Consensus unlikely as Beijing talks wind up

By Santi WE Soekanto

BEIJING (JP): Despite repeated expressions of optimism from officials, the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women looks set to conclude today without consensus on its two major documents, the Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration.

As of yesterday, 20 participating states, including Indonesia, still had reservations on a number of issues contained in the draft Platform, which has been described as the world's agenda for women's advancement for the next decade.

Iran and Sudan are reportedly among those countries who continue to disagree with the majority of conference participants, in particular regarding sexual and reproductive rights.

Sudan has said it cannot accept statements in either of the two documents which are inconsistent with religious and cultural values.

The Indonesian delegation also has reservations about the term "sexual orientation."

Conference spokeswoman Therese Gastaut has not revealed which countries have registered reservations about the wording of the documents.

Gastaut denied that the days of exhausting negotiations at the US$2.5 million event had been a waste. The reservations are chiefly over one or two paragraphs, she said, while consensus has been achieved regarding most of the document.

The term "sexual orientation," in the section which calls for recognition of women's human rights, has been one of the most contentious and discord over the use of the expression remained unresolved as of yesterday afternoon.

Another unresolved issue was that of resources and inheritance rights for women, with disputes revolving around whether resources should be "adequate" or "new and additional."

The argument regarding inheritance rights is whether they should be described as "equal," or "equitable." The former description is opposed by many Islamic states.

The main committee convened again yesterday to hammer out differences, with members saying they were prepared to continue discussions into the early hours so that today could be devoted to the closing ceremony alone.

The committee would first adopt the documents, with or without reservations on the part of some participants, and would submit it to a plenary session today for general adoption. At that session, delegations will be able to voice their reservations over any part in the document.

Shahla Habibi, head of the Iranian delegation, denied charges yesterday that Iran's position over the documents had weakened commitments.

She said Iran was ready to campaign for the advancement of women and to address various problems affecting them, but said her delegation would nevertheless air reservations it had about statements in the documents which it regards as contrary to Islamic teachings.

Habibi flatly refuse to recognize the expression "sexual orientation."

"We are indeed against the term "sexual orientation," and it's not only us who reject it, but also all other religious groups."

However, Iran is committed to implementing the majority of the policies called for in the draft Platform.

"If we wouldn't, why would we be here?" she said, adding that many of the points in the document, such as the one asking governments to ensure full and equal access to education, are similar to Islamic ideals.

"Many concepts in the draft are actually the same as those put forward by Islam 14 centuries ago," she said. "Differences (in deliberations) are normal...We should respect diverse cultural and religious diversity."

"I believe this platform for action can be implemented universally, but with respect for diversity. Without diversity, this world would no longer be beautiful," she said.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ismat Kittani will stand in for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in closing the conference this morning.

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