MISION PERMANENTE DEL PERU

ANTE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS

TWENTY‑THIRD SPECIAL SESSION OF THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

"WOMEN 2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT

AND PEACE FOR THE TWENTY‑FIRST CENTURY"

STATEMENT BY

MRS. LUISA MARIA CUCULIZA TORRE

MINISTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN AND

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

NEW YORK, 09 JUNE 2000

(Check with the words of the speaker)

MR. PRESIDENT,

ON BEHALF OF THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT AND ON MY OWN BEHALF, I WISH TO EXTEND A SISTERLY WELCOME TO ALL THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD THAT ARE PRESENT IN THIS ASSEMBLY.

ONCE MORE I FIND, THAT IN SPITE OF OUR PHYSICAL, CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES, WE FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WOMEN. WE MUST THEREFORE MAINTAIN SOLIDARITY AMONGST OURSELVES AND WITH THOSE THAT NEED OUR SUPPORT.

I ALSO EXTEND MY GREETINGS TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TABLE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU HAVE PERFORMED DURING THESE DAYS.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT REPRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, ENGINEER. ALBERTO FUJIMORI, REASSERTED IN BEIJING ITS DECISION THAT WOMEN SHOULD CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY, THUS ASSUMING WITH CONVICTION THE AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS OF THE IV WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN, THAT WE ARE RATIFYING TODAY.

THEREFORE, THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT CREATED IN 1996 THE MINISTRY FOR THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE AND IDENTIFY PUBLIC, AND SPECIFICALLY GOVERNMENT POLICIES, THUS TAKING A HISTORIC STEP TO INSERT THE GENDER APPROACH AND THE AGENDA OF WOMEN WITHIN THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY, THE 2000‑ 2005 NATIONAL PLAN FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN IS BEING EXECUTED BY THE MINISTRY THAT I AM HONORED TO PRESIDE.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY FOR THE PROMOTION OF WOMEN, OTHER HIGHER LEVEL BODIES HAVE BEEN CREATED SUCH AS THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN IN THE PERUVIAN CONGRESS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE FOR WOMEN.

MR. PRESIDENT,

MY COUNTRY, WAS THE VICTIM FOR TWELVE YEARS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT ISOLATED US AND CREATED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

WOMEN PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE. THEY MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A SOCIAL NETWORK AND SET UP THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO HANDLE THIS CRISIS.

THIS TERRORIST VIOLENCE MURDERED HUMBLE WOMEN LEADERS, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES, INNOCENT MEN AND WOMEN AND THOUSANDS OF POLICEMEN AND SOLDIERS.

THAT IS WHY THE PERUVIAN PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE FIRM DECISION OF OUR PRESIDENT TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM. PERU IS NOW A COUNTRY THAT IS AT PEACE.

THE POLICY OF OUR GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE PRIORIZE WITHIN THESE 5 YEARS:

• THE STRUGGLE AGAINST POVERTY

• THE CREATION OF JOBS

• DEMOCRATIZATION AND

• THE INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY.

THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY THROUGH SOCIAL PROGRAMS ADDRESSED TO WOMEN HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO ACHIEVE A QUALITATIVE STEP FORWARD BECOMING SCHOOLS FOR LEADERSHIP, NEGOTIATION, SELF‑ESTEEM AND THE TRAINING THAT FACILITATE THEIR INCORPORATION INTO THE PRODUCTIVE MARKETPLACE.

MR. PRESIDENT,

LEGAL RULES HAVE BEEN ENACTED IN THE FIELD OF JOBS AND SALARIES TO PENALIZE THOSE THAT OFFER JOBS WITH DISCRIMINATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR WOMEN.

THE RIGHT OF WOMEN TO PRE‑ AND POST‑BIRTH LEAVE HAS BEEN REESTABLISHED AS WELL AS PERMISSION TO NOURISH THEIR BABIES FOR ONE HOUR A DAY. RULES HAVE ALSO BEEN ENACTED FORBIDDING DISMISSALS DUE TO PREGNANCIES.

INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN WITHIN THE MARKET FOR EMPLOYMENT BY OFFERING THEM TRAINING, COUNSELING, REVOLVING LOANS, ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL AND MICRO‑ENTERPRISES, THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BECOME SOURCES OF JOBS FOR OTHER WOMEN.

MR. PRESIDENT,

ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, THE LAW FOR QUOTAS IN MUNICIPAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS WAS ENACTED 1N 1997, WHICH HAS ALREADY PRODUCED POSITIVE RESULTS. WOMEN TRIPLED THEIR PRESENCE IN THE MUNICIPALITIES IN 1999 AND THE NEXT CONGRESS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN JULY, THE NUMBER OF CONGRESSWOMEN WILL HAVE DOUBLED.

THIS MEASURE HAS ALLOWED WOMEN THAT ARE LEADERS OF URBAN AND RURAL ORGANIZATIONS, SPORTSWOMEN\ AND WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO REACH THESE HIGH LEVEL DECISION TAKING POSTS.

BREAKING TRADITION, TWO WOMEN HAVE PRESIDED OVER CONGRESS IN RECENT YEARS AND WOMEN HAVE ALSO CHAIRED DIFFERENT COMMITTEES WITHIN THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE BODY.

WOMEN TODAY IN PERU HAVE ACCESS TO DECISION‑TAKING AND POWER POSITIONS AND CAN INFLUENCE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO CONSOLIDATE A FAIRER SOCIETY WITH GENDER EQUALITY.

MR. PRESIDENT,

ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ELIMINATION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, OUR EFFORTS HAVE GIVEN PRIORITY TO THIS FIELD OF ACTION.

THUS, THE LEGISLATION ON FAMILY VIOLENCE ENACTED IN 1997 HAS BEEN PERFECTED ON THE BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND AGREEMENTS, TO GUARANTEE A GREATER PROTECTION TO THE VICTIMS

WE ARE THEREFORE PROMOTING THE INSTALLATION OF INTEGRAL CARE SERVICES IN A SINGLE SPOT OFFERING POLICE, LEGAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL‑LEGAL CARE AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTOR FOR FAMILY MATTERS IN ONE SPOT. THESE MECHANISMS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED THE EMERGENCY CENTERS FOR WOMEN WHICH ARE BEING DECENTRALIZED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. THEY HAVE MANAGED TO ENCOURAGE MORE WOMEN TO BREAK THEIR SILENCE.

OUR GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERSTOOD THAT TO INVEST IN THE ELIMINATION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS TO INVEST IN DEVELOPMENT, SINCE THE CULTURE OF PEACE THAT WE ARE SEEKING MUST BE CONSOLIDATED FROM THE PERUVIAN HOMES, STRENGHTHENING FAMILIES SO THAT THEY MAY DEMOCRATICALLY RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THEIR MEMBERS.

THE FAMILY, THAT IS REGARDED AS THE BASIC CELL OF SOCIETY, SHOULD BE LINKED BY LOVE AND RESPECT AND NOT BY VIOLENCE AND MISTREATMENT. THAT IS WHY THE YEAR 2000 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE YEAR OF STRUGGLE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE, TO OFFER GREATER COVERAGE AND A GREATER IMPACT FOR THESE MEASURES.

WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE TASK OF ENCOURAGING MEN TO CHANGE, TO ASSUME THEIR FAMILY RESPONSABILITIES AND TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS TO ALLOW THEIR HOMES TO BECOME PLACES IN WHICH HARMONY WILL ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES.

MR. PRESIDENT

WE ACKNOWLEDGE HEALTH AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, A RIGHT THAT INCLUDES THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WHILE SPECIFYING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT REJECTS ABORTION.

OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNING ITS OWN RESOURCES FOR PERUVIAN WOMEN TO ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE THE SIZE OF THEIR FAMILIES, WHEN THEY HAVE OR DO NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS, PREVENT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO DIFFERENT HEALTH SERVICES AND TO THE DIFFERENT MEASURES OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

MATERNAL CHILD INSURANCE WAS RECENTLY SET UP FOR THE POOREST WOIMEN AS WELL AS THE REINFORCEMENT OF MEASURES TO PREVENT ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES SO AS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES.

MR. PRESIDENT,

SINCE EDUCATION IS THE KEY ITEM TO BUILD AN EGALITARIAN AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO INCREASE THE SCHOOLING AND THE STAY OF GIRLS WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE PLACED SPECIAL EMPHASIS IN PROTECTING AND CARING FOR THEIR HEALTH, THROUGH THE FREE SCHOOL INSURANCE POLICY. WE HAVE HAD MASS CAMPAIGNS AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE AND THE MISTREATMENT OF CHILDREN.

OUR EFFORT HAS CENTERED ON THE REDUCTION OF THE GENDER GAPS IN THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RECORDS OF GIRLS, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE CHANGES OF ATTITUDE OF THE FATHERS WHO HISTORICALLY ASSIGNED PRIORITY TO THE EDUCATION OF THEIR MALE CHILDREN. ANOTHER INDICATOR IS THAT WOMEN BETWEEN 15 AND 24 YEARS OF AGE HAVE EQUALED MEN IN THEIR STAY WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

MR. PRESIDENT,

IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST FEMALE ILLITERACY, WE HAVE MANAGED TO REDUCE IT FROM 18.3% RECORDED IN 1993 TO 7.8% IN 1999. WE HAVE NOW PLEDGED TO REDUCE IT TO 4% BY THE YEAR 2005.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN OUR COUNTRY SHOWS THAT WHEN THEIR IA A POLITICAL WILL AND A WILLINGNESS TO WORK, APPARENTLY IMPOSSIBLE GOALS CAN BE ACHIEVED.

MR. PRESIDENT,

WE HAD THE HONOR THIS YEAR OF CHAIRING THE EIGHTH REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, IN WHICH"THE LIMA CONSENSUS" WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, A DOCUMENT THAT REPRESENTS THE POSITION OF OUR REGION IN THIS IMPORTANT SPECIAL PERIOD OF SESSIONS.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE WORK OF PROMOTING THE RESPECT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IS HARD.

I THEREFORE WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD THAT MY GOVERNMENT PLEDGES NOT TO GO BACK ON THE REGIONAL CONSENSUS AND FIRMLY COMPLY WITH THE BEIJING ACTION PLATFORM.

WOMEN CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER. IT IS TIME FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD AND THAT WORDS BECOME ACTIONS. AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CENTURY, WE DEMAND RESPECT FOR OUR RIGHTS AND THAT WE CAN CONFIDENTLY EXPECT A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE GIRLS AND WOMEN OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

THANK YOU.