Action on women's rights urged

By Santi WE Soekanto

BEIJING (JP): The Fourth World Conference on Women opened yesterday with leaders calling on all countries to move from words to actions in improving the position of women.

With an agenda which ranges from poverty to under- representation of women in policy-making positions, the meeting was officially opened by United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ismat Kittani, representing Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali.

The conference's theme, "Equality, Development and Peace," will be reflected in the numerous meetings and discussions, and in the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

The two documents are expected to be the guidelines for an international campaign for the advancement of women into the coming century.

"The mission of Beijing is not further analysis, but it is on meaningful action for which all of us here will be held accountable," Secretary-General of the Conference Gertrude Mongella said.

"Actions speak louder than words," she said, adding that the conference's aim is to capitalize on the strength and resourcefulness of women, to share it and to act upon it.

"For centuries, the world has given its women less than their due," Boutros-Ghali said in his speech, which was read by Kittani at the opening ceremony. "Those empowered by nature to create life itself have had their own lives impoverished."

Boutros-Ghali said that the search for equal rights between women and men was not only "statements of high ideals" but commitments which could be realized and measured.

The conference proceeded with the election of Chen Muhua, a leading parliamentarian of China, as president of the conference; Patricia B. Licuanan of the Philippines as chair of the main committee; Natubo Nandinawa of Namibia as Rapporteur General; and 27 vice presidents of the conference representing different regions.

Earlier, the Chinese government held a lavish, colorful welcoming ceremony. Hundreds of dancers, singers and acrobats treated guests to enchanting performances of Chinese arts.

In his speech, President Jiang Zemin affirmed his country's commitment to the campaign for equality for women, saying that women hold up "half the sky" in human society. However, over a long period of time in the development of human society, women were not treated as equals to men, he said.

Jiang also said that "prejudices against women, like an invisible chain, fettered the hearts and minds of millions".

Mongella gave a moving speech about how "a revolution has begun".

"There's no going back...there's no going back," she said. "There will be no unraveling of commitments. Neither today's nor last year's and certainly not this decade's commitments.

"This revolution is just too, too important, and certainly long overdue," she concluded to warm applause from the participants.

Five special guest speakers, including Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan and President Vigdis Finbogadottir of Iceland, addressed the opening ceremony.

Bhutto, who was received warmly and whose speech was met by standing ovation, defended women's position in Islamic teachings and said that it was social taboos and prejudices that hindered women in her country from advancing.

Islam recognizes women's right to work and to become a mother as well, she said.

She also called for solidarity among women in their quest for their rights. "We're not alone in our search for empowerment ... for respect in society," she said.

Today, two plenary meetings are planned. They are expected to see a general exchange of views.

The Indonesian delegation, led by State Minister for Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi, will speak during the first part of the session.

The main committee will begin negotiations on the draft Platform for Action today. Two working groups are scheduled to examine the overriding issues, in particular the questions of gender equality and health rights.

Several other meetings, including one on women and health -- featuring United States First Lady Hillary Clinton -- will also be held today.

According to conference spokeswoman Therese Gastaut, Indonesian delegate Ben Mboi, a former governor of East Nusa Tenggara province and winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for community development, will also take part in today's proceedings.

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