Background
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) continued its consideration of the advancement of women.
For further background information please see Press Release GA/SHC/3744 of
CARMEN-ROSA ARIAS (Peru) said the advancement of women was of fundamental importance to the Government of Peru. Concerning family and sexual violence, she said, the Inter-American Convention had defined State responsibility in this regard. Violence against women was a complex social problem, affecting women and families as a whole. There was a national plan to combat violence against women, which addressed violence as discrimination and a violation of human rights, while providing assistance to victims. On women’s participation in decision-making, she told the Committee that for the first time in the history of Peru, a woman was head of the Council of Ministers.
She also paid tribute to the important role played by women’s organizations in civil society. On education, she said there were still problems with students dropping out from school. Figures for urban and rural areas differed due to difference in access. The Government was also undertaking initiatives to provide family planning and reproductive health assistance. There was a national plan of action for children that included awareness-raising on risky sexual behaviour.
HJALMAR W. HANNESSON (Iceland) highlighted the Secretary General’s conclusion in his follow-up report on the Millennium Goals that while there may be increased global awareness of issues affecting women’s rights, there was little progress at the country level. It was not acceptable for Member States to weaken commitments already made at the international level, he said. There should be a progress-oriented approach that focused on actions and implementation of agreed standards.
Iceland planned to put forward this year a resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women on behalf of the Nordic countries, he said. The Convention and its Optional Protocol were central elements in ensuring that all human rights were extended equally to women.
In Iceland, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had played a pivotal role in addressing violence against women, and the Government had made it a priority to reinforce cooperation with these groups. The Minister of Social Affairs had established a committee to coordinate measures, including public awareness campaigns, to combat violence against women. He called on all Member States to strengthen efforts to implement Security Council 1325, especially related to increasing the participation of women at all levels of decision-making.
DONNETTE CRITCHLOW (Guyana), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said remarkable progress had been made over the years regarding gender equality and the empowerment of women, due largely to the growing recognition that women’s rights were human rights, as well as the fact that issues concerning women had national and global implications which must be taken into account in the construction and strengthening of democratic societies.
Nevertheless, more needed to be done, she said. Like other women in developing countries, women in the Caribbean region continued to confront challenges associated with globalization and poverty and were disproportionately represented among the poor. It was for this reason that women were specifically targeted in poverty eradication policies and strategies across the region. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women remained central to the regions’ strategy for the empowerment of women.
Issues concerning women’s health also continued to receive much attention, given the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection in the region and its disproportionate effect on women, she said. Both, national and regional strategies had been gender mainstreamed concerning prevention, care and treatment programmes. All CARICOM countries now had prevention programmes aimed at reducing mother to child transmission of this disease.
The persistent problem of violence against women continued to engage the attention of Governments of the region which had accorded high priority to its prevention and elimination, she said. Efforts had been focused on curative action, including the enactment and enforcement of national legislation to ensure women’s access to mechanisms of justice, as well as the punishment of perpetrators. Incrementally, however, concentration was moving towards emphasis on preventive measures with some States already engaged in research activities regarding the root causes of violence against women, improving data collection and the utilization of an integrated approach to addressing this issue.
ANA TERESITA GONZALEZ FRAGA (
Cuba) said national efforts must be backed up by international cooperation, based on respect for national sovereignty and non-interference. In Cuba, women’s enjoyment of their rights revealed a high level of social progress. Compared to 1959, when 12 per cent of the workforce were women, and two-thirds were illiterate, 44.4 per cent of persons now working in the civilian state economy were women. Furthermore, Cuban women held 33.5 per cent of leadership posts, exceeding the 30 per cent target set at the Beijing conference.
Cuban women were the subject and object of social development, she stated. Education had been a key element in achieving gender equity. All those advances have taken place, in spite of the economic difficulties Cuba faced, primarily as a result of the economic blockade imposed by the United States for 40 years.
She denounced accusations that Cuba promoted the trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation as utterly false. Such trafficking was not tolerated and would never be tolerated. Cuba considered it a moral imperative and a matter of principle to protect women, children and young people. The Cuban Government reaffirmed its political resolve to strengthen efforts to bring about a fuller integration on an equal footing between women and men to increase the empowerment of women in society.
MARCELINE TIENDREBEOGO (
Burkina Faso) highlighted the efforts undertaken by her Government in improving the socio-economic status of women. There was a new plan for 2003 to 2007 that aimed to reduce poverty through the empowerment of women and promote the fundamental rights of women and the girl child. Burkina Faso had also been undertaking legislative and judicial reforms, in accordance with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. There were still areas of concern, including the persistence of poverty and its impact of the health of women, and the perpetuation of violence against women and girls.
To increase women’s income, the Government had provided mills and other tools, such as soap making machines, she said. The Government, in cooperation with women’s groups, had also established 16 shelters for women.
She urged the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to revitalize the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) and urged Member States to be conciliatory during negotiations to ensure that they were constructive.
MARGIT VAN DER STEEN (
Netherlands) appealed for greater focus on the interrelatedness between gender and age. Gender and age could act as discrimination criteria, and could hamper the professional advancement of women, she said. Governments and businesses should take a stand against age discrimination, which affected women most severely. Women made up the majority of elderly people, and governments should do more to support the work of organizations for older women, bearing in mind that poverty was one of the biggest threats confronting older women.
It was also important to note that media outlets, including newspapers and televisions, often did not include images of older women or presented them as second-class citizens, she said. Older women must be portrayed more positively and governments could start by screening their own documents.
SEHAAM MEKASHBER (Libya) said Beijing +5 was a guide –- it was contributing to greater awareness on women’s issues. She stressed the need to eliminate discrimination against women, although, despite progress made, the status of women in many countries had not improved. Through the Qu’ran, women and men had been freed from slavery, freed from humiliation, and could strive for liberation. Women’s rights to power must be respected in all societies so that they could enjoy equality together with men.
Women had a dominant role in Libyan society in terms of health, education and diplomacy she said. They also had the right to join the armed forces. This year, her country had celebrated an important event -– women’s progress. She said Libya was a party to Convention against all forms of Discrimination against Women and had strived to achieve equality between men and women. Women had a privileged economic role in Libya and were financially independent, she said. This status did not change though marriage. A woman could also have custody of her children or grandchildren.
She expressed her concern about the situation of women in Africa who were suffering due to poverty, disease, and conflicts. Despite efforts made, the situation in Africa called for international commitment. She also raised concern about Palestinian women and women in the Syrian Golan. The occupation by Israel must be brought to an end since it undermined civil society in the region.
MS. RADHI (
Bahrain) said the advancement of women was a priority of all peoples, and, in Bahrain, women’s progress at the national level was a source of pride. Bahrain’s constitution guaranteed equal participation for all, and her country had endeavoured to ensure that women would enjoy rights to education and to the job market, and would be able to exercise their political rights, as voters and candidates for public office. Women now made up 26 per cent of the labour force, compared to only five per cent in 1971.
Efforts had also been made to allow for greater participation of women, including the creation of a High Council for Women, which was presided over by the First Lady of Bahrain, she said. There were women ambassadors and women working in the ministries of health, education, interior and defence. Women from Bahrain were also involved in international organizations at all levels.
She noted that Bahrain had acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and was committed to ensuring an equal footing women and men and to strengthening women’s rights at the national level. The King had also signed a law establishing an Organization of Arab Women to coordinate work for the advancement of women.
NADYA RASHEED, Observer of Palestine, said while women throughout the world were making progress towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of Beijing +5, the situation of Palestinian women continued to deteriorate in all respects. Palestinian women continued in their struggle to achieve freedom, peace and prosperity in the face of the harsh reality of the continuing Israeli occupation. They also continued to fight inequality and discrimination in order to play an active role within their society. Basic rights such as the freedom of movement, right to work, right to education, right to a standard of living for the health and well-being of themselves and family, right to medical care, and the right to be treated with respect and dignity, were denied on a daily basis, making any effort for their advancement not only difficult, but impossible.
She said that since 28 September 2000, over 2,570 Palestinians had been brutally killed and highlighted Israeli actions of State terrorism, human rights violations, demolitions, confiscations and restrictions of movement. This situation had weakened the economic situation, affecting the health of Palestinian women and their children. Only an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State would allow Palestinian women to pursue initiatives towards their advancement.
PAULETTE BETHEL (Bahamas) said much remained to be done in reaching targets recognizing the role of gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving social and economic development, as well as peace and security. The Bahamas was particularly proud that in its relatively short history as an independent nation, it had been able to build a strong record of political participation for women. Since independence in 1962, Bahamian woman had consistently outnumbered their male counterparts in exercising their right to vote. Women were also participating in elective office and made up 20 per cent of members of the House of Assembly,
43 per cent of the Senate and 25 per cent of the Cabinet.
The Bahamas was also committed to providing equal opportunity for education, including access to information on the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which had disproportionately affected women and girls, she said. The Government had embarked on a process of consultation with all sectors of Bahamian society to explore ways to achieve full gender equality.
ISMAT JAHAN (Bangladesh) said women were increasingly being integrated into the economic mainstream. Innovative, home-grown ideas in areas of informal education and micro-credit had immensely facilitated their empowerment. Today, women in Bangladesh constituted a larger share in the workforce than a decade ago, contributing nearly 90 per cent of the labour force in the main export, earning garments manufacturing sector. Women were also venturing into non-traditional professions, such as the police force and the military, and had also participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The vibrant civil society in Bangladesh fervently advocated and protected women’s rights.
Globally, there were some areas of concern that required more attention, she said. Those included the situation of women in armed conflict, including those under foreign occupation, such as in the Palestinian territories, and the issues of violence against women and trafficking in women. Persistent violence against women was a sad reminder that the true achievement and empowerment of women was yet a long way off. Multidimensional and multisectoral approaches and strategies were urgently needed to reverse the situation. Civil society and media could also play an important role by raising awareness on the severe consequences of violence on the physical and mental health of women.
MU’TAZ HYASSAT (Jordan) said his country recognized that improving the living conditions of women was critical to maximizing their role in development and society, and in achieving peace and security. Women continued to face discrimination and violence, a problem that must be addressed to allow them to participate in decision-making at all levels. Domestic violence against women was harmful not only to them, but to all of society. Contributing to those problems was a lack of public awareness and the persistence of traditional practices that countered the dignity of women. Existing legislation should be reviewed and public awareness and education campaigns should be set up.
The implementation of international obligations, already difficult in times of peace, was even more difficult when women were faced with armed conflict and forced occupation, which gave rise to different forms of violence and abuse. He called on the international community to help alleviate the suffering of women by ensuring that those who violated humanitarian law were punished. To increase international cooperation in promoting the rights of women, Jordan hosted, last year, the Arab Summit of Women, which had adopted a coordinated strategy to enhance the capabilities of Arab women.
Jordan had coordinated with all stakeholders and pursued policies to achieve gender mainstreaming and increased involvement of women in all walks of life, he said. Laws had been amended to achieve wider participation of women in all political affairs and to protect women from abuse in the workplace. His country had also made tireless efforts to endorse and amend certain provisions of critical laws in connection with crimes of honour, which now provided for severe punishment against the perpetrators of such crimes.
GERALDO SARANGA (Mozambique) said women and girls continued to be vulnerable due to profound gender inequalities that still characterized societies. Women and girls were the principal victims of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, mutilation, sexual humiliation and rape. Women suffering from HIV/AIDS were often more stigmatized than men in equal conditions, thus placing an additional discrimination against them.
In Mozambique, and in many African countries, women played and continued to play an important role for peace, poverty eradication, and economic and social development, he said. During the Second Assembly of the African Union, African leaders had adopted the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Relating to the Rights of Women, an instrument that would reinforce the promotion and protection of women in the continent.
The advancement of women continued to be a top priority of the Government of Mozambique, he said. It had adopted political, social and economic frameworks, which had a gender perspective in all spheres of activity. The central objective of the Government in this domain was to promote women’s rights and ensure their participation in the decision-making process. For this end, the Government was concentrating on improving and promoting access to education for the girl child and increasing the number of women in public institutions at the central, provincial and local levels.
ARWA NOMAN (Yemen) said her country was concerned about the criteria and sources used in drafting the report on traditional and customary practices affecting the health of women and girls. Yemen did not approve of the information in the report. On this issue, Yemen had fully accorded women their rights. The Minister of Public Health had enacted a decree that would prohibit female genital mutilation if it were to exist.
Women in Yemen now enjoyed high representation in both the public and private sectors, she said. They occupied positions in public office and participated in diplomacy and aviation. Moreover, national legislation gave women the right to exercise their political rights to serve as candidates for public office and to participate in elections.
ROSHAN KHURSHID BHARUCHA (Pakistan) said Pakistan’s National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women aimed at achieving gender equity and equality; social, political and economic empowerment of all Pakistani women; and a just, humane and democratic society with economic prosperity through sustainable development. The key measures for implementation included ensuring that government agencies adopted a gender sensitive approach to development in preparing needs based, participatory programmes and projects. Other key measures were the mainstreaming of gender issues, compulsory and free primary education for all, economic empowerment and the provision of affordable primary health care.
To ensure women’s participation in the decision-making, 33 per cent of the seats in all local bodies were reserved for them, she said. As a result, more than 40,000 women councillors, mostly in rural areas, had been elected across the country. Encouraged by affirmative action policies, women in Pakistan today were much more confident, dedicated, dynamic and progressive. They had succeeded in achieving elevated positions in the social, economic and political fields and were now working in all sectors of the society.
LORETO LEYTON (Chile) said her government attached particular importance to increasing equal access for women to decision-making processes and promoting women’s full participation in the workforce. That was a priority in all Chile’s efforts to eradicate poverty. The rate of female participation had an impact, not only on a country’s potential for growth, but also on reducing the number of poor households. In Chile, much of the reduction in poverty during the past decade had been due to the contribution of a second income in poor households.
The rate of female participation in Chile’s labour force, however, was unfortunately still relatively low, and cultural values and practices were primary reasons for this, she said. In the context of increasing internationalization of the economy, the insertion of women into paid work under equal conditions, was an inescapable and desirable imperative. Chile’s Women’s National Service had promoted legislative reforms that included measures involving the private sector. A guide had been published outlining steps a company should take to implement measures to create a balance between work and family life.
Of particular concern to Chile was the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, which was still far from being in compliance with basic human rights principles, she said. Her country urged authorities in Afghanistan to increase efforts to promote the human rights of women to allow them to participate actively in rebuilding the country.
SUSANNA CHRISTOFIDES, of the
International Organization for Migration (IOM), said while women in general constituted the daily prey of gender violence, migrant women in particular were even more prone to discrimination and abuse because of their dual vulnerability as women and foreigners. Of the many forms of violence migrant women suffered, IOM was especially concerned about trafficking in women. This scourge had seen a tremendous upsurge in recent years. Countless women had recourse only to illegal or irregular channels of border crossings. Criminal job brokers, passport forgers and traffickers were all too eager to facilitate their migration. This exploitation must end.
Responsible management of migration required the will and capacity of States to respond decisively and adequately to the challenges posed by the interrelation between migration and violence, she said. Once the international community responded, as decisively to the challenges posed by the interrelation between migration and gender violence as it did to other abuses, trafficking and other forms of violence against migrant women could be addressed effectively.
JOHN LANGMORE, Representative to the United Nations and Director,
International Labour Organization (ILO), said gender equality was a key element of the vision of “Decent Work For All” and had been identified as a cross cutting theme within the ILO’s four strategic objectives –- rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. The world was not making the most of its female talents and potentials, and women remained victims of discrimination.
Although more and more women were entering paid jobs, more jobs had often not meant better jobs, he said. Globally, women tended to earn 20 to 30 per cent less than men for equivalent work. As the informal economy grew, more women were in precarious and occasional jobs –- exposed to greater violence and discrimination because of their marginalized status in the labour markets. The ILO’s Gender Promotion department was helping to ensure that policy makers, planners and implementers had access to data to be able to conduct gender analyses and design and implement gender sensitive policies and programmes.
Women also continued to have less access than men to investment in skills, knowledge and life learning, he said. In a world increasingly dominated by information and communication technology, gender inequalities led to new forms of social exclusion. The upcoming World Summit on the Information Society was an excellent opportunity to air these concerns.
