Action on women's rights urged<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
BEIJING (JP): The Fourth World Conference on Women opened
\nyesterday with leaders calling on all countries to move from
\nwords to actions in improving the position of women.<\/p>\n
With an agenda which ranges from poverty to under-
\nrepresentation of women in policy-making positions, the meeting
\nwas officially opened by United Nations Under-Secretary-General
\nIsmat Kittani, representing Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-
\nGhali.<\/p>\n
The conference's theme, \"Equality, Development and Peace,\"
\nwill be reflected in the numerous meetings and discussions, and
\nin the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
\nAction.<\/p>\n
The two documents are expected to be the guidelines for an
\ninternational campaign for the advancement of women into the
\ncoming century.<\/p>\n
\"The mission of Beijing is not further analysis, but it is on
\nmeaningful action for which all of us here will be held
\naccountable,\" Secretary-General of the Conference Gertrude
\nMongella said.<\/p>\n
\"Actions speak louder than words,\" she said, adding that the
\nconference's aim is to capitalize on the strength and
\nresourcefulness of women, to share it and to act upon it.<\/p>\n
\"For centuries, the world has given its women less than their
\ndue,\" Boutros-Ghali said in his speech, which was read by
\nKittani at the opening ceremony. \"Those empowered by nature to
\ncreate life itself have had their own lives impoverished.\"<\/p>\n
Boutros-Ghali said that the search for equal rights between
\nwomen and men was not only \"statements of high ideals\" but
\ncommitments which could be realized and measured.<\/p>\n
The conference proceeded with the election of Chen Muhua, a
\nleading parliamentarian of China, as president of the conference;
\nPatricia B. Licuanan of the Philippines as chair of the main
\ncommittee; Natubo Nandinawa of Namibia as Rapporteur General; and
\n27 vice presidents of the conference representing different
\nregions.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Chinese government held a lavish, colorful
\nwelcoming ceremony. Hundreds of dancers, singers and acrobats
\ntreated guests to enchanting performances of Chinese arts.<\/p>\n
In his speech, President Jiang Zemin affirmed his country's
\ncommitment to the campaign for equality for women, saying that
\nwomen hold up \"half the sky\" in human society. However, over a
\nlong period of time in the development of human society, women
\nwere not treated as equals to men, he said.<\/p>\n
Jiang also said that \"prejudices against women, like an
\ninvisible chain, fettered the hearts and minds of millions\".<\/p>\n
Mongella gave a moving speech about how \"a revolution has
\nbegun\".<\/p>\n
\"There's no going back...there's no going back,\" she said.
\n\"There will be no unraveling of commitments. Neither today's nor
\nlast year's and certainly not this decade's commitments.<\/p>\n
\"This revolution is just too, too important, and certainly
\nlong overdue,\" she concluded to warm applause from the
\nparticipants.<\/p>\n
Five special guest speakers, including Prime Minister Benazir
\nBhutto of Pakistan and President Vigdis Finbogadottir of Iceland,
\naddressed the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Bhutto, who was received warmly and whose speech was met by
\nstanding ovation, defended women's position in Islamic teachings
\nand said that it was social taboos and prejudices that hindered
\nwomen in her country from advancing.<\/p>\n
Islam recognizes women's right to work and to become a mother
\nas well, she said.<\/p>\n
She also called for solidarity among women in their quest for
\ntheir rights. \"We're not alone in our search for empowerment ...
\nfor respect in society,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Today, two plenary meetings are planned. They are expected to
\nsee a general exchange of views.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian delegation, led by State Minister for Women's
\nRoles Mien Sugandhi, will speak during the first part of the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
The main committee will begin negotiations on the draft
\nPlatform for Action today. Two working groups are scheduled to
\nexamine the overriding issues, in particular the questions of
\ngender equality and health rights.<\/p>\n
Several other meetings, including one on women and health --
\nfeaturing United States First Lady Hillary Clinton -- will also
\nbe held today.<\/p>\n
According to conference spokeswoman Therese Gastaut,
\nIndonesian delegate Ben Mboi, a former governor of East Nusa
\nTenggara province and winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for
\ncommunity development, will also take part in today's
\nproceedings.<\/p>\n
Reform -- Page 4<\/p>\n
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