Subject: [fem-women2000 544] US Statement 2000/10/09
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 23:42:58 +0900
Seq: 544
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL DIRECT ALL QUESTIONS TO USUN PRESS OFFICE AT (212) 415-4050 ________________________________________________________________________ USUN PRESS RELEASE #136(00) October 9, 2000 FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY Statement by Ambassador Linda Tarr-Whelan, United States Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Third Committee, October 9, 2000 ________________________________________________________________________ Madam Chairperson: It is with great pleasure that I am here today. As we look ahead, we need to recognize that a lot remains to be accomplished to improve the lives of women around the world. At the same time, we must acknowledge that much progress has been made since the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. But, let us stop and think for a moment about the significance of that World Conference in '95. The Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in Beijing was the strongest policy statement on women's empowerment ever made by the international community. It was the first time a UN document directed at advancing women was framed in the context of human rights and economic independence. It recognized that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights. It outlined actions to enable women to participate fully in decision-making at all levels in political, economic, and social institutions. And, it consistently encouraged women to do so in full partnership with men. Five years later, Madam Chairperson, the international community came together to assess the progress made since the Women's Conference in Beijing --to take stock of actions taken by governments to improve the livelihood of women. And, no less important, Madam Chairperson, to discuss and adopt further initiatives to implement the Beijing commitments. As we surveyed the endeavors undertaken to achieve the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action, we all soon realized that even though significant positive development could be identified, barriers remained. The focus then turned to further steps that needed to be undertaken to further implement the goals and commitments made in Beijing. I am sure that we can all agree that negotiations were not always easy. However, while we all encountered some bumps along the way, the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the 21st century", which came to be known as "Beijing + 5", not only reaffirmed the commitment to the goals and strategies for the advancement of women adopted in Beijing, but identified new areas of concern. New goals were agreed upon to help women in areas such as health care, domestic violence, trafficking, education, access to credit, and participation in politics. Madam Chairperson, the fact that over 4,000 delegates and grass-roots organizers came together last June to discuss women's issues was in itself a momentous occasion. The idea that women's rights are human rights, has finally solidified. Some twenty years ago, it was a radical thought. Today, it is a statement frequently used by many around the globe. It is no longer a "concept", it is a fact embraced by many. Today, Madam Chairperson, honor killings, bride burnings, and female genital mutilation are no longer regarded as "cultural" matters but human rights abuses. The trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, which Secretary of State Albright condemned in her remarks during Beijing + 5, is now seen as an international scourge. While the United States would have liked to see stronger language in certain areas of the Beijing + 5 outcome document --for example with regard to sexual orientation and reproductive health and reproductive rights, we were pleased with the language in many other areas. We believe that the final document contains very good language on issues such as the elimination of violence against women, which addresses the issue of so-called honor crimes. Many thought that violence against women, which first received attention in Beijing, might be weakened in the +5 process. This section, in fact, was one of the areas with the most progress. The document reaffirms that violence against women and girls, whether occurring in public or private, is a human rights issue. It emphasizes that there is insufficient awareness of the consequences of domestic violence, how to prevent it, and the rights of victims. The document criminalizes violence against women, particularly domestic violence. It goes beyond Beijing in terms of calling for steps to be taken against any person, organization, or enterprise. The Outcome Document also highlights HIV/AIDS, an issue that was not specifically addressed in 1995. It calls on men to assume their responsibility in family planning and practicing safer sex to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS and states that women and girls should have access to sexual education and all types of health care, education and disease prevention throughout their lives. Questions about globalization, and the contributions of women to international business and the global economy were not on the world stage in 1995 either. Let me turn for a few moments, Madam Chairperson, to the question of the heinous crime of trafficking in women and children. I would like to underscore here the words of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the 23rd Special Session when, referring to the trafficking in human beings, she said that "this crime has gone global, distorting economies, degrading societies, endangering neighborhoods and robbing millions, mostly women and children, of their dreams." We must continue to work together forging partnerships on every continent to share information, coordinate legal actions, and find and close criminal networks. Putting an end to trafficking requires a multi-national effort. Let us join hands and send a message to those out there that are in the business of ruining the lives of thousands of women and children that we will not stand for it. But, only working together, can we succeed in this endeavor. In the area of education, we strongly supported language calling for accelerated action to close the gender gap in primary and secondary education by 2005; to ensure free compulsory and universal education for both girls and boys by 2015; and for the elimination of policies that have been proven to worsen and perpetuate the gap. Let us work arduously, Madam Chairperson, to fulfill these goals. Education is one of the bastions of sustainable development. It is one of the most valuable means of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. The political will must be there, however, to undertake educational reform. With regard to women in the labor market, Madam Chairperson, we were pleased with the document's call for the need to take action to increase women's participation and to bring about a balanced representation of women and men in all sectors and occupations by, among others, encouraging the creation or expansion of institutional networks to support the career development and promotion of women. It is not enough, Madam Chairperson provide women and girls with the opportunity for education. There must also be equal opportunity in the labor market, and we must all continue to work towards equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. Included among the objectives adopted at the Special Session was the promotion of women in the global economy. US delegations attending meetings in different fora will work towards the advancement of this objective. I would like to enumerate here some of the guiding principles that we have set for ourselves, as we participate in international negotiations: * Promote the participation of women in transborder trade. * Expand the use of electronic commerce by women. * Increase participation in business skills training. * Improve access to financing. * Provide special assistance to women from minority groups, and * Promote the participation of women in government procurement. We hope, Madam Chairperson, that all member states represented here will help us bring these objectives to fruition. Only working together can we make them a reality Before closing, Madam Chairperson, I would like to say a few words about globalization. Globalization is revolutionizing the way the world works, and can bring tremendous benefits to developing countries -by stimulating trade, for example, or by applying new information technology to education. We must all acknowledge that globalization is a fact, not a policy option that can be turned off or reversed. At the same time, we recognize that not all developing countries have been able to take advantage of the benefits of globalization to the same degree. As some countries race ahead, others face the risk of falling farther behind. Within countries, not all groups share in the benefits. Due to historic patterns of discrimination, some vulnerable groups, including women, do not have equal access to these benefits, or the proper preparation and training that will enable them to participate fully in the positive aspects of the new economy. For example, women lag behind men in education, technological training, access to credit, and land ownership. In many places, women are still not free to participate fully in the economy. And, due to gender biases in institutions, women workers and women in business are often less able to take advantage of economic opportunities, including those enhanced by globalization. As I previously said, however, globalization is not a policy option. It is up to each nation to pursue sound policies such as promoting education, private sector development, and the free flow of information designed to help all their citizens, including women, to take advantage of the opportunities of economic globalization. I would like to emphasize that globalization in itself cannot be viewed as either the cause or the solution to poverty .Globalization makes government commitment to good governance and sound economic and social policies more important than ever. However, we believe that developing nations should not face this task alone. As agreed in Okinawa, the international community must work together with developing countries in areas such as trade capacity building, debt relief, expanding digital opportunities, and untying official development assistance. Further, the international community must also help developing countries build policies and institutions that foster freedom, opportunity, security, the rule of law, and more effective delivery of education and health services, as well as environmentally sustainable management of natural resources. In closing, Madam Chairperson, it was an honor for me to be part of the Beijing + 5 process and to work with all of you to make the adoption of a Declaration and Outcome Document possible which emphasizes a holistic, human-rights based approach to gender equality, and recognizes that society as a whole benefits from increased equality for women. Let us continue to work together towards the improvement of the quality of life for women around the world. Thank you, Madam Chairperson. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL DIRECT ALL QUESTIONS TO USUN PRESS OFFICE AT (212) 415-4050 _________________________________________________________________________ fem-Women2000@jca.apc.org for Women 2000, UN Special Session on Beijing+5 Searcheable Archive http://www.jca.apc.org/fem/news/women2000/index.shtml visit fem-net HomePage for other mailing lists http://www.jca.apc.org/fem