SOM ends with Jakarta Declaration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Asian Pacific senior official meeting (SOM)
\non the role of women in development ended here Saturday with the
\napproval of a draft plan of action for the region and declaration
\nfor the advancement of women.<\/p>\n
A prelude to the Second Asian Pacific Ministerial Conference
\non Women in Development, which is to be opened by President
\nSoeharto here this morning, the meeting glossed over sharp
\ndifferences among the delegates representing 54 countries during
\nthe drawing up of the two documents.<\/p>\n
The drafts of the Jakarta Declaration and Plan of Action,
\nwhich are to become regional blueprints to guide governmental
\nefforts for the development of women over the next decade, will
\nbe deliberated in the two-day ministerial conference.<\/p>\n
The five-day senior official meeting, attended by some 500
\npeople, was a lesson in compromise, some participants said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, conference sources told The Jakarta Post that
\ncountry delegates who took part in the closed sessions of the
\ndrafting committee, chaired by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan of the
\nPhilippines, were involved in heated debates over several
\nsensitive issues.<\/p>\n
Sjamsiah Achmad, chief of the Indonesian delegation who
\nchaired the SOM, cited the problems of prostitution and
\ncasualties of armed conflicts as being among the issues with
\npolitical and security overtones which provoked strong debate.<\/p>\n
Differences over religious and traditional values put forward
\nby participants also added the controversy, she said.<\/p>\n
The delegates from France, for instance, reportedly quibbled
\nover co-education system with Iranians who pressed for the
\ninclusion of a recommendation on separate schools for girls.<\/p>\n
Migrant workers<\/p>\n
A male delegate from Japan voiced his objection to a
\ndiscussion of systematic rape, within an article on the
\nprotection of women's rights in the Plan. He thought that this
\narticle alluded to his country, specifically concerning \"comfort
\nwomen\" who were forced into sex slavery rings run by Japanese
\nsoldiers in many Asian countries during the World War II.<\/p>\n
The delegate reportedly said that it was no longer relevant to
\nlook into the past. His statement caused furious objections from
\nthe South Korean, Filipino, Bangladesh, Pakistani, and Malaysian
\ndelegates.<\/p>\n
The problem of migrant, women workers also invoked lively
\ndebate, especially between the more-developed \"receiving\"
\ncountries such as Malaysia and the poorer \"sending\" countries
\nsuch as the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
It was mentioned, however, that the delegates were \"...not
\nhere to settle political disputes or security affairs, so
\neventually delegates just had to agree to disagree,\" Sjamsiah
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On the sideline of the meeting, activists of non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs) who were invited as observers, and dozens of
\nlocal and foreign women's groups, lobbied delegates and tried to
\nget their opinions included in the documents.<\/p>\n
Freedom of sexual orientation, and the call for redefinition
\nof cultural and religious norms on women's role in society were
\namong the issues they pursued.<\/p>\n
Some of their proposals were incorporated into the final
\ndraft, although in a manner not quite up to their expectations.<\/p>\n
\"No matter how the outcome of the meeting is, it can't satisfy
\neverybody,\" commented Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, a prominent
\nIndonesian lawyer and NGO leader.<\/p>\n
\"The formulations of the plan and declaration are too
\ngeneralized in nature,\" she said. \"We wanted a more detailed
\nplan, but we understood it would be difficult.\"<\/p>\n
Sjamsiah, whose effective leadership during the event was
\ncommended by many delegates, played down the NGOs'
\ndissatisfaction.<\/p>\n
\"This is a governmental, as well as UN-sponsored, conference,\"
\nshe said. \"We need to advance from mere condemnation and fault-
\nfinding, and establish workable concepts.\"<\/p>\n
Conference sources said 31 ministers and other high-ranking
\nofficials will attend the ministerial conference, which is
\nsponsored by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
\nthe Pacific (ESCAP).<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has sent Gertrude
\nMongela, his special envoy, to address the conference.<\/p>\n
The results of the ministerial conference will be submitted as
\nthe Asia Pacific recommendation to the World Conference on Women
\nin Beijing, in September 1995. (swe\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/som-ends-with-jakarta-declaration-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}