From: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org
To: beijing-conf-digest@mail.edc.org
Subject: Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #57
Reply-To: beijing-conf@mail.edc.org
Errors-To: beijing-conf-digest-owner@mail.edc.org
Precedence:
Beijing Women's Conference Digest Tuesday, 22 August 1995 Volume 02 : Number 057
In this issue:
Re: Global Tribunal on Women's Human Rights
Re: E-mail address for Beijing Express
Re: Beijing-Setback for women's HR
Protest Arrest of Prostitutes in Beijing Preparations
Re: Decriminalization of Prostitution Regarding Immigrant I
re: hotel/visa fiasco
WCW: video on battered women
WCW: International Network of Women of Color - News Update & Report
USA: Beijing Flawed 18.8
U-S_-_CHINA_WOMEN 18.8 S
USA: OAS and Women 17.8
Women's NGOs Speak Out on Beijing
See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the Beijing
Women's Conference or Beijing-Conf-Digest mailing lists and on how to
retrieve back issues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Beva Eastman <Beva_Eastman@wwire.net>
Date: 20 Aug 1995 14:45:08 GMT
Subject: Re: Global Tribunal on Women's Human Rights
This message is sent by Dolores Alexander for the Center for Women's Global
Leadership
The Center for Women's Global Leadership will convene the 2nd Global Tribunal
on Women's Human Rights on September 1 at the Hairou Cinema in Beijing at the
United Nations IV World Conference on Women. The Tribunal will be from about
11 AM to about 6 PM, with simultaneous translations in all official
languages.
The Tribunal will feature the case histories of about 20 women from diverse
nations who will speak out abuse they have suffered, often firsthand. The
testimony will range from the personal and environmental destruction wrought
by nuclear testing in Kazahkstan to an American woman who killed her husband
in self defense as a result of domestic violence to women who were subjected
to rape and forced prostitution in wartime.
The first Tribunal was held in Vienna in 1993 at the United Nations World
Conference on Human Rights. The Hairou Cinema seats 1,500. You should check
the NGO Forum schedule for any last minute schedule changes.
------------------------------
From: ritam@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Rita Maran)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 11:51:01 -0800
Subject: Re: E-mail address for Beijing Express
Greetings galore to the wonderful women doing your training on the train,
as you head east to Beijing! We're coming the other way round, heading west
in the air, and I'm looking forward to reuniting with you very soon in
Huairou, in just another 10 days.
In sisterhood and strength,
Rita Maran
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Berkeley, California
------------------------------
From: Zann <zann@aztec.co.za>
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 20:58:20 +0200 (SAT)
Subject: Re: Beijing-Setback for women's HR
I read Deborah's piece on Setbck for women's HR with interest. In South
Africa the perception exists that the UN Media Accreditation Unit is not
only bureaucratic and inefficient but has taken sides with the
repressive, conservative, hardline approach of the Chinese Government.
Journalists representing the so-called mailstream media only received
accreditation mid last week and representatives of the community media
sector like myself have been refused accreditation because our
organisation does not fit the very blurred criteria for bonifide media.
After numerous letters, motivations and complaints, the UN has yet to
give a coherent reason as to why community media in South Africa is to
be prevented from participating in the conference.
We find this apparent discrimination against us as a developing country
unacceptable. And the fact that the UN appears to have been co-opted by
the Chinese Organising Committee issue for concern.
On a slightly more positive note, the South African Women's exhibition of
printed materials and videos will be on display in the Africa tent. This
exhibition represents books, reports, articles, posters and videos which
explore women and the environment, rights, education, education, social
justice, youth and development and a selection of contemporary literature.
This exhibition has been co-ordinated by myself in conjunction with the
Media and Communication Themal Group working closely with the National
NGO Secretariat. We have generated a catelogue for any interested people.
This will be available at our exhibition.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Zann Hoad | Tel: +2711 648-1157
Jacana Education | Fax: +2711 648-5516
Johannesburg, South Africa | e-mail: zann@aztec.co.za
------------------------------
From: CarolLeigh@aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 16:59:41 -0400
Subject: Protest Arrest of Prostitutes in Beijing Preparations
In August The Worker's Daily wrote that a resurgence of prostitution in China
was partly due to Communist Party and government officials patronizing or
operating places of prostitution.
They cite a survey by public security authorities which revealed that
seventy-two percent of people patronizing places of entertainment in an
unidentified region pay with government funds.
Demonstrating China's hypocritical response, a Reuters report on August 10,
1995, stated that "China has intensified a crackdown on prostitution in the
run-up to the U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing from September 4 to
15."
It is customary for governments to initiate crackdowns on prostitution,
homeless persons, and persons on the streets in general, prior to large
conventions or international meetings. However, as targets of this
enforcement are poor women who have few options, it would seem that
conference attendees and concerned persons might send letters of protest
regarding these 'preparations' for the Beijing Women's Conference.
The information regarding government officials involvement in prostitution is
also interesting, and common around the world, however such an expose' may be
a preliminary justification 'for some kind of purge,' according to Priscilla
Alexander of The National Task Force on Prostitution (US).
------------------------------
From: mlmonroe@teleport.com (MaryLynne Monroe)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 20:14:31 -0700
Subject: Re: Decriminalization of Prostitution Regarding Immigrant I
>On 18 August, Alison wrote:
>I am writing in response to the message from Barbara, Thea and Linda.
>
>I have been following with interest the dialogue in this group
>regarding prostitution. The messages from the women of COYOTE
>and other supporters of sex-workers rights have helped me think about
>and understand issues around prostitution in a completely new way,
>and I find myself very supportive of their issues. However, I
>cannot separate myself from the experience of a woman very close to
>me who, as a teenager, was a run-away who became forced into
>prostitution. Obviously, this situation is NOT of a woman who chose
>to be in this profession, but I want to know how legalization of
>prostitution would protect such women.
Alison,
I have also been following these communications with great interest and
growing understanding. I have had the experience of teaching young womyn
who are in the situation of your friend. My question has always been: How
does making/keeping it illegal help or protect these girls? It leaves them
out there still, in the vulnerable position of being at the mercy of the
"johns" or "pimps". They remain without much choice. The only "good" part
of the law, if society continues to have need of it, is (as here in Oregon)
if the customers get named and humiliated. What a way to be helpful!
Thanks for your comments. I've thought about them myself.
Blessings,
MaryLynne
------------------------------
From: "Lynn.Duggan" <23239MGR@msu.edu>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 95 00:24 EDT
Subject: re: hotel/visa fiasco
I posted a message on this list last Thursday about 30 feminist economists who
were (and still are) waiting to receive their hotel confirmation letters.
Several have given up and I can probably speak for most of the rest of us in
saying it's hard to be optimistic at this point (Sunday night), since our
airline tickets are for one week from now. We've received no response to our
faxes to the China Organizing Committee and the NGO Forum committee is now
faxing them on our behalf. But if they send the fax on Monday, the COC will
receive it Tuesday, and that leaves us only a few working days to get visas if
the HCLs are sent or faxed to the list on Tuesday, which I am somehow
beginning to doubt will happen. (Our names are not on the list sent to the
consulates.)
One possible explanation for our situation is that we asked for hotel
reservations in Huairou for the first part of our stay and in Beijing for the
last few days. But this is no excuse; we sent in our hotel reservation forms
before the deadline.
Lynn Duggan
23239mgr@msu.edu
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 1995 10:03:00 +0100
Subject: WCW: video on battered women
## author : syd@igc.apc.org
## date : 16.08.95
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
*** ANNOUNCING THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "VOICES HEARD SISTERS
UNSEEN" ***
This is to announce the premiere screening of "Voices Heard
Sisters Unseen" at the NGO Forum for Women in Beijing. The
75-minute video is about battered women who have become
advocates for social change. They present personal stories
and feminist analysis about how courts, police and social
services re-victimize battered women who are deaf, disabled,
lesbians, prostitutes, HIV-positive, and undocumented (i.e.,
have no immigration status).
"Voices Heard Sisters Unseen" uses interviews, poetry, dance
and music to bring you information about women you seldom
see or about whom you hear. "Voices Heard Sisters Unseen"
shows how these survivors of domestic violence are working
to change the way the system treats battered women in search
of justice and safety. It calls for multi-issue activism
and an interdisciplinary response to stop the
compartmentalization of women and services for battered
women.
For information about the screening in Beijing, check your
NGO Forum program. To order the video, arrange for a
screening in your country or city, or find out about the
U.S.A. premiere, please contact:
Grace Poore
SHaKTI Productions
8403 16th Street #006
Silver Spring, MD 20910-2831
USA
or fax:
1-202-628-4899
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 1995 04:21:00 +0100
Subject: WCW: International Network of Women of Color - News Update & Report
## author : 100010.2311@compuserve.com
## date : 17.08.95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
International Network of Women of Color
In Preparation for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women
US/Pacific Region: PO Box 86681, Los Angeles, California
90086-0681 USA 213/221-1698 l 213/227-9353 fax Developing
World: Andaiye c/o Red Thread, 173 Charlotte Street, Lacey
Town, Georgetown, Guyana 5922-77481l 5922-74232 fax Europe:
PO Box 287, London NW6 5QU England 0171/837-7509 l
0171/833-4817
News Update and Report on INWOC's Participation at the UN
Commission on the Status of Women meetings in New York 15
March - 17 April 1995
NEWS UPDATE
l In response to our protests INWOC was accredited for the
Beijing government conference after initially being turned
down!
l INWOC has applied, with the support of the Congress of
Black Women in Canada, to the Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) Forum Co-ordinating Office in New York for INWOC
workshops, in addition to daily consistent space for women
of color generally and for other women of color groups in
addition to INWOC. The space is for meetings, caucuses to
meet, leave messages, strategize, organise from, use as
meeting space for strategy meetings with other caucuses,
meet with government delegations, etc. We tried to ensure a
women of color space to help facilitate the networking and
presence of women of color North and South at the Conference
and because we noted that throughout the Beijing processes,
including the CSW meetings, such an autonomous space was
lacking.
l Please note that governments will continue negotiating on
the Platform for Action language that remains in brackets
[meaning no agreement] in N.Y. from July 31 to August 4;
INWOC intends to participate in order to continue to lobby
on our issues. Unfortunately only NGOs with consultative
status with ECOSOC can participate in the meetings.
Margaret Prescod of INWOC is a permanent UN representative
for Housewives in Dialogue which has category II
consultative status and therefore will be able to attend,
and is ready to work on INWOC issues, ie environmental
racism, domestic employees, homecare workers, racism in the
Platform for Action.
l We are pleased to note that several women of color
grassroots activists in the US who are part of and/or have
worked closely with INWOC have received funding (minus $500)
to attend the Beijing Conferences through the Majority
People's Fund. We are still awaiting news on our
Send-A-Sister to Beijing application and still trying to
fundraise to get other women of color activists to the
Conferences.
l If you have not yet received funding please let us know
and please don't give up on attending just yet!
l The US State Department has begun and will continue to
hold a series of meetings to discuss a variety of issues
from the Platform for Action, including diversity, in
Washington DC (see attached). Please alert your contacts
near the DC area so they go and raise the area(s) of concern
of your particular organization.
l Some grassroots women from Tanzania (urban factory and
other workers and rural women) have formed a Wages for
Housework group there we have written to them to let them
know about INWOC to see if they want to affiliate. They are
interested in and need help in getting to Beijing.
l We have begun to collect videos and films on video on
women/youth/people of color that would be of interest to
show in the women of color space in Beijing; we are also
working to get a copy of a video of the controversial film,
Sankofa the first film about slavery in the US to take
to Beijing. We have met with the director, the lead actress
and others on this project. Another film we have and would
like to take to Beijing is Amazon Sisters about the effect
of the ending of the rainforest on women of color in
Amazonia Brazil and their organizing with labor unions to
resist; we will also bring a video made by "street
organizers" (former gang members participating in the gang
truce in South Central LA), of interviews with community
residents on the truce. If you have access to other films
and/or videos, please let us know so that a film/video
series can be held in the women of color space and/or other
appropriate venue.
l Volunteers will be needed to help staff the women of color
center in Beijing. Please come prepared to set aside either
one or two mornings, afternoons or evenings to help with
facilitating the work of women of color groups at the
conference.
l Please let us know of your ideas and plans and if there
are any areas we can help to facilitate. It would be good
to have a master list of WOC activities, workshops, etc. at
the WOC space at the conference and also to share
pre-Beijing to the degree that we can. You might also be
interested in presenting at the workshops we have applied
for. They are: Women of Color, South and North:
Caucus/Speak Out, and Strategizing Together: Women of Color,
South and North. Please let us know if you are and enclose a
bio for background information; knowing how many want to
present will help to determine the format and how many of
your requests can be honored.
l Please see enclosed information on accommodations, getting
visas, etc.
l Would you be interested in being part of an ad-hoc
advisory group of grassroots women of color to the
Environmental Protection Agency and do you know others who
would be it would be a useful vehicle to press both the US
delegation as well as other governments in Beijing on the
issue of environmental racism/environmental justice. Thus
far the words environmental justice have been cut from the
Platform for Action and no strong language is included on
the disproportionate impact of environmental devastation or
specifically on communities of color. So much work needs to
be done in this area to try to get language in the document;
also such a group would be useful in Beijing follow-up work,
pressing the EPA to implement what was agreed to in Beijing
and also to be a powerbase for a broader-based Women's
Advisory Group to the EPA that is likely to include a lot of
mainstream feminists who won't necessarily be focusing on
issues we would. What do you think? We have preliminary run
this idea with EPA officials at the international affairs
office and thus far there is some interest, although I must
say they would want to make it a more general women's thing
which would mean unless we organize ourselves, grassroots
women of color will not have the voice and clout we should
in such a group. Please send your feedback and/or your
interest ASAP (phone, fax, mail).
l Please note some of the paragraphs enclosed from the
Platform for Action that you might want to make suggestions
on language changes best to get them done in time to be
raised at the appropriate U.S. State Department meetings and
in time for the one week U.N. negotiating session at the end
of July.
l Finally, it would be useful if we can find a way (those of
us in the Southwest) to meet prior to Beijing perhaps in Los
Angeles in July and August just to be as prepared as
possible, network more etc.; if this is not possible it
would be particularly important that we share Beijing plans
with each other so we can be as supportive of each other as
possible.
CSW REPORT
INWOC attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW) final preparatory meeting before Beijing to decide on
the Draft Platform for Action the agenda for the Beijing
Conference. INWOC members from the US, the Caribbean, and
the UK attended with amendments to the Draft Platform for
Action prepared by INWOC's co-ordinating group,
International Black Women for Wages for Housework, as well
as other groups in our network. Our purpose was to make
women of color North and South, including indigenous women
and migrant, immigrant and refugee women and our issues
and concerns at the bottom visible in the CSW process and
in the Beijing document. The amendments aimed at
strengthening the Platform for Action and recommending
actions by governments to improve crucial areas of women's
lives: from economics, health and violence to human rights,
armed conflict and the environment.
INWOC`s achievements at the conference included:
l Women of Colour, South and North, Speak Out and Claim our
Rights Workshop attended by forty women from 20 countries.
INWOC convened it as a space for women of color to build our
networks, support each other and list issues of concern we
are working on to ensure they were part of the Beijing
agenda. Key speakers were: Andaiye of Red Thread in Guyana
and WAND in Barbados; Margaret Prescod, co-ordinator of
INWOC and IBWWFH, and Linda Brewer from Mothers and
Daughters Against Drug Abuse in South Central LA. Fleurette
Osborne of the Congress of Black Women in Canada reported
from the Women of Colour Caucus that met during the NGO
forum of the CSW. We decided that since the Women of Color
Caucus had drafted a general statement (see enclosed),
rather than come up with a new statement, we listed areas of
concern we wanted to impact in the Platform for Action. Key
issues/areas of concern included: structural adjustment;
environmental racism; work of uncompensated care-givers;
domestic workers; undocumented and immigrant women;
situation of Black lesbian women; and more. Problem areas
raised on barriers to women of color organizing together
included the UN`s lack of resources for translation as an
obstacle to organizing, and definitions of who is a "women
of color" and "who is Black" (report attached).
l Environmental Justice and Racism Margaret Prescod was a
guest speaker at the Environmental Protection Agency's
public meeting, Broadening the Base of Minority Awareness on
the Issue of Environmental Justice. INWOC's delegation
lobbied to get in language in the Platform of Action on
environmental racism, along with NGOs who have been
supporting our work; met with Environmental Protection
Agency representatives during the CSW, including the head of
the International Affairs office; and negotiated approval by
the EPA of including environmental justice (INWOC wanted
environmental racism the language is to be finalized in
Beijing the struggle continues). INWOC's work included
successfully pressing language to highlight how
environmental devastation increases women's unwaged
workload. We were pleased to be able to consult with Sofia
Martinez and Richard Moore in the South West Network for
Environmental and Economic Justice based in New Mexico in
preparation for work we did at the CSW; their experience and
input was and is invaluable in INWOC's on-going work on
environmental racism.
l Race and Ethnicity Working Group We were specifically
asked by women of African descent from the South and North
(from Canada, Caribbean, Ghana and Zimbabwe) to help pull
together women of color towards the end of the CSW meetings,
to urgently press governments on the issue of the
invisibility of race in the Platform for Action. INWOC
members called together a working group of women of color
from several different organizations and communities North
and South (which became the Race and Ethnicity Working
Group) which drafted and circulated a petition with language
highlighting the disproportionate impact in all areas on
girls and women who are discriminated against because of
their race and/or ethnic origin: which could be included in
as many appropriate sections of the Platform for Action as
possible. We lobbied governments to accept the wording and
as a result it, or a close version of it, appeared in some
sections of the Platform of Action language, although not
enough by far we have a long way to go here.
l Women of Color Meeting with the Official US Delegation.
INWOC, on behalf of INWOC and other interested women of
color, organized a meeting attended by eight high ranking
members of the official US government delegation, including
a Black woman who is deputy chair of the delegation.
Discussion focused on the draft wording on race and
ethnicity, and whether the US delegation would support it
and work to get that language included; the issue of
accountability of women in positions of power; and resources
for women of color South and North in the preparations for
Beijing and to get to Beijing. As a result of these
efforts, the draft wording on anti-racism was distributed to
all members of the US Delegation with the charge to work to
get that language in the Platform for Action when
negotiating with other governments.
l Press statement and Press Conference organised by the NGO
Forum Sara Calloway of INWOC/UK successfully pressed for
women of color to be mentioned in both a press statement
drafted by NGOs protesting lack of access and moves by
governments to omit "gender" from the Platform for Action,
and in a press conference. Women of color were not
initially included. We fought to try to get a Race and
Ethnicity Working Group delegation into the press conference
and were finally allowed two spaces. Margaret Prescod was
invited as a resource person by press conference organizers.
Although invited to attend as a resource person she didn't
get cleared by the NGO leadership to speak; they turned down
a request from sisters from India that she present on the
press conference panel. Margaret spoke for the Race and
Ethnicity Working Group only after a struggle with press
conference chair at the press conference, and a sister from
Liberia also attended as part of the REWG. Other grassroots
women of color, although invited as resource people, had to
struggle with the press conference chair to be allowed to
speak at all, and were also rudely interrupted by the press
conference chair while other resource people were allowed to
make lengthy remarks. The issues behind this struggle were
not only race, but class and which issues were to be the
focal point of the press conference and thereby receive
worldwide coverage. We felt grassroots women of color issues
were tokenized, and the room where the press conference was
held was not large enough to hold the number of women of
color NGO's and others who were anxious to attend.
l Women of Colour Caucus INWOC also participated in the
WOCC which met during the NGO Forum part of the CSW which
focussed on women of color and ethnic women of the North.
The Women of Color Resource Center in Northern California
had 2 representatives at the Caucus and played a major role
in changing and in the drafting processof the Women of Color
Caucus. INWOC and others helped to distribute the document
to NGOs and government delegations. We highlighted the
different levels of power between women of color North and
South, and how we can work together and refuse being pitted
against each other.
We attended many other caucuses and workshops, and met with
women from many different backgrounds and struggles:
indigenous women from India fighting structural adjustment
and ecological devastation; representatives of Korean women
pressing for compensation for rape and forced prostitution;
African women fighting for land rights; lesbian women of
color in Latin America, and more. It was long hours and hard
work, yet very exciting to find out about the many struggles
of women of color throughout the world.
l Continuing on the Road to Beijing We are continuing to
meet, send mailers out, participate in forums, etc as well
as fundraising to get as many of us to Beijing as possible.
Please get in touch if you are interested in affiliating in
INWOC. Please share your news with us, and our news with
others!
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 09:58:00 +0100
Subject: USA: Beijing Flawed 18.8
AGENDA OF WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IN BEIJING FLAWED, MUSLIM WOMEN
SAY
(U.N. Women's Conference ignores religion, moral values)
(740) By Joanne Nix USIA Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- Female representatives of international
Islamic organizations spoke out against what they called
"unacceptable" elements in a draft platform which will be
debated at the World Conference for Women in Beijing
September 4-15.
The conference is the fourth in a series that began in
Mexico City in 1975 and launched the Decade for Women. The
second was held in Copenhagen midway through the decade and
the third was held in 1985 in Nairobi. The conference's
final document will be "The Platform for Action," which is
meant to be a blueprint for women's advancement in countries
around the world to the year 2000.
At an August 18 Washington Press Club news conference,
representatives of Muslim national and international
nongovernmental organizations, known as NGOs, declared that
language included in the draft platform "threatens the
fabric of society."
All the women agreed that the Platform for Action treats
certain norms and behavior patterns as universally prevalent
when many of these do not apply to all societies.
According to Dr. Saleha Mahmoud, director of the Institute
of Muslim Minority Affairs, the document is "a small,
dominant platform written for minority women by minority
women." She described the proposal as "inadequate and
irrelevant to the vast majority of women and men in the
contemporary world who subscribe to a faith, and who
directly or indirectly derive strength from their
spirituality."
Mahmoud will attend the Beijing Conference as a delegate of
the Muslim World League and member of the Muslim Women's NGO
caucus. She recommended that a phrase -- "within the context
of and with full and due respect for the various religious
and cultural values of different communities" -- be added to
the document.
"Approximately one fourth of the world's population -- that
is about 1.5 billion people -- subscribe to Islam," Mahmoud
said. She reported that Muslim minority communities are
found in all of the other 145 United Nations member
countries and that some of these communities are substantial
in size "such as the 120 million-strong Muslim minority
community in India and the as-yet undetermined but rather
large Muslim minority community in China."
According to Mahmoud, the goal of "empowerment for women," a
chief objective of the conference, is "necessarily
belligerent." Quoting a letter by Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ali,
Secretary General of the Muslim World League, she explained
that "empowerment" was essentially a backlash "that will
only perpetuate the conflict, not resolve it."
Speaking on behalf of Concerned Women for America, the
largest pro-family women's organization in the United
States, Laurel Heiskell stated that "if the Platform for
Action was a statement of support for the inalienable rights
that exist for all women, and all men, Concerned Women for
America would support it wholeheartedly.
But, she said, the 600,000-member NGO organization she
represents is convinced the document as it now stands "seeks
to divide, not build. It paints men as the enemy, women and
girls as victims. It alienates those who place fundamental
importance on the concepts of motherhood and family. This
document proposes radical cultural change for every nation
of the world."
Anisa Abdelfattah, chairwoman for the [U.S.] National
Association of Muslim Women and a delegate to the Beijing
conference, described the draft document as "flawed." She
added: "This draft plan makes a lot of promises but the
concept that it prescribes for the malady it specifies
cannot work. I think if you ask the majority of middle class
and poor women in America if over the past 25 years they
have been empowered or if they are economically independent,
the answer is no. As Americans -- we are aware of what the
... nations of the world are going to be exposed to if this
platform is universally accepted and implemented."
The aspects of the draft plan that the women found
unacceptable included:
- -- mentioning the need for medical care for victims of
sexually transmitted diseases, but not mentioning the need
for alterations in social behavior;
- -- recommending "responsible sexuality" but not mentioning
marriage;
- -- demanding more opportunities and services for single
mothers and female heads of households, but not seeking
measures that would keep the fathers home and families
together;
- -- blaming "early marriage" for many problems, but not
recommending abstention from early sex.
NNNN
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 09:54:00 +0100
Subject: U-S_-_CHINA_WOMEN 18.8 S
DATE=8/18/95
TITLE=U-S / CHINA WOMEN (S)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT IS CONCERNED THAT SLOW
PROCESSING OF VISAS BY CHINESE OFFICIALS MAY PREVENT
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FROM ATTENDING EVENTS RELATED TO THE
UPCOMING WORLD U-N CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. THE PROBLEM COMES
AMID CONTINUED DEBATE OVER WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WIFE,
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, SHOULD HEAD THE U-S DELEGATION TO
THE CONFERENCE OPENING EARLY NEXT MONTH.
TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS
SEEKING TO ATTEND THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL FORUM BEING HELD IN
PARALLEL WITH THE U-N CONFERENCE HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN VISAS
- -- RAISING CONCERN THAT MANY WILL BE EFFECTIVELY BARRED FROM
CHINA.
MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED FOR THE
SO-CALLED N-G-O FORUM TO BE HELD AT A PROVINCIAL TOWN
OUTSIDE BEIJING. AMONG AMERICANS SEEKING TO ATTEND ARE
MEMBERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ETHNIC ORGANIZATIONS CRITICAL OF
CHINESE POLICIES.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON SAYS SO FEW VISAS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHETHER
POLITICS IS A FACTOR. BUT HE SAID THE FORUM IS A FUNDAMENTAL
PART OF THE U-N CONFERENCE AND CHINA IS OBLIGATED TO ADMIT
THOSE SEEKING TO ATTEND:
/// JOHNSON ACTUALITY ///
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK CERTAIN
OBLIGATIONS WHEN IT OFFERED TO HOST THIS
CONFERENCE. AND ONE OF THEM WAS TO FACILITATE THE
PARTICIPATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'VE MADE THAT POINT CONSISTENTLY AND WE EXPECT
THE CHINESE TO LIVE UP TO THAT OBLIGATION.
/// END ACT ///
THE VISA PROBLEM IS A FURTHER CONCERN AS THE ADMINISTRATION
DEBATES WHETHER MRS. CLINTON SHOULD HEAD THE U-S DELEGATION.
MANY BELIEVE SHE SHOULD NOT ATTEND BECAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CONCERNS, INCLUDING CHINA'S DETENTION OF CHINESE-AMERICAN
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST HARRY WU. (SIGNED)
NEB / DAG / BD/BG
18-Aug-95 4:19 PM EDT (2019 UTC) NNNN
Source: Voice of America
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 1995 10:00:00 +0100
Subject: USA: OAS and Women 17.8
*95081705.LAR 08/17/95
22 OAS COUNTRIES HAVE SIGNED CONVENTION PROTECTING WOMEN
TR95081805 (El Salvador the latest signatory) lf (450)
WASHINGTON -- Just three weeks before the opening of the
United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing, El
Salvador became the 22nd member nation of the Organization
of American States to sign the inter-American convention on
violence against women.
Salvadoran Ambassador Roberto Andino Salazar participated in
a ceremony at OAS headquarters August 14 to deposit the
instrument of agreement.
"With this, the government of El Salvador reaffirms its
commitment to consolidate in this hemisphere the conditions
that permit the recognition of, and respect for, the
inherent dignity of women and assure the full exercise of
their liberty and fundamental rights," he said.
The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment,
and Erradication of Violence Against Women was adopted
during the OAS General Assembly in Belem do Para, Brazil, on
June 9, 1994. It entered into force on March 5 of this year
and has been signed by 22 member states and ratified by 11.
The convention represents the first time in history that a
legal instrument affirms at the international level the
right of women to live a life free of violence and
specifically recognizes that violence against women is a
violation of human rights.
Violence against women "shall be understood as any act or
conduct based on gender that causes death or the physical,
sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether
in the public or private sphere," the convention says.
Signatories agree to pursue policies to prevent, punish, and
eradicate violence agianst women, with a strong emphasis on
legal and legislative protections.
Ambassador Andino noted that El Salvador's acceptance of the
convention "confirms again the firm political will of my
government to contribute to the strengthening of the
inter-American system and the promotion and defense of human
rights."
The convention was an initiative of the OAS Inter-American
Commission on Women (CIM).
One of the main topics at the U.N. World Conference on
Women, which begins September 4, is the worldwide problem of
violence against women. "It doesn't matter where you are,"
said Gertrude Mongella, secretary general of the conference,
recently. "There is violence in the United States; there is
violence in Africa; there is violence in Asia whether you
are educated or non-educated."
Some 40,000 to 50,000 women are expected for the conference.
In addition to discussing the problem of violence, they will
seek solutions to problems such as poverty, lack of
education, limited access to health care, and economic
disparity between men and women. NNNN
------------------------------
From: DEBRA@oln.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 1995 04:27:00 +0100
Subject: Women's NGOs Speak Out on Beijing
## author : fundarias@igc.apc.org
## date : 18.08.95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
CENTRAL AMERICA ON THE ROAD TO BEIJING A Survey of Women's
Civil Society Organizations
A DIALOGUE PROPOSAL
Over the past several years, United Nations world
conferences have recognized and reaffirmed the need for
civil society's full participation in all processes in the
search for peace and development.
Non-governmental organizations, cooperatives, trade unions,
community groups, and women's movements provide a critical
view on social development issues. Their work often
complements government endeavors. United Nations documents
have fully recognized the important roles filled by civil
society organizations.
Previous to the International Conference on Population and
Development, the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human
Progress implemented a process of national and regional
consultation. The purpose of this endeavor was to allow all
sectors of civil society to speak out and voice their
opinion on upcoming conference issues.
With this document, we seek to do the same for women's civil
society organizations preparing for the Fourth World
Conference on Women, to be held shortly in Beijing.
The need for this endeavor stems from the current challenge
of maintaining the achievements of previous conferences and
summits (i.e. Rio, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen), and from the
need to further advance equality between Central American
women and men.
This document contains the results of a survey of women's
civil society organizations preparing for the Fourth World
Conference on Women. It is meant to accurately show the
opinions and expectations of those who have arduously worked
for women's progress in the region. We propose that these
opinions and expectations serve as the working base for
Central American official delegations' efforts in Beijing in
September, 1995.
THE SURVEY The objective of this survey was to gather the
opinions and expectations from a cross section of women's
civil society organizations in the process of preparing for
the IV World Conference on Women (IV WCW). Each
organization surveyed shared a common factor: their
experience in women's issues and their contributions to the
social advancement of Central American women.
Participants' opinions and expectations were requested on
the following four areas:
1. The concept of gender, its definition and use.
2. Advances gained in the International Conference on
Population and Development, which are now being questioned
in Beijing's Platform for Action.
3. The appointment process for Central American official
delegations to the IV WCW.
4. The influence of religious groups on the IV WCW
preparatory process.
The survey was conducted by the firm Borge and Associates.
A total of 289 organizations were interviewed, representing
a cross section of the entire region. In most cases the
interviewee held an executive or coordinating position
within the organization, and had extensive experience in
women's issues. This discretion allowed us to obtain a
broader institutional perspective rather than mere personal
opinion.
Of the individuals interviewed, the majority were women
(85%); men represented the remaining 15%.
Eighty percent of those interviewed were over 30 years of
age, and 85% were university educated.
This document presents the survey results in an effort to
serve as an input for dialogue favoring a more democratic
preparatory process, in which governments and Central
American civil society organizations may work together.
THE CONCEPT OF GENDER
The concept of gender, used for years in Central America, as
well as in United Nations documents, is now being
questioned. During the IV WCW preparatory conference in New
York, this term was placed in brackets in the Platform for
Action draft document. In United Nations terminology, this
means that consensus on the term has not been reached, and
that its elimination is proposed from the final document.
The survey explored opinions on and awareness of the
situation of women in the region, their status in society,
the value given their traditionally assigned roles, and
their participation in decision-making processes and in the
exercise of power.
The responses demonstrate broad awareness of the concept of
gender, knowledge that women are subordinated and
discriminated against, and that true equality in decision-
making processes and in the exercise of power has not yet
been achieved. In addition, survey results showed the roles
traditionally assigned to women in our culture are severely
undervalued.
Of all organizations interviewed, 92% use the term gender,
and 65% indicated that this concept is very important in
their work.
Eighty-six percent of the organizations interviewed replied
that biological differences are not a determining factor in
men's and women's social roles.
Ninety-nine percent of those interviewed mentioned a
specific way in which women are discriminated against.
Seventy-one percent felt that women do not participate in
the exercise of power and decision-making processes.
The six most frequently mentioned legal mechanisms for the
protection of women's rights were:
- - Family Code
- - Constitution
- - Law for True Equality
- - Sexual Harassment Law
- - Family Courts
- - Office of Human Rights
Interviewees were asked to cite a Central American
organization which promotes equality between men and women.
The following were the most frequently mentioned:
Organization Frequency
The Arias Foundation for Peace
and Human Progress 37
CEFEMINA 8
CLADEM 6
CODEHUCA 5
Gender Program of the IIDH 4
FEMPRESS 4
THE NEED TO REAFFIRM RECOGNIZED REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
During the International Conference on Population and
Development, thorough and often exhausting debate was held
regarding the recognition of individuals' reproductive
rights. In addition, this debate included discussion on the
recognition of diverse family forms and structures, and
sexual education rights for adolescents and children.
The majority of Central American countries reaffirmed these
rights. However, some countries withheld their opinion,
despite the existence of previously endorsed national and
regional agreements.
The survey inquired of the existence of diverse family forms
and structures in the region. In the case of an affirmative
answer, it was subsequently asked if they felt the State
should recognize and protect these diverse families. The
survey then went on to inquire as to the need for adolescent
and child sexual education, and if the interviewee supports
the right to freely decide if, when and how often to
reproduce.
The opinion gathered on each of these issues could not be
more clear-cut. It was over-whelmingly affirmed that in
Central America there exist diverse family forms and
structures, and that national governments should recognize
and protect these. Ninety-eight of the interviewees
supported the right to freely decide if, when and how often
to reproduce, as well as supporting the right to sexual
education for adolescents (98%) and children (97%).
CENTRAL AMERICAN OFFICIAL DELEGATION APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO
THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
In preparation for United Nations conferences, many civil
society organization groups, such as the women's movement,
face a slow process of negotiation with their respective
governments. At times, certain governments have been found
to be inaccessible and unwilling to listen to civil
society's demands. On other occasions, they have been very
receptive and willing to recognize the contributions of non-
governmental organizations and various organized groups,
especially those of women. Under these uncertain
circumstances, official delegations are formed, each
following a different appointment process for every
conference.
In the past, Central American official delegations to world
conferences have not adequately reflected their country's
views. An example of this misrepresentation occured during
the International Conference on Population and Development,
in which the importance of sexual education was questioned.
Clearly, on this occasion, majority opinion was not
represented.
During the last preparatory conference on Beijing (New York,
March 1995) it became evident that some delegations of the
region are made up of individuals who represent the
interests of certain religious groups. These groups not
only have no experience in working in women's issues, but
also ignore the global trend toward broader recognition of
women's rights.
The survey gathered the interviewees' opinion on the
official delegation appointment process. They were asked to
name the mechanisms and requirements needed to obtain
democratic represent-ation in Beijing.
A total of 96.5% of the interviewed women and men felt they
were highly to fairly well informed on issues of the IV WCW.
Forty-nine percent of the organizations inter-viewed were
participating in one way or another in the preparatory
process of the conference.
When asked if they were familiar with the make up of their
country's official delegation, 39% answered affirmative.
Those who answered yes were subsequently asked to state
their opinion on the representativity of each delegation.
The majority answered that the delegations are not
adequately representative of the different sectors of
society. This group was of the opinion that other sectors
should be represented in the delegation, especially that of
civil society, which was mentioned 86% of the time.
The following were the most frequently mentioned attributes
required of a Beijing conference delegate:
Knowledge on the situation of
women 37 %
Extensive experience with gender
and women's issues 28 %
Leadership abilities 9 %
Negotiation and analytical
skills 3 %
High degree of education 2 %
Dedication to women's cause 2 %
Legal expertise 2 %
Representative 1 %
Part of the popular sector 1 %
Others 15 %
When asked their opinion on delegation members'
professional attributes, the majority (58%) felt their
country's delegation does not adequately fulfill the
previously mentioned requirements.
Of the achievements and advances expected with the close of
the Beijing conference, the following were the most
frequently mentioned:
* Women's human rights
* Equality of opportunity
* Reproductive health
* Recognition of the concept of gender
* Greater representation of black, indigenous and
campesina women.
Fifty-three percent of those responding to the survey felt
the above mentioned advances can be achieved, while 34% were
of the opinion that these goals cannot be obtained.
THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS OVER OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS
Over the past months of intense preparation of the IV WWC
Platform for Action document, a religious undercurrent has
made its presence felt from within the official delegations
and fora.
The presence of the Opus Dei as an organized group has had a
profound impact on preparation activities due to its
important political contacts. They have participated in an
indirect but influential way through key organizations and
individuals important to the Beijing Platform
decision-making process.
The survey requested organizations' opinion on the influence
these religious groups may have: if this influence exists,
if they think it has a positive influence upon women's
issues, and if a religious perspective advances women's
cause. In addition, questions concerning general
familiarity with the organization Opus Dei and its
contribution to women's development were also presented.
Only 10% of those interviewed felt religious organizations
are not exerting undue pressure on issues to be discussed in
the IV WWC.
Seventy-eight percent felt that religious groups are
pressuring the delegations, and provided reasons as to why
they are opposed to this religious influence. The majority
felt that these groups are overly conservative and represent
an ideology which works to maintain women in a subordinate
position (51%). In addition, 14% of those interviewed
mentioned that the church should not participate in these
issues, and that these pressureslimit freedom of expression
(17%). Another eighteen percent listed the following
reasons for being opposed to this religious influence:
these groups are dogmatic, elitist, do not represent a cross
section of society, manipulate information, and do not
respect nor represent all religions.
When opinions were requested on whether or not a religious
perspective contributes to women's advancement, 28%
responded yes. This significant percentage indicates to us
the existence of a wide spectrum of religious outlooks among
those interviewed. From this we conclude religious beliefs
must make up a vital component in the lives of close to one-
third of the interviewed population.
Responses referring to the Opus Dei demonstrate that it is
a unknown organization for 36% of those interviewed. It is
important to mention that its agenda is also unknown by most
of the interviewees. A negative opinion was expressed by
71% of those who are familiar with the Opus Dei and its
agenda. Most individuals were of the opinion that the
organization does not contribute to the development of
women, and 80% felt the Opus Dei does not represent women's
needs nor goals.
TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY
With their opinions, expectations, needs and contributions,
the organizations that participate in advancing gender
equality in the Central American region are awaiting clear
answers from their official Beijing delegations. These
answers must contain strategies and measures that respect
past achievements, and will promote a world in which all men
and women have equal opportunities, rights, and
possibilities.
We offer this document to further dialogue between all
sectors of society, with the hope that it will contribute to
a democracy which includes all those who have been kept in
silence.
Posted by:
) 1995 Fundacion Arias
Fundacion Arias para la Paz y el Progreso Humano
Posted: 18 August, 1995
Executive Director: Maria Eugenia Penon
Edition: Grazia Lomonte
Collaboration: Ana Elena Badilla
Cecilia Dobles
Translation: Roxana Castro, Teresa Carlson, Marma Eugenia Pensn
Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress
Apdo. 8-6410-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
Telephone (506) 2552955, Fax (506) 2552244
The original Spanish version of this document is available
in print, and contains 22 graphs depicting most of the
figures quoted in this document. If you would like to
receive a copy of the printed pamplet, please send a message
to the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress at:
fapprhum@ sol.racsa.co.cr
------------------------------
End of Beijing Women's Conference Digest V2 #57
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Thursday, February 6, 2014
The U.N.’s own website references a report in the run-up to the Beijing conference also listing Abedin as representing the MWL at the event. Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2011/07/321401/#Q62bDzjeH3H5LI72.99
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