Another preconference event was the Seminar on Women and Development, organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in conjunction with the U.N. Institute for Training and Research and the U.N. Development Programme. The Seminar developed guidelines for national and international actio programs for the greater integration of women in the developmen process. THE OFFICIAL CONFERENCE The official U.N. Conference was held at the Conference Centre of e Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Tlateloco. Each particiiting nation was allowed three official delegates and as many altertes and advisers as it wished. At final count, 1,300 delegates presenting 133 nations, 7 intergovernmental organizations, 21 U.N. odies and specialized agencies, 8 liberation movements, and 114 nonovernmental organizations with consultative status with the U.N. conomic and Social Council participated. The U.S. Delegation, which numbered 43 and included 10 Congresonal advisers, was one of the largest. It was a group that reflected a ide range of professional experience and expertise. CONFERENCE AGENDA The official Conference considered the following topics for discusion and action: Policies and programs to implement the objectives and goals of IWY. The role of women in building international peace and eliminating racial discrimination. Current trends and changes in the status and roles of women and men and major obstacles to be overcome to achieve equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities. The integration of women in the development process as equal partners with men. Adoption of a World Plan of Action to carry out the objectives of IWY during the next decade. WORK OF THE CONFERENCE The work of the Conference was divided among two main committees and the Conference Plenary. The First Committee was charged with proposing amendments to the World Plan of Action, a draft of which had been prepared by the U.N. Secretariat and revised at a Consultative Committee meeting of 23 nations held last March at the U.N. The Second Committee debated the Conference topics of current trends and changes in the status and roles of men and women and the integration of women in the development process. Conference topics dealing with the effect of existing policies and programs on the goals of IWY and the role of women in building international peace and eliminating racism were considered in Plenary as part of the general debate. The First Committee was faced with considering 894 amendments submitted by official delegations to the World Plan of Action. This did not include 69 amendments proposed by an ad hoc group from the Tribune. The Second Committee had nearly as many measures before it as the First Committee. 57-678 - 75 - 2 A great deal of time was spent in plenary and both committees on purely political matters not related to the official Conference agenda. The main topic of discussion was implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New Economic Order and the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States adopted by the U.N. General Assembly last year. Not until the final hours of the Conference were the World Plan of Action amendments and resolutions recommended by the committees considered in plenary. Because of time constraints, the First Committee proposed amendments to only the introduction and first chapter of the World Plan of Action and recommended that the remaining five chapters be adopted as originally prepared by the U.N. Secretariat. This was done by consensus of the delegates. THE WORLD PLAN OF ACTION The World Plan of Action provides a set of guidelines and timetables for action to improve the status of women throughout the world. Its purpose is to stimulate national and international action to help solve the problems of underdevelopment and existing socioeconomic structures that place women in an inferior position. It also calls upon governments to establish short, medium and long-range deadlines for its implementation. Although the World Plan would have benefited from additional amendments, it provides a guide and impetus to action to improve the status of women on national, regional and international levels. The U.S. delegation worked to strengthen the World Plan, and was successful in pressing the concept of equal pay for work of equal value. Unfortunately, the United States was unsuccessful in adding “sexism" to the official U.N. list of forms of oppression. Time constraints precluded the consideration of several other U.S. sponsored amendments to the plan, including recognition of pregnancy as a temporary disability for job-related purposes, provision of temporary or permanent allowances for disabled spouses and for spouses who lose opportunities for education or employment because of homemaking responsibilities, collection of data on women to establish their position in society relative to men and a statement in all U.N. assistance plans and programs of their affect on women as participants and beneficiaries. A summary of the World Plan of Action as adopted by the Conference is in appendix B. RESOLUTIONS The Conference also adopted 35 resolutions and a decision to overcome major obstacles to the achievement of equal rights for women and to strengthen various actions to be taken by national governments and international bodies as outlined in the World Plan of Action. The U.S. delegation initiated or cosponsored with other governments the following seven resolutions adopted by the Conference: Integration of Women in the Development Process as Equal Partners With Men.-The resolution calls on the United Nations Development System, including specialized agencies and other international, technical and financial assistance programs and agencies, to give special attention to programs that integrate women into the development process. It recommends the use of impact statements, review and appraisal systems and research efforts to measure progress and evaluate program impact on women. It also calls for equal employment opportunities for women in decisionmaking positions that govern planning and implementation of development assistance programs. Education and Training. This resolution affirms the right of every individual to basic education and advocates free and compulsory primary and secondary education as far as resources permit. It recommends the elimination of sex bias from all aspects of education, including educational materials, teacher training, counseling, and school administration and suggests the use of media and technology to expand educational opportunities. It also calls on governments, the U.N. and nongovernmental organizations to support programs that enhance educational opportunities for women. The Situation of Women in the Employ of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies.-This measure calls on the U.N., its specialized agencies and subsidiary bodies to set an example to member States in the hiring and promotion of women. Women's Contribution to World Peace through Participation in International Conferences.-The resolution urges governments of member States to increase substantially the number of women delegates to all U.N. meetings, especially meetings of the main committees of the General Assembly. Population Participation (Self-Help). This resolution asks member States to sponsor voluntary social promotion programs, such as self-help groups, cooperatives, women's groups and other organizations at all socioeconomic levels to improve the status of women and their families. International Research and Training Institute for the Promotion of Women.-The resolution establishes the Institute under the auspices of the United Nations, with voluntary contributions, to finance research and training programs to increase earning potential for women and encourage their pursuit of leadership. Family Planning and the Full Integration of Women in Development. This measure urges implementation of the World Population Plan of Action and calls on governments to provide women and children with access to health services. It also calls for women's access to advice about the number and spacing of children and for information on parenthood for young people. It recommends that women be included proportionately with men at all levels on boards and policymaking bodies concerned with socioeconomic development and population planning. This record of initiative and contribution to seven major Conference resolutions shows the scope of the U.S. delegation's role. Two of the seven resolutions initiated or cosponsored by the U.S. delegation dealt with the integration of women in development. Eight resolutions adopted by the Conference focused on the same issue. I was particularly pleased that this issue received such strong international support. Many of the Conference resolutions directed the U.N. not to launch further development projects without evaluating their impact on women. This shows world recognition of women's role in economic development. As a member of the U.S. Delegation to the 29th session of the U.N. General Assembly, I urged the U.N. to live up to its Charter by taking immediate action to eliminate discrimination in the hiring and promotion of women, especially for key policy positions. Three of the resolutions adopted by the Conference, two of which were initiated by the U.S. delegation, addressed this problem. The resolutions called on the U.N. and its member states to provide women a greater role in international diplomacy and directed the U.N. in particular to set an example in its own personnel policies. Full texts of the resolutions and the decision as adopted by the Conference are in appendix C. DECLARATION OF MEXICO By a vote of 89 to 3,1 with 18 abstentions, the Conference adopted the "Declaration of Mexico." The declaration, which was drafted by the "Group of 77" Third World nations, states the need to advance women's rights, linking these goals with economic and political objectives. Regrettably, a negative reference to Zionism and a call for implementation of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States precluded U.S. support of the Declaration. A summary of the Declaration of Mexico is in appendix D. 1 The United States, Israel, and Denmark voted against. Denmark later stated that it had intended to abstain. |