{"id":213736,"date":"1998-03-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T20:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=213736"},"modified":"2019-03-12T20:40:14","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T20:40:14","slug":"auto-insert-213736","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-213736\/","title":{"rendered":"CSW – Forty-Second Session – Press release"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Commission on the Status of Women
\nForty-second Session
\n10th Meeting (PM)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/span>STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/span> FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP IN<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/span> IMPLEMENTING BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Non-governmental  organizations called  for  new and  additional financial
\nresources  for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, as the
\nCommission on  the  Status  of Women  concluded its  general  debate on  the
\nimplementation  of  objectives  and action  on  critical  areas  of  concern
\nadopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  A representative  of the  African Women's  Development and  Communications
\nNetwork,  speaking on behalf of a number  of non-governmental organizations,
\nsaid  such  resources could  be  made  available  through  cuts in  military
\nexpenditure  in Africa.   She urged  African Governments  to determine their
\nown agenda of development  with the full participation of both women and men
\nfor  the  benefit of  all  African  people  while strengthening  South-South
\ncooperation to promote the advancement of women. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Making recommendations  for  the  Asian region,  a representative  of  the
\nAsian Caucus said military budgets should  be reallocated to the development
\nof programmes for women  and children and action should be directed to solve
\nthe current  economic crisis  and its negative  impact on women.   She  also
\ncalled for action to  end the suffering of  women in Asia,  including sexual
\nexploitation. States in the  region were urged to ban tests to determine the
\nsex of unborn  children; to stop  infanticide; to  promote education at  all
\nlevels for  women; and to  ensure the availability  of health  and education
\nprogrammes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Countries that had  experienced internal  conflict and  crises faced  even
\ngreater  obstacles in  implementing  the Beijing  Platform  for  Action, the
\nCommission  was told.   The  representative  of  Rwanda said  the challenges
\nraised  at  Beijing  remained  huge  for countries  facing  genocide,  which
\ndestroyed infrastructures  and  tore  apart  the social  fabric.    Rwanda's
\nimplementation  of  the  Platform  for  Action  centred  around  defining  a
\nsolution to its internal  problems.  Despite  some progress, the path  ahead
\nwas   long,  and   Rwanda  therefore,   requested  the  assistance   of  the
\ninternational  community to  continue to  confront the  challenges raised in
\nBeijing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  representative  of  Guatemala  said  his  Government  had  made  some
\nprogress towards  resettling Guatemalan women who  had been  affected by the
\nwar.  However, the road  ahead towards the  full human  rights of Guatemalan
\nwomen  was a long  one, but  his Government  had made and  would continue to
\nmake all the necessary efforts to get there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The representative of  the General Federation of Arab Women said while the
\nobstacles  to women's enjoyment of  their human rights  were outlined in the
\nBeijing Platform, women living in the  occupied areas of Palestine continued
\nto  be  affected  by  the  brutality  inflicted  by  the  occupying military
\nauthorities.  Furthermore,  the  world  had  witnessed  the  phenomenon   of
\neconomic  sanctions which violated  human rights  in Libya,  Sudan, Cuba and<\/p>\n

especially Iraq.  Prohibiting food as a  means to achieve political purposes
\nseriously affected the implementation of the Beijing Declaration. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Despite  remarkable advances  in  recognizing and  elaborating  the  human
\nrights  of women,  including  through international  treaties,  millions  of
\nwomen  and   girls  remained  largely   untouched  by  those  agreements,  a
\nrepresentative  of the United  Nations Population  Fund (UNFPA)  said.  Many
\ncontinued to suffer  from lifelong, gender-based  oppression, and  many were
\ndenied their  human rights to health,  reproductive choice  and freedom from
\ncoercion and violence.\n<\/p>\n

  Statements  were  also  made  by  the  representatives of  Peru,  Ukraine,
\nVenezuela, Greece, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Sudan.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Representatives of the International Federation of  the Red Cross and  Red
\nCrescent Societies and the International Committee  of the Red Cross  (ICRC)
\nalso  spoke, as  did representatives of  the World Islamic  Call Society and
\nHousewives in Dialogue.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The representative of China spoke in exercise of the right of reply.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The Commission will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.<\/p>\n

  Commission Work Programme<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The Commission on the  Status of Women met this afternoon to conclude  its
\ngeneral  discussion on  implementation of  the  Beijing Platform  for Action
\nadopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Statements<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  LUNTANGIN  BAYAMA, of the  International Federation  of Red  Cross and Red
\nCrescent Societies, said the importance of integrating a gender  perspective
\nin the  Federation's policies and programmes  was being  emphasized.  Action
\nplans had  been developed  for Africa and  Europe and a  plan was  currently
\nbeing developed  for Asia.   The  plans included  establishing regional  and
\nsubregional  networks;   developing   means   to   address   gender   issues
\nconsistently into the  design, implementation and evaluation of  programmes;
\ntraining  of Red  Cross and  Red  Crescent  volunteers, staff,  managers and
\nfield delegates  in gender  analysis  methods; collecting  and using  gender
\ndisaggregated data and reviewing programmes to monitor progress.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  On  the issue  of  women  and armed  conflict, she  said it  was extremely
\nimportant  to ensure  camps  for refugees  and internally  displaced persons
\ndesigned  according to the  Office of  the United  Nations High Commissioner
\nfor  Refugees (UNHCR) 1995  guidelines on  the protection  of refugee women.
\nOnly   through  enhanced   cooperation  between   policy-making  bodies  and
\ncooperating  partners could words be  translated into action.   A more close
\ncollaboration  among  United  Nations   agencies,  particularly  UNHCR,  was
\nwelcome.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She said  the Federation dealt with the consequences of different types of
\nviolence against women,  ranging from armed  conflicts to domestic violence.
\nIt  contributed to identifying  abused, violated  women and  men through Red
\nCross  and Red  Crescent chapters,  in collaboration  with  non-governmental
\norganizations and  government authorities.   The  Federation also  supported
\nactivities  by the United Nations system to emphasize women's full and equal
\nenjoyment  of  their  rights.    Women  and men's  access  to  human  rights
\ninformation needed to be increased, and  existing mechanisms to identify and
\nassist  women  whose  human  rights  were   being  violated  needed  to   be
\nreinforced.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MARIE CLAIRE MUKASINE (Rwanda) said that  the challenges raised at Beijing<\/p>\n

remained   huge   for    countries   facing   genocide,    which   destroyed
\ninfrastructures and  tore apart the social  fabric.   Disease had increased,
\nand  vulnerable  groups had  been  further  traumatized.    Within that  sad
\npicture  that had  brutalized Rwandan  women  —  who were  increasingly the
\nheads of households — Rwanda's implementation  of the Beijing Platform  for
\nAction centred around defining a solution to its internal problems.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In that context, Rwanda had implemented  measures such as specific support
\nfor those who escaped genocide and for  those who had been victims of sexual
\nviolence,  she said.   Efforts had  been made to raise  women's awareness of
\ntheir right  to health  services, as  well as  to support  services for  the
\nsurvivors of the genocide.  Other  efforts included general education  aimed
\nat reducing literacy and  promoting access to  education, and  consciousness
\nraising of  authorities at  all decision-making  levels.   Rwanda sought  to
\nstrengthen  its  machinery  and achieve  women's advancement  by  setting up
\nfocal  points  to ensure  that the  gender  perspective became  part of  its
\ncentral policy.   The   establishment of an  office responsible for  dealing
\nwith women  and children  triumphed in  the recent  revision of  legislation
\ngoverning matrimony and women's concerns in general.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Rwanda was  also  embarking on  information  campaigns  at all  levels  to
\npromote peace,  gender-balance and development,  she said.   The  Government
\nalso  undertook   the  organization  and   celebration  of  special   events
\nconcerning women. In that regard, it chose the  topic of "fighting to defend
\nwomen's  rights"  on  the  occasion  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the
\nUniversal Declaration of Human Rights.   Specific actions favouring the girl
\nchild aimed at their education, training and health  had also been a  source
\nof concern.   Despite  some progress,  the path  ahead was long,  and Rwanda
\ntherefore  requested  the  assistance  of  the  international  community  to
\ncontinue to pick up those challenges raised in Beijing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  JULIO ARMANDO MARTINI  HERRERA (Guatemala) said that the peace  agreements
\nhad helped ensure the involvement of women, as  reflected in the creation of
\na  nationwide policy tailored  to women.   A draft national  policy had been
\nelaborated for the advancement and training  of Guatemalan women designed to
\npromote their condition and status.  Another draft  was launched in the area
\nof  judicial reform,  in order  to  reduce the  existing inequities.    Such
\nreforms sought to revise several criminal, labour and health laws. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Violence  against women  represented a  major challenge  in  Guatemala, he
\nsaid, as  the problem  was deeply  rooted in  Guatemala's social  structure.
\nGuatemalan women  historically had  very little protection of  their rights.
\nIn 1996, however, the  Congress adopted a  law to curb family violence,  and
\nit  was  currently  reviewing  a  draft   law  against  sexual   harassment.
\nConcerning women  in armed  conflict, particularly  pertinent in  Guatemala,
\nthe  Government had  progressed towards  resettling Guatemalan women.   Many
\nsuch women were heads of households  and therefore especially vulnerable and
\nhard-hit by poverty.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Training  programmes and  opportunities for  access to  micro-credit  were
\nintended to improve their living  conditions, he said.   The Government also
\nsought a  substantial increase in women's  access to  positions of political
\nleadership.   The women's forum,  for example,  was an  extensive arena  for
\npluralism and representation for Guatemalan women,  and it afforded them the
\nchance to discuss women's issues.   Another programme called "Let's  Educate
\nGirls" strove to increase  the rates of enrolment and graduation among girls
\nthrough  fellowships.   The road  ahead  towards  the full  human rights  of
\nGuatemalan women was a  long one, but Guatemala  had made and would continue
\nto make all the necessary efforts to get there.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MARITZA  RODRIGUEZ (Peru)  said that  with  regard  to the  eradication of
\nviolence against women,  Peru's legislation had  made decisive  strides that
\nincluded a  legislative framework  outlining the nation's  policy on  family
\nviolence.     Initiatives  included  an  amended  Penal  Code,  an  expanded
\ndefinition of family violence and a provision of no-fee medical care at  the
\nrequest of  police, prosecutorial authorities or  the courts.   In addition,<\/p>\n

the Government  had launched training  campaigns concerning family  violence
\nfor  members of  the police  and human  development workers.   It  had  also
\nopened a telephone hotline  to report cases of  family violence, as  well as
\nprovide emotional support and referrals to special services.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

   She said  that as  part  of a  framework  of  action to  establish  basic
\nconditions  for  the integrated  development  of  emergency  areas,  another
\nprogramme emphasized  the problems  faced by  displaced  women.   Activities
\nincluded workshops and training, and strengthening women's organizations  in
\nthe areas of health, reproductive rights,  sexual rights and the  prevention
\nof violence.  In addition, the Government had begun the process of  adapting
\nnational  legislation  to  the  principal  international  instruments.    An
\nexample  in Peru of the growing interest in human rights was the creation of
\nthe national commission on human rights in the Ministry of the Interior. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  girl child was  of paramount  importance to Peru, she  said.  Indeed,
\ntwo major treaties  — the Convention  on the  Rights of  the Child and  the
\nConvention  on  the  Elimination of  All  Forms  of  Discrimination  against
\nWomen -converged on  the subject  of the  girl child.   With respect to  the
\nprovisions of  those treaties, Peru had developed a national  plan of action
\nfor  children  that  included  specific  actions  and  strategies  aimed  at
\nconferring   equal  opportunity  to  girls,  especially  in   the  areas  of
\neducation,  the  prevention  of  violence  and  the  treatment  of  domestic
\nworkers. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Ms.  SHIN,  of the  Asian  Caucus,  said because  of  the  Asian  region's
\ndiversity,  women  were  confronted with  a  range  of  problems,  including
\ntrafficking  in women;  dowry practices; the exploitation  of migrant women;
\nprostitution; the spread  of HIV\/AIDS; violence against women;  infanticide;
\nearly  marriage;  discriminatory  laws;  and  fundamentalism  and   violence
\nresulting from conflicts. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Attention must  be given  to the  suffering of  women in  Asia, she  said,
\ncalling for the Commission  to ensure that States remove all reservations on
\nthe  Convention on the  Elimination of  All Forms  of Discrimination against
\nWomen and the Convention on the Rights of  the Child; implement the  Beijing
\nPlatform  for Action; mobilize  resources to prevent violence against women;
\nundertake research to collect gender disaggregated data; provide  assistance
\nfor older women and disabled  women; and  protect  the  right  of girls from<\/p>\n

sexual exploitation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  States must  also be urged to  protect working girls without families; ban
\ntests  to determine the  sex of  unborn children;  stop infanticide; promote
\neducation at all levels  for women; help  to change attitudes of women;  and
\nensure the availability  of health and  education programmes, she continued.
\nOn the issue of war crimes, she  said those States which had committed those
\ncrimes  should publicly  apologize to  the women who  had been  exploited in
\nthose circumstances, including  the "comfort women".  Furthermore,  military
\nbudgets  should be reallocated  to the  development of  programmes for women
\nand children and action  should be taken on  the current economic crisis and
\nits negative  impact on  women.  She  urged the Commission  to complete  the
\ndrafting of the  optional protocol to the  Convention on the Elimination  of
\nAll Forms  of Discrimination against  Women and stressed that  it should not
\nallow reservations to the optional protocol.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  OKSANA  BOYKO  (Ukraine)  said her  country's  parliament  had  approved a
\nnational plan of  action for 1997-2000 aimed  at improving the situation  of
\nwomen.  It  would set up a steering  council on women  under the Ministry of
\nFamily and  Youth Affairs.   The  plan also  included the  elaboration of  a
\ndraft   declaration on  the general  principles of  state policy  concerning
\nfamily and women,  and a  draft convention  for improving  the situation  of
\nwomen.   The  principle of  equality was  enshrined in  a  range of  laws in
\nUkraine. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She went  on to  say that  there was  a continuation  of violence  against
\nwomen  and girls,  as was  recognized  in  various communities  and cultures
\nworldwide.   Of particular  concern was  the ongoing  trafficking in  women,
\nincluding the recent increase in trafficking  and enslavement of women  from
\neastern  Europe.   The  victims  were young,  naive  Slavic women  who  were
\nentrapped, enslaved and  stripped of their  basic human rights and  had been
\nforced  to work as  prostitutes in  various parts of the  world.  Widespread
\nmeasures should  be  taken to  prevent  such  occurrences.   Her  Government
\nsupported action taken to prevent trafficking  in women.  A non-governmental
\norganization  programme  existed  in  Ukraine  that  had  as  its  objective
\nstrengthening  non-governmental  organizational structures  whose activities
\nfocused on the prevention of the illegal trade in women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Measures such  as targeting the  media, developing educational  programmes
\nand programmes for legal and social aid for  the victims were being pursued,
\nshe  said.   She welcomed  the adoption in  the European Union  of the joint
\naction  plan  to  combat  trafficking  in   human  beings  and  the   sexual
\nexploitation of  children.   Efforts  at  that  level would  bring  tangible
\nresults, she added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  CARMEN TERESA  MARTINEZ (Venezuela) elaborated on  a number  of steps that
\nhad  been taken  in  her  country to  make  improvements in  all areas  that
\nimpinged on women's human  rights.  Action had been taken also through  non-
\ngovernmental organizations.  The need to  resolve women's problems had to be
\nemphasized.  Venezuela  had  prepared  an  intersectoral  plan  to   prevent
\nviolence against women.   It included the sensitization of officials at  all
\nlevels,  including at the  level of prefectures and  at the community level,
\nin women's rights and  how to prevent violence within families.  A statewide
\nnetwork  to assist victims of  violence had been  developed and hotlines had
\nbeen set up to provide information on violence against women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Venezuela  had also adopted  a national  women's plan  of action, covering
\nthe period 1998 to  2003, to achieve the  integration of women  into society
\nby opening  up opportunities for them  and encouraging  their involvement in
\nall areas  of life.  Legislation  to improve the  situation of women  should
\nbecome part of national  legislation very soon.   It would increase  women's
\naccess to  elective office  and create a  ministry to  deal with  adolescent
\nissues and the exploitation of the girl child.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  WARIARA MBUGUA, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  said that despite
\nremarkable  advances in  recognizing and  elaborating  the human  rights  of
\nwomen,  including through  international  treaties, millions  of  women  and
\ngirls  remained largely untouched  by those  agreements.   Many continued to
\nsuffer from lifelong,  gender-based oppression, and  many were  denied their
\nhuman rights  to health, reproductive choice  and freedom  from coercion and
\nviolence.  Society restricted their opportunities  and limited their role to
\nchildbearing without lending their support to that role.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  It  was  time to  break the  silence that  surrounded such  injustice, she
\nsaid.   The  Convention on  the Elimination  of All Forms  of Discrimination
\nAgainst Women,  the International Conference  on Population and  Development
\n(ICPD) Programme of  Action and  the Beijing  Platform for  Action were  all
\nessential to that effort.  To promote the human rights of adolescent  girls,
\nthe  UNFPA, the  Committee  on  the Elimination  of  Discrimination  against
\nWomen,  the  United  Nations  Children's  Fund  (UNICEF)  and  the  Economic
\nCommission for Africa (ECA)  had held an expert meeting in Addis Ababa  last
\nOctober,  resulting  in  a  call  on  governments,  civil  society  and  the
\ninternational community to work together to  expand the options available to
\ngirls.   Also stressed  were the special  needs of  refugees, the  disabled,
\nthose orphaned by AIDS, maternal death or war,  victims of sexual crimes and
\nfemale genital mutilation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She said  that gender-based violence had  reached alarming proportions  in
\nall parts of the  world.  Domestic violence  and other acts that jeopardized
\nwomen's lives and  denied them human dignity  were closely linked to  sexual
\nand  reproductive  health.    The   UNFPA  supported  various  advocacy  and<\/p>\n

legislative  initiates  to prevent  violence  against  women,  including  an
\ninter-agency campaign led by the United  Nations Development Fund for  Women
\n(UNIFEM). Action  was also urgently  needed to protect  the human  rights of
\nwomen in conflict situations.  Fortunately, the  international community had
\nbegun to pay  attention to the special needs of such women.   There could be
\nno more  fitting  way  to mark  the fiftieth  anniversary  of the  Universal
\nDeclaration of  Human Rights  than  to  strengthen the  role of  the  United
\nNations  system   in  promoting  women's   human  rights,  including   their
\nreproductive and sexual rights.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  NADJIBA TABIBI, of the World Islamic Call Society, said as an Afghan,  she
\nwished to raise her voice for the rights of Afghan women.   It was important
\nto remember Queen Radiya,  who played a great role in Afghanistan, and Nahid
\nShaid, who  had defended  the country  and given  her life  under a  Russian
\ntank.    Afghan  women  and  children  were  suffering  not  only  from  the
\nconsequences  of 20  years  of  war, but  from not  being allowed  to attend
\nschool, participate in  domestic activities or go to the public bathhouses –
\n– an important  need for preserving  health.   More than  10 million  Afghan
\nrefugees  were scattered in  Pakistan, Iran  and Turkey  in conditions which
\nwere detrimental to the future of the next generation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  expressed support for  the efforts  of the  European Commissioner for
\nHumanitarian  Affairs, Emma  Bonino,  for  defending the  rights  of  Afghan
\nwomen. She  also expressed appreciation to  United States  First Lady Hilary
\nRodham Clinton  for speaking  about the  plight of  Afghan  refugees and  to
\nUnited States Secretary of State Madeleine  Albright, who had visited Afghan
\nrefugee camps. According  to the Director-General of UNICEF, Carol  Bellamy,
\nthe future  of Afghan  children was at  risk.   Their rights  to safety  and
\nsecurity  and to  participate in  public  and private  life, school  and the
\nworkplace were being violated.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ANASTASIA  SOTIRIADOU (Greece)  said that  her Government  had striven  to
\nensure  the   widest  access   of  women   to  education  and   counselling,
\nparticularly  concerning   violence  against  women   and  girls,  and   the
\nprevention and  treatment of sexual abuse.   Such services  conformed to the
\nDeclaration of the Rights of  the Child.  However, men must also be  reached
\nthrough  formal  education and  community outreach  programmes  in order  to
\nprevent sexual violence, and promote national policies in that regard. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Continuing, she said that  women and girl  children had a right to  proper
\nhealth  care,   and  to  liberation  from   the  customary  practices   that
\nmarginalized  their  humanity.     Towards  that  goal,  the   international
\ncommunity must treat human  rights globally in a fair and equitable  manner,
\ntaking into  account the various historical  and cultural  backgrounds.  The
\nnational human rights movement  had been slow  to address women's rights  as
\nhuman rights issues, but  that was beginning  to change.  At the  Conference
\nin Beijing, the Secretary-General had described violence against women as an
\nintolerable breach  of human  rights.  Indeed,  the many  forms of  violence
\nagainst women compromised their  rights as citizen,  including their  socio-
\neconomic, cultural, political and civil rights. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  phenomenon of  violence  against women  was on  the  rise,  she said.
\nUnfortunately,  agreements had  not  contributed  to its  reduction.    Such
\nviolence had become  a source of income and was perceived as men's right, at
\nhome and in the workplace.   It should not be tolerated.   Women must resist
\nviolence, and governments must make  inroads in that regard.  It was one  of
\nthe top priorities of the Greek Government that  had resulted in substantial
\nlegislative  reform  and  the  promotion  of  information  and  fair   legal
\nprotection. However,  a  real shortage  of  services  for women  victims  of
\nviolence in  Greece persisted,  despite the  establishment of  a centre  for
\nbattered  women in  Athens, as  well  as state  hospitals and  mental health
\ncentres.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ARIANE  SAND-TRIGO,  of  the  International  Committee  of the  Red  Cross
\n(ICRC),  said  that   the  special   protection  of   women  recognized   by<\/p>\n

international  humanitarian law had  led the  ICRC to  give women particular
\nattention during its activities in the field.  The ICRC had sought  separate
\nquarters for women in prisons, and during the  distribution of aid, it  took
\ninto account the special  needs of pregnant  women and nursing mothers.   In
\nsome situations,  the ICRC had intervened  to abolish unfair  discriminatory
\ntreatment  of  women.    For example,  it  had actively  contributed  in the
\nprogressive re-admission of women into hospitals in Kabul.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The ICRC viewed  women as the  central element  of the  family, which  was
\noften  shattered by  conflict,  she  said.   In those  cases, it  reacted to
\nrestore links between  various family  members through its central  research
\nagency. That might include  an exchange of messages through the ICRC, visits
\nto prisons  or family  reunions.   It  also sought  to establish  programmes
\naimed at  enabling women  to resume  their role  as the  focal point  of the
\nfamily,  and  it  might  provide  financial   support  to  women  heads   of
\nhouseholds.  Women were  also considered by  the ICRC to be central  pillars
\nin food  programmes, given their active  involvement in  the distribution of
\nfood and water in refugee  camps, for example, and also given the care  they
\ngave to their children.   With women required to carry  heavy loads in times
\nof  conflict, the  ICRC  would emphasize  the need  for  real  measures that
\nrespected women's dignity and fundamental rights.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  CHOE   MYONG   NAM  (Democratic   People's   Republic   of   Korea)   said
\nimplementation  of   the  Beijing  Platform   for  Action  had  resulted  in
\nsignificant progress  in the  promotion  and protection  of women's  rights.
\nThe  progress clearly demonstrated  that the  importance of  the inalienable
\nrights  of women  as human beings  was increasingly being  highlighted.  The
\nefforts of non-governmental  organizations throughout the world in follow-up
\naction after Beijing were appreciated.   Despite such progress, all forms of
\ndiscrimination   and violence against women  still continued  unabated.  The
\nCommission's   current  session   would   provide   important  momentum   in
\nidentifying new challenges  ahead of the international community's  attempts
\nto promote women's rights and explore ways of overcoming difficulties. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  On the issue of violence against women,  he said its most serious form was
\nsexual slavery, and war-time sexual slavery  in particular, since such  acts
\nhad  not ceased even in the late part of the century.  If sexual slavery was
\nto be brought to  an end, a thorough liquidation  of the past crimes of war-
\ntime  sexual slavery  should be assured.   He drew attention to  the case of
\nmilitary  sexual slavery  committed  with  the  direct  involvement  of  the
\nJapanese  Government and military  before and  during the  Second World War.
\nJapan had never  made serious apologies  to the "victimized  States" and  to
\nthe victims or  their bereaved families for the  crime.  It  was refusing to
\noffer material  compensation to the victims  or their families.  The setting
\nup of a non-governmental fund was part of an effort to distort international
\nopinion   on  the   issue  of  compensation.     Such  irresponsibility  and
\ninsincerity should not be tolerated.  He welcomed  the recommendation of the
\nSpecial Rapporteur  on violence  against women  of the  Commission on  Human<\/p>\n

Rights  to  resolve  the  issue,  and  asked  how  could  the  international
\ncommunity  trust Japan,  write off  its "enemy  State" name from  the United
\nStates Charter and endorse its permanent  membership of the Security Council
\nin such circumstance.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ATTIATA MUSTAFA (Sudan) said her country  had been developing projects and
\nplans to  implement the  Platform for  Action.   There had been  attempts to
\nintegrate  the  work of  all  the  ministries  to  address women's  affairs,
\nincluding focusing on the health of  women and children and  eliminating the
\npractice of  female genital mutilation, which  was very  prevalent in Sudan.
\nOther projects  focused on  income-generating activities.   Non-governmental
\norganizations from  different  parts of  the  country  had been  working  on
\nwomen's issues.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  number of  women in  the Cabinet  and  at  the ministerial  level had
\nincreased,   she  said.     The  statistical  department  was  developing  a
\ngender-sensitive data collection system  on the status of health of the girl
\nchild and on women.  Reproductive health issues  had been introduced in  the<\/p>\n

curriculum of secondary schools  and all universities.   Women in Sudan  now
\nhad the right  to own land, to own  commercial activities and have  separate
\nbank  accounts,  as  well  as  to  have  access  to  financial  support  for
\ndevelopment programmes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  JONES SHELLENBERG, of  the African Women's Development and  Communications
\nNetwork, spoke  of a number of  challenges to  the successful implementation
\nof the Beijing Platform  for Action and made a number of recommendations  on
\nbehalf  of African  women's non-governmental  organizations.   There  was  a
\nfailure  at  all  levels  to  allocate  new  and  additional  resources  for
\nimplementing  the  Platform.  In  her  recommendations,  she called  on  all
\nparties  concerned  to  make  additional  and  new  resources  available for
\nimplementation of the Platform for Action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Those resources in  Africa, she went on,  could be made available  through
\ncuts  in military expenditures, which increased from $154 million in 1995 to
\n$255 million in 1996.  She called on  the international community to put  an
\nend to the flow of the sale of  arms or military aid to  African governments
\nin civil  wars.  She  called on  governments  and  international agencies to
\nestablish  mechanisms   to  involve   women  in   conflict  resolution   and
\npeacemaking.<\/p>\n

\n    She made other recommendations on the  issue of violence against  women,
\nand the girl  child.  On the Convention  on the Elimination  of All Forms of
\nDiscrimination against  Women,  she  urged  all  governments  to  ratify  it
\nwithout  reservations and to  support the  expeditious passage  of the draft
\noptional  protocol being considered  by the Commission.  African governments
\nwere urged  to determine  their  own  agenda of  development with  the  full
\nparticipation of  both women and  men to the  benefit of  all African people
\nwhile strengthening South-South cooperation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  PHOEBE JONES  SCHELLENBERG, Housewives in  Dialogue, speaking on behalf of
\nseveral  non-governmental organizations, said  that there  was a tendency to
\nconsider housewives  as women who worked  at home.   In reality, their  work
\nincluded, among other roles, caring for victims of  rape and violence.  Most
\nof the  world's subsistence agricultural  work was done  by women.   Calling
\nthem farmers obscured the fact that they also processed and cooked the  food
\nthey grew.  Their lives were devalued, which  made them vulnerable to  human
\nrights  violations.    Unpaid  women  who   cared  for  children  were  most
\nvulnerable.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  said that while  a paying  job enabled women to  leave behind marital
\nrape and abuse, they might face sexual harassment in the workplace, for  low
\nwage  workers  were often  prey  to  employers'  sexual  demands.   Domestic
\nworkers were particularly vulnerable.  It  was essential to count  the price
\nthat  women  paid  for  violence  and  increase  their  economic  and social
\nautonomy.  The vulnerability  of women and children to violence also  needed
\nto be addressed, especially for those  considered outside the protection  of
\nthe law, such  as sex industry workers.   In addition, poverty and  overwork
\nshould  be   recognized  as  a   violation  of  women's  rights,  especially
\nconsidering the detrimental effect on girls' education.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ELHAM MOSTAFA,  General Federation  of Arab  Women, said  that the  future
\nwould  be  brighter with  the effective  participation  of women  worldwide.
\nUndoubtedly, the  liberation and advancement of  women and  the enjoyment of
\ntheir full rights was related, in  part, to the successful implementation of
\nthe  Beijing Platform for Action.  While the  obstacles to women's enjoyment
\nof their human rights was outlined in the Beijing Platform, women living  in
\nthe  occupied areas of  Palestine continued to be  affected by the brutality
\ninflicted  by the  occupying military  authorities.    In recent  years, the
\nworld had  witnessed the  phenomenon of  economic  sanctions which  violated
\nhuman rights, in Libya, Sudan, Cuba and  especially Iraq.  Prohibiting  food
\nas   a  means   to  achieve   political  purposes  seriously   affected  the
\nimplementation of the Beijing Declaration. <\/p>\n

  Right of Reply<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Speaking in exercise  of the right of  reply, the representative of  China
\nsaid   that  this   morning  a   spokesperson  from   the   non-governmental
\norganization Women and Armed Conflict had  made allegations about the  human
\nrights of Tibetan women, which the  Chinese delegation rejected as  "totally
\ngroundless".  The spokesperson totally  disregarded the  facts and  used the
\nCommission  on the  Status of  Women to  attack  a  sovereign nation.   Such
\ndespicable action should not be allowed by that solemn Commission.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

   He  said that it was known to  all that Tibet was an  inseparable part of
\nthe  Chinese territory.  The issue of Tibet was an internal affair of China.
\nMoreover, the status of  Tibetan women and their  enjoyment of human  rights
\nhad greatly improved,  as witnessed by the  world community.  The  erroneous
\nview expressed by the spokesperson was self-defeating.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>* *** *<\/p>\n

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Commission on the Status of Women Forty-second Session 10th Meeting (PM) STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION HEARS CALLS FOR  FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP IN  IMPLEMENTING BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION   Non-governmental  organizations called  for  new and  additional financial resources  for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, as the Commission on  the  Status  of Women  concluded its  general  debate on  the implementation  of  objectives  and action  on  critical  areas  of  concern adopted by the […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[1809],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1841],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-213736","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-press-release","document-source-commission-on-the-status-of-women-csw","document-subject-women","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/213736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/213736\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=213736"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=213736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}