Consensus unlikely as Beijing talks wind up

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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