GA/SHC/3584

OBSTACLES ON ROAD TO WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT DISCUSSED IN THIRD COMMITTEE

The link between gender equality and development meant that the feminization of poverty must end, the representative of India told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) as it met this morning to continue considering issues related to the advancement of women. Also being considered was the implementation of follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women, including the five-year review held at a 2000 special session of the General Assembly.

Inequalities between men and women had increased with globalization, India's representative continued. Despite new initiatives and commitments, the reality was that women's situation was deteriorating. The contradiction was that the international forces dominating globalization were limiting the ability to deliver on international conference targets.

To enable the continued implementation of strategies, the representative of El Salvador called on Member States to address the financial predicament faced by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW). He said it was the only specialized institute dealing with women in the context of development, and a favourable solution to the Institute’s financial situation must be found.

A number of speakers drew attention to the link between development and the rights of women. The representative of the United Arab Emirates said development assistance was needed if women were to participate in the evolution of their societies. He pointed to the situation of Palestinian women as particularly troubling.

The representative of Afghanistan said the broader assistance of the international community was vital to the situation of women living under Taliban rule. When war crimes against civilian populations were occurring, women, children and the elderly were most affected. The increasing numbers of refugees caught in the continuing conflict needed immediate help, particularly with winter approaching.

Also addressing the Committee this morning were the representatives of Norway, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Russian Federation, Colombia, Argentina, Netherlands, Egypt, United States, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, China, Sudan, San Marino and Syria.

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3584 14th Meeting (AM) 9 October 2000

The Observer for the Holy See also made a statement.

Also this morning, the representative of Spain introduced a draft resolution on the Second World Assembly on Ageing as part of the follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

The Committee will meet again at 3:00 p.m. to continue its consideration of women's advancement along with implementation of the Fourth World Conference on Women, including the five-year review at the 2000 General Assembly special session.

Third Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/SHC/3584 14th Meeting (AM) 9 October 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to continue considering issues related to the advancement of women and to implementation of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, including the 2000 five-year review at a special session of the General Assembly. (For background see Press Release GA/SHC/3583 of 6 October.)

The Committee has before it two draft resolutions. A resolution on the 2001 International Year of Volunteers (document A/C.3/55/L.2) has been recommended by the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly. The resolution would have the Assembly decide to devote two plenary meetings of its fifty-sixth session to the question of volunteering, at a time coinciding with the close of the International Year of Volunteers on 5 December 2001.

Also before the Committee is a draft resolution on the 2002 Second World Assembly on Ageing as a follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons (document A/C.3/55/L.6). By that resolution, the Assembly would decide that the Second World Assembly on Ageing will be held from 8 to 12 April 2002, in Madrid. It would invite the regional commissions to explore the feasibility of holding regional activities with Member States and other actors to participate in preparation for the Second World Assembly. It would invite the Department of Public Information to launch an information campaign in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and with the host country. Finally, it would welcome the establishment and continued development of an Internet-accessible database.

The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France Germany, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Introduction of Draft

The representative of Spain introduced a draft resolution on the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held in Madrid in 2002 as a follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (document A/C.3/55/L.6).

In addition to the sponsors listed in the draft, the following became co-sponsors: Russian Federation, San Marino, United Kingdom, Columbia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Malaysia, Romania and Thailand.

Statements

UNNI RAMBOLL (Norway), said that the HIV/AIDS epidemic was the greatest threat to social and economic development in Africa, and its impact on the lives of women and girls was of special concern. The international community was not powerless against the epidemic, and must pay special attention to the empowerment of women and girls to make them less vulnerable. Equity in all fields -- health, education, the environment and the economy -- was essential if women were to be able to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS. If the international community were to combat the epidemic successfully, major changes would be needed in the relationship between women and men.

The spread of HIV/AIDS was closely linked with the issue of gender equality. What worked in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS also contributed to gender equality. Fundamental changes in women's position in society were necessary: economic independence -– through equal access to and control over economic resources -- was vital. Empowerment of women, crucial in combating violence against women, must include sexual rights and respect for women's integrity. The international community must also ensure the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation of peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict reconstruction.

ERIC N’DRY (Côte d’Ivoire) said that it was noteworthy that since 1995 women had experienced a certain degree of emancipation in social fields. In order to reach that modicum of achievement, a great deal of sincere effort had been expended by women as well as men in the international community. Since Beijing, there had been tangible improvement in that regard in his own country. Women now felt that they were more a part of society, particularly in the areas of decision-making and policy-making. Women in his country also now enjoyed greater legal protection, and traditional practices such as dowry and polygamy had been effectively eliminated. He went on to say that the Government had been actively combating the practice of early or forced marriage. And, with the help of women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs), there had been a solid move forward in tackling the issues of sexual harassment and violence against women.

There had also been advances in education and in the economic sphere. Also, greater attention was being paid to increasing women’s participation in activities related to agricultural output and production. Rural women were receiving the greatest amount of assistance in that regard. But despite the advances, much remained to be done. Women still encountered social problems of a severe nature. That in turn exacerbated other problems, such as poverty, family violence or alcoholism. To combat those final obstacles to women’s full enjoyment of their rights at all levels, all actors must honour all the commitments made since Beijing. He reiterated his country’s desire to implement concrete steps to integrate gender equality at all levels.

SERAPHINE TOE (Burkina Faso) said it was important that both men and women shared responsibility for ensuring gender equality at all levels of society. In that regard, the women of her country had submitted to the Government 11 areas pertaining to their advancement that they felt required urgent attention.

She went on to say that in November, the Government would organize a national agency for the advancement of women and the girl child, which would allow urban and rural women to propose actions and practical measures aimed at improving their own situations. The ultimate goal of that plan was to spur cooperation between the Government, civil society and the development community, so as to substantially improve conditions for women in that country by 2005. She welcomed the work of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in its attempts to promote women’s participation in all instances where discussions were held that were of critical importance for the future of the world. She was in favour of the creation of a fund for women, the proceeds of which could certainly do much to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of women today, but could also be used to combat the rapidly changing or even unforeseen effects of globalization in the future.

KIRILL BARSKIJ (Russian Federation) said the special session of the General Assembly on women had been a mere warm-up to the scaling of the heights remaining ahead –- implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. National priority targets had to be set to ensure the social, political and spiritual well-being of women. His country was basing its national plan for women on the aims that had been set out during the special session. An officer- in-charge of human rights had the mandate to oversee achievement of gender equality.

However, he said, questions related to gender equality should not be used to further political interests. Issues concerning women were important elements in many forums. Humanity had faced up to many problems facing women. The twenty-first century must see the final achievement of gender equality.

ANDRES FRANCO (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Rio Group of Latin American and Caribbean nations, said that the opportunities created by the process of globalization had opened clear avenues for development, but in some cases its benefits had not been equitably distributed, thereby impeding efforts to promote the advancement of women, particularly those living in poverty. Crucial issues now featured prominently in the public debate in all societies, such as the role the State could play in correcting inequalities, the organized participation of civil society, the eradication of violence against women, the recognition of the sexual and reproductive rights of women, and the need for family responsibilities to be shared between men and women.

The countries of the Rio Group attached particular importance to the appeal made to regional commissions by the Economic and Social Council to develop databases containing information on all projects and programmes of the different agencies of the United Nations. The Rio Group also extended its thanks to the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW). It would be a great error, he said, to allow the death of the only institute dedicated to the advancement of women through research and training. With regard to the Optional Protocol on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, he was pleased to report that the majority of Latin America had subscribed to that instrument.

MARIANO SIMON PADROS (Argentina) said that in line with the progress that had been achieved since Beijing, her delegation would like to renew its commitment to achieving the implementation of the Platform for Action at all levels. In that regard, Argentina had sent a large delegation to participate in “Women 2000” last June. He said that during the last decade, rules, laws and treaties integrating a gender perspective had been incorporated into the Argentine constitution. That had evinced an expression of true State policy, shared at the widest level. He noted that Argentina had recognized the vital importance of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol that protected women’s rights in broad and important areas. He hoped that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women would continue to receive sufficient human and financial resources to monitor the implementation of the Convention.

He expressed regret that there had not been universal ratification of the Convention thus far. Argentina’s policies on women had confirmed the value of integrating gender perspective at all levels. His delegation approved of the Secretary-General’s measures during the follow-up period in the area of training and integrating gender perspective within the Organization and throughout the United Nations system, particularly as regarded peacekeeping operations. Finally, he noted the need for greater access to education for women and children.

EVA LATHAM (Netherlands) noted that her country had a good tradition of appointing a woman to its delegation in order to make a statement on behalf of its women. She pointed out the importance of credibility and accountability in regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That document was meant for women, because human rights were also women's rights. The fact that legislation existed on paper was only one side of the story, since those rights must be put into practice, thereby eliminating the enormous discrepancy between paper and practice. Millions of women still faced a daily struggle for their human dignity; moreover, those who were educated to live an emancipated life must also fight gender discrimination, such as exclusion from appropriate employment, financial and economic disadvantage, prejudice, sexual harassment, and violence against women.

Human rights, she continued, were violated wherever the principles of the Declaration were ignored or abandoned. Abuses that women endured, such as trafficking in women, domestic violence, genital mutilation and crimes of honour should not be tolerated. There was only one ethical yardstick, which is the Universal Declaration of Human rights. The Declaration was a document with agreements on high moral standards for humanity. Action must be taken on three levels: (1) at the macro level, where governments establish additional legal instruments concerning human rights and women's rights; (2) at the meso level, where organizational responsibility was needed to change perceptions and attitudes; and (3) at the micro level, where the individual received an education at the grassroots level on women's rights, which was a necessity for both sexes. Women welcomed support and partnership with governments, with the United Nations and with men. She closed by observing that women would continue the struggle until the promise of the Universal Declaration was fulfilled.

REDA BEBARS (Egypt) said every effort was being made in his country to promote the rights of women, to promote their equality and development. When women anywhere in the world were deprived of social, political and cultural rights, development was hampered. Women had prevailed in many areas, despite the obstacles in their way. However, poverty was the greatest challenge faced by women in developing countries. Two conditions would overcome poverty, the strengthening of social development on a national scale, and the creation of a climate conducive to development. The advancement of women would not be achieved by passing legislation. The laws passed must be implemented through education and the provision of services such as healthcare. The technical assistance required must be provided, not just on the national level, but by the international community. He said a special fund should be created to strengthen the empowerment and promotion of women as an integral part of a society's development. Throughout its own laws, Egypt prohibited discrimination, and literacy was now widespread. At the same time, history had taught that interaction based on mutual respect was a common element in progress across numerous civilizations. Diversities and specificities of cultures should not divert attention from commonalities. No civilization was superior to another. Attempts on the part of some to enforce their laws and values, particularly in regard to women, were unacceptable. Every society must respect the rights and beliefs of others.

LINDA TARR-WHELAN (United States) stated that much progress had been made since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, where the Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted. That policy statement on women’s empowerment was the strongest ever made by the international community, and it was also the first time a United Nations document directed at advancing women was framed in the context of human rights and economic independence. When the twenty-third Special Session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” (“Beijing+5”) took place, it reaffirmed the earlier commitment to the goals and strategies of women but also identified new areas of concerns. Women’s rights as human rights, once considered a radical thought, must be regarded as a fact embraced by many. Today, honour killings, bride burnings and female genital mutilation are no longer viewed as “cultural” matters, but human rights abuses. United States Secretary of State Madelene Albright had specifically condemned the global trafficking of women and children and called for a multinational effort to stop it.

One of the objectives adopted at Beijing+5 was the promotion of women in the global economy. The United States supported the advancement of that objective and set forth several guiding principles, including: promoting the participation of women in transborder trade; expanding the use of electronic commerce by women; increasing participation in business skills training; improving access to financing; providing special assistance to women from minority groups; and promoting the participation of women in government procurement. She noted that globalization was revolutionizing the way the world worked, and believed that it could bring tremendous benefits to developing countries. But, due to historic patterns of discrimination, women lagged behind men in education, technological training, access to credit and land ownership. In many places, women were still not free to participate fully in the economy. Also, because of gender biases in institutions, women workers and women in business were often less able to take advantage of economic opportunities, including those enhanced by globalization. The Committee’s adoption of a Declaration and Outcome Document would, she hoped, emphasize a holistic, human- rights based approach to gender equality and recognize that society, as a whole, benefited from increased equality for women. SARAH PATERSON (New Zealand) said the entry into force of the CEDAW Optional Protocol would represent a major advance in the protection and promotion of women's human rights. Her country urged States that had not yet ratified CEDAW to do so, and strongly urged States parties to reinforce their commitment to the Convention by ratifying the Optional Protocol. The Committee on the elimination of Discrimination Against Women would see its workload increase once the instrument entered into force. It was incumbent on the Organization to ensure that the Committee was provided with adequate resources to carry out its expanded role.

The Beijing+5 Special Session had been a useful review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action. She regretted that some States had been reluctant to advance the Platform in all areas. Nevertheless, she said, there had been real progress in areas such as violence against women, including a focus on so-called "honour crimes". The prominent role of NGOs at the Special Session had reinforced the importance of governments working with civil society to advance women's rights. There was a particular need to ensure that the voices of indigenous women were heard, including by their participation in official delegations. It would also be important that the World Conference against Racism, to be held in South Africa next year, incorporated a gender perspective into its work.

The continuing prevalence of the crime of trafficking of persons, particularly women and children, remained shocking, she said. The negotiations under way on a Protocol against Trafficking in Persons to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime would also go some way to addressing that problem. The key role of women leaders was recognized during Beijing+5. Barriers to the advancement of women as leaders must be broken down. She again expressed her country's disappointment that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in the United Nations Secretariat had not been met. The role of women in resolving conflict and as peacemakers had been acknowledged by the Special Session. Accordingly, mainstreaming a gender perspective in the United Nations work for peace and security was of particular and urgent importance. In assisting countries to recover from conflict, the Organization, international organizations and Member States must ensure the full involvement of women and girls, and take specific measures to address their particular needs.

MOTHKIR NASER AL-HAJERI (United Arab Emirates) said the special session promoting the participation of women was a great step forward for international security. It had affirmed women's rights to work, to involvement in their societies and to be mothers and wives. His country had been one of the first in the region to encourage the full participation of women.

It was important to find solutions for problems and disputes through peaceful means, he continued. Development assistance was needed to enable women to participate in the evolution of their societies. Of particular concern was the situation of Palestinian women, who still lived with aggression and daily infringements of rights and laws. The recent actions taken against women and children gave substance to that assertion. The rights of all must be respected within the context of the land for peace agreement.

ASENACA ULUIVITI (Fiji) said the issue of advancement of women was at the forefront of development concerns, on a par with eradication of poverty and promoting education. Questions related to women's rights did strain some elements of traditional and indigenous cultures. While looking to its indigenous cultural base for its policy orientation, however, Fiji was dedicated to blending the traditional and progressive elements of its culture on the question of women’s rights.

She said that during this period of cultural and social fluidity, it was exciting to see the dialogue and events taking place at the United Nations. The forthcoming session of the Security Council on women and conflict was a significant milestone. Without cataloguing the progress her country had made in recent years to advance the rights of women, she said that despite recent difficulties, Fiji was carrying out its commitment to advancing the equality of women. She called for the United Nations to revitalize the INSTRAW.

GUADALUPE GOMEZ MAGANDA (Mexico) said her Government had prioritized actions that would confront the poverty affecting women and girls; assure their access to education, health services, training, and employment opportunities; and combat violence against them. It would also focus on the educational gap affecting vulnerable female groups, and on eliminating sexist and stereotyped practices, attitudes and values that hindered the full development of girls and women. "We will strengthen efforts to guarantee them, in the short term, universal access to primary health services of high quality during their lifetime, in order to adequately take care of their sexual and reproductive health no later than the year 2015", she added.

She said Mexico would continue emphasizing the importance of incorporating a gender perspective in macroeconomic, commercial and fiscal policies, and achieving a more equal distribution of domestic tasks and family responsibilities between men and women. Of singular relevance was enforcing the reformation of local legislation in order to protect women and girls from all forms of violence, in particular the type exercised within the family environment, as well as processing and giving treatment to aggressors and victims. In achieving gender equality through equity, the Government considered it necessary to act not only in the social rights arena, but also in the cultural, political and economic spheres, through legal, budgetary and programmatic actions.

ZHANG LEI (People’s Republic of China) said that women played an essential role in the development of human society, and the realization of gender equality would always be a goal for which his country strove unremittingly. That had been confirmed at the Fourth World Conference on Women and the historical special session of the Assembly, attended by women from around the globe. Despite their different historical backgrounds, levels of economic development and cultural traditions, those assembled delegates displayed the maximum flexibility, and after arduous consultations adopted a set of further actions and initiatives as a follow-up mechanism to the Beijing Platform.

As mankind stood at the threshold of a new millennium, the question now, he said, was how to take those initiatives and effectively fulfil the goals of gender equality. That might be a difficult task for the international community in the years ahead. Indeed, during the past five years, poverty had been widening in developing countries. The gains of rapid globalization had not been equitably distributed, and the gap between rich and poor countries was widening. As most of the world’s poor were women, poverty had become a major impediment to their empowerment. It was his view that the efforts of the international community should focus on such areas as eradication of poverty among women as soon as possible, increased assistance to developing countries from the developed world, increased opportunities for women to participate in achieving their equality, and continuation of the positive role played by the United Nations and its agencies.

ILHAM IBRAHIM MOHAMED AHMED (Sudan) said there could be no doubt that the women of the world were unanimous in their desire to achieve full equality. Achieving that goal must be part and parcel of a global process that took into account the social and cultural differences of all societies. It was important to realize that it would be difficult to apply a single policy that would be applicable to all nations. Her own country was committed to the achievement of equitable treatment for women and girls at all levels. That idea was fundamental to Sudanese society.

She went on to say that despite the work and efforts of national governments and NGOs to achieve full implementation of the Beijing Platform, certain inequities persisted, particularly poverty and violence against women. She noted that while the prime responsibility for implementing the decisions of Beijing fell on governments, there should also be broad international cooperation. International cooperation, along with provision of necessary resources, was vitally important to ensuring universal gender equality.

She said that the least-developed countries continued to struggle despite the agreements made at Beijing. The debt burden was still an obstacle, as were economic sanctions and arbitrary measures which severely hampered the development of some nations. At the same time, those very arbitrary measures had created opportunities for other countries. Moreover, rapid globalization and denial of access to new technological developments would continue to hinder the growth of women, particularly in the areas of elimination of poverty, trafficking in women, and combating violence. She appealed for a return to human values to address those obstacles. And she called earnestly for a return to family values for a sound and stable society in which women could safely and effectively work to ensure the sound development of future generations.

RAMACHANDRA REDDY (India) said that despite new initiatives and commitments, the sad reality was that the situation of the world's women was progressively deteriorating. With globalization, inequalities between men and women had increased. Yet since societies with the greatest gender equality had grown the fastest, it must be recognized that gender equality was critical to the developmental process. The link between gender equality and development meant that marginalization of women must be stopped, along with the continued feminization of poverty. There was a contradiction, however. The international forces dominating globalization constricted the ability of governments to deliver on international conference targets. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) had considered India's initial report earlier this year, he said. Numerous intertwined policies and programmes had been implemented. The year 2001 had been designated as Women's Empowerment Year. The double-stranded strategy for empowering women was to mainstream gender into policies, while making woman- specific interventions in cooperation with all segments of society. The result was that the literacy rate of women had increased faster than for men, reproductive health had improved and micro-credit institutions had successfully mobilized action in local communities.

He said a note of caution should be sounded about the Security Council overreaching its mandate by pronouncing itself on matters falling within the purview of the General Assembly. The Council should refrain from policy directions when debating the subject of women and armed conflict. The promotional aspect of women's advancement should be given priority, not some imaginary tangential line that drew the issue into security concerns. It was a distortion of priorities, to be seen also in INSTRAW's situation. It was facing the guillotine, while resources and attention were diverted elsewhere.

LISA D'URSO (Observer of the Holy See) said she was pleased with the outcome document of this year's special session on women. It had acknowledged the importance of a holistic view on women's health needs, the dangers of malnutrition and other diseases and the need for education as a continued basis for development. The document had also laid out provisions for addressing violence against women, stemming the trafficking in women and combating the poverty that contributed to the practice. A clear acknowledgment of women's needs for basic social services had been made, as had the need to promote the critical role of women in the family as the basic unit of society.

She said the special session had demonstrated that a growing number of countries were committed to addressing the root factors behind trafficking in women and girls. Unfortunately, some countries had tried to limit references to prostitution and to diminish the original Beijing language to suit their national situation. In addition, the failure to reach consensus on measures such as debt relief had been disappointing. Unfortunately, consensus had not been reached on protecting the rights of any health professional who refused to engage in services to which he objected on the basis of belief or conviction. The right of conscience was protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by the constitutional and legislative guarantees of some countries.

ELENA MOLARONI (San Marino), said that in many societies, women could not enjoy full protection of their rights. Certain cultural, traditional and social practices limited or denied their freedom. They could not enjoy full access to key positions, and consequently their decisions and choices could not be heard and they had no possible means to enhance their well-being and foster development. San Marino believed that the United Nations could have a central role in leveling down gender inequalities and redefining social and traditional rules.

Significant progress had been made over the last few- decades, thanks to the valuable cooperation offered by women. In every economic and social sector women had not only undertaken the eradication of marginalization, discrimination and exploitation, they had also attempted to bridge the gap between North and South. Thanks to favourable conditions in San Marino, participation levels had been achieved that were still unimaginable for most women in the world. With regard to legal equality, however, the process was difficult -- women still did not have the right, for example, to transmit their nationality. The Government of San Marino believed that international cooperation, active negotiation and constructive dialogue were the best ways to proceed towards the goal of women's advancement.

ADELA HACHEMI FARHADI (Afghanistan) said that the situation of women in her country could not be discussed without addressing the unfortunate affects the Taliban regime had had on that most vulnerable segment of Afghan society. The Taliban had prevented the participation of women at all levels, in education as well as in decision-making fields. The Taliban’s prohibition of the right of women to work was particularly alarming. Indeed prohibition of work for women was now the law in Taliban-controlled areas of the country, and in recent months, the Taliban had expressly forbidden women from working with, or participating in, the work of United Nations humanitarian agencies. Women were also routinely denied access to medical care. Girl schools in Taliban-held territories were now closed; outside those areas, however, the education of girl children was actively encouraged. She said that Afghan women were the most harshly treated women in the world, and she was grateful for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and its continued efforts at addressing that serious problem.

She went on to say that her country had recently established a broad dialogue, incorporating the view of many national actors, to discuss the CEDAW Convention in the context of Islamic law. That had been necessary because the Taliban had interpreted an extremist and obscurantist reading of the Islamic religion, and had implemented that interpretation “at bayonet point”. As the Taliban mercenaries and their extremist allies continued to commit war crimes against civilian populations, most notably women, children and the elderly, it was important to realize that broader assistance from the international community would be vital in order to save the lives of the increasing numbers of refugees caught in the continuing conflict. That situation would only get worse during the winter months.

RANIA AL HAJ ALI (Syria) said that the promotion of women’s rights did not mean ignoring the rights of others. Indeed, if there was to be equality, society as a whole must progress and develop in cooperation. The Millennium Summit Declaration had indicated the political will of the international community to overcome obstacles hampering achievement of the full equality for women. Women were at the centre of all societies, as teachers, educators and mothers, and therefore, the international community could not fail to acknowledge their role in the development and prosperity of nations.

Syria, therefore, had made gender equality a national priority. Education studies had indicated that the number of women students had increased at all levels. The percentage of women in the fields of technology and professional training and education had also increased dramatically. Illiteracy had been

dropping, thanks to a national plan instituted in conjunction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Women’s advancement was part and parcel of the country’s Plan of Action, and there was firm hope that more and more women would work in economic and political activities. Syria also provided all possible health services and had shown an increase in women working in those fields, as well as in the media. It was important to note that under foreign occupation, the problems of women living in a desperate situation were exacerbated. Women in her country were living under the “hateful” Israeli military occupation of Arab territories. Occupation of the Syrian Golan had hindered women from enjoying the full benefit of their rights. It was important to remember that there could be no peace during occupation. If there was no peace, there could be no development.

CARLOS ENRIQUE GARCIA GONZALEZ (El Salvador) said his country had drawn up a national policy for women based on the programme adopted at Beijing. Legislative reform had been undertaken to protect their human rights. To continue implementing strategies, it was critical to address INSTRAW's situation, particularly since it was the only specialized institute dealing with women in the context of development. There should be a favourable solution to INSTRAW's financial predicament.

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