prominent men. In pointing this out, however, I do not mean to detract from their own competence or contribution.

Women had little control over the first intergovernmental conference ever held to focus on their concerns. As members of delegations, they were bound by the instructions of their governments, many of which had not assigned high enough priority to women's issues. Women delegates generally had no problem agreeing among themselves that the conference should focus on closing the social, economic and political gap between men and women, and not between developed and developing countries.

Government instructions, however, politicized the conference following the pattern established by the 1972 U.N. Conference on Human Environment. Since 1972, Third World nations have used international forums to press the theme that world problems, whether they concern the environment, population, food or women, are symptomatic of economic exploitation and political injustice. Third World nations claim that such problems can only be resolved by changing existing economic and political relations between countries and establishing a new world economic order.

The question of a world redistribution of wealth emerged as a dominant theme at the IWY Conference. Third World nations argued that a reordering of economic structures to correct the imbalances between rich and poor countries must precede the struggle for women's equality. Otherwise, they said equality would mean little more than shared disadvantage.

Western industrialized nations, including the United States, contended that women cannot wait for economic development to bring equality because equality does not necessarily follow prosperity. There is evidence that women have not always benefited from the development process and, indeed, their position in relation to men has at times deteriorated as a result. Although the advancement of the status of women is linked to improving the lot of all mankind, the two processes must go together and women must participate with men as partners in both processes.

The IWY Conference and Tribune provided an opportunity for Third World nations, assisted by countries aligned with the Soviet Union, to charge Western countries with alleged crimes and unresolved obligations. Many nations and ethnic groups made charges against the United States for imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism. Representatives of a group called the Federation of Puerto Rican Women accused the United States of practicing genocide because the U.S. sponsored a family planning program in Puerto Rico. Panama, incited by a Congressional proposal which would forbid the use of State Department funds for Panama Canal negotiations, charged the United States with violating Panamanian sovereignty. Other nations, groups and individuals called the United States the warmonger and arms dealer of the world. The CIA was vilified as the main perpetrator of U.S. interventionist policies. AID was alleged to be an arm of the CIA. U.S. multi-national corporations were attacked for alleged economic exploitation and oppression. The U.S. delegation was charged with being unrepresentative of minority interests. For some, this was the usual diversion from the principal purpose of international meetings to beat familiar propaganda drums.

Some elements of the news media did not take the conference any more seriously than many in the U.N. or its member nations. It overplayed disputes and failed to understand that the Conference provided a vital forum for the pursuit of equality for women. Without fully understanding the Conference, some journalists could not accurately report its accomplishments or the achievements of unity under trying circumstances; others did better.

Women at the Conference and Tribune were united in their desire for a strong World Plan of Action. This unity of purpose kept irrelevant political considerations out of the World Plan of Action, allowing it to be adopted by consensus. Controversial political issues were relegated to the Declaration of Mexico, which was adopted after considerable dissension.

The most striking example of the politicization of the Conference was the inappropriate reference to Zionism and its equation with forms of oppression in the text of the Declaration of Mexico. To condemn Zionism, linking it with apartheid, colonialism, imperialism and other forms of oppression in a document produced by a conference held to consider the status of women seemed to many unreasonable. Such action only served to reenforce the stereotype of the U.N. as a "tyranny of the majority."

Although the United States and Israel were a minority of two on the Declaration of Mexico vote, the United States was not isolated at the IWY Conference. In fact the United States was the foremost delegation to communicate with nongovernmental organizations and work with the Tribune. The U.S. delegation also took anti-American attacks in stride and considered some as constructive challenges. The United States has a credible record on women's rights. The U.S. delegation stood by that record and helped strengthen Conference actions in the interest of improving the status of women throughout the world. This effort was illustrated in the delegation's strong participation in drafting Conference resolutions.

Women can be proud of their first intergovernmental conference. The meeting of women from developed and developing countries helped educate each group about the fundamental concerns and priorities of the other. It made women more aware of their common goals and made governments more conscious of issues of concern to women. The World Plan of Action clearly articulates women's problems and goals on a worldwide scale and provides a stimulus for future action. The Conference also set a target date to hold a second women's conference in 1980, ensuring that efforts made in 1975, International Women's Year, will not be forgotten.

The intangible achievements of the Conference should also be noted. The Conference was an opportunity for women to meet, find reassurance in each other's experiences and gain new challenges in each other's ideas. The Conference toughened and matured the international women's movement. Women at the Conference began the process of building the informal associations and networks so important in the exercise of influence and power.

MAKING THE WORLD PLAN A REALITY: RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR ACTION

The World Conference on International Women's Year achieved considerable success, but the recommendations contained in the World Plan of Action and Resolutions adopted by the Conference will never be realized without a concerted and dedicated follow-up effort.

The World Plan of Action adopted by the Conference provides guidelines and recommendations for action on the international, regional and national levels. I am hopeful that the U.S. Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year will make recommendations for governmental and nongovernmental action in its final report to the President. Also, the Congressional Symposium on International Women's Year which was held prior to the World Conference, provided specific recommendations for Congressional action. A list of Symposium recommendations is contained in appendix (H).

Following are suggestions which I believe Congress, and the Government Operations Committee in particular, should consider as responses to these proposals.

Government Structures.-The World Plan of Action emphasizes the importance of effective and sufficiently-financed government structures for implementation of its goals and recommends the creation of commissions and bureaus for this purpose.

The U.S. Government is not lacking in such organizations. Eight Federal agencies are charged specifically with enforcing Federal antidiscrimination laws. Other agencies have antidiscrimination provisions in their authorizing legislation and many have prescribed complaint procedures. In addition, there are ten major Federal organizations with research, advisory and informational functions relating to women, and many smaller groups, both formal and informal, have similar functions. These efforts, however, have not been especially effective in improving the status of women.

The Government Operations Committee, with its broad oversight jurisdiction, can play a major role in establishing an effective government framework. In any oversight effort, the following questions should be addressed and answered:

Are the existing programs carrying out their mandate?

Can existing programs be better organized to eliminate waste and duplication and produce maximum efficiency?

Is effectiveness suffering from a lack of funds or enforcement authority?

Should there be a single agency to coordinate intragovernmental efforts on behalf of women, including a clearinghouse for information on women?

How effectively is the Federal Government utilizing the expertise of nongovernmental organizations and private individuals in its women's programs?

(14)

The World Plan also recommends that governments adopt their own strategies and timetables for implementation of the Plan. There is no single government agency equipped to undertake this task. Nor is there a government agency equipped to assess and review U.S. progress regarding the goals of the Plan. Suggestions have been made for a special commission, a cabinet-level department, and/or a series of official conferences to promote and monitor the U.S. implementation plan for the World Plan of Action. The existing and proposed organizations should be reviewed so that an effective mechanism can be established as soon as possible.

U.S. Relations with International Organizations The World Plan of Action and the resolutions adopted by the Conference call for increased participation of women in international affairs. Like the Congressional Symposium on International Women's Year, the Conference concluded that women have been virtually excluded from every aspect of the foreign policy area. International organizations, including the United Nations, are major offenders in denying women equal opportunities in this field.

In response to this problem, I sponsored an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1974 that requires all U.S. representatives to international organizations to integrate women into the implementation of assistance programs as well as professional positions in those organizations. Conclusions from both the Conference and the Symposium indicate that the role of women in foreign policy ought to be reviewed by appropriate Congressional Committees.

Congressional activity on this issue has centered in the Foreign Relations Committee. The Government Operations Committee may want to examine it from the perspective of how our relations with international organizations can be geared to improve the status of women throughout the world. An examination of the causes and consequences of exclusion of women by international organizations would be useful in determining what steps can be taken to substantially increase women's active role in society.

Other Areas for Congressional Action.-Many of the specific recommendations for national action contained in both the World Plan of Action and the report of the Congressional Symposium require Congressional action for implementation. These recommendations fall within the jurisdiction of several Committees. Some remedial measures are already under consideration.

Education. The importance of equal educational opportunity to equal rights and opportunities for women cannot be overstated. The United States has made significant progress in this area, but much remains to be accomplished.

Federal agencies must have the funds and authority to effectively enforce existing antidiscrimination statutes, particularly Title IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Sufficient funds should be provided for research and development efforts under existing programs designed to combat sex discrimination in education. Existing education statutes should be amended to assure that federally-funded education and educational materials are free from sex role stereotypes. Employment and Career Opportunities.-Equality in education alone is not sufficient to guarantee equal access to employment and career opportunities.

As with education, existing antidiscrimination statutes must be effectively enforced. A special program should be established to assist female-owned business through loans or loan guarantees, technical information and government contract opportunities. The effectiveness of recently-enacted legislation prohibiting discrimination in the granting of credit on the basis of sex or marital status should be closely monitored. The Federal Government should provide or encourage the provision of aids to women and men who have both work and family duties such as flexible work hours, part-time employment opportunities, quality child-care, and maternity protection. Health and Nutrition.-Although the United States has greater resources in this area than any other nation, it lags behind many countries in maternal and child health. Many people, particularly women and children, still do not have an adequate or nutritious diet. Adequate health care, particularly maternal and child care, should be physically and financially accessible to all. The Federal Government should expand its nutrition education programs and should assure that all those who are eligible for food stamps are able to apply for and receive them.