Action on women's rights urged

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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