CSW – Forty-ninth session/Palestinian women – Press release (excerpts)

WOMEN’S COMMISSION HEARS INTRODUCTION OF EIGHT DRAFT RESOLUTIONS;

DISCUSSES CHALLENGES TO GENDER-RELATED STATISTICS, INDICATORS

Drafts Address Women’s Economic Advancement, Disaster Recovery, INSTRAW,

Trafficking, AIDS, Discriminatory Laws, Gender Mainstreaming, Palestinian Women

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Background

Following the morning’s commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Commission on the Status of Women heard the introduction of several draft resolutions on:  women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS; reducing the demand for trafficked women and girls; Special Rapporteur on laws that discriminate against women; mainstreaming a gender perspective into national policies and programmes; integrating a gender perspective in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation; the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women; strengthening the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); as well as on women’s economic advancement.

Action on the texts was expected on Friday, 11 March.

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Introduction of Draft Resolutions

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Jamaica’s observer, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, as well as Mexico, introduced the draft resolution on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women (document E/CN.6/2005/L.7).  The unfolding humanitarian and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and East Jerusalem had affected Palestinian women in a most detrimental way.  Their continued difficulties and the need to assist them in overcoming the obstacles to their development and advancement were central to the text.  The majority of operative paragraphs were identical to those of last year’s resolution, although some provisions contained additional language, mostly in the preambular portion.

She said she looked forward to the draft’s adoption by consensus, with the hope that it would alleviate the suffering of Palestinian women and contribute to their overall advancement.

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