{"id":213919,"date":"1998-03-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T20:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=213919"},"modified":"2019-03-12T20:42:06","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T20:42:06","slug":"auto-insert-213919","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-213919\/","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
\n2nd Meeting (AM)<\/p>\n

\t\t<\/span>   SPEAKERS  CALL FOR  URGENT ACTION  TO ELIMINATE<\/p>\n

\t\t<\/span>   DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GIRL CHILD AND VIOLENCE<\/p>\n

\t<\/span>    AGAINST WOMEN, AS DEBATE IN WOMEN'S COMMISSION CONTINUES<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\t<\/span> Human Rights of Women, Women and Armed Conflict Also Discussed<\/p>\n

  Discrimination  against the  girl child  and violence  against women  were
\nurgent priorities that  had to  be addressed  for the  attainment of  gender
\nequality, several speakers stressed this afternoon  as the Commission on the
\nStatus of Women continued  its general debate on  the follow-up to  the 1995
\nFourth World Conference on Women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The discussion also  focused on the  two other  areas of critical  concern
\nselected for  the current  session:   human rights  of women; and  women and
\narmed conflict.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Among those stressing  that the  issue of the  girl child was  fundamental
\nfor the achievement of gender equality,  the representative of Namibia  said
\nparents and teachers had an equal role to  play if the girl child's  dignity
\nand fundamental rights were  to be restored.  She called upon the Commission
\nto conclude the current session with a clear and strong decision  expressing
\nthe international  community's commitment towards  eradicating all forms  of
\ndiscrimination against the girl child.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In  their  strong condemnation of violence against women as a violation of
\nwomen's   human  rights,  speakers   stressed  the  need  for  national  and
\ninternational  programmes   to  tackle   the  problem   effectively.     The
\nrepresentative of Liechtenstein said violence was one of the major obstacles<\/p>\n

to  equality, development and  peace.   Prevention  was  a  crucial  tool to<\/p>\n

address  the phenomenon,  she  said, adding that legislative and educational<\/p>\n

measures were also important  to  promote eradication  of  violence  against<\/p>\n

women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  Commission heard  several statements  addressing national  plans  and
\nprogrammes  to  address  the  problem  of   violence  against  women.    The
\nrepresentative  of Singapore said  her Government  had taken  such action as
\nadopting legislation that widened the  definition of violence  against women
\nand provided for counselling  for the abuser; setting up of family courts to
\ndeal   specifically  with   violence   against  women;   promoting  conflict
\nresolution  among  family  members;  and  providing  emotional  support  and
\ninformation to  help victims  make informed  choices through  social service
\nagencies.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Statements were  also  made by  the  representatives  of Brazil,  Ecuador,
\nJapan, Spain, South Africa, Bangladesh, Israel, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana,  China
\nand Botswana.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Representatives  of  the  following  organizations  also  made statements:<\/p>\n

United Nations  Development  Programme  (UNDP), International  Research  and
\nTraining  Institute  for  the  Advancement  of  Women  (INSTRAW),   Economic
\nCommission for Europe (ECE), Economic Commission  for Latin America and  the
\nCaribbean  (ECLAC), International Labour  Organization (ILO), United Nations
\nEducational,  Scientific and  Cultural  Organization (UNESCO),  World Health<\/p>\n

Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Bank  and<\/p>\n

the International Organization for Migration (IOM).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Representatives of  the Council of Europe, as well as of the International
\nConfederation  of  Free Trade  Unions  (ICFTU)  and  the  All India  Women's
\nConference, also spoke.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m.  tomorrow, 3 March, to  continue
\nits  general discussion on the follow-up to the 1995 Fourth World Conference
\non Women.<\/p>\n

  Commission Work Programme<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The Commission on the Status of Women met  this afternoon to continue  its
\ndiscussion of national plans on the  implementation of the Beijing  Platform
\nfor Action  adopted at  the 1995  Fourth World  Conference on  Women.   (For
\nbackground on the session, see Press Release WOM\/1029 of 27 February.)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Statements<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  NANCY  RICHE, of  the  International Confederation  of  Free  Trade Unions
\n(ICFTU),  said its  organization had  been established  in 1949 and  had 206
\naffiliates in  141 countries on  five continents,  with a membership  of 125
\nmillion, 43 per cent  of whom were  women.  She said the situation  of women
\nhad   deteriorated.     Globalization  of  markets,   structural  adjustment
\nprogrammes, free  trade  and investment  agreements  had  turned out  to  be
\ndevastating for women.   The Asian financial crisis would result in the loss
\nof 13.4 million jobs in Indonesia  and 2 million in Thailand, 80 per cent of
\nthe 2 million being women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  said the  economic  processing  zones, which  were  attracting  large
\ncorporations from  the North,  were the  scene of  some of  the most  brutal
\nforms of  exploitation of female, and male,  workers.    Those women who had
\nattempted to unionize  had been dismissed, and, in  a case in the  Dominican
\nRepublic, two women, one of whom was pregnant,  had been attacked with clubs
\nand  left to  die. Globalization  of  trade,  and competition  combined with
\nderegulation  of  national financial  and  labour  markets,  had  reinforced
\ninequalities for  women.  Large  numbers of women, including  an even larger<\/p>\n

percentage of part-timers, were going without  basic benefits, such as  paid
\nsick leave, health coverage and pension plans.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MARCELA  NICODEMOS  (Brazil)  said  her  Government,  together  with   the
\nNational Council for Women's Rights, was  promoting the necessary changes in
\nthe Constitution to  ensure equal rights for  women in the civil, political,
\neconomic and social domains.   The Government  considered combating violence
\nagainst women one of  its priorities.  It had launched a national  programme
\nfor preventing and combating domestic and  sexual violence with the  support
\nof  non-governmental organizations and many  other actors in  civil society.
\nAs part of the  campaign, a draft legislation had  been adopted to amend the
\nBrazilian  criminal  code,  whereby  sexual   crimes  would  no   longer  be
\nconsidered  crimes  against  morality.    The Brazilian  Congress  was  also<\/p>\n

considering  draft legislation on domestic violence.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The rights  of  the girl child were an essential component in ensuring the
\npromotion and protection of women's  human rights, she said.   The Brazilian
\nstatute of the child and adolescent had  been praised by many  international
\norganizations, including  the United  Nations Children's  Fund (UNICEF),  as
\none  of the  most  comprehensive pieces  of  legislation on  the  rights  of
\nchildren.  In the critical area of women in  armed conflict, Brazil believed<\/p>\n

that  women should  not  only  be protected  against all  kinds of violence,<\/p>\n

but  also  that  their role as caretakers,  as well as  peace  promoters and<\/p>\n

negotiators, should be recognized and enhanced.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ROSINA  WILTSHIRE,  Acting  Assistant  Administrator  of  the  Bureau  for
\nDevelopment Policy of  the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said
\ngender mainstreaming  involved bringing the  results of  economic and policy
\nanalysis  into  the  core decision-making  processes.    Emphasis  should be
\nplaced on  the gender mainstreaming of  all human  development themes, which
\nwould  contribute   to  a  more   holistic  sustainable  human   development
\nframework. Capacities  at  the  country  level were  being  strengthened  to
\nsupport the Resident  Coordinator system for inter-agency collaboration  for
\nfollow-up  to the  Beijing Conference.    United Nations  Volunteers  gender
\nspecialists were being placed  in 20 UNDP  offices.  In addition, the  UNDP,
\nin  collaboration  with  the  United  Nations  Development  Fund  for  Women
\n(UNIFEM),  was  supporting the  placement  of  10  gender  advisers in  UNDP
\noffices in selected United Nations Development Assistance Framework  (UNDAF)
\ndesignated countries.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In  January,  the UNDP had approved  a new gender balance policy for 1997-<\/p>\n

2001, she  said.   That  policy  provided  the  following:  increased female
\nstaffing targets; accountability  measures for those targets; a  recruitment
\npolicy exclusively targeted  to women; stronger commitment to  mainstreaming
\ngender issues in human resource management;  balancing work and family life;
\nand a commitment to a work environment free of sexual harassment.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She went on to say that actions supported by the  UNDP at the regional and
\ncountry   levels  strengthened   women's   legal  rights   to   assets   and
\nopportunities, and linked human  rights to women's  greater participation in
\nconflict resolution  and peace-building.  There  had also  been an increased
\ncommitment to  address violence against  women.  In  addition, the UNDP  had
\nmade  a  commitment,  through  its  Resident  Representatives,  to   support
\ngovernment reporting  in compliance to the  Committee on  the Elimination of
\nDiscrimination  against Women.   The  UNDP  urged governments  to strengthen
\ngender-balanced representation  and gender  advocacy in  all United  Nations
\nforums.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  YAKIN  ERTURK,  Director  of  the  International  Research  and   Training
\nInstitute for the Advancement of Women  (INSTRAW), said that while  progress
\nwas  being  achieved  in  women's  rights,  changing  global  patterns  were
\ngenerating  new  threats  to  the  rights  of  women.    Emerging  areas  of
\nparticular concern to  INSTRAW included the  trend towards defining identity
\non the  basis of  community  membership rather  than  on  the basis  of  the<\/p>\n

individual.   Another was  the lack  of sufficient  legal infrastructure  to
\nprovide social contract at the international  level to address the  problems
\nof trafficking  of women,  seasonal migrations  across national  boundaries,
\ndisplacements caused by environmental disasters, among others.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She said forced marriages, involuntary  virginity tests,  honour  killings <\/p>\n

and   female  genital  mutilations   were  just   some  examples  of  severe
\ntransgressions on the human rights of women,  which were legitimized on  the
\ngrounds of  culture.  The  examination of  women's rights  as human  rights,
\nparticularly by  the Commission  on the  Status of  Women, might serve  as a
\nlitmus test  for the questions that  human rights  advocates and governments
\nmust face in the twenty-first century.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Turning to the second area of  concern to INSTRAW, she said  it was urgent
\nthat International Labour  Organization's (ILO) labour agreements and  other
\ninternational instruments  were expanded  to provide  minimum standards  for
\nthe rights of  women, the girl child and  older women.   The changing global
\nconditions carried  many contradictions for women.   Those changes  embodied
\nequally  strong tendencies  either towards  greater subjugation  or  greater
\nemancipation  of women.   The  INSTRAW  was  committed to  conducting policy
\nresearch that would contribute  to the emancipation of  women.  It  held the
\nview that transforming unequal gender structures  required a focus on  men's
\nrole  and  deconstruction of  the  existing  understanding  of  masculinity.
\nReconstructing gender  roles to achieve an ungendered human rights discourse
\nwould undoubtedly be the agenda for the next millennium, she concluded.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ELSIE  AGUILAR  (Ecuador) said  a  plan  for  equal  opportunity had  been
\nadopted by her Government  to bring about gender  equality.  As regards four
\nareas  of critical  concern being  dealt with  by the  Commission during the
\nsession,  she said her  Government had  still a  great deal  of work  to do.
\nEcuador was committed to the eradication of violence against  women, and had
\nput in  place measures to deal  with the problem  and to provide  protection
\nfor victims.  Slowly, but surely, it was hoped that the  goal of 20 per cent
\ndecision-making positions in Government for women would be achieved. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The  Government also planned to improve the quality  of education of women
\nand  children, including introduction of programmes to improve literacy, she
\nsaid.   There  was a  public policy  for the  improvement  of the  rights of
\nwomen. She hoped  the outcome of  the Commission's work would  contribute to
\nthe attainment of the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  PATRICE  ROBINEU, representative  of the  Economic Commission  for  Europe
\n(ECE), said special measures  were required to enable women in the States of
\nthe  Commonwealth  of  Independent  States  (CIS)  to  have  access  to  the
\nopportunities in the transition  to market economy.   Reforms carried out by
\nthe ECE placed emphasis  on gender mainstreaming.  Focal points on women had
\nbeen established.  ECE functions included  preparing for gender equality  in
\nall its  subsidiary bodies.   The ECE  organized on  regular basis  meetings
\nthat  enabled all its  organs to exchange ideas  and take joint initiatives.
\nIt also worked with non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MARGARET McCAFFERY, of the Economic Commission  for Latin America and  the
\nCaribbean  (ECLAC),  said the  Commission's relations  with non-governmental
\norganizations  concerned with  women's  issues  had been  strengthened.    A
\nmeeting organized by those organizations, held  at ECLAC, culminated in  the
\nadoption of  a  political declaration  which  was  presented to  a  regional
\nconference following  the event.   Another  key task  of the  Commission had
\nbeen to devise a  strategy for incorporating the  gender perspective in  its
\nprogrammes and  projects.  A  pilot project had  been designed with  support
\nfrom the  German Agency for Technical  Cooperation (GTZ),  and its execution
\nphase should start in the coming months.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  A  joint  project  had been  initiated  with  Latin  American  educational
\ninstitutions  dealing  with social  sciences to  develop  indicators on  the
\nempowerment  of women  and leadership,  she  said.   The objectives  was  to
\ndetermine the extent of existing indicators on aspects  of the role of women<\/p>\n

in the  region.   More  than  300  requests had  been  sent out  to  various
\nnational,  subregional  and  regional  bodies.    Replies  so  far  received
\nattested to a great  willingness to collaborate.   The Commission hoped  the
\nproject would establish a  basis for systematic  cooperation among  entities
\nthat generated information on women in Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

   YORIKO MEGURO (Japan) said her Government  had formulated a new  national
\nplan for  gender equality by the year  2000.  The plan identified four basic
\ntargets, including building  a social system that promoted gender  equality;
\nachieving  gender equality in  the workplace, family and community; creating
\na society where  the human rights of women  were promoted and defended;  and
\ncontributing to equality, development and peace in the global community.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  To monitor the plan's implementation, she said an  annual report was being
\ncompiled by the Prime Minister's Office, the first  of which was issued last
\nyear.    Japan preferred  that  the  planned  high-level  plenary review  be
\nconvened as  a  special  session in June 2000 or,  alternatively, May of the<\/p>\n

same year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  JANE ZHANG,  of  the  International Labour  Organization (ILO),  said  the
\nFourth World Conference on Women had placed women  and gender issues on  the
\ntop  of  the  international agenda.    The ILO  had  since strengthened  its
\ncooperation on  issues related  to gender  equality in  the workplace.   The
\norganization  had  addressed  working  women's  rights —  to  raise  gender
\nawareness  and mainstream gender  concerns in  labour and social programmes.
\nThe  ILO programme  was designed  to  improve the  quality and  quantity  of
\nwomen's  employment in the national  context.  Three national plans had been
\nprepared.  The  ILO had also prepared  a comprehensive guide for integrating
\ngender issues  in collective bargaining, which  would be  implemented in all
\nregions of the world. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Another area  of progress included  gender planning  in the area of labour
\nadministration,  she   said.    A  guide   had  been   prepared  for  labour
\nadministrators.  Practical  guidelines in operating social funds  and safety<\/p>\n

net programmes had also  been  prepared.  Workshops and  seminars  had  been<\/p>\n

organized in countries such as the  United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe<\/p>\n

in the area of employment and structural adjustment.  Seminars had also been<\/p>\n

held in countries with economies in transition.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  provided further  details of  workshops and  seminars  on a  range of
\nareas  such as  "breaking  through the  glass ceiling".    The  promotion of
\nsocial  justice   was  a  major  mandate   and  was   being  addressed  with
\ndissemination of  information  on issues  such  as  equal pay,  equality  of
\ntreatment  in employment  and equal  access  to  vocational training.   Some
\nprogress had been made after  Beijing, but a great deal  still needed to  be
\ndone.   The  ILO would  continue to  work to  make its  commitments made  in
\nBeijing a reality.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  CONCEPTION DANCA  USA (Spain) supported the  statement made  by the United
\nKingdom  on behalf  of the  European Union.    At  the national  level, many
\nefforts had been  made since Beijing to  implement the Platform  for Action.
\nThe area of primary  focus had been violence against women.  The  Government
\nhad adopted  a third  plan for gender  equality, which  focused on  violence
\nagainst women.   With  the recognition  that violence  was an  obstacle that<\/p>\n

prevented women from enjoying their human  rights, the national plan focused<\/p>\n

on such issues  as the eradication  of  violence,  sexual  harassment in the<\/p>\n

workplace  and trafficking  against  women.   The  plan  was  already  being<\/p>\n

implemented.   However,  greater efforts would have to be made by the entire<\/p>\n

society to ensure its full implementation in all the  regions of the country.<\/p>\n

Last November,  a conference on  violence against women had been  held  with<\/p>\n

the  participation  of  all  the  State  sectors.     The  result   was  the<\/p>\n

establishment  of an interministerial commission to coordinate activities to<\/p>\n

address the issue. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The national plan was a platform to design specific strategies to improve
\nthe status  of women,  she said.   The problem  of battered  women was  also
\nbeing  addressed;  centres  were  being  created  for  them.    In addition,
\ntraining for officers in the police force and  in the civil guard had  begun
\nto make those groups  more sensitive to violence against women.  Also,  more
\nwomen would be  employed in  the police  force and as  members of the  civil
\nguard.   Assistance would  also be  provided to  victims of violence  in the
\ncourts.   The national plan of action also took account of other issues such
\nas prevention, sensitization, health and research.   The entire nation would
\nbe  sensitized  to  the issue  of violence  because  it  was a  problem that<\/p>\n

affected the whole society.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  SOPHIE PIQUET,  of the  Council of  Europe, said  that combating  violence
\nagainst women was "an absolute priority" of the  Council.  At the  follow-up
\nto the Fourth  World Conference on  Women in 1996, its 40  member States had
\nrated violence against women as the most urgent  issue in Europe.  As  such,
\nthe Council  had recently  prepared  a  plan of  action for  combating  such
\nviolence,  and had begun  preparation of  a non-binding  legal instrument in
\nthat regard. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The European Convention on  Human Rights was  another relevant  instrument
\ndesigned  to protect  women's  human rights,  she said.    In fact,  it  was
\nrecently  invoked  during  a  court  case  concerning  a  17-year  old  girl
\nallegedly raped  and beaten  by Turkish  gendarmes.   The  Council was  also
\nintensively  working  to  tackle  the  "rapidly  expanding  phenomenon"   of
\ntrafficking  in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  Recent
\nmigratory flows, combined with economic and  other factors, had made  Europe
\none  of  the  most  attractive  zones  for  traffickers.    That phenomenon,
\nassociated with prostitution, was reaching  proportions  requiring concerted<\/p>\n

international action.  The Council had published a plan of action to  combat<\/p>\n

trafficking  in  women,  and  a multisectoral group of specialists on action<\/p>\n

against trafficking was preparing  a draft recommendation on that subject to<\/p>\n

the Council, among other actions in that area.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She said  that the  Council of  Europe had  always been  a laboratory  for
\nideas.  In recent years, intensive work had  been carried out in the area of
\ngender mainstreaming, and a comprehensive report on the  subject would  soon<\/p>\n

be published. In addition, the Council was actively studying ways to involve
\nmen in equality issues.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  IRMA ENGELBRECHT (South  Africa) said her country supported  international
\nefforts to promote  human rights.  It was aware that it had  an immense task
\nto make human rights, especially women's  rights, a  reality for  all  South
\nAfricans.   The  human  rights of  women were  positively structured  in the
\ncountry's Constitution.  The empowerment of women at all  levels of  society<\/p>\n

was  a  priority of the Government.   South  African women were eager not to<\/p>\n

lose the  momentum created by the  Fourth World Conference on Women and were<\/p>\n

committed to  playing  a  vital  role  in  focusing  the  attention  of  the<\/p>\n

Government on its undertaking to implement the Beijing Platform for Action.\n<\/p>\n

  She  said the high  incidence of  violence against women in  South Africa,
\nespecially  rape, was still  a cause  of great concern.   The Government was
\nactively engaged  in implementing  a combination  of coordinated  strategies
\nand programmes  to improve the  situation.  Some  of the  measures taken had
\nalready  been  explained  to   the  Commission  on   Human  Rights'  Special<\/p>\n

Rapporteur on violence against women,  who had visited South Africa in 1996.
\nAs an example of the Government's resolve to  remedy the situation, it would
\nbe  hosting a  Southern African  Development Community (SADC)  Conference on
\nViolence  against  Women  this  month  to  coincide with  the  International
\nWomen's Day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  On the  question of  the girl  child, she  said Africans had  to carefully
\nconsider  policies and programmes  to ensure  the social  integration of the
\ngirl child and to assist in developing their potential as an equal member of
\nsociety.    South Africa  strongly  condemned  acts  of  violence and  other
\natrocities against women  and children trapped  in conflict situations, and,<\/p>\n

as  a  State  party  to  Convention  on  the  Elimination  of  All  Forms of<\/p>\n

Discrimination against Women,  encouraged member  States  to  reaffirm their<\/p>\n

opposition to the devastation caused by such acts.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said  that the Bangladesh Ministry of
\nWomen and Children Affairs had been designated as the focal Ministry for
\nthe  follow-up  and  implementation  of  the  commitments  of  the   Beijing
\nConference. Other  important  developments  included the  announcement  last
\nyear of a national  policy for women's advancement.   That policy embraced a
\nholistic framework  for women's equality, strove  to eliminate  all forms of
\ndiscrimination  against women  and girls,  establish their  human rights  in
\nsociety and ensure their empowerment.  Also  formulated was a national  plan
\nfor women's advancement aimed at integrating women's development in national<\/p>\n

development  efforts in all sectors,  and  an interministerial  coordination<\/p>\n

and  evaluation  committee  to monitor the progress of implementation of the<\/p>\n

national action plan. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Greater  national awareness of  women's issues  was an encouraging outcome
\nof the Beijing Conference, which had been translated into Bangla and  widely
\ndisseminated,  he said.   Following up  on its commitments  made at Beijing,
\nthe  Government  had  withdrawn  two  of   its  four  reservations  to   the
\nConvention, and the  remaining reservations were  under consideration.  Also
\nbeing considered was the withdrawal of  reservations from the Convention  on
\nthe Rights of the Child.  At the same time, the Government was contemplating<\/p>\n

signing  and acceding to a few other international human  rights instruments<\/p>\n

pertaining to women, including the Convention on the Rights of Women Migrant<\/p>\n

Workers and the Convention on the Political Rights of Women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  As part  of its multi-pronged approach  to implement  the Beijing Platform
\nfor  Action,  the  Government  had  also  undertaken  steps  to  address the
\ncritical areas being considered  at the current  session, he said.  To  help
\ncombat violence  against women, a multi-sectoral  project would be  launched
\nto provide  women with better  access to  legal justice  and create  greater
\nawareness through  public education campaigns.   A similar  project would be
\nundertaken by  the Ministry  of Women  and Children Affairs  to address  the
\nproblem of trafficking in  women and children.   Other new measures included
\nthe  creation  of women's  investigation cells,  supported by  female police
\nofficers, to  provide safe and   confidential protection  services to women,
\nand a decade action  plan for the  girl child  to protect and promote  their
\nrights, education and health.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MASHA LUBELSKY (Israel) said the  road to equality was reached through the
\nfield of employment.   The more women were  integrated in the workplace, the
\nbetter their chances would be to achieve economic independence.  In Israel,
\nefforts  to  encourage the  female  labour  force  were  accompanied by  the
\ndevelopment of  legislation relating  to the rights  of working women.   The
\nMinistry  of Labour and  Social Welfare  was making efforts  to enforce that
\nlegislation, and a chain  of day-care  centres for working families had also<\/p>\n

been established.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The dynamic international economy required a  change in work patterns, she
\nsaid.  Flexibility and mobility were important. Such circumstances presented<\/p>\n

obstacles  for  many women  who  did  not have access to new work places and
\nprofessions.   Women who  lived far  from the central region  of the country
\nfound it  difficult to  leave their homes  for long hours.   Therefore,  the
\nIsraeli Government was initiating professional training  frameworks  and was
\nencouraging women  to join the field  of small businesses.   Governments and
\ninstitutions must lead the efforts for the advancement  of women and set  an
\nexample for the private sector.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Last  year, the  Prime Minister's  Office had  taken steps to  establish a
\ngovernment authority for the improvement  of the status of  women, she said.
\nThat  authority  would  supervise  and  coordinate  all  government  offices
\nregarding  the advancement of women  and equal opportunity, and  would be in
\ncontact  with all  non-governmental bodies  dealing  with  that issue.   The
\nPrime Minister's Office also had established  a public awareness campaign to
\nprevent  domestic  violence.    In  a  joint  effort  with  other government
\noffices, it  held a  campaign to  encourage victims  to file  complaints and
\njoin  shelters for battered women. The number of  such shelters had recently
\nbeen increased to 12, including one for Arab women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  YOUSSOUFOU BAMBA (Cote  d'Ivoire) said the themes  chosen this year by the
\nCommission  were the  most sensitive  and  decisive  for the  advancement of
\nwomen. The  implementation of  the Beijing  Platform for  Action related  to
\nthose areas was  essential to improve the status  of women.  His  Government
\nhad  organized broad  consultations on  the  advancement  of women  that had
\nresulted  in  the  preparation of  a  white paper  on  the participation  of
\nIvorian women  in all  areas of  society.  Priority  had been  given to  the
\nrights of women and to integrating them into development.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In the  area of  legislation, under the  auspices of the  Ministry of  the
\nFamily and  the Advancement of Women, a working group had drawn up a list of
\nall laws  that  discriminated  against women.   Action  was  being taken  to
\nabolish discrimination in a  number of areas.  Draft laws had been  prepared
\nto  address such  issues as  co-ownership and  inheritance.   A  campaign of
\nawareness  was  also being  carried  out to  inform  the  population  of the
\ncontents of the Beijing Platform for Action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The Government of Cote  d'Ivoire was taking measures to protect women from
\nviolence, he said.  The rights of  the girl child were of utmost importance,
\nand laws were  being strengthened to  protect the  girl child  and   prevent
\nexploitation of young girl  workers.  The change  in the attitude of parents
\nwas important.  Children and women were the main victims of armed  conflict.
\nWomen  must,  therefore,   be  given  a  voice  in  promoting  peace.    The
\ncooperation of the United Nations and non-governmental  organizations in the
\narea of the  advancement of women was welcome.   They had organized  several
\nworkshops in  Cote d'Ivoire.  His Government would participate  fully in all
\nefforts to assist in the full implementation of the Platform for Action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  NINA SIBAL,  of the  United Nations Educational,  Scientific and  Cultural
\nOrganization (UNESCO), urged the Commission to  consider as a theme  for its
\nhigh-level plenary review of the implementation  of the Beijing Platform for
\nAction planned for  2000, the  role of  women in  the culture  of peace  and
\ntheir contribution to that culture.   The Secretary-General had asked UNESCO
\nto present  a draft  declaration and  a draft  programme of  action for  the
\nobservance of  the year 2000  as the International  Year for  the Culture of
\nPeace.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The UNESCO  was giving  major attention  to integrating  fully the  gender
\nperspective  in  science  and  in  cultural   policies,  she  said.    Three
\nconferences planned —  on cultural policies  and development (Stockholm, in
\nMarch),  world conference  on  higher  education  (October 1998)  and  world
\nconference on science (June 1999) offered special  opportunities to mobilize
\nUNESCO member  States in favour of  involving women fully  in each of  those
\nareas, thereby  implementing some  of the Beijing commitments.   Assessments
\nand proposals  regarding women's  role  in science  and research,  including
\nscientific  and technical  education for  girls  and  women were  thus being
\nprepared through regional forums.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  CLAUDIA  FRITSCHE  (Liechtenstein) said  it  was  the  duty  of States  to
\nempower  women through measures  to achieve  the advancement  of their human<\/p>\n

rights.  Violence was  one of the  major obstacles to equality,  development
\nand  peace.   Prevention  was  a  crucial  tool to  address  the phenomenon.
\nLegislative and educational  measures were  of equal  importance to  promote
\nthe process leading to the eradication of violence against women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  On women and  armed conflicts,  she said it  was crucially important  that
\nthe  voices of women  were heard  more clearly and that  women were actively
\ninvolved  in  all   stages  of  conflict  resolution  processes,   including
\npostconflict peace-building.   The  United Nations itself  could and  should
\nmake a major contribution  towards that end  by including more women in  its
\nrelevant  field  missions,  in  particular,  in  leading positions  such  as
\nSpecial Representatives of the Secretary-General.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ASHA  WILLIAMS, of the World Health Organization (WHO),  said that in 1995
\nthe organization had begun work on an initiative focused on the  role of the
\nhealth  sector  in  the  prevention  of   violence  against  women  and  the
\nmanagement  of its consequences.   The  priority issues  included:  violence
\nagainst women  committed by parties and  families, rape  and sexual assault.
\nThe  long-term  aims  of  WHO  activities  in  that  area  were  to identify
\neffective strategies  to  prevent  violence and  to decrease  morbidity  and
\nmortality among the women who were victims of abuse.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  As part  of its plan of  action on the matter,  the WHO was undertaking  a
\nmulti-country study  on the  prevalence and health consequences  of violence
\nagainst women,  she  said.   It was  also  supporting  the documentation  of
\nexisting  interventions, and the  development and  testing of  new ones, for
\nthe prevention  of violence against women.   Currently, there was little  or
\nno  documentation of  even the  limited  number  of interventions  that were
\nbeing tried in developing countries.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In addition, she said the WHO was developing a database on the  prevalence
\nof  violence  against  women in families, rape and sexual assault, and their
\nconsequences  to  the  health  of  women  and  their  families.    The  data
\ncollection would be  used to ascertain:  if there  was sufficient data  upon<\/p>\n

which to develop policies and programmes on women's  health in  those areas;<\/p>\n

where further research was needed; and the magnitude and severity of related-
\nhealth risks.  That information would be useful in various forums for policy<\/p>\n

and planning, and would ultimately be made accessible through the Internet.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  MOLLY  ANIM-ADDO (Ghana)  said her  Government's  Plan  of Action  for the
\nimplementation of the Beijing Platform addressed  women's rights as a whole,
\nwith special  emphasis on  violence against  women.   The appropriate  legal
\nbodies  were empowered  to  review  laws  in  order  to provide  women  with
\ncomprehensive  legal  protection  from  various  forms  of  violence.    The
\nNational  Council on  Women  and  Development,  in collaboration  with  non-
\ngovernmental organizations, had  embarked on extensive awareness  programmes
\nto  change  stereotyped  attitudes  and  negative  cultural  and traditional<\/p>\n

practices  that gave rise to the violation of women's rights.  Women victims<\/p>\n

who had suffered various types of violence were given access  to counselling<\/p>\n

services, free legal aid and temporary shelters and relief support.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Increasing incidents  of armed and ethnic  conflicts exposed  women to the
\ndangers  of sexual violence,  including rape,  she said.   The international
\ncommunity  must take appropriate  action against  the targeting  of women in
\nconflict  situations.    The  perpetrators  of  gender  violence  should  be
\nactively  pursued   and  brought   to  justice   under  international   law.
\nConsideration should also be given  to the insertion of  specific clauses in
\nthe Geneva Convention  on the Protection and  Treatment of Prisoners  of War
\nto   deal  with  gender-based   violations  of  human  rights  during  armed
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  went on  to  say  that Ghana  had  supported the  elaboration of  the
\noptional  protocol to  the Women's  Anti-Discrimination Convention  and  had
\nparticipated  widely in  the working  group  elaborating  it.   That process
\nwould eventually allow  victims of the violations  of the provisions of  the
\nConvention to make individual complaints, which would bring its  application
\nin line with other human rights instruments.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  FENG CUI (China) said  that the concept of equality between women and  men
\nhad  become  a  strong  call  for  action  by  the  international community.
\nWomen's  rights  to   subsistence  and  development  had  been   universally
\nrecognized with unprecedented  progress in their  status, dignity and rights
\nin the fields of politics, economy, society, culture  and family.  China had
\nbeen exerting  unremitting efforts to improve  the status  of women, protect
\ntheir human rights and promote gender equality in  legislation,  institution<\/p>\n

and policy formulation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

   Towards  implementing  the Beijing Platform for Action, she said that her
\nGovernment had taken some new initiatives that  included the promotion of  a
\n1992 law designed to  protect women's rights and interests.  In addition,  a
\nseries  of regulations  and protections  in the  area of  criminal law  were
\nfurther defined  in the  last two  years.   For example,  more explicit  and
\ncomprehensive  provisions  protecting the  personal freedom  and dignity  of<\/p>\n

women, and  the right  to health of the girl child were incorporated  in the<\/p>\n

criminal code.  Another revision was under  way in the current marriage law.<\/p>\n

The new  law sought to  further  protect  women's  human  rights,  eliminate<\/p>\n

domestic  violence,  promote  gender  equality,   advocate   democracy   and<\/p>\n

strengthen the sense of family responsibility.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The protection  of women's  human rights was  not an  isolated issue,  but
\nrather one  which required  the assistance  of the international  community,
\nshe said.  Developed countries should  assist developing countries in  their
\nefforts to  advance their economies, and  promote and protect  the rights of
\nwomen and children  in order to realize the  goals set forth in the  Beijing
\nPlatform for Action.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  A  representative of the  All India  Women's Conference  said the critical
\nareas of concern embodied  in the Beijing  Platform for Action could not  be
\nviewed in isolation.  For two decades, attention had been drawn to  violence
\nagainst  women, which  was a  human rights issues.   The issue  of women and
\narmed conflict should be given more attention than previously.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Her organization had demonstrated determination to combat violence against<\/p>\n

women,  she said.    Non-governmental  organizations in  India had organized<\/p>\n

mass  campaigns  to  draw  attention  to  the  rights  of  women.   Violence<\/p>\n

against women  had  to be  recognized  as a  social issue.   Law enforcement<\/p>\n

machinery  had  to  be  made   gender  sensitive.    Legislative  procedures<\/p>\n

should also be made sensitive to the plight of victims.  Religious practices<\/p>\n

needed to be reviewed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

   FOO CHIA HSIA (Singapore) said her  Government had a comprehensive  civil
\nand penal  system to  protect  women.   A  women's  charter adopted  by  the
\ngovernment was  widely recognized as a  progressive piece of legislation.  A
\nrecent amendment to it  widened the definition of violence against women and
\nprovided for counselling for the  abuser.  Family courts had been set up  to
\ndeal specifically with violence  against women.   Conflict resolution  among
\nfamily  members  was  also  dealt  with.  Social  service  agencies provided<\/p>\n

emotional support and information to help  victims  make  informed  choices.<\/p>\n

Public  education could  also help  combat  family violence.  Singapore  had<\/p>\n

training programmes to deal with the problem, she added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  also stressed the importance attached by Singapore to the problem of<\/p>\n

violence  against  women  migrant  workers  and  suggested  a  holistic  and
\ncomprehensive approach  to dealing  with it.   The  problem should  be dealt
\nwith  jointly by States that supplied the migrant  workers and the recipient
\ncountries.   A  bill  was  before the  Parliament on  measures to  deal with
\nviolation of rights of migrant women workers, she concluded.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    SREE  GURURAJA,  Senior Adviser  on  Gender  Development  of the  United
\nNations Children's  Fund (UNICEF),  said the  complementarity of  children's
\nand women's  rights  was   critical  both  to child  development and to  the<\/p>\n

empowerment of women.  In adopting the rights-based approach to development,<\/p>\n

UNICEF  country  programmes  were increasingly addressing gender as a cross-<\/p>\n

cutting   issue  and   expressing  support  to  the  implementation  of  the<\/p>\n

conventions on the rights of the child  and on  the elimination of discrimi-<\/p>\n

nation  against women.   Both  Conventions  contained  mutually  reinforcing<\/p>\n

principles which,  if  fully implemented, would ensure the fulfilment of the<\/p>\n

rights  of  girls  and  women, from childhood to adulthood, and would put an<\/p>\n

end   to  gender-based discrimination.   For  that  reason,  UNICEF  country<\/p>\n

offices continued to support  national machineries for the implementation of<\/p>\n

the   Women's Convention, as well as the mainstreaming of  gender  issues in<\/p>\n

national development plans and programmes for women and girls.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  said UNICEF had  identified three priorities in  its follow-up to the
\nimplementation of the Beijing Platform for  Action.  Those priorities  were:
\ngirls'  education;  the   health  of  girls,   women  and  adolescents;  and
\nchildren's  rights  and women's  rights.    Through its  country programmes,
\nUNICEF  had planned  and  implemented new  programmes  in  girls' education,
\nrights-based  approaches  to addressing  adolescent  pregnancy and  maternal
\nmortality reduction,  and  building new  partnerships for  the promotion  of
\nwomen's and children's rights.   The rights and  needs of girls were central
\nto  the achievement  of  the  human  rights  of  women, the  elimination  of
\nviolence against  women and  protection of  women in  armed  conflict.   The
\nCommission  should consider the  themes in  an interrelated  manner and make
\nrecommendations that would accelerate the implementation of the  commitments
\nmade at Beijing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  NETUMBO  NANDI-NDAITWAH, Director  General of  the Department  of  Women's
\nAffairs in  the Office of  the President  of Namibia,  said, since  Beijing,
\nsome progress had been made in Namibia in  the empowerment of women aimed at
\nbringing about  gender  equality.   In  November  1997, the  Government  had
\nadopted the  national  gender  policy,  the main  purpose  of which  was  to
\nstrategize on how it  could encourage and value the contribution of women in
\nnational development  and the  society as  a whole.   The  national plan  of
\naction for the period 19982003 would become operational from 1 April,  after
\nwhich  a  comprehensive review  would  be  made  to  determine the  progress
\nachieved.   The  plan  was the  result of  a  very broad-based  consultative
\nprocess throughout the country.  The areas of  concern in the national  plan
\nincluded:    gender  poverty   and  rural  development;  gender  balance  in
\neducation and  training; gender  and reproductive  health; violence  against
\nwomen  and children; gender  and economic  empowerment; the  girl child; and<\/p>\n

gender and legal affairs.   All sectors of  the society were responsible for
\nits implementation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  On the critical areas  being taken up during the current session, the girl
\nchild and violence against women were of particular concern to Namibia,  she
\nsaid.   The issue of  the girl child was fundamental  for the achievement of
\ngender equality.   Parents and  teachers had  an equal  role to play  if the
\ngirl  child's dignity and fundamental  rights were to  be restored.  Namibia
\nwould like the  Commission to adopt a  clear and strong  decision expressing
\nthe international  community's commitment towards  eradicating all forms  of
\ndiscrimination  against  the  girl  child.    Her  Government  was  devoting
\nincreasing   attention to violence against women and children, and there was<\/p>\n

a high level of mobilization in Namibia around that issue.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  ALFREDO SFEIR-YOUNIS, of the World Bank, said that  nearly 70 per cent  of
\nthe  Bank's recent  assistance strategies  devised for  country  clients had
\naddressed gender  issues.  At  a more strategic  level, the Bank  now had  a
\nnumber  of training programmes  covering such  areas as  gender and poverty,
\ngender   and  violence,  gender   in  the   labour  market,  and  developing
\nqualitative and quantitative indicators. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  He  said  that,  while  most  donors  were  satisfied  that  a significant
\npercentage of  their  operations  included gender  components, a  number  of
\nnontraditional sectors — such  as electricity and power — comprised only a
\nvery  small   portion  of  development   operations  that  included   gender
\nconsiderations. The  Bank, therefore, undertook a  number of initiatives  in
\nthe last couple  of years, including a symposium in Asia, the  creation of a
\ngender  analysis and policy  group in  cooperation with Columbia University,
\nand  a rural  travel  and transport  programme in  Africa aimed  at shifting
\nfocus  away  from  roads  towards  rural  access,  mobility  and   household
\ntransport needs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  The World  Bank's gender group  was now part  of the  network dealing with
\npoverty  reduction and  economic management,  he  said.   In  addition, many
\nnon-governmental organizations were actively involved  through the  External
\nGender Consultative  Group, which met  annually since the Beijing Conference
\nto  advise the  President  of the  World Bank  on  gender  issues.   The new
\nnetwork  structure  significantly   strengthened  the   Bank's  ability   to
\nmainstream  gender  by,  among other  initiatives,  breaking  down  the  old
\nbarriers  of  geographical location,  sector  and  hierarchy  and  providing
\nincremental funds for promoting gender research.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  In  order  to  make  significant  progress  in  the  social,  economic and
\npolitical fronts,  the countries, individually  and collectively, needed  to
\nestablish  the  ground  for  a  "new   social  contract"  where  the  gender
\ndimensions were central to  a way of  thinking about growth and  sustainable
\ndevelopment. Such a  social contract was the only  way to confront what  the
\nBank's President  had called "the challenge  of inclusion".   More financial
\nresources, per se, would  not resolve the problems, which required a  change
\nin the value system, language, attitudes and level of commitment.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  VALENCIA  K.D. MOGEGEH,  Director, Women's  Affairs of  the  Department of
\nLabour and Home Affairs  of Botswana, said for the empowerment of women  her
\ncountry had selected  the following areas  of concern:   women and  poverty;
\nwomen in power and decision-making; education  and training of women;  women
\nand  health;  the  girl child;  and violence  against  women.   The national
\nmachinery  had also addressed  other issues  such as sustainable  use of the
\nenvironment  by women.   In  implementing  the  national plan,  efforts were
\nreinforced  in a number  of areas,  such as:  a growing  partnership between
\nGovernment  and  civil  society, grass-roots  and  district-based awareness-
\nraising campaigns, accession to the Women's Anti-Discrimination  Convention,
\na comprehensive review  of laws affecting the  status of women, and resource
\nmobilization.   Botswana had  received more  than $2  million as  additional
\nsupport for the national gender programme through the UNDP.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  Also  of importance in  implementing the  national plan  was the elevation
\nof the  national machinery  to a  fully fledged  government department,  she
\nsaid.  To date,  visible progress  had  been  made, particularly  by women's
\nnon-governmental organizations and groups in each of the six critical  areas
\nof concern that constituted Botswana's agenda  for the empowerment of women.
\nThe biggest  challenge  was how  to  consolidate  the singular  efforts  and
\ntransform them into a wholesome national programme.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  NARCISA  ESCALER, Deputy  Director of  the International  Organization  on
\nMigration (IOM), said the organization had identified combating  trafficking
\nin  women as  one  of  its priority  action  areas.    It was  committed  to
\naddressing  violence against  women  through prevention  and  assistance  to
\nvictims.   At the  same time,  it sought  to provide a  forum for discussion<\/p>\n

among governments  on  the problem  to  foster  and coordinate  measures  to
\ncombat  trafficking.     Her  organization   had  carried  out  studies   on
\ntrafficking in women for sexual exploitation  in Western and Central Europe,
\nthe Caribbean and Asia.   The two most recent studies dealt with trafficking
\nin Filipino women to  Japan and in Cambodian women and children stranded  in
\nThailand.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

  She  also said  the organization  had begun  to  develop projects  for the
\nreturn and reintegration of migrant women exposed to abuse  enabling them to
\nreturn  home in dignity  and safety.   In Asia,  a small pilot  project — a
\nfirst — had helped some 100 beneficiaries to return from Thailand to  their
\ncountries, where  they were provided  with one-year reintegration  component
\nthat   included   skills   training,   counselling   and   income-generating
\nactivities.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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

\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Commission on the Status of Women Forty-second Session 2nd Meeting (AM)    SPEAKERS  CALL FOR  URGENT ACTION  TO ELIMINATE    DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GIRL CHILD AND VIOLENCE     AGAINST WOMEN, AS DEBATE IN WOMEN'S COMMISSION CONTINUES  Human Rights of Women, Women and Armed Conflict Also Discussed   Discrimination  against the  girl child  and violence  against women  were urgent priorities that  had to  be addressed  for the  attainment of  gender equality, several speakers stressed […]<\/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-213919","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\/213919","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\/213919\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=213919"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=213919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}