COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN CONTINUES TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTATION OF BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

WOM/1041
6 March 1998

The Commission on the Status of Women this morning heard about progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action at the national level, as it resumed consideration of the implementation of strategic objectives and action in the critical areas of concern.

Speakers drew attention to action that had been taken in their countries in the areas of legislative reform, education, health, employment, awarenessraising campaigns, as well as in the creation of an enabling environment for the advancement of women. They outlined initiatives aimed at eliminating gender-based discrimination against women and the girl child and to ensure women's greater participation in the social, political and economic mainstream.

Many delegates informed that national plans had been developed with the participation of all sectors of society. The representative of Sri Lanka said preparation of her country's national plan had relied on the participation of government officials, non-government organizations, private sector representatives and donors who were active on women's issues.

The development of national machinery had also been high on the agenda of many member States, the Commission was told, and included the creation of ministries with responsibility for women and children's issues. The representative of Lithuania said the country's recent equal opportunities law would establish an ombudsman for women's issues.

A number of speakers continued to express grave concern about violence against women. The representative of Pakistan said that it was regrettable that on the brink of the new millennium, various forms of violence against women and girls persisted in many parts of the world. There was an urgent need to develop comprehensive approaches, taking into account social and cultural norms in each society in order to address the problem on a priority basis.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Cuba, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Iraq, Paraguay, Morocco, Argentina, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Jordan, Uganda, India, Algeria, Mali, Austria, Nigeria and El Salvador. The observer for Palestine also spoke. The representative of China spoke on a point of order.

Representatives of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) also spoke, as did representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), International Council of Women, and the NGO Caucus on Women and Armed Conflict.

The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today to conclude its general discussion on implementing the Beijing Platform for Action.

Commission Work Programme

The Commission on the Status of Women met this morning to continue its general discussion on follow-up to the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, including implementation of strategic objectives and action on the critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action. (For background information on the session, see Press Release WOM/1029 of 27 February.)

The Commission has before it two reports of the Secretary-General on the thematic issues before the session and on national action plans and strategies from 85 Member States for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, as well as a joint report of the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on women's real enjoyment of their human rights, in particular those relating to economic resources.

The Secretary-General's analytical report on the thematic issues before the Commission (document E/CN.6/1998/5) provides recommendations and conclusions of expert group meetings convened during 1997 by the Division for the Advancement of Women on three of the critical areas of concern being examined up by the Commission during this session -- "women and armed conflict", "human rights of women" and "the girl child". The report also provides some proposals on the theme of violence against women.

The Secretary-General's report on national action plans and strategies from 85 Member States implementing the Beijing Platform for Action (document E/CN.6/1998/6) provides a regional breakdown of countries that had prepared such plans. It shows that 29 per cent of Member States from Africa have submitted plans, as well as 41 per cent of the countries from Asia and the Pacific, 38 per cent from Eastern Europe, 41 per cent from Latin America and the Caribbean and 66 per cent from Western European and Other States.

The joint report of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the High Commissioner on women's real enjoyment of their human rights, in particular those relating to economic resources (document E/CN.6/1998/11), also provides recommendations and conclusions of expert group meetings convened during 1997 by the Division for the Advancement of Women on three of the critical areas of concern being taken up by the Commission.

Also before the Commission are reports of the Secretary-General on mainstreaming a gender perspective and other follow-up activities by organizations of the United Nations system (document E/CN.6/1998/2); the joint work plan of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (document E/CN.6/1998/2/Add.1); the situation of Palestinian women and assistance provided by organizations of the United Nations system (document E/CN.6/1998/2/Add.2); a mid-term review of the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women, 1996-2001 (document E/CN.6/1998/3); and a report on improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (document E/CN.6/1998/8).

The Commission also has before it a note by the Secretary-General transmitting information provided by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/166 on the Fund's role in eliminating violence against women (document E/CN.6/1998/9). (For background on those reports, see Press Release WOM/1038 of 5 March).

Statements

W. HETTIARACHCHI (Sri Lanka) said that since the Beijing Conference the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Sri Lanka had prepared a National Plan of Action for Women. The plan sought to identify problems and issues in several areas of critical concern to Sri Lanka, including violence against women, women and armed conflict, political participation and decision- making, health, education and training, economic activities and poverty.

It was the country's first attempt to formulate an integrated plan of action targeted to mainstream women as participants and beneficiaries.

Preparation of the national plan relied on the participation of government officials, non-governmental organizations, private sector representatives and donors who were active on women's issues, she said. The Ministry of Women's Affairs had established focal points in all Ministries that could provide linkage and catalyze the plan's implementation and monitoring. With the support of United Nations and funding agencies, the Ministry was able to initiate many programmes and heighten greater awareness of gender issues. However, that process needed to be accelerated in order to have a strong impact on the problems that faced women.

FAIZA KEFI, of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), said her organization was continuing to follow up on the recommendations of the Beijing Platform for Action. It was the duty of parliamentarians to approve the implementation of the Platform for Action and appropriate resources to ensure that the commitment to the advancement of women was expressed in national legislation. The IPU would open a liaison office in New York to improve its communications with international organizations and its contribution to the work being done in the United Nations in the interest of its Members.

Elaborating on recent achievements of the Union, she said it had adopted a universal declaration on democracy between men and women to promote such a democratic approach in carrying out public affairs; promoted women's participation in public life; published a number of documents on women's participation; and set up an Internet site on women's participation in parliaments around the world. In addition, the organization had developed a bibliography on literature on women in parliament. At its annual sessions, the Union debated the issues in the Platform for Action and such subjects as women and armed conflict. The subject of women in the informal sector would be taken up at a forthcoming session. The Union would provide support to the relevant United Nations organizations as part of its contribution to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

YOLANDA FERRER (Cuba) said the issues of the advancement of women and the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action were of seminal importance. The Commission was responsible for treating those issues in depth in the interest of women's progress. The interrelated nature of all human rights, including the right to development, must be stressed. Cuba joined with those who engaged in the fight for all human rights. Despite the end of the cold war, resources were still being allocated to arms and nuclear weapons. Those resources should be targeted at improving social and economic aspects of life, including health care. It was also important to address problems such as prostitution and child pornography, discrimination against girls and the obstacles to their development. If the international community did not implement the Beijing Platform for Action, there would be no progress for women.

The international blockade against Cuba was detrimental to the people of Cuba and the advancement of Cuban women, she said. It ran counter to international law and the United Nations Charter and was intended to have negative impact on the independence of the Cuban people. Despite the blockade, however, the well-being of the Cuban people had been a priority of the Government of Cuba, including emphasis on giving women the place they deserved in society.

MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said that it was regrettable that on the brink of the new millennium, various forms of violence against women and girls persisted in many parts of the world. That problem was intrinsically linked with women's lower social and economic status in the family as well as in the community. There was an urgent need to develop comprehensive approaches, taking into account social and cultural norms in each society in order to address the problem on a priority basis.

Recent events had shown that violence against women had become more stark and profound in situations of armed conflict and foreign occupation, he said. What had happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Great Lakes region of Africa were still fresh memories. In his own region, the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir -- where people were struggling for their right to self-determination -- women and girls had been persistently subjected to "gross state-sponsored violence" by Indian security forces. Sexual violence and systematic rape had been used as a strategy of war. In many instances, women were raped in the presence of male family members to punish and humiliate the Kashmiri people.

He said that the Government of Pakistan had undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at eliminating gender-based discrimination against women and the girl child and to ensure women's greater participation in the social, political and economic mainstream. Those included a nationwide media campaign, a review of school curriculums, the harmonization of legislative, judicial and administrative government structures, the establishment of a human rights cell to assist women victims of violence, the establishment of free legal aid centres and women police stations. With a long way to go in achieving the full empowerment and integration of women and the girl child in the national mainstream, Pakistan was determined to continue efforts towards that goal.

SOMAIA BARGHOUTI, observer for Palestine, said that since the Beijing Conference, little had been achieved towards the advancement of women, particularly in the areas of literacy, equal pay and the prevention of violence against women. The Beijing Platform for Action should be transformed into a meaningful document. That required the formulation of a concrete mechanism, as well as resources to promote implementation. The advancement of women and their full integration could not be realized without peace, freedom and democracy. Those prerequisites were most urgent for Palestinian women whose daily lives had been affected and whose advancement had been impeded by Israeli occupation. The number of refugees and displaced children had increased, and Palestinian women had experienced an overall decline in the economic, health and education spheres.

Despite those impediments, Palestinian women were seriously pursuing the creation of an enabling environment for their advancement, she said. Their mission was to ensure that Palestinian policies and legislation were gendersensitive and took into account the needs of both men and women. Especially given the deterioration of the peace process, resulting from Israeli actions in the occupied territories, it was time for the international community, especially the United Nations, to continue to support and increase its assistance to Palestinian women in their struggle.

PNINA HERZOG, International Council of Women, said that the status of women was intertwined with the perceptions of them in the environments in which they lived. Too often violence against them maintained and reinforced their subordination. Therefore, that phenomenon could not be dealt with in isolation, but should be looked at in a holistic, integrated way, taking into consideration all the factors that shaped their status. Violence in general and violence against women had become a pandemic in all countries and in all societies. Much had been done by the United Nations to bring the situation to the attention of the international community, and hundreds of organizations worldwide had spearheaded a range of initiatives -- including safe houses and shelters, and other local community measures. While those were very important answers, it was very difficult to cure violence.

Each year thousands of women were tricked, forced and coerced into slavery and prostitution, she said. Tens of millions of children were forced to work in sex markets, where they faced treacherous conditions. What had been done so far was not sufficient. More drastic and effective outcome-based measures must be taken by governments under strict United Nations surveillance. For example, trafficking in women should be dealt with as a criminal offence -- not just in a few countries, but in all countries. The United Nations should take the lead in breaking the pattern of trafficking and in penalizing offenders, and Member States should be required to prove to the United Nations that they had established laws to prevent trafficking.

Moreover, the Commission and non-governmental organizations must give priority to the prevention of violence against women and children, she said. Efforts must begin at a very early age -- in kindergartens, vocation schools, community centres and the workplaces -- at all levels of civil society. The young must be involved in programmes for the young, beginning with the smallest unit of society, the family. The media played a tremendous role in influencing attitudes, including negative ones. In that regard, the Commission might wish to further study the effect of violence in the media and on the Internet on young people. She called on all non- governmental organizations to join the International Council of Women in its fight to combat trafficking in women, and urged governments to enact laws that would classify such activities as criminal offences.

SHARIFAH ZARAH SYED AHMAD (Malaysia) highlighted progress made in her country in its efforts to integrate women into the mainstream of development. A national plan of action on the advancement of women had been approved by the country's cabinet in 1996. It was a comprehensive document that included programmes and strategies that strengthened the national machinery, established mechanisms for the enforcement of laws against domestic violence, public education efforts and gender sensitization training. The national machinery had been upgraded to a full-fledged department. There had been considerable progress on the issue of domestic violence against women. It was now dealt with as a criminal offence with appropriate penalties. Law enforcement personnel had been urged to pursue more effective measures to address violence against women.

There had been increased inter-agency action, including among the police and the health agencies, for hospitals to be used as a more neutral place to treat victims of violence, she said. Malaysia had pursued special training for investigators in dealing with rape victims. A new act adopted ensured the rights of women to inheritance. Islamic laws were also being reviewed in accordance with the principles of social justice and gender equity. Malaysia's earlier reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women had been withdrawn. The Government was in the process of preparing its initial report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Malaysian Government would ensure that the human rights of women and girls were promoted. On the girl child, she said the problem of missing children and adolescents and their abuse had been seriously addressed. On women and armed conflict, she said all governments had an obligation to deal with conflict and war and promote the pursuit of peace. Malaysia supported peace initiatives worldwide, as peace was a prerequisite for the advancement of women.

GALINA GULKO (Russian Federation) said the Platform for Action had been well received in her country. Based on it, the Russian Federation had a national plan of action that laid the basis for government action to implement the provisions of the Constitution and the Beijing Platform for Action to promote equality of men and women. The plan complemented the action of the state agencies to achieve the objectives of the Platform for Action. In addition, the Government had adopted a number of measures to promote economic improvements for women. At the same time, there was concern in her country for developments that negatively affected women and children such as the high mortality rate, the decrease in women's employment and incidents of harsh treatment of women in the family.

The national plan was being implemented at the local and federal levels, she said. Action was also being taken to ensure equality of rights for men and women, on which legislation would be developed in parliament. Equality of opportunity was being promoted for women and men in employment. Programmes for the training and retraining of unemployed women were being implemented. A legislative draft was being prepared on violence against women in the family, and centres were being established for the support of victims of violence. She elaborated on progress of women in attaining high office in the Russian Federation. She announced that a conference would soon be held in her country on improving the situation of women there, which would also address the implementation of the national plan of action, adding that her country faced the problem of insufficient funds for the implementation of the plan of action.

MOHAMMED A.M. AL-HUMAIMIDI (Iraq) said the national action plan to the year 2000 on improving the status of Iraqi women was being implemented based on the principles of the Iraqi Constitution and the Islamic Shariah, Iraqi traditions and international law. Women in Iraq occupied very high posts and the number of women in educational and other social sectors had increased in past decades. Women had taken every opportunity to improve their situation and had enjoyed maternity and child care leave. Health services and maternal and child care were provided even in the most remote areas of the country.

The embargo in force on Iraq had negative impacts on the country and particularly on women and children, he said. It had undermined all the earlier achievements. The economic situation had deteriorated. Women had given up their jobs to devote their energies to providing for their families' basic needs. There was a lack of commodities, including basic goods. Many women were now anaemic and their rate of mortality had increased, including that of pregnant women. Women and children were malnourished. Infant mortality had increased to a high number as compared with figures in the late 1980s. Diseases had increased and caused the death of young children. The death rate had increased by 25 per cent from the late 1980s. Those developments ran counter to all the international efforts to improve the social and economic environment. He called for an end to the embargo against his country.

AUDRA MIKALAUSKAITE (Lithuania) said that she associated herself with the statement made by the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union. The Fourth World Conference on Women had united Lithuania's women, inspired them to work, and motivated the founding of more women non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition, the Government had ratified the action plan for the advancement of women in Lithuania, and a law on equal opportunities was under consideration in the Parliament. The establishment of an ombudsman was included in the proposed equal opportunities law.

Owing to the socio-economic transition in Lithuania and the lack of legal remedies, more and more young girls and women were forced into prostitution, she said. Trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the region of central and eastern Europe was acute. In order to reduce that negative phenomenon, the Government had introduced a new article of the Penal Code dealing with crimes related to prostitution. Strict prosecution measures were applied for the perpetrators of sexual abuse of children.

Although the legal system had historically focused on penalties for such crimes, new trends were emerging that shifted the focus to the prevention of crime and the introduction of probation, she said. For example, the Lithuanian Crime Prevention Centre was founded in 1997 to assist governmental structures. Combating violence required complex measures that included the establishment of crisis centres for abused women. There was also an urgent need to further overhaul policies to include the enforcement of social and legal reforms, more shelters for battered women, and more protective laws and education. The transition to a market economy in Lithuania impacted upon the protection of the human rights of women. Government institutions, international organizations and women themselves could help close the remaining gap between the legal and actual status of women.

CRISTINA MUNOZ (Paraguay) said that since she had last addressed the Commission, Paraguay had continued to progress towards updating a number of activities towards elevating the status of women. The first national seminar on women had achieved consensus on the strategies to be developed, had identified the actors with decision-making power and given them parts to play in keeping with their role in society. Monitoring and assessing the follow-up of the Beijing Platform for Action at every level of the country was under way. In addition, a national plan for women had evolved, in part as a result of the coordinated work of NGOs.

She said that the present implementation of the plan consisted in consulting the actors in different State institutions and civil society, in order to realize the Government's wish to materialize the principles of equality enshrined in the Constitution. Also undertaken was the creation of a research centre for women's studies as an additional independent unit to provide scientific gender analysis. An effective strategy to eliminate all forms of violence against women and create new awareness to the problem was on the Government's agenda. Efforts were being made towards legislative reform, training and awareness-raising in the public administration and at the decision-making levels. An inter-institutional approach made it possible to facilitate the collection of data which would classify different forms making it possible to prevent and punish it.

Tremendous efforts had also been made in the last three years by the Government in the legal field to incorporate the principles of equality into its laws, she said. It was also making tremendous efforts to overcome poverty, particularly women's impoverishment, through training and access to resources. To support working women, an infant centre for female government employees was being established. Paraguay also supported the drafting of an optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and would like to see its adoption.

AHMED SNOUSSI (Morocco) said that his country sought to publish and disseminate the Women's Anti-Discrimination Convention in languages accessible to all its citizen to enlighten women about their rights and their access to the courts. Morocco's strategy to combat violence against women and girl children included a broad ranging campaign to raise awareness of the damaging effects of violence. There was an exhaustive study of the problem under way, and a data bank had been established.

He said that human rights education had improved, and women's economic and social condition, as well as their health protection, was being addressed. The goal was to reduce the maternal mortality by 30 per cent, and, in that regard, no-risk maternity and family planning had been given priority in a programme aimed at the year 2005. The programme targeted a 70 per cent school attendance of rural girls by the year 2005, and the reduction of female illiteracy in rural areas by 50 per cent. Morocco had also embarked on a national strategy to educate adults in order to renew literacy programmes for women, organize study cycles for employed children, and establish rules to combat the poor treatment of the girl child. Among the strategy's recommendations was the creation of a higher council of women to be composed of all ministerial departments, female organizations, trade unions and NGOs.

TERESA SOLA (Argentina) said a recent law had encouraged the participation of women in Parliament. As a result, today 27 per cent of legislators in the Lower House of Parliament were women. Argentina had worked actively in international forums to address the issues related to the advancement of women, had adopted national legislation, and promoted positive measures to guarantee the empowerment of women and the protection of children. A law had been adopted on the prevention of family violence, and a special police corps and special courts had been formed to deal with such violence.

Other areas in which Argentina had made progress in implementing the Platform for Action included the inclusion of women studies in school and university curricula; specialized training for justice and law enforcement personnel; massive sensitization of the public on gender issues; the updating of relevant gender data as a basis for policy; and the improved treatment of victims. Argentina had acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, had taken action to prevent the exploitation of children, and had developed a programme to provide treatment for abused children and adolescents.

There was need for a gender perspective in the statute of the international criminal court and in international humanitarian law, she said. Women must become more effective participants in preventive diplomacy. Argentine women had participated in the country's contingents in United Nations peacekeeping operations. She called for the completion of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The progress made so far in promoting the advancement of women must be increased in the interest of all women.

HANNAH TIAGHA, of the Africa Centre for Women of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), highlighted some of her Commission's achievements in the last 12 months. She said the Africa Centre for Women was the focal point for programmes for women. Its work included increasing awareness of the need for systematic allocation of national resources for implementation of the Platform for Action, and reinforcing national mechanisms and machineries responsible for monitoring the Platform for Action. The Centre was represented on the cabinet of the Commission's Executive Secretary. Its highest post had been elevated to the level of D-1 and its Professional staff doubled to a total of nine.

Part of the process of implementation of the African and Beijing Platform for Action had been the convening of five technical meetings to monitor implementation of national action plans, she said. The first was held in November 1997 in Dakar; subsequent subregional meetings would be held in other countries in Africa in May, July and October this year as preparatory work to the regional mid-decade review in 1999. The ECA had taken the issue of gender mainstreaming very seriously by requiring every substantive division to integrate gender concerns in its work programmes. Gender focal points had been appointed in every division and in the five subregional centres of the Commission. A special event had been planned on the occasion of ECA's fortieth anniversary this year to further draw the attention of decisionmakers at the highest level to issues related to women and economic development. FATIMA SBAITY KASSEM, of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), elaborated on the implementation of the Platform for Action in that region. A conference had been held to prepare a unified platform for action on women's issues for west Asia. Numerous training programmes had been conducted and a gender disaggregated database was being developed on women in the region. The database had been a successful experience. Symposia had been held on women in business and an expert meeting of NGOs had been held recently. Action had been taken on gender mainstreaming. However, the Commission faced the major obstacle of insufficient financial resources to fulfilling its mandate to promote gender issues and programmes.

TADELECH HAILEMICHAEL (Ethiopia) said that with the launching of the National Policy on Women in 1993 and the promulgation of the new Constitution in 1995, Ethiopia had declared its firm commitment to the equitable socioeconomic development of women. The women's policy aimed to institutionalize the political, economic and social rights of women by creating appropriate structures in government offices and institutions so that public policies and interventions were gender-sensitive and could ensure equitable development for all Ethiopians.

She said Ethiopia believed that the constitutional guarantee and the prevalence of gender-sensitive policies and strategies were preconditions for creating a system for the advancement of women in a sustainable manner. Since the Beijing Conference, the major task had been to enforce constitutional rights and implementation of strategies. In that regard, measures had been taken to identify discriminatory provisions of the Ethiopian civil and criminal laws.

Ethiopia's efforts to improve the status of women would be enhanced if it was assisted technically, she said. Ethiopia, therefore, requested the United Nations funds and programmes, as well as its agencies, and the international community to increase their assistance in financial and technical terms.

FAHDI KARAM (Lebanon) said that his country's plan of action consisted of a number of legislative elements that included plans to eliminate all texts incompatible with the Women's Anti-Discrimination Convention. Regarding the participation of women in decision-making, the Government had plans to increase their numbers to 30 per cent by the year 2000. Concerning their economic situation, there were plans to promote the training of rural women and support their participation in economic activities. On the status of women, there were plans to provide women with all social and pension benefits. The rights of women to education involved the revision of the teaching programme and the establishment of special training programmes and literacy classes for adults.

He highlighted reforms that followed the study of laws and legal reform established for the implementation of the Convention. A married Lebanese woman could now engage autonomously in commercial activity without the approval of her husband. In addition, the relevant codes that had ended the rights of women who married foreigners had been revised, and campaign was under way to expand women's participation in municipal elections, which were scheduled for next May. SAMER A. NABER (Jordan) said substantial progress had been achieved in improving the status of Jordanian women, particularly in the fields of education and health. Gender differences were rapidly diminishing in women's education and access was almost universal with primary school enrolment rates for girls higher than those for boys. Women comprised 45.1 per cent of university students and 60 per cent at community colleges. Differences in the literacy rates of women and men were steadily declining. Government health services for women had resulted in an increase in women's life expectancy to 70 years and a decrease in maternal mortality rates. However, there was a need to focus on reproductive health programmes and approaches to improve access to better health services for women.

She said the Jordanian National Committee for Women was planning various programmes that would emphasize the notion that "women's rights are human rights". It had also reviewed 10 national laws in order to stress equality between the sexes enshrined in the constitution and the national charter.

Jordan reiterated its condemnation of all forms of violence perpetrated against women during armed conflict and its support for Arab and Palestinian women in their endeavour to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, she said. The concerns of Jordan's women were being actively pursued by a dynamic and fast-growing women's movement and through cooperation among the National Committee, government organizations, NGOs and various women's groups.

GERARD NAMIREMBE BITAMAZIRE (Uganda) said that through the Constitution and other legislation, Uganda had put in place deliberate policies to raise the status of women and foster their emancipation from socio-economic, political and cultural bondage. A decentralized democracy was now in place. That constituted one of the strategies to empower women and the grass-roots communities, in general, to plan and design feasible courses of action in addressing critical and daily issues of concern. Since Beijing, the Government of Uganda had continued to play a positive role in recognition of the disadvantaged position of women.

She said that of grave concern to her delegation was the issue of the law and punishment for those who raped and defiled innocent children. Female victims of sexual assault and rape faced risks from a myriad of health consequences, including AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Apart from the brutality and trauma experienced by victims, there remained psychological damage for life. It was Uganda's hope that the current session of the Commission could issue a powerful condemnation and appropriate recommendations to address and prevent the defilement and rape of girl children.

KHANDO CHATZAZANG, NGO Caucus on Women and Armed Conflict, said that the situation of foreign occupation and armed conflict was often characterized by unequal power relationships. The Beijing Platform for Action emphasized the promotion of non-violent conflict resolution and reaffirmed the right to the self-determination of all peoples. As the case of Tibet had demonstrated, long-standing conflict and human rights violations did not disappear in the absence of international action. The Tibetan people had engaged in a campaign of non-violent action to further their aspirations for fundamental freedoms and human rights. If such campaigns did not engender the support of the world community, that would send a clear message to all people that only violence would focus world attention on existing conflicts.

Speaking on a point of order, the representative of China said that she believed that the topic of today's discussion was the follow-up of the Beijing Conference. The current speech was in violation of the sovereignty of countries, and should be stopped.

The Committee Chairperson said that the non-governmental organization had referred to the Beijing Platform and to the specific situation of women and armed conflict. She could continue her statement, but should contain her focus on the topic on today's agenda -- which was the situation of women.

Continuing, Ms. CHATZAZANG said that the Asian caucus region would urge the United Nations and Member States to encourage governments engaged in foreign occupation and armed conflicts to negotiate peaceful resolutions, and open territories without undue restriction. She urged the General Assembly to investigate contested issues of self-determination, appoint special envoys to promote the peaceful settlement of conflict, and initiate referendums to ascertain the wishes of people seeking self-determination.

On another point of order, the representative of China said that Tibet was an integral part of China, and it was, therefore, very regrettable to hear a speech at the Commission by an NGO aimed at the division of China and the attack of a sovereign country.

The Committee Chairperson said China was out of order, and could exercise its right of reply at the end of the meeting.

ASHA DAS (India) said her country would like to associate itself with Indonesia's statement on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing country and China. India was taking a rights-based approach to women's concerns. Apart from governmental efforts, the main institutional mechanisms to guarantee and ensure women's rights were the courts, with their strong tradition of public interest litigation, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission for Women, and the Standing Committee on the Empowerment of Women set up in March 1997. India was preparing its report on implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and participating in current efforts to conclude the optional protocol providing for an individual complaints mechanism.

Apart from social attitudes, poverty and underdevelopment were among the primary challenges to the human rights of women in India, she said. Poverty had to be addressed through national efforts, supported by international cooperation. Women's education, vocational training and self-employment initiatives, often with active participation by NGOs, and micro-credit facilities, had been strengthened. There was a growing recognition of the need to ensure that women acquired effective rights over land and usufructuary rights over other common properties. Given that access to land was still the major source of livelihood, ensuring women's rights to land would be a major step in empowering them.

She said violence against women needed to be addressed as a violation of women's right to a secure and dignified life. The National Commission for Women had attracted public attention to atrocities against women. It had initiated an innovative alternative system of "family courts" to settle family disputes such as maintenance, separation and guardianship. Anti- dowry police cells had been set up and the Dowry Prohibition Act strengthened. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had been a pioneer in recognizing the special circumstances of the girl child, declaring the 1990s as the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child.

DALILA SAMAH (Algeria) said that Algeria's Constitution enshrined equal rights for men and women. However, women were now the focus of concern with public authorities intent on promoting strengthening the family and protecting the situation of women, who had preserved the country's values throughout the ages.

Algerian women accounted for 45 to 48 per cent of the population enrolled in school at the primary, middle, upper and university levels, she said. The illiteracy rate had been reduced from more than 80 per cent in past years to less than 40 per cent in 1997. In addition, the number of women in the medical and pharmaceutical fields was at an all time high. As full members of society, Algerian women were involved in the campaign for a pluralist democracy. Their presence in education, in the medical field and elected government bodies were a supreme illustration of the advancing struggle.

She expressed great surprise over the fact that a country which continued to order terrorism was pointing to massacres committed in a number of countries before attempting to eliminate its own practice. Such terrorism was a hideous beast which needed to be fought without ambiguity. The convoluted speeches and the absence of condemnation could only serve to encourage pursuit of that form of destruction and death. Algerian women paid a heavy price because of their religion, which had been a religion of tolerance, love and peace.

Those terrorist groups were trying to take an entire population hostage. Algerian women and the rest of Algerian society were determined to eliminate that alien phenomenon.

Ms. TRAORE (Mali) said her country had developed a national plan of action after a thorough analysis of the situation of women in Mali. Action had been taken to implement the Beijing Platform for Action in a number of areas, including a review of the education system, with particular focus on the girl child in the system; and the organization of national seminars for groups such as political leaders, journalists and television personnel. Important progress had been made to sensitize groups on issues such as parental duties and inheritance.

She said the number of women in the Parliament had increased in recent years, as well as the number of female ministers -- both developments had shown the political will to ensure such participation of women in public life. Other areas addressed included women in the health sector, in education, in employment, and the practice of genital mutilation of young girls. The number of girls in school had increased considerably in Mali in recent years. A ministry for women and children had been created. Mali was actively implementing the Platform for Action. However, more resources were needed to ensure more effective implementation.

MARIA JONAS (Austria) welcomed recent high-level appointments of women in the United Nations Secretariat. Real equality between men and women was a basic democratic condition and an imperative for social justice. Women had been forced to fight for their rights in a world of male norms, and it was important that they did more than just catch up. There was need for a consistent implementation of the principles of gender mainstreaming. The State had to provide the necessary environment for gender parity.

She elaborated on legislative achievements in her country, such as in the area of the promotion of women in the civil service. She stressed the duty of men to share in the responsibilities of the home to remove the idea that such responsibilities were the exclusivedomain of women. In its roleas President of the European Union in the latter half of 1998, Austria would jointly chair an informal council of ministers on questions of equal opportunity and employment to re-emphasize the principle of gender mainstreaming.

RAHILA HADEA CUDJOE (Nigeria) said the action taken in her country to implement the Beijing Platform for Action had had outstanding results. The family support programme and other action taken had catapulted women into the mainstream of life in Nigeria. Nigerian women had been able to penetrate "glass ceilings". Women holding high office had been in the forefront of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. As a result, women were now being projected into the mainstream of development in Nigeria. Such progress could only have been achieved through federal, State and international might.

As a follow-up to Beijing, the Platform for Action had been translated into local languages in Nigeria and circulated widely. Concrete steps had been taken to integrate women into development programmes at the local levels. Much of the progress made in the family support programme and the recent progress of women in Nigeria could be attributed to the First Lady of Nigeria. Even women at the grass-root level were being brought into the limelight at all levels of government -- local, State and federal. The national machinery, the active participation of ministries and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) contributed to the Nigerian report on the country's implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

CARLOS ENRIQUE GARCIA GONZALES (El Salvador) said he shared the opinion expressed by the representative of Indonesia as Chairman of the Group of 77 and China regarding critical areas of concern emanating from the Beijing Conference. Women had achieved considerable progress by winning a new area for themselves and advancing the recognition of their human rights.

He said that the population of women in El Salvador were divided among the rural and urban areas. As a rule, they tended to marry early and have many children. They were also the sole heads of one third of Salvadorian households and routinely suffered the negative impact of the masculine lack of responsibility in the home and with respect to parenting. Education and health benefits were seriously limited despite women's increasing presence in the workplace and the national economy. While many discriminatory laws had been overcome in the last few years during a legislative review, women still suffered the lack of implementation of those laws.

Concerning the four critical areas of concern, particularly the area of violence against women, El Salvador had complied with the proposed strategic objective, he said. What remained to be done was the negotiation with the National Council of Advertising Agencies to eliminate advertisements that were discriminatory to women. The Government also intended to reinforce the educational curricula and training methods. The Government was committed to overcoming the obstacles and complying fully with the strategic objectives in order to elevate women's status in a way that would enable them to fully participate in El Salvador's national development on an equal basis with men.