations The UN Fourth World Conference on Women(4WCW),to be held in Beijing, China, September 4-15, 1995, is intended to stimulate increased activity at all levelsfrom local to global--to improve the status of women and promote equality between women and men. At the conference, the U.S. delegation will be discussing ways to ensure that women are full partners in their families, communities, and nations, as well as on a worldwide basis. The UN Fourth World Conference on Women is important to Americans because women everywhere want strong families, economic security, access to basic and better education and health care, participation in all levels of decision-making, personal safety, legal rights, and basic equality. U.S. Priorities At the conference, the United States aims to promote the advancement and empowerment of women and to build on the commitments made at other important UN conferences: the 1985 Women's Conference in Nairobi, the 1992 Environment and Development Conference in Rio, the 1993 Vienna Human Rights Conference, the 1994 Cairo Population and Development Conference (ICPD), and the 1995 Copenhagen Social Summit (WSSD). The U.S. will provide leadership on the following issues: - -- Human rights of women, including actions to end violence against women; - -- A life-span approach to health and education; - -- Efforts to balance work and family responsibilities of both women and men; - -- Economic security; - -- The importance of the participation of the non-governmental sector as partner in building communities--locally, nationally, and internationally; and - -- The full participation of women in political and economic decision- making. U.S. Delegation The U.S. Government has appointed a strong team to lead the official delegation to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will serve as Honorary Chair of the Delegation; no decision has been made about her attendance at the conference. Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will chair the Delegation; Donna Shalala, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services is Co-chair. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Timothy Wirth is Alternate Chair, and former Member of Congress Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky is Deputy Chair/Director of the Delegation. Veronica Biggins, former assistant to the President, will serve as Vice Chair. Other members of the delegation currently include Lynn Cutler of Washington, DC, Maria Antonietta Berriozabal of Texas, Arthenia Joyner of Florida, Dorothy Lamm of Colorado, and Linda Tarr-Whelan of Washington, DC. The White House is expected to name the full delegation by early summer. Global Prepcom The final preparatory committee negotiating session, or "Prepcom," concluded its pre-conference work in New York City on April 7, 1995. During the three-week session, delegates discussed the platform, to which they added a section on girls and young women and a one-page Declaration to accompany the draft Platform for Action (see box). The current draft of the Platform for Action contains distinct elements that reflect a developing worldwide consensus that the only way to bring about equality, development, and peace is to empower women by integrating them into mainstream society where they can work in partnership with men. Such a consensus did not exist 10 years ago at the Nairobi conference. Non-governmental organization (NGO) accreditation to the conference also was deliberated at the prepcom. There are now more than 2,700 NGOs eligible to send representatives to observe the World Conference. The status of the additional 1,500 NGOs still seeking accreditation will be determined at the 1995 Substantive Session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, during June and July. NGO Forum Site Traditionally, there has been an effective working relationship between NGOs and governmental delegations at intergovernmental world conferences. In recent years, NGOs have organized parallel meetings known as "NGO Fora" that are held in conjunction with these conferences. The fora normally are located near official conference sites, thus facilitating dialogue among governmental and non-governmental representatives, and resulting in strengthened action plans. On June 8, Supatra Masdit, Convener of the NGO Forum, signed an agreement with the China Organizing Committee finalizing the site details for the NGO Forum. The official opening will take place at the Olympic Stadium (located across from the Beijing International Convention Center, site of the 4WCW) on August 30. The majority of NGO Forum activities will take place in Huariou at the Scenic Tourist Area, about 33 miles from Beijing. The agreement also calls for a satellite facility in Beijing near the conference site for participants at the NGO Forum to meet with Observer NGOs to the conference and government delegates. The U.S. Government is pleased that the UN, China, and NGO planners have reached agreement on what promises to be the largest gathering of its kind ever held. Recognizing a successful NGO Forum as an integral part of the World Conference, the U.S. will continue to work together with the UN, other member states, and the NGO community to encourage this outcome. Conference Logistics and Contact Information NGOs eligible to send representatives to the World Conference are receiving notification from the UN. After receiving notification, groups should immediately forward the names and addresses of designated individuals (up to two for national NGOs and five for international) to the Secretariat for the World Conference (see address below). The UN will mail confirming letters to all individual representatives in mid- August. All deadlines for application for accreditation to the official conference and registration for the NGO Forum have passed. NGO observer representatives can register for photo identification badges near the Beijing International Convention Center beginning August 28 upon presentation of a photo ID and individual confirmation letter from the UN. A photocopy of the UN's letter stating that the NGO has been accredited along with an original letter from the NGO stating that the individual is one of the group's designated representatives will also suffice. Visas to China will be issued by the Chinese embassy and consulates. Visas are valid only for three months and, therefore, should not be requested until late June at the earliest for NGO Forum attendees; early July for those participating in the conference. See box for information about visas to China. It is recommended that Forum and Conference participants consider purchasing travelers insurance to cover all reasonable contingencies for canceling your trip. Due to the change of site to Huairou, all Forum participants are required to fill out a "New Hotel Reservation Form" that is being sent out by the NGO Forum. The deadline for returning this new form to the China Organizing Committee is July 5, 1995. The address for the committee is: China Organizing Committee Fourth World Conference on Women and NGO Forum on Women Beijing '95 No. 15 Jianguomen St. Beijing 100730 P.R. China Phone: 861-5221133, ext: 3006 Fax: 861-5225329 State Department. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Timothy Wirth established the Global Conference Secretariat to coordinate all U.S. Government preparations and follow-up for the conference. Ms. Theresa Loar is the Director of the Global Conference Secretariat. Contact: Global Conference Secretariat Room 1318 2201 C St. NW Department of State Washington, DC 20520 Phone: 202-647-3129 Fax: 202-647-4787 United Nations. Ms. Gertrude Mongella of Tanzania is the Secretary General of the Conference. Contact : UN Secretariat of the Fourth World Conference on Women Division for the Advancement of Women DC2-1234 Two United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212-963-8385 Fax: 212 963-3463 NGO Forum. Ms. Supatra Masdit is the Convenor of the NGO Forum. Contact: NGO Forum on Women, Beijing '95 211 E. 43rd St., Suite 1500 New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212-922-9267 or 922-9268 Fax: 212-922-9269 (###) Public Participation The Global Conference Secretariat of the U.S. Department of State is sponsoring monthly public meetings to discuss preparations for the Women's Conference. All interested individuals are invited to attend. The meetings will be held 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) auditorium in Washington, DC, 1900 E St. NW, on the following dates: July 11 and August 1. In addition, a series of substantive discussions on specific sections of the conference's Platform for Action are open to the public. These discussions will be held in room 1350 at OPM 3:30-5:00 p.m. on the following dates: Education/Girl-Child: June 19 Poverty/Economics: June 22 UN Systems/Resources: June 23 Diversity: June 30 There will be an additional meeting in New York on Thursday, June 22 to be held from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in UN Conference Room 2.(###) Other Information Sources Information Hotline. Department of State Global Conference Secretariat hotline for recorded information on public meetings and other special events related to the 4WCW is 202-663-3070 or, for the hearing impaired, TDD 202-647-3750. Special Needs Information. U.S. participants with special needs should contact the Global Conference Secretariat on 202-647-3129 several weeks prior to scheduled events so that reasonable accommodation can be made. Print Sources. Copies of the draft Platform for Action are available from the Conference Secretariat at the United Nations. Requests may be made by fax (dial 212-963-3463) or by writing to: Secretariat for the Fourth World Conference on Women Division for the Advancement of Women, Room DC2-1234 United Nations New York, NY 10017 Visa Information. The Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs publication "Foreign Entry Requirements" lists the address of the Chinese embassy along with all consulates in the United States. To request a copy by fax, dial 202-647-3000 and enter publication number 10007 at the appropriate prompt. Copies of this publication are also available at U.S. passport offices, listed in the blue pages of your local telephone directory. The information in this publication is not copyrighted; we encourage you to reproduce and disseminate this Focus to your colleagues and other interested parties. (###) ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 10:12:00 +0100 Subject: USA on Beijing 5 U.S. Department of State 95/07/01 Consular Information on 4WCW, China, Sept. 4-5, 1995 Bureau of Consular Affairs Consular Information Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing, China September 4 - 15, 1995 The Department of State and the American Embassy in Beijing stand ready to provide regular consular assistance to and protection of U.S. citizens traveling to China to participate in the Fourth World Conference on Women and the NGO Forum. The Consular Section at the American Embassy in Beijing strongly urges all participants to register by fax in advance of leaving the United States. Consular officers from the American Embassy will be available to participants who need consular assistance at the Conference and NGO sites, and after hours through an emergency duty officer program. Registration: The fax number for the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is (011) (86-10) 532-3178. Please provide the following information by fax to the U.S. Embassy, Attn: American Citizens Services Section, Consular Section: -- Name (as it appears in your passport) -- Date and Place of Birth -- Passport Number -- Date and Place of Issuance of Your Passport -- Address and Telephone Number in Beijing -- Arrival and Departure Dates -- Travel Itinerary in China (if any) -- U.S. Contact (address and telephone number) Country Description: The People's Republic of China (PRC) has been a one party state controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since its founding in 1949. It is one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies. Modern tourist facilities are not widely available, except in major cities. How to Avoid Legal Problems: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations. In some instances, laws in China differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Exercise caution and carefully obey local laws. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Chinese laws prohibit public demonstrations without a valid permit obtained from the Chinese Public Security Bureau in the city where the demonstration is planned. Information on Crime: China has a low crime rate; however, crime has increased in the past few years, principally in the major cities. Americans and other foreigners have seldom been victims of violent crime. Theft is the most common crime affecting visitors and occurs most frequently in crowded public areas, such as hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, and public transportation sites. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Police reports are necessary in China in order to obtain new visas from Chinese authorities. Chinese authorities require that travelers have valid visas to exit China and to travel and register in hotels within China. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, A Safe Trip Abroad. It is available for $1 from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country in which they travel. Criminal penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect severe jail sentences and fines. Hong Kong passport holders have been executed for drug offenses, and one U.S. citizen, convicted on drug-related charges in Shanghai, has received a fifteen-year prison sentence. Customs Information: Information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into China is available through the Chinese Embassy and Consulates. Importation of equipment for personal use during the conference and forum such as computers and other electronic devices may be permitted without the payment of customs duty, so long as the items are re-exported from China upon China. The U.S. Embassy can make inquiries about customs disputes, however, interpretation of Chinese customs laws and regulations is solely the jurisdiction of Chinese authorities. Passport Confiscation: The confiscation of foreign passports of persons involved in commercial disputes occurs in China. Under such circumstances, the U.S. government will issue another passport to any American citizen who applies for one. Even if a new U.S. passport is issued, the Chinese government may block departure. As noted above a valid visa is required to exit China. Dual Nationality: China does not recognize dual nationality. U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports, and some U.S. passports have been seized by Chinese authorities. Dual nationals may be subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. Such persons are often required to use Chinese documentation to enter China. U.S. citizens attending the conference should report any difficulties immediately to the U.S. Embassy. The United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter and depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.- PRC Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or other passport. China does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of children born in China, when one of the parents is a PRC national. Such children are required to depart China on PRC travel documents. Children born in the United States to PRC national parents, who are neither lawful permanent residents nor U.S. citizens, are not recognized as U.S. citizens under Chinese nationality law. Although Chinese consulates have frequently issued visas to such individuals in error, they are treated solely as PRC nationals by Chinese authorities when in China. Before traveling to China, dual nationals may wish to contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-6769 or the U.S. Embassy in Beijing at (86-10) 532-3831 (ext. 229) for additional information. Travel to Tibet: The Chinese government requires U.S. citizens wishing to visit Tibet to apply in advance for approval from the Tourist Administration of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. More information is available through the Chinese Embassy or a Chinese Consulate in the United States. Document Seizures: Chinese authorities have seized documents, literature, and letters which they deem to be pornographic or political in nature or those which are intended for religious proselytizing. If you seek to enter China with religious materials in a quantity greater than what is considered needed for personal use, you could be detained and fined. Religious proselytizing or passing out of religious materials is strictly forbidden. Americans suspected of engaging in such activities have been fined, arrested or deported. Magazines with photographs considered commonplace in Western countries, including some advertisements, may be regarded as sexually explicit pornography. Books, films, records, tapes, etc., which are "detrimental to China's politics, economy, culture, and ethics" will be seized by Chinese Customs to determine that they do not violate these prohibitions. Entry Requirements: Passports and visas are required. Conference and NGO Forum participants require a business visa. The length of stay is determined by the amount of time requested when applying for the visa. Most tourist visas are valid for only one entry. Travelers require a new visa for additional entries into China. Chinese authorities fine those who arrive without a visa up to 5,000 renminbi (about $600 U.S.) at the port of entry and may not allow them to enter China. Specific information is available through the Chinese Embassy at 2300 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 328-2500, or from one of the Chinese Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco. Consular Access: U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry photocopies of their passport data and photo pages with them at all times so that, if questioned by PRC officials, proof of U.S. citizenship is readily available. (Do not carry your original passport with you. Your passport and other valuables should be placed in a hotel safety deposit box.) U.S. consular officers are not always notified when a U.S. citizen has been detained. However, U.S. citizens have rights to consular access under the U.S. - P.R.C. Consular Convention and should insist upon contact with the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. Consulates General. If you are denied this right, continue to protest. Under the U.S. -P.R.C. Consular Convention of 1980, U.S. consular officers shall be notified if a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained no later than four days after the arrest or detention. Under the Convention, U.S. consular officers must be informed upon request of the reasons for the arrest or detention and have a right to visit the citizen after a formal request is made by the consular officer. Visits shall take place as soon as possible, no later than two days after the request is made. Visits may be made on a recurring basis. U.S. citizens arrested abroad are subject to the judicial process of the foreign country. Upon learning of an arrest, U.S. officials will demand consular access to you, visit you, advise you of your rights according to local laws, and contact your friends and family if you wish. They will do whatever they can to protect your interests and to ensure you are not discriminated against under local law. Consuls can protest if you are held under inhumane or unhealthy conditions or treated less favorably than others in the same situation, and will protest any such treatment. Although U.S. consular officers cannot serve as attorneys or give legal advice, they can provide a list of local English speaking attorneys you may retain and help you find legal representation. Consular officers can assist in providing emergency medical and dietary assistance when necessary and act as an intermediary in furnishing letters and packages from family members to arrested citizens through local authorities. Medical Facilities: The quality of medical and health care in China is uneven. Sanitation facilities, particularly outside Beijing, may not meet Western standards of cleanliness, convenience and accessibility. Participants should expect limited sanitary facilities at the NGO Forum site. Competent, trained doctors and nurses are available in major metropolitan centers. However, hospital accommodations are spartan and medical technology is not up-to-date. Review your health insurance policy. If your insurance does not cover you abroad, consider purchasing temporary insurance that does. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Persons taking prescription medicines or syringes into China should carry a copy of a doctor's prescription. It is wise to carry more than one pair of eyeglasses or to bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription. All travelers to China are encouraged to acquire medical insurance which covers medical evacuation from China. There are a variety of companies offering this service. The following two suggestions are not endorsements; both companies, however, have doctors and clinics in Beijing and have worked with the U.S. Embassy in the past in assisting U.S. citizens who were ill. You may wish to do comparison shopping if you are considering purchasing insurance for your trip: Asia Emergency Assistance International SOS International Seattle, Washington Philadelphia, PA Phone: 1-800-548-7762 24-hour numbers: (215) 245-4707 24-hour number: ( 206) 781-8770 or (215) 244-1500 Questions on health matters can also be addressed to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention through its international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Embassy and Consulate Locations: Americans may call or visit the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country. If calling from within the United States about an emergency situation regarding a friend or relative attending the conference, you may wish to direct your initial call to the following number: Bureau of Consular Affairs Office of Overseas Citizens Services U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5226 Contact Persons: Mrs. Kerry Holmes-De Haven Ms. Robin Morritz If you are in China and are involved in an emergency situation, the following information may be of assistance to you. U.S. Embassy Beijing 2 Xiu Shui Dong Jie, Beijing 100600 The principal points of contact for emergency matters related to the welfare and well-being of American citizens in China are: Mr. Arturo S. Macias Minister-Counsellor for Consular Affairs Consul General and Mr. Daniel W. Piccuta First Secretary and Consul Chief, American Services During normal business hours, both gentlemen may be reached at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing's telephone numbers. Telephone: (86-10) 532-3831 ext. 252 or 253 (86-10) 532-3831 ext. 229 (86-10) 532-3431 ext. 249 Fax: (86-10) 532-3178 For emergencies after normal business hours, contact the U.S. Embassy's 24 hour emergency number : (86-10) 532-1910 (Duty Officer) Additional Travel: In the event other travel within China is contemplated, the following information regarding locations of U.S. Consulates in China may also be of assistance: Shanghai 1469 Huaihai Zhong Lu Shanghai 200031 Telephone: (86-21) 433-6880 Fax: (86-21) 433-4122 After Hours: (86-21) 433-3936 Shenyang No. 52, 14th Wei Road Shenyang, 110003 Telephone: (86-24) 282-0038 (86-24) 282-0048 (86-24) 282-0068 Fax: (86-24) 282-0074 After Hours: Same as above Chengdu No. 4 Lingshiguan Road Chengdu 610041 Telephone: (86-28) 558-3992 (86-28) 558-9642 Fax: (86-28) 558-3520 After Hours: (86-28) 901-1899 (mobile phone) Guangzhou 1 South Shamian Street Guangzhou 510133 Telephone: (86-20) 886-2418 (86-20) 886-2402 (ext. 256) Fax: (86-20) 886-2341 After Hours: (86-20) 900-4511 (mobile phone) Hong Kong 26 Garden Road Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2841-2211 Fax: (852) 2845-4845 Consular Information Program: The Department of State issues Public Announcements as a means to disseminate information quickly about transnational conditions which pose problems for U.S. citizen travelers. You can listen to them 24 hours a day by calling 202-647-5225 from a touchtone phone. To receive them by fax, dial 202-647-3000 from a fax machine, using the machine's receiver, and follow the instructions. To view and download with a personal computer and modem, dial the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board on modem number 202-647-9225. Set your communications software to: no parity, 8 bits, one stop bit (N-8-1). (###) ------------------------------ From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman) Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 11:43:00 +0100 Subject: Time to Challenge the Anti-Prostitution Lobby ## author : CarolLeigh@aol.com ## date : 20.08.95 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TRAFFICKING SEX SLAVES HORROR: TIME TO CHALLENGE THE ANTI- PROSTITUTION LOBBY by Alison Murray, The Professional, June August 1995, New South Wales reprinted with permission of The Professional Increasingly strident statements of anti- trafficking groups are building up in advance of the UN Conference on Women to be held in Beijing in September 1995. One of the goals is a new UN Convention charter to replace the 1949 Convention of the Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (which is already anti- prostitution) Many well-meaning people are misled into thinking that trafficking, child prostitution and sex tourism are enormous problems. Without saying that these things don't exist, I hope that before people dig into their pockets for a donation, sign a petition, or join an anti-trafficking group, they will consider the sex workers perspective and the implications of this lobby for the workers in sex trades: The recent Asia Watch repost, "A modern form of slavery: trafficking of Burmese women and girls into brothels in Thailand" was followed by a fund-raising initiative from the International Women's Development Agency, (IWDA). THe IWDA campaign says that over 10,000 women and girls are trafficked into Thailand each year and that 50%-70% are HIV positive. While it is not clear where the figures come from, it is quasi- academic books like "A Modern form of slavery" which help the pass into accepted fact, although the researchers conveniently chose to remain anonymous. The authors did not visit brothels, but interviewed 30 workers ("victims") who had been arrested/ While ostensibly giving these workers a voice, their statements are reinterpreted by the experts: on one hand they pick out those who said they didn't know what work they would do, [although since prostitution is illegal in Thailand it seems logical that they would say that to avoid prosecution] , on the other hand, it seems to be usual for the women to find their own way our of Burma to find brothel agents, even though they were supposedly tricked: they seem to be so stupid they can be duped twice, as they are take for deportation to the Thai- Burmese border and then came back. Where they have made it home and boasted of the money they made, this is described as lying to "save face," even when they have gone on to recruit others or returned to work. "Their return to prostitution was voluntary only in the sense they saw their first experience as having rendered the, unfit for anything else." The women are described as fleeing the repressive regime and poverty in Burma, which contradicts the aim of "rescuing" the women and returning home. THere is a fairly well-substantiated rumor that HIV positive Burmese women returned to Burma have been executed by the ruling ALORC authorities: there is clearly evidence to support the claims of serious abuses by Thai authorities. The 1960 Suppression of Prostitution Act criminalized the industry- while there continues to be a high demand, as over 75% of THai men see prostitutes regularly (figures from the Public Health Ministry): the large amounts of money at stake allow for the bribery and corruption, and unregulated, substandard working conditions. A Thai police officer disputed the book's findings: 'At present, most of these Burmese girls come here to work in brothels of their free will. Very few of the women we meet in our day to day work say they were lured into the business' (The Nation, 5 April 1995), he also pointed out that 'police had great difficulty securing convictions against agents who recruit women for the flesh industry since very few prostitutes are willing to identify or testify against these agents in a court of law.' It is tempting to wonder why these Americans want to expose the 'horrors' in Thailand as opposed to HIV prevalence among sex workers in the black housing projects in Oakland- California, or the way US treats immigrants, even legal ones. [Editor's note: in light of the recent developments with the discovery in El Monte, California, of a garment manufacturing "sweatshop" enslaving over 70 illegal immigrant Thai women, which INS officials knew about but did nothing to stop for nearly three years, one can only wonder when the campaign will begin to prohibit commercial garment manufacturing, so that the new form of trafficking in women to sew clothing will cease.... a fund raising drive perhaps to get legislators to enact new laws against department stores which sell jeans?] Perhaps because the white women would not get very far in the projects without being beaten up, whereas they know that as guest in Thailand, which depends on tourism income they will enjoy a level of protection. The Burmese border area has rapidly transformed with increased trade, Thailand's booming economy and income inequalities, spectacular consumption and materialist expectations, causing disjunctures of western and local cultures. Thai and Burmese girls are still socialized to fulfill expectations of supporting their family through a strong sense of gratitude, and to accept their parents decision if that is to send them to a brothel. Muecke argues that sex work actually has a functional role in preserving the traditional cultural functions of daughters through remittances and merit making, this conserving the institutions of family and Buddhism [ah, bless those family values- some American politicians favorite topic!] Many Westerners find this hard to understand, preferring to blame wicked agents and monstrous clients (especially sex tourists). The IWDA campaign over Burmese women has tried to link the situation with Thai women arriving in Sydney, but their exaggerations only make things worse for the workers. Our research shows that Thai workers in Australia arrive with debts of up to $30,000, however methods of entry and conditions vary greatly. We have found that most of these women enter their contracts willingly. Because the sex industry is not fully decriminalized and sex workers cannot obtain work visas freely some of the terms and conditions of contracts are exploitive, and working conditions may be poor. Through their Operation Paper Tiger, the authorities have deported 80 illegal Thai workers in 2 years: as the crackdown continues the cost of the bonds goes up. Workers who are persecuted, arrested and deported before they pay off their debts are left with nothing for their hard work. Police and immigration activity scares clients away, this means more pressure to work in substandard conditions because work is slow. It also makes it harder for workers to be contacted by support organizations providing information, condoms and HIV/AIDS information. Asian workers who seek employment in the sex industry in Australia do so for the money, as do Australian workers: "It comes down to how much money you have in your hand at the end of the night.... A good night in Sydney I make $400. A good night in Bangkok I make $20. It's simple. (Mary). Workers should be free to move to seek better pay and conditions just as many Australian workers go to work in Japan and Singapore. In the very rare cases when workers have been trapped by false promises, of course this is unacceptable. The anti-trafficking campaigns increase discrimination as they perpetuate the stereotype of Asian workers as passive and diseased. This stereotype also encourages clients to think of Asian workers as helpless victims and encourages them to violate the rights of these workers. There are now a number of anti-trafficking groups which use the emotive discourse of trafficking to push an abolitionist, fundamentalist agenda, based on the ideology set out by Kathleen Barry, Catharine MacKinnon et al. The feminist abolitionist position dates back to 1875, with Josephine Butler and International Abolitionist Association. "Prostitution is important to feminism because the prostitute body is a terrain on which feminist contest sexuality, desire and the writing of the female body' (Bell). MacKinnon's thesis is that in the patriarchy we live in, all sex is prostitution as female sexuality is entirely constructed as an object of male desire. [In this view of sexuality] prostitution is a fundamental violation of women's human rights. Meanwhile Western sex workers have developed their own structures of support and advocacy, partly through funding for HIV education, which has allowed them to challenge some of the feminists. This may be one reason that abolitionists have turned their attention to Asia. The lack of accurate information has so far limited the ability of Western prostitutes to respond, however I believe that some response is urgently needed as the anti-trafficking lobby has broad implications for all sex trade workers, freedom of sexual expression and HIV/AIDS prevention. The Global Alliance Against the TRaffic in Women was launched in Chiang Mai in 1994, and is supported by ECPAT & PCV (despite criticism from other sex workers groups) and IWDA among others; it claims not to be abolitionist, but it helps those who are, particularly the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women based in the US. This group and others have formed a network, supported by UNESCO; the NGO Coalition Against Exploitation of Women, which is taking a petition to beijing. The proposal will ban prostitution completely, not just forced prostitution: as they claim "Legalized prostitution... is an open door for traffickers." Their petition states: " It is a fundamental human right to be free of sexual exploitation in all its forms, from prostitution, sex tourism trafficking in women, mail-order bride selling and pornography to incest, wife abuse, sexual harassment and rape...." Is there an element of titillation in these women's focus on sex workers, when similar problems are faced by migrant domestic workers and others [case in point, the Thai women held in captivity in the California sweatshops]? If a petition like this were passed at the Beijing conference it would be an apparent endorsement by representatives of all women of reinforced measures against prostitution. And since in an increasingly commodified and materialistic world the marketing of bodies in all forms is only likely to increase, then reinforcing sanctions will only have the effect of increasing criminal control, corruption of law enforcement and exploitation of the workers. The Network of Sex Work Projects is coordinating a sex worker presence at Beijing to counter the anti-trafficking lobby, Sex workers must struggle, since the Chinese government does not even allow visas for sex workers. Sex workers were similarly excluded from the 1994 International AIDS Conference in Yokohama, however workers did manage to be heard and establish an Asia-Pacific Network of Sex Worker projects. Migration of female labour is increasing due to processes of economic globalization and removal of political boundaries, and clearly this process is accompanied by an increasing degree of coercion and exploitation of women due to prevailing systems of sex and gender in sending and receiving countries such as Thailand. A Utrecht conference statement made a valid point that force and not the type of work should be the issue in 'trafficking.' existing laws and Conventions cover the issues of slavery and similar practices, non-consensual sex and the exploitation of children, therefore all states need to ratify and apply (if they have not done so) these conventions: laws should be introduced to control the sale of children by their parents. All states need to consider decriminalizing prostitution, applying occupational health and safety standards to workplaces (including provisions for street workers) and working towards eradicating discrimination. Restrictive immigration policies contribute to the exploitation of migrants and should be reviewed: sex workers should have the right to travel freely and obtain working visas and support networks should be funded. Finally, where sex workers have been forced to work against their will they should be offered every support and free transport to their place of origin if they so wish. It is important to distinguish different types of sex trade work using participatory research that involves the workers. Blanket statements about prostitution and the exploitation of women are part of a political agenda which seeks to control the way people think and behave. The situations which the anti-traffickers rail against, in so far as they exist, are a result of economic,political and gender inequalities, and it is those inequalities which should be our central cause for concern. ------------------------------ End of Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #56 *********************************************** 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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