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Briefing Book of the First Lady - U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women - September 5-6, 1995 [binder] [1]
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Briefing Book of the First Lady - U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women - September 5-6, 1995 [binder] [1]
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Lisa Caputo's Files
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FOIA Number: 2012-0094-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
First Lady's Office
Series/Staff Member:
First Lady's Press Office
Subseries:
Lisa Caputo
OA/ID Number:
6059
FolderID:
Folder Title:
Briefing Book of the First Lady,- U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women - September 5-6, 1995
[binder] [1]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
59
1
4
1
OF THIRE UNITED THE STATES OF SAL
BRIEFING BOOK OF THE FIRST LADY
U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women
September 5 - September 6, 1995
OMBR
FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONFERENCE BACKGROUND
SCOPE PAPER
TALKING POINTS/FLASH POINTS
IONS
CONFERENCE ISSUE PAPERS/NEGOTIATION INSTRUCTIONS
-Human Rights
-Gender
-Reproductive Health
-Discrimination Against Women
DRAFT PLATFORM OF ACTION
COMMITTMENTS
KEY UN OFFICIALS
VATICAN
inc."
-Vatican Embassy cable
-"Summary of Positions of Holy See on Issues Likely to Arise in Beijing"
-Summary of "Letter to women" from Pope John Paul II
-Fact Sheet: The "Gender Gap" in Abortion Views
-Vatican Briefing on UN Conference on Women
-Letter of Pope John Paul II to Women
EVENTS
WHO COLLOQUIUM "WOMEN & HEALTH SECURITY"
-Briefing
-Bios
-Program
-WHO Position Paper for FWCW - Executive Summary
-WHO Fact Sheet on women's health
-WHO Global Commission on Women's Health
CONFERENCE ADDRESS
-Invitation to Conference from Boutros Boutros-Ghali
BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI DISCUSSION
-Briefing
-Cable of invitation from Boutros Boutros-Ghali
-Guest List
-Bios
-Cables from others seeking meetings with The First Lady of the United States.
MEETING WITH US DELEGATION
-List of Delegation
-Bios
MEETING WITH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
-Bios
-Statements or letters regarding the Conference
AMERICAN RECEPTION
-Briefing
-Invitation
-Guest list
NGO FORUM SPEECH
-Briefing
-Bios
-Background on UN Conferences and NGO Forums
-NGO Facilitating Committee
-"Send a Sister" program
-Program
-HRC Remarks to NGOs in Copenhagen
COMPUTERTRAINING CENTER TOUR
-Briefing
-Article
TOUR OF THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
-Briefing
-Background
MEETING WITH PRINCESS MARIE
-Meeting request
-Bio
EMBASSY MEET AND GREET
-Guest list
UNIFEM PANEL ON "WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT"
-Briefing
-Noeleen Heyzer interview transcript
-Bios
-UNIFEM Fact Sheet
-Articles
-Grameen Bank background
-RESULTS Dinner speech
-Excepts from President Clinton speeches on microenterprise
-Remarks at The Women's Foundation of Colorado
REMARKS
-WHO colloquium
-Conference address
-NGO's Forum
-UNIFEM "Women & Health Security
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
CONFERENCE
BACKGROUND
Divider Title:
The following are some
document of the conference-the
frequently asked ques-
Platform for Action. The Platform for
July 31, 1995
tions and answers
Action is an agenda that will influ-
regarding the 4th UN
ence international and national
World Conference on
policy well into the next century.
Women (4WCW).
Q.
Why is the Fourth World
Q.
What is the purpose of the UN
Conference on Women being
World Conference on Women?
held in China, a country with a
Why do we need it?
record of serious human rights
A.
The goals of the UN Decade for
development, and peace-remain
accepted China's invitation to
Focus on 4WCW
Questions and Answers About 4WCW
violations?
Women, 1975-1985-equality,
A.
In 1992, the United Nations
unattained. The U.S., as well as the
host the conference. UN tradition
Office of Public Communication
rest of the world, has made a great
follows a system of geographic
deal of progress in advancing the
rotation, and it was the Asia region's
status of women, but has not fully
turn to hold a world conference on
succeeded in making women equal
women. China was the only Asian
partners of men.
nation to issue an invitation.
This conference refocuses the
This is a conference about women
efforts of individuals, communities,
and girls, not about China. Moreover,
and nations on the practical actions
with some 45,000 people expected to
we must take to remove the remain-
attend the conference or forum, it is
ing obstacles to equality and develop
clear this conference will have-and
an agenda for action that will acceler-
is already having-a tremendous
ate women's empowerment.
impact on the Chinese.
Q.
Why is the Fourth World
Conference on Women important
Q.
What major issues of interest
to women will the U.S. pursue
to all Americans?
at the conference?
A.
Americans have a stake in the
A.
With the advancement and
future of the world's women.
empowerment of women as the
Bureau of Public Affairs
Not only do their situation and their
primary goal, we have a unique
actions increasingly affect us and our
opportunity to solidify and build on
overall commitment to democracy
previous commitments made for
and human rights, but women face
women's empowerment at other UN
many of the same challenges and
conferences.
share the same goals the world over.
Besides reaffirming these interna-
They want strong families, economic
tional agreements, the U.S. will
security, improved education and
provide leadership on the following
health, personal safety, legal rights,
issues in the Platform for Action,
and the ability to participate in
which are of importance to Ameri-
decision-making.
cans and the world:
That American women share these
The human rights of women,
goals became increasingly apparent
including action to end violence
last year during frequent meetings
against women.
between government officials in-
A life-span approach to and
volved in U.S. preparations for the
improvements in education and
conference and private citizens, many
United States Department of State
health.
of whom are members of women's
Efforts and arrangements to
organizations
balance work and family responsi-
U.S. participation in this confer-
bilities for both women and men.
ence ensures our role in setting the
Economic security and self-
policies contained in the principal
reliance.
The importance of the private
information exchange involving
Huariou, a small town and scenic
sector and non-governmental organi-
workshops, seminars, debates, and
tourist area near the Great Wall of
zations (NGOs) as partners in
opportunities for networking. It
China. There was widespread concern
building communities-locally,
takes no official action, although
and protest on the part of the forum
nationally, and internationally.
sometimes NGOs develop alterna-
organizers, NGOs, and governments
The full participation of women
tive platforms that they offer to
that the site was too far from the
in political and economic decision-
government delegations to use for
government conference and grossly
making.
improving the UN document in
inadequate for scheduled activities
negotiating sessions. While there is
and hotel accommodations. However,
Q.
Why has there been contro-
no formal interchange between the
as a result of many negotiations and
versy over the use of the word
forum and government conference,
discussions with the Chinese, the
"gender" in the Platform for
there is frequent and intense com-
NGO Forum organizers agreed to the
Action?
munication between the NGOs and
site. Most forum activities will be
government delegates. Since the
held in Huariou, and extensive
A.
In early April, at the close of
draft platform is a working docu-
construction is underway to provide
the final preparatory meeting
ment able to be amended, the NGOs
adequate facilities and accommoda-
for the conference, a handful of
lobby delegates about their issues
tions. Buses will shuttle participants
countries raised objections to the use
and do influence the outcome. Also,
back and forth to Beijing, and in
of the word "gender". throughout the
some NGOs are accredited observ-
Beijing, NGOs will have two satellite
draft Platform for Action. This action
took most countries by surprise,
ers to the government conference
facilities available where they can
since the word has been used exten-
and send members to the proceed-
meet with delegates.
sively throughout the UN system for
ings.
Q.
Who will be on the U.S. delega-
the past 20 years, usually as a
reference to the distinctions between
Q.
Do all NGOs, regardless of
tion and how are they chosen?
males and females that are more a
their particular views, have a
matter of sociology than biology.
fair opportunity to participate
A.
The U.S. will send a strong
delegation to Beijing-one that
in the NGO Forum? And to be
Interested countries met in May
is skilled and representative of the
accredited as observers to the
in order to resolve the issue. Rather
broad range of people and interests in
than attempting to define the word,
government conference?
our country. It will consist of both
they agreed to a Chairman's state-
A.
Yes. Participation in the forum
government and private sector
ment reflecting their general under-
is a simpler matter than
members. First Lady Hillary Rodham
"anding of the word and acknowl-
obtaining accreditation to the
Clinton is Honorary Chair. Although
dging that there are no new mean-
conference, where guidelines about
no decision has been made about her
ings attached to the word and that
a group's relevance to the issues,
attendance at the conference, her
"gender" would continue to be
competence, and status come into
willingness to accept this position
understood as before in the UN
consideration. To foster citizen
reflects her strong interest in and
system. Only one country did not
involvement, the United States
commitment to effective U.S. partici-
join consensus. The statement will
actively promotes participation of
pation.
appear in the conference report.
NGOs without regard to their
Ambassador Madeleine K.
substantive positions. The U.S., at
Albright, U.S Permanent Representa-
Q.
What is the NGO Forum and
senior levels, has urged the UN
tive to the United Nations, will chair
how does it relate to the
Secretariat to follow open and fair
the delegation. Donna Shalala,
conference?
credentialing procedures for NGOs.
Secretary of Health and Human
A.
Recognizing the importance of
Additionally, the U.S. has also asked
Services, will serve as co-chair;
the Chinese Government to meet its
Timothy E. Wirth, Under Secretary of
the private sector in helping
to shape public policy and put
obligations as host country by
State for Global Affairs, is alternate
applying fair and transparent visa
chair. The Honorable Marjorie
international agreements into action,
traditionally there is a forum for non-
procedures to all who have regis-
Margolies-Mezvinsky, former member
tered to attend.
of Congress, is deputy head of
governmental organizations (NGOs)
delegation and director, and Veronica
and interested individuals held
parallel to the government confer-
Q.
Why was the NGO Forum site
Biggins, former assistant to the
changed and why is it now so
President, is vice-chair.
ence. The forum-operated indepen-
far away?
Other members of the delegation
dently from the government event-
include Maria Antonietta Berriozabal
provides a structured meeting place
A.
Last March, the Chinese an-
of San Antonio, Texas, Lynn Cutler of
for people interested in the issues of
nounced that the scheduled
Washington, DC, Arthenia Joyner of
the government conference. It is an
site-a sports stadium in Beijing-
had "structural problems" and that
the site was being relocated to
2
Tampa, Florida, Dorothy Lamm of
Q.
Since the United States is com-
Christopher announced at the Vienna
Denver Colorado, and Linda Tarr-
mitted to advancing the status
Conference on Human Rights that
Whelan of Washington, DC.
of women around the world,
ratification of the treaty was a
The delegation is appointed by
why haven't we ratified the
priority of the Clinton Administra-
: White House in close coordina-
Convention on the Elimination
tion. The Administration submitted
tion with the State Department.
of All Forms of Discrimination
its ratification package to the Senate.
Government delegates are chosen for
against Women?
The Senate Foreign Relations Com-
their expertise in U.S. policy and
President Carter signed the
mittee voted favorably to send it to
experience in international negotiat-
A.
Convention in 1980 and submit-
the full Senate on September 29,
ing. Non-governmental delegates are
ted it to the Senate for its advice and
1994. However, the Senate took no
chosen for their expertise in subject
consent to ratification, though no
action before it adjourned. Ratifica-
areas of the platform, for their
further action was taken. However,
tion remains a priority for the
achievements and contributions to
the Convention came into force
Administration, but at this time it is
public life, and for their representa-
worldwide in 1981 after having
not known when the Senate Foreign
tion of the various groups that
Committee will take it under consid-
constitute the American social fabric.
acquired the requisite ratification of
eration.
20 nations. As of April, 1995 the
number of states had grown to 139. In
1993, Secretary of State Warren
3
A UN world confer-
The UN Secretary General
MCC
ence usually involves
appoints a conference secretary
July 12, 1995
two related events—
general who handles administrative,
a conference of
logistical, UN-host government
governmental delega-
relations, and other substantive
tions and a forum for non-govern-
concerns of the conference.
mental organizations-NGOs. These
A preparatory committee-
events are held simultaneously or
PrepCom (such as the UN
sequentially in the same city.
Commission on Human Rights)-
prepares the conference agenda and
The Importance of These Events
develops a proposed conference
UN conferences and their parallel
document. It also establishes guide-
NGO forums focus on a particular
lines for the role of NGOs in the
issue or world problem. They serve
conference-their access to the formal
Focus on 4WCW
Background on UN Conferences and NGO Forums
to change and advance world public
conference and the general rules for
Office of Public Communication
opinion and policy. They also are a
the separate NGO forum. Often, UN
major opportunity for those inter-
regional preparatory meetings and
ested in, and/or working on, an issue
regional NGO forums are held prior
to meet, discuss a subject, exchange
to the world conference.
experiences, and organize new
Delegates to the conference are
groups or networks.
selected by foreign ministries and
The effects of world conferences
heads of government of each country.
can be profound and long-lasting. For
Countries sometimes hold national
example, the 1985 World Conference
meetings to discuss the conference
to Review and Appraise the Achieve-
agenda and that nation's priorities
ments of the UN Decade for Women,
and input to the conference docu-
held in Nairobi, Kenya, marked the
ment.
first time the world focused on and
At the conference, govern-
governments acknowledged the
ments exchange views on the subject
pervasive problem of violence—
matter, and a plan or program of
including domestic violence-against
action-generally representing
women. The 1992 UN Conference on
global consensus on the subject
the Environment and Development in
matter of the conference-is dis-
Bureau of Public Affairs
Rio refocused global attention on
cussed and adopted.
environmental issues. The 1993
Drafting committees are often
World Conference on Human Rights
established to work out the final
in Vienna declared women's rights to
version of the document during the
be human rights and violations of
conference. Delegates from each
women, such as wartime systematic
nation participate in committee
rape, as human rights violations. On
sessions. Negotiations on the confer-
the recommendation of this confer-
ence document and resolutions can
ence, a special rapporteur on violence
be influenced by individual delegates
against women was appointed by the
or by relationships between delegates
UN Commission on Human Rights.
who are experts on the subject or
advocates for a particular point of
World Conference Preparations
view. Regional groups frequently
Conferences are composed of
caucus to discuss and compromise
official government delegations
issues.
representing UN member or ob-
Each nation has one vote on the
server states. Delegates represent
final acceptance or rejection of the
United States Department of State
their government's interests, not
document and usually is instructed
themselves. All nations come together
from their capital on how to vote. By
as equals, all have a voice, and all
their vote-sometimes made with
have an equal vote.
specified reservations-countries
The conferences require the
commit themselves to goals, stan-
following preparations.
dards of behavior, and actions. The
The UN establishes the pur-
conference document and resolutions
pose, theme, date, and location of the
may suggest new international
conference.
institutions or other ways of dealing
with the issue.
Following the conference, the
International Women's Year, 1975
UN Decade for Women: Equality,
document is distributed worldwide
In 1972, the UN General Assem-
Development, and Peace
by the UN. It and any resolutions
bly proclaimed 1975 International
The General Assembly endorsed
adopted at the conference are taken
Women's Year-IWY. The proclama-
the Mexico City Plan of Action in
up at the UN General Assembly or by
tion called for action to promote
December 1975 and proclaimed 1976-
UN specialized agencies for action.
equality, the involvement of women
85 the UN Decade for Women:
in development efforts, and the
Equality, Development, and Peace. It
NGO Forums
recognition of the woman's role in
called for a mid-decade conference in
In the United States, NGOs are
strengthening peace and promoting
1980 and added three sub-themes:
more commonly described as private,
friendly relations among nations.
employment, health, and education.
non-profit, or voluntary organiza-
The General Assembly's action
During the first half of the decade,
tions. The NGO forum is usually
came at the recommendation of the
the International Research and
open to everyone. It is intended to
UN Commission on the Status of
Training Institute for the Advance-
provide a structured meeting place
Women-CSW. Established in 1947,
ment of Women-INSTRAW-and
for persons and groups interested in
the CSW prepares reports and
the UN Voluntary Fund for the
the subject matter of the government
recommendations on women's rights
Decade of Women were created. Now
conference.
and status and has served as the
called UNIFEM, the latter provides
NGO forums require the follow-
preparatory body for the UN confer-
direct financial and technical support
ing preparations:
ences on women.
to low-income women's groups in
The World Conference of the
The Committee of Non-
developing countries.
International Women's Year was held
Governmental Organizations with
The most widely quoted statistics
UN consultative status-CONGO
in Mexico City in 1975. More than
to come out of research conducted
establishes a forum-planning
1,000 delegates, representing 133
during the first half of the decade
committee made up of volunteers
countries, participated; 75% were
contained the International Labor
women.
from organizations with consultative
Organization's sobering, yet galva-
status and usually other NGOs.
The parallel conference for
nizing, revelations that:
NGOs-the NGO Tribune-drew
The planning committee-with
6,000 women and involved informa-
While women represent 50% of the
its coordinator or director-obtains a
site, sets the date, establishes a forum
tion exchange, debate, networking,
world population and one-third of the
official labor force, they perform nearly
newspaper, and handles logistics. It
and leadership development. It was
raises funds to cover forum ex-
known as the world's largest con-
two-thirds of all working hours, receive
only one-tenth of the world income, and
penses-not including funding of
sciousness-raising session ever and
own less than 1% of world property.
attracted extensive media attention.
workshops, seminars, or exhibits-
The government conference
The mid-decade conference, held
sets the program based on sub-
adopted a World Plan of Action for
in Copenhagen in 1980, drew 1,326
missions from interested groups,
the Implementation of the Objec-
delegates from 145 states. Another
organizes briefings, and produces a
tives of the International Women's
8,000 women attended the NGO
printed program.
Year. The plan, drafted by the CSW,
forum. The Copenhagen conference
Interested groups and indi-
incorporated input from grass-roots
adopted a World Programme of
viduals fill out the program: They
organize workshops, seminars, and
organizations and women's groups
Action calling for women's participa-
around the world and set minimum
tion in politics and decision-making,
other events and apply to the coordi-
goals, such as the eradication of
and for the elimination of discrimina-
nator for a time and space. Some
groups hold workshops. NGOs must
illiteracy. The plan provided a
tion in law and policy. It encouraged
finance their own events and
blueprint to NGOs, governments, and
governments and international
participation.
international organizations for
institutions to conduct more research
improving the status of women.
and to collect gender-disaggragated
The forum takes no official action.
The conference also approved a
data.
It is primarily an information
draft Convention on the Elimination
The Decade for Women ended
exchange, spirited debate, network-
of all Forms of Discrimination
with the UN World Conference to
ing, and organizing opportunity.
against Women, subsequently
Review and Appraise the Achieve-
Although there is no formal inter-
adopted by the General Assembly in
ments of the United Nations Decade
change between the forum and the
1979. In force since 1981, to date it has
for Women: Equality, Development,
delegations to the government
been ratified by 139 countries. The
and Peace held in Nairobi, Kenya.
conference, the two events can and do
United States signed the convention
The conference was attended by 1,400
influence each other. The conference
in 1980. Senate ratification remains a
delegates from 157 nations; about
document, while drafted and debated
top priority for this Administration.
14,000-60% of them women from
in advance, is a working document
developing countries-attended the
that may be amended. NGO members
NGO forum.
often lobby conference delegates and
an influence the final outcome.
2
The conference adopted a plan of
The persistent and growing
For the first time at a world
action for the years 1986-2000-the
burden of poverty among women;
conference on women, the UN is
Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies
Unequal access to and inad-
accrediting a larger number of
for the Advancement of Women. The
equate educational opportunities;
diverse NGOs for the Beijing confer-
strategies validated the goals and
Inequalities in health status and
ence and the regional preparatory
objectives of the earlier Mexico City
unequal access to and inadequate
conferences.
and Copenhagen documents and
health care services;
indicated concrete measures to
Violence against women;
Contact Information
overcome obstacles to their achieve-
Effects of armed or other kinds
United Nations. Ms. Gertrude
ment, especially in light of the
of conflicts on women;
Mongella of Tanzania is the Secretary
worsening world economic situation
Inequality in women's access
General of the Conference. Contact:
that was slowing women's advance-
and participation in the definition of
UN Secretariat of the Fourth
ment and, at times, setting them back.
economic structures and policies and
World Conference on Women
the productive process itself;
Division for the Advancement
The UN Fourth World Conference
Inequality between men and
of Women
on Women and NGO Forum '95
women in the sharing of power and
DC2-1234
In calling for a Fourth World
decision-making at all levels;
Two United Nations Plaza
Conference in Beijing in 1995, the
Insufficient mechanisms at all
General Assembly, in 1990, recog-
levels to promote the advancement of
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-963-8385
nized that "the pace of
women;
Fax: 212-963-3463
implementation of the Forward-
Lack of awareness of, and
Looking Strategies must be improved
commitment to, internationally and
NGO Forum. Ms. Supatra Masdit
in the crucial last decade of the 20th
nationally recognized women's
of Thailand is the Convenor of the
century."
human rights;
NGO Forum. Contact:
The Platform for Action that is
Insufficient mobilization of
expected to emerge from the Fourth
mass media to promote women's
NGO Forum on Women, Beijing '95
World Conference on Women is not
positive contributions to society;
211 East 43rd Street, Suite 1500
intended to replace the Nairobi
Lack of adequate recognition
New York, NY 10017
document but to accelerate its
and support for women's contribu-
Phone: 212-922-9267 or 922-9268
implementation, based on the
tions to managing natural resources
Fax: 212-922-9269
accomplishments of the past 10 years
and safeguarding the environment,
Due to the change of site to
and the most stubborn or difficult
and
Huairou, all Forum participants are
obstacles to women's progress that
The girl child.
required to fill out a "New Hotel
remain.
The conference will be the
Reservation Form" that is being sent
The preparatory body for all four
women's conferences has been the
culmination of a process that has
out by the NGO Forum. The dead-
involved national and regional
line for returning this new form to
UN CSW. At its 1993 annual session,
the CSW adopted five goals for the
preparations and is intended to
the China Organizing Committee is
stimulate increased activity at all
July 5, 1995. The address for the
Beijing conference:
levels-from local to global-to
committee is:
Sharing power in private,
improve the status of women and
China Organizing Committee
public, political, and economic life;
promote equality between men and
Fourth World Conference on
Full access to the means of
women. The critical areas of concern
Women and NGO Forum on
development-education, employ-
and strategic objectives and actions
Women Beijing '95
ment, and health;
contained in the platform reflect the
No. 15 Jianguomen St.
Overcoming poverty;
groundwork done at these prepara-
Beijing 100730
Promoting peace and defend-
tory meetings where the issues were
P.R. China
ing women's human rights; and
raised and actions suggested.
Phone: 861-522-1133, ext: 3006
Inspiring a new generation of
Five UN regional preparatory
Fax: 861-522-5329
women and men working together
meetings were held in 1994. The
for equality.
European UN regional preparatory
U.S. Department of State. The
conference-in which the United
Honorary Chair of the U.S. delegation
The final draft of the Platform for
States and Canada participated-was
to the Fourth World Conference on
Action negotiated by governmental
held in Vienna from October 17-21. It
Women is the First Lady, Hillary
delegations at the final PrepCom in
was organized by the UN Economic
Rodham Clinton, although no
March outlines critical areas of
Commission for Europe-ECE-
decision has been made about her
concern and proposes objectives and
based in Geneva. Non-governmental
attendance at the Conference.
actions.
organizations held an NGO forum in
Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright,
Critical areas as outlined in the
Vienna from October 13-15.
U.S. permanent representative to the
current UN draft are:
United Nations, is Chairman of the
3
delegation. Timothy E. Wirth, Under
State. Under Secretary of State for
G/Conference Secretariat
Secretary of State for Global Affairs
Global Affairs Timothy Wirth
U.S. Department of State
will serve as Alternate Chair and
established a Conference Secretariat
2201 C Street, NW, Room 1318
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky,
to coordinate preparations for the
Washington, DC 20520
former member of Congress is the
Women's Conference and the related
Phone: 202-647-3129
Deputy Chair/Director of the
conferences on Population and
Fax: 202-647-4787
delegation.
Development, held in Cairo in
U.S. preparations for the world
September 1994 and the World
The Secretariat holds regular
Summit for Social Development, held
monthly briefings at the Office of
conference have included a series of
in Copenhagen in March 1995.
Personnel Management, 1900 E
meetings in the 10 federal regions of
the country held in 1994 under the
Theresa Loar is Director of the
Street, NW. Meetings are scheduled
auspices of the Women's Bureau of
Conference Secretariat. Secretariat
for Tuesday, July 11 and Tuesday,
the U.S. Department of Labor in
staff for the Beijing conference
August 1, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
coordination with the U.S. Depart-
include Mary Curtin, Ann Ganzer,
Call the Secretariat hotline for further
ment of State and in cooperation with
Kathleen Hendrix, Sharon Kotok,
information: 202-663-3070 or, for
local organizations.
Jeffrey Meer, Regina Rhea, and Lycia
the hearing impaired, TDD number
Sibilla.
202-647-3750.
Overall coordination of U.S.
preparations and immediate follow-
To add your name and organiza-
up for the conference is the
tion to the Secretariat's mailing list,
responsibility of the Department of
use this address:
The information in this publication
is not copyrighted; we encourage you
to reproduce and disseminate this
Focus to your colleagues and other
interested parties.
4
boys, and women from men. In too
MCC
In September, the United
States will join the interna-
many parts of the world, girls are
July 31, 1995
tional community at the
given less to eat, are provided with less
Fourth World Conference
medical care, and are forced to work
on Women-WCW-in Beijing,
harder and at an earlier age than boys.
China. A parallel meeting for non-
In the United States, women make up
governmental organizations (NGOs)
too large a percentage of those in
NGO Forum '95, will be held at about
poverty and constitute too small a
the same time.
percentage of those in power. These
The United States welcomes the
inequities exact an unacceptable cost in
opportunity to participate in this
important event. U.S. goals are
of individuals, families, and communi-
Focus on 4WCW
U.S. Support for the 4WCW
human potential and in the well-being
increasingly linked with those of a
ties. They warrant our attention and
peaceful and prosperous international
action.
community, and global prosperity is
Americans have a stake in how
Office of Public Communication
closely linked with the fortunes and
women live around the world.
freedoms of the world's women.
Improving the status and lives of girls
At the 4WCW, all nations will
and women is an important goal in its
focus attention on women-the
own right. It is also the key to building
aspirations they share and the chal-
a safer, more secure, and peaceful
lenges they face. The conference
world.
enables us to build support for policies
Policies that improve the status of
that invest in women and girls, such as
women enable communities to
economic and educational opportuni-
alleviate poverty, develop local
ties. By moving these issues to the top
economies, expand the number of
of the policy agenda, the 4WCW can
educated and healthy citizens, sustain
make a difference in the quality of life
the environment, and strengthen
for women and families around the
families. Educating girls and women is
world. The 4WCW will adopt a
one of the best development decisions
comprehensive Platform for Action to
any country can make.
empower and improve the lives of
Serious problems facing the world
girls and women. This action plan can
will never be solved until women are
serve the United Nations and national
able to use their full potential on behalf
Bureau of Public Affairs
governments as a guide for setting
of themselves, their families, and their
public policy as the 21st century
global and local communities.
approaches. And it provides citizens
with benchmarks by which they can
The Path to the 4WCW
measure progress in their own coun-
The 4WCW is the latest in a
tries and communities.
continuum of recent international
meetings that have underscored the
Value to Americans
importance of advancing the status of
Women everywhere share the
women:
same aspirations-access to opportu-
At the 1992 UN Conference on
nity, thriving families, economic
Environment and Development in
security, quality health care and
Rio de Janeiro, world leaders embraced
education, personal safety, and the
the concept that the effective participa-
ability to participate in the decisions
tion of women as environmental
that affect their lives.
managers is vital to achieving sustain-
In looking toward this conference,
able development;
United States Department of State
Americans can take pride in the
At the 1993 World Conference
progress they have made in these
on Human Rights in Vienna, govern-
areas. At the same time, Americans
ments acknowledged that women's
have much to learn from the experi-
rights are human rights-universal,
ences of women elsewhere, i.e., in an
inalienable, and indivisible-and that
area such as micro-enterprise loans for
attention to gender-specific violations
women entrepreneurs. The 4WCW is a
is necessary to ensure the enjoyment of
chance to exchange information and
human rights for all;
experiences about ideas that work.
The Cairo 1994 International
The challenges women face are also
Conference on Population and
similar. There is a whole range of
Development recognized women's
inequalities that separate girls from
health and rights as the cornerstones
U.S. Policy Goals
parents, the father's income typically
of effective population and develop-
exceeds the mother's, yet mothers
The following U.S. goals are
ment policy; and
usually contribute a larger proportion
At the 1995 World Summit for
embodied in the Platform for Action,
of their income to family needs.
Social Development in Copenhagen,
and the international community has
At the Copenhagen World Summit
governments determined that
agreed to most of them. The exact
for Social Development, the interna-
women's equality and political and
language will be finalized at the
tional community agreed that women
4WCW.
economic empowerment are essential
are pivotal in efforts to address
to combat poverty and social disinte-
poverty. The 4WCW will build on the
Improve Women's
gration.
Copenhagen agreement by offering an
Economic Security
action plan to enhance women's
These conferences and the 4WCW
Although women have entered the
economic self-reliance. It asks govern-
build on previous UN efforts in
labor force in record numbers over the
ments to remove legal and practical
support of women. The foundation for
last two decades, they comprise a
barriers that prevent women from
this increased empowerment and
majority of the world's poor. In some
obtaining training, credit, property,
participation was laid during the UN
countries, 60-80% of the people in
and opportunity, and urges support
Decade for Women, 1976-85. Through-
poverty are women. About 60% of
for women-owned businesses and
out the decade, women and govern-
poor adults in the United States are
micro-enterprises-especially in
ments worked toward advancing the
women.
technical fields.
status of women under the themes of
The causes of women's poverty are
Women in the U.S. have pro-
equality, development, and peace. The
complex. In many cases, women living
gressed in this area. The number of
experience of the past 10 years,
in poverty reflect widespread eco-
women starting their own businesses
including both the progress made and
nomic underdevelopment, unemploy-
has more than doubled in the last
the obstacles faced, has demonstrated
ment, and human suffering through-
10 years. During the current Adminis-
that the essential ingredient for change
out a society. Women are afflicted by
tration, the U.S. Congress has made
is women's empowerment-access to
poverty for unique reasons as well.
$33 million available for small loans
and participation in all levels of
Women may be impoverished when
to those ventures through the Small
decision-making and all institutions of
they are left to raise children alone.
Business Administration.
society.
Many fully employed women remain
U.S. citizens' groups also are
poor, confined to low-wage jobs or
What is at Stake
pioneering new ways to help women
denied access to the education, credit,
and resources needed to advance. Too
overcome poverty. Some help women
The 4WCW is an opportunity to
break into technical, traditionally male-
reaffirm past commitments, link them
few women receive training in science
dominated occupations. For example,
to women's lives, and put them into
and technology-which can open the
Orientation to Nontraditional Occupa-
action. In preparatory meetings for this
door to high-wage employment.
tions for Women in Columbus, Ohio,
historic gathering, a few important
Although the gap has narrowed in the
trains low-income women for careers
issues were left open, or unresolved,
U.S. since 1963 when women earned
in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical
including some that were the subject of
an average of 60 cents for every dollar
consensus at recent conferences. The
engineering. As the U.S. works to
men earned, there is still a gap be-
U.S. will work to defend those hard-
implement the 4WCW Platform for
tween their wages-75 cents for every
Action, it will seek to replicate strate-
won and important agreements, and to
dollar. The gap is wider for some
gies such as these across the country.
proceed with the critical work of the
groups: in 1992, the average African-
4WCW.
American woman earned 64 cents, and
Empower Women and
Much is at stake, including the idea
the average Hispanic woman 55 cents
Strengthen Families
that the world's nations can come
for every dollar men earned.
Families are the most important
together to craft solutions to our most
Women make great contributions
unit of society. Within them, we
serious problems. For that process to
to their families' well-being. When
develop self-esteem, learn how to care
work, we must negotiate in good faith,
both wage-earning and unpaid work
for others, and begin to develop our
abide by our commitments, and
are taken into account, it is dear that
values. But families around the world
translate words into effective policies
women provide substantial, primary,
are challenged as never before, and
and actions.
or sole economic support to a large
women and children bear the greatest
proportion of the world's families. In
burden. Policies that acknowledge the
households with two wage-earning
2
realities of work and family life, and
The Platform for Action urges the
education is universal, schools can fail
ensure a better balance of parental
adoption of policies that preserve the
to benefit girls in subtle ways. For
responsibility for children, are critical
integrity of families, and recognizes the
example, researchers have found that
°O improving the lives of women and
needs of those-such as single-parent
in American schools, girls receive less
strengthening families.
families-that face special challenges.
attention, less praise and less detailed
Countless families are struggling to
The platform seeks to encourage men
instruction from teachers than do boys.
make ends meet while caring for
to shoulder their full share of responsi-
Worldwide, girls are steered into
children and elderly family members.
bility as parents, by promoting their
training for low-paying jobs. Girls and
In most countries, it is difficult, and
involvement in child care as well as
women remain under-represented in
sometimes impossible, to sustain a
ensuring their contribution to the
science and technical education-at a
family on one person's income.
financial support of the children they
cost to both their future earning
Therefore, economic necessity-and
father. It also suggests ways to increase
capacity and to the broader goal of
increased opportunity-have led
the earning power of poor women-
social and economic development.
millions of women to enter the paid
especially those with children—
The platform asks governments to
labor force in recent years. Yet as their
through training and self-help pro-
close the gender gap in primary and
wage-earning responsibilities have
grams. Finally, the Platform for Action
secondary schooling by the year 2005,
increased, women have not experi-
recommends measures-such as the
and to ensure universal access to
enced a corresponding lessening of
Family and Medical Leave Act-that
primary education by the year 2015. It
their domestic duties.
enable parents to better balance jobs
suggests ways to attract more girls and
At the same time, the number of
and family responsibilities.
women to fields of study where they
single-parent households has soared.
are under-represented. It proposes to
In the U.S., nearly one in five house-
Promote Life-long Education
broaden women's access to technical
holds with children is headed by a
Education is a core American
training-including training in "non-
single parent-about twice as many as
value. Without education, women and
traditional" careers and continuing
15 years ago. Families are sundered for
men are unable to participate effec-
education. It encourages adult and
many reasons-divorce, death, war, or
tively in a democracy, protect their
family engagement in learning to
migration in search of economic
health and that of their families, and
promote literacy for all. These goals are
survival and opportunity. But the
contribute to and benefit from a
closely aligned to steps the Clinton
result is often the same: Most single-
rapidly changing economy. Although
Administration has already taken to
parent families are headed by women,
the gender gap in education is narrow-
strengthen and improve educational
and many are desperately poor.
ing worldwide, about 130 million
outcomes for students of all ages. Key
More than one-third of all female-
children-two-thirds of whom are
to this effort is the implementation of
headed families in the U.S. are living in
girls-lack access to primary school.
national education goals now embod-
poverty. In part, this is because fathers
Nearly two-thirds of the illiterate
ied in the GOALS 2000: Educate
often fail to meet their obligations to
people in the world are women.
America Act. Education reform
their children when marriages break
Universal education helps girls and
strategies include encouraging gender-
up. Two-fifths of divorced fathers do
women fulfill their aspirations as
equitable teaching and learning
not pay court-ordered child support.
individuals, strengthens families, and
methods, eliminating gender-bias in
These trends add immeasurably to
has well-documented benefits for the
curriculum materials, and involving
the difficulty of women's lives. They
broader society. These include in-
girls and women in advanced math
also deprive children of the resources
creased economic productivity; less
and science courses. The Adminis-
and nurturance they need to thrive.
dependence on government benefits;
tration's new School-to-Work systems
Governments and the private
and families that are smaller, healthier,
link education and employment
sector can ease the burdens on women
and better educated. The gains can
opportunities for girls and women
by enacting policies that support
be dramatic. For example, it has been
through educational, mentoring, and
children and the adults who care for
shown that women's wages rise
training activities, particularly in non-
them. For example, the U.S. Family
10-20% for each year of education they
traditional areas.
and Medical Leave Act, signed into
receive. In the poorest countries, each
The Platform for Action also asks
law by President Clinton in 1993,
year of basic education of mothers is
governments and schools of all kinds
guarantees that most workers will not
associated with a 5-10% decline in
to develop education and training
have to choose between keeping their
child mortality.
programs that are free of gender bias.
job and caring for a new child or sick
In many parts of the world,
U.S. citizens groups have been pio-
family member. In the last year, the
discrimination limits girls' access to
neers in developing programs and
U.S. has also helped to strengthen
education. Because boys are seen as
materials free of gender-bias. Organi-
families by providing new resources
having greater earning potential,
zations including Girls, Inc. and the
for child immunization, Head Start,
parents often are more willing to invest
American Association of University
family preservation and support
in education for their sons. In the U.S.
Women are working to ensure that
services, and enforcement of child
and other countries where primary
schools give girls the encouragement
support.
3
and opportunity they deserve. For
gender-based inequalities affect
unwanted pregnancies, and to provide
example, a program called "Girls
women's health-to be taken by
humane care for all women who suffer
Can!" is developing community-based
governments, the UN, health profes-
the consequences of unsafe abortion.
models for correcting gender-bias in
sions, and other appropriate govern-
This represents a hard-won
education.
mental and private institutions.
consensus among delegates with
Women of reproductive age face
diverse perspectives. These issues, in
Improve Women's Health
heightened health risks as well. Every
conjunction with the entire health
Throughout Their Lives
year, 500,000 women die of pregnancy-
section, are recognized by the U.S. as
Health policies and services should
related causes. Most of those deaths
integral to a woman's ability to control
enhance women's physical, psycho-
occur among women in developing
her life and act as an equal partner in
logical, and social well-being through-
countries who have had several closely
society. The U.S. supported that
out the life span. Girls and women
spaced pregnancies or who resort to
language in Cairo, and is committed to
often face particular barriers to health
unsafe abortions. An African woman,
reaffirm it at the 4WCW.
care services they need-in part
for example, is 200 times more likely
The ICPD document defined a new
because of gender discrimination,
than a European woman to die in
direction for population policies,
poverty, or the lack of primary health
childbirth. Universal reproductive
focusing on people's needs rather than
care and social services. The platform
health care, including family planning,
demographic targets.
calls for improving women's access to
would go a long way toward prevent-
appropriate, affordable, and quality
ing these deaths. It would also reduce
Protect the Human
health care and related information
infant mortality, by enabling women to
Rights of Women
and services. It acknowledges that
avoid high-risk births. Better reproduc-
In many countries, the human
programs and services must take into
tive health care would also slow the
rights of women-and men-are
account women's multiple roles and
deadly advance of HIV/AIDS and
violated by political persecution,
responsibilities, including their role as
other sexually transmitted diseases
torture, and disenfranchisement. But
primary custodians of family health.
(STDs). Women are the fastest-growing
women face another dimension of
Although women experience many
group of persons living with HIV/
injustice as well. Rape, domestic
of the same health problems as men,
AIDS infection. Indeed, in some U.S.
violence, and gender-based discrimina-
they face unique health risks as a result
cities, AIDS already has become the
tion are among the abuses that
of both gender inequality and biologi-
leading cause of death among women
disproportionately affect women in all
cal difference. Too often, women are
aged 25-44.
parts of the world and prevent the full
subjected to the inappropriate or over-
In preparations for the 4WCW,
expression and enjoyment of their
prescription of drugs, or medically
controversy has flared over the
human rights.
unnecessary care including the overuse
Platform for Action's provisions on
Violence is a major threat to
of Caesarian sections. The platform
reproductive health. The platform
women's safety and bodily integrity.
seeks to address these issues and calls
reaffirms consensus language that was
From battered women in the U.S. to
for ensuring voluntary and informed
agreed to at the Cairo conference less
the millions of impoverished women
consent for all health services. In
than a year ago, which asks govern-
living in refugee camps, women of
addition, the platform makes specific
ments to ensure universal access to the
every class, race, and ethnicity are
reference to the importance of address-
full range of reproductive health
subject to violence and its aftermath.
ing physical and mental health issues
services, including family planning, so
Women are most likely to encounter
associated with aging, nutrition,
that every child is wanted and sup-
violence and abuse at home-at the
environmental and occupational health
ported as they deserve to be and
hands of husbands and other male
hazards, substance abuse-including
women and men can exercise their
relatives. While the private nature of
tobacco and illegal drugs-and
right to decide the number, spacing,
this crime makes it difficult to assess its
ensuring that girls and women of all
and timing of their children.
full extent, research confirms its
ages with any form of disability receive
The document's provisions on
horrible and universal prevalence.
supportive services. Special emphasis
abortion have been the source of much
Worldwide, domestic violence is the
is placed on the prevention and early
debate-and much misunderstanding.
leading cause of death among women
detection of health problems, particu-
While declaring that
in no case
14 to 44 years of age.
larly breast, cervical, and other cancers
should abortion be promoted as a
The human rights of women also
of the reproductive system.
method of family planning," the
encompass freedom from coercion in
The platform addresses important
Platform for Action asks governments
sexuality, contraception, and child-
ethical issues such as eliminating
to address unsafe abortion as a major
bearing. But many women lack these
practices of over-medication and
public health concern. It seeks to
fundamental freedoms. Rape, forced
medically unnecessary or coercive
ensure that abortion services are safe
prostitution, and forced marriage
medical interventions. It calls for
when they are not against the law, to
remain common-especially among
ensuring responsible, voluntary, and
provide reliable and compassionate
girls and adolescents. And women's
informed consent for all health
counseling for all women who have
reproductive freedom has been
services. It ad vocates research ac-
violated by those in power seeking
tions-including research on how
4
to limit-or in some instances to
16% more food than girls. A study in
positions of real power-47%-than
increase-population growth. The
India found that girls were more than
any before it. It has made a particular
Platform for Action condemns all such
four times as likely as boys to suffer
effort to appoint women to key policy-
violations as abhorrent.
from acute malnutrition, but more
making positions in law enforcement,
In 1993, delegates to the World
than 40 times less likely to be taken to
federal judgeships, and science and
Conference on Human Rights declared
a hospital. Partly as a result, some
technology. Women now hold the
that the rights of women are an
100 million women are missing from
following positions: Secretary of
inalienable, integral, and indivisible
the world's population. The normal
Energy; chief scientist at the National
part of universal human rights. The
ratio of females to males at birth is 105
Aeronautics and Space Administra-
Platform for Action reaffirms that
to 100, but in South Asia, West Asia,
tion-NASA, and the National Oceanic
principle, and outlines specific actions
and China the ratio at birth is 94 girls
and Atmospheric Administration-
for governments to protect and
to 100 boys.
NOAA; the Undersecretary of Com-
enhance those rights. For example, it
The Platform for Action asks
merce for Science and Technology;
calls on governments to take responsi-
governments to eliminate preferences
and Directors of Research and Devel-
bility for preventing and punishing
for sons through educational cam-
opment at the Departments of Defense
acts of violence against women. It also
paigns and other programs. It calls for
and Energy.
urges governments to review civil and
public efforts to ensure that girls can
customary law to eliminate gender-
realize their potential and develop self-
Protect the Environment
based discrimination, educate women
esteem and to eliminate all forms of
Women must have a central place
about their legal and human rights,
discrimination including in health,
on the agenda for environmental
and condemn human rights violations
education, and forced child labor. It
protection in the 21st century if we are
of women.
also asks governments for health and
to protect our natural resources and
Human rights issues have gener-
safety protections from all forms of
leave our children a healthy environ-
ated extensive debate during prepara-
violence.
ment.
tions for the 4WCW. Some delegations
Women play leadership roles in
seek to renegotiate previously agreed
Enable Women To Participate
promoting an environmental ethic,
human rights language from the
In Decision-making
reducing resource use, and reusing
Vienna and Cairo conferences. Again,
When important policy decisions
and recycling resources to minimize
the U.S. stands by those agreements
are made-in legislatures, board-
excessive consumption and waste.
and will work to uphold them.
rooms, and at negotiating tables-few
Women's contributions to environ-
The U.S. Government is committed
women are likely to be present.
mental management-including grass-
to ensuring the human rights of
Worldwide, women comprise only
roots and youth campaigns to protect
women. The landmark 1994 Violence
10% of the members of all legislative
the environment-often have taken
Against Women Act seeks to curb
bodies. In the U.S., men still hold 95%
place at the local level, where decen-
family violence in the U.S. and to help
of senior management positions in
tralized action on environmental issues
its victims by providing support
business, although women comprise
is most needed and decisive.
networks and violence prevention
46% of the labor force. Women also are
The 4WCW Platform for Action
programs in neighborhoods across the
under-represented in the ranks of
makes the important linkage between
country. In addition, new provisions
scientific and technical experts who
women's health and environmental
strengthen penalties for crimes against
guide and influence government
protection by addressing the lack of
women including rape and spousal
policy.
information concerning women's
abuse. The Administration also has
Women lack access to decision-
susceptibilities and exposures to
established an Office on the Prevention
making for many reasons. In some
environmental hazards and toxic
of Domestic Violence in the Depart-
areas, women are barred from posi-
substances. This is particularly urgent
ment of Justice.
tions of power by law or custom. In
in light of the increasing environmen-
others, laws have changed but centu-
tal hazards worldwide, particularly in
Protect and Support
ries of discrimination have left a legacy
rural and poor urban areas, and the
Girls and Youth
of cultural conditioning that effectively
platform is an important step forward
The skills, ideas, and energy of girls
prevents women from participating in
in focusing global attention on this
and young women are vital for us all
public life. The 4WCW asks govern-
issue.
to attain our goals. Yet, in many parts
ments to remove barriers to women's
of the world, especially in cultures
full participation in all decision-
Encourage Citizen Involvement
which prefer sons, discrimination can
making processes. At the same time, it
Worldwide, women are the driving
cost little girls their lives. Also, in those
seeks to overcome traditions of
force in thousands of citizens' groups
cultures girls suffer various forms of
discrimination through leadership and
and NGOs that work to meet the
discrimination. They are often de-
self-esteem training for girls and
needs of various groups in society,
prived of food and medical care.
women.
hold governments accountable, and
Research in Bangladesh found that
The Clinton Administration has
improve the quality of life.
boys under the age of five were given
been an active champion of women's
participation in decision-making. The
Administration has more women in
5
The U.S. Government believes that
In UN preparatory meetings for
Have a national strategy to
NGOs have a crucial role to play in
the 4WCW, the U.S. delegation has
implement the platform by the end of
shaping the 4WCW Platform for
advocated language in the platform
1996.
Action and ensuring its implementa-
that encourages governments to work
tion. In preparations for all major UN
in partnership with NGOs, grant
Conclusion
conferences, the U.S. Government
NGOs legal status, and protect their
The Fourth World Conference on
makes every effort to ensure the full
independence. The Clinton Adminis-
participation of interested citizens and
tration also works with the UN to
Women is an important milestone on
NGOs and to include NGOs on U.S.
facilitate NGO participation in the
the path to a future that is sustainable
delegations. During the world summit
conference by, for example, applying
and just. We cannot address the
in Copenhagen, First Lady Hillary
fair and transparent visa procedures to
problems that threaten a common
Rodham Clinton applauded the
all who attend.
future unless women are empowered
to make the decisions that affect their
important work of NGOs, often in
lives-and the world.
partnership with our government. In
Commitments-Putting
preparation for the 4WCW, the
Words Into Action
The 4WCW document presents a
Departments of State and Labor co-
To help ensure that the words
plan of action that is fair and sensible.
sponsored 10 regional meetings across
agreed to come to life, the U.S. sup-
It acknowledges the rich context of
the U.S. to obtain citizens' views on
ported language in the draft platform
women's lives, and addresses women's
issues affecting women. NGOs will
needs as individuals, as wives and
that invites governments to come to
also be represented in the U.S. delega-
Beijing ready to state specific national
mothers, as workers, and as members
tion to the 4WCW, and the U.S.
commitments for priority action. The
of the human community.
regularly seeks citizen input and
U.S. will propose immediate steps it
The U.S. supports the broad
participation in preparations for the
will take to improve girls' and
objectives of the 4WCW conference. It
conference. During preparatory
women's lives. The U.S. currently
believes that implementation of the
4WCW Platform for Action will benefit
meetings for the 4WCW, the govern-
receives input from citizens on policies,
programs or legislative initiatives that
American women, families, and
ment held daily briefings for NGOs. In
addition to monthly NGO briefings in
should be undertaken to implement
communities. Perhaps most impor-
Washington, DC, the U.S. also has
the platform.
tantly, it will help ensure that our
hosted a series of open meetings to
The platform already contains two
children-girls and boys-grow up in
solicit citizen comment on issues in the
commitments:
a world that appreciates the dignity
platform.
and potential of each person.
Governments should consult
with citizens groups, private sector,
and philanthropic institutions to
discuss implementation strategies soon
after the conference; and
6
The UN Fourth World
society; a gender perspective into all
June 28, 1995
MCC
Conference on Women
systems; and an equal partnership
will be held in Beijing
between men and women for the
from September 4-15,
good of society.
1995. The final preparatory meeting
The overall U.S. priority is to
for the conference was held at the
build on the commitments made at
United Nations in New York from
the past world conferences on women
March 15-April 7, 1995. At this
and on the recent world conferences
meeting-held during the annual
on the Environment and Develop-
session of the UN Commission on the
ment in Rio, Human Rights in
Status of Women, the preparatory
body for the conference-delegations
in Cairo, and Social Development in
Focus on 4WCW
United States Actions and Priorities
Vienna, Population and Development
negotiated a draft Platform for Action
Copenhagen.
to be considered for adoption in
Office of Public Communication
Beijing. Following is an overview of
Platform Areas Requiring
the draft platform as it was negoti-
Extensive Negotiation
ated at the New York meeting,
Human Rights. There are three
describing U.S. actions and priorities.
sections on human rights: violence
Overall Message
against women, the impact of armed
conflict on women, and the human
The final draft of the Platform for
rights of women. Support for strong
Action to be adopted at the Fourth
language in these sections and
World Conference on Women in
leadership to retain such language
Beijing contains distinct elements
came from all regions of the world.
that reflect a developing consensus
The U.S. underscored governments'
around the world-a consensus that
responsibility to ensure the human
did not exist 10 years ago. The UN
rights of women, and to advance
decade for women, 1975-85, and the
women's legal equality and civil and
document adopted at its culmina-
political rights. African delegations,
tion-the "Nairobi Forward Looking
in particular, led the effort to call on
Strategies" (a plan for the years 1986-
governments to address harmful
2000)-sought to advance the status
practices that lead to violence against
Bureau of Public Affairs
of women working under the broad
women, and to review civil and
themes of equality, development,
customary law so as to reduce legal
and peace.
discrimination against women, in
The experiences of the past 10
such areas, for example, as inherit-
years-a combination of research,
ance and property rights.
analysis, legal reform, development
The section on violence against
work, and the networking and
women provides a comprehensive
organizing efforts of women them-
definition of what constitutes such
selves-have brought worldwide
realization that the only way to bring
about equality, development, and
Draft Platform for Action
peace is to empower women by
integrating them into the main-
Single copies of the full text of
stream where they can work in
the draft Platform for Action are
partnership with men at all levels
available from the Conference
and structures of society.
Secretariat at the United Nations.
This directly mirrors the over-
Requests may be made by fax
United States Department of State
arching goal for the conference set by
(dial 212-963-3463) or by writing
the United States. From the first
to:
paragraph of the mission statement to
Secretariat for the Fourth World
the final chapters on institutional and
financial arrangements for implemen-
Conference on Women
Division for the Advancement
tation and follow-up, the draft
platform calls for the empowerment
of Women, Room DC2-1234
United Nations
of women; integration of women into
the mainstream of all institutions of
New York, NY 10017
violence and calls on governments
countries favoring more affirmative
economic policies. For this reason,
to take responsibility for preventing
measures—there was little disagree-
there is a considerable amount of
and punishing acts of violence. The
ment expressed about the importance
bracketed language-much of it
platform also addresses the impor-
of this section.
involving "cause and effect" relation-
tance of preventive action, including
Health. The U.S. goal was to
ships-calling for foreign debt
through counseling and rehabilitative
take a lifespan approach to health,
cancellation and the allocation of
programs for offenders.
broadening attention to women of all
resources. The U.S. supported, and
The sections on human rights
ages and from diverse situations and
consensus was reached, on strong
and promoting peace focus on the
backgrounds. In addition, progress
language calling for economic
fact that the human rights of women
was made in negotiating language
opportunities for women and inclu-
are-as stated in the Vienna Declara-
on preventive programs, research,
sion of women in economic policy-
tion adopted by the World Confer-
increased resources, and follow-up
making, access for women to credit
ence on Human Rights in 1993-an
on women's health.
and savings mechanisms, and
inalienable, integral, and indivisible
Issues related to breast and cervi-
support services. Although much of
part of universal human rights, and
cal cancer, as well as other cancers of
the text related to macroeconomic
that governments and international
the reproductive system, menopause
policies and structural adjustment
organizations must ensure the
and other conditions associated with
programs is bracketed, consensus
protection of these rights.
aging, nutrition, substance abuse,
language calls for structural adjust-
Although agreement has been
and environmental and occupational
ment programs to be designed to
reached on a number of important
health hazards are all addressed.
minimize their negative effects on
issues, there was a strong effort by
Much of the text remaining in
vulnerable groups and to review the
some countries to prevent any
brackets is language that was previ-
impact of structural adjustment
language that might broaden UN
ously agreed to in September 1994 at
programs by means of gender-
efforts in the area of human rights,
the International Conference on
sensitive social impact assessments.
and efforts by some to inject political
Population and Development in
Education and Training. The
issues into the debate. Thus, large
Cairo. Bracketed text primarily
U.S. supported the platform's
portions of these sections remain
addresses reproductive and sexual
emphasis on full participation of
bracketed.
health including in the sections
women and girls in life-long learning
The draft platform calls on the
addressing HIV/AIDS and other
and in educational policy- and
UN to integrate concern for the
sexually transmitted diseases,
decision-making. The platform calls
human rights of women into all its
reproductive rights, unsafe abortions,
for equal access to education for
human rights activities. The U.S.
unwanted pregnancies, contracep-
women and girls; education, training,
took the lead in committing govern-
tives, and the number of times
and retraining policies for women,
ments to train officials, including
language addressing parental
particularly those re-entering the
security and military personnel, in
involvement in adolescent services is
labor market; curricula free of gender
human rights and humanitarian law,
included in the document.
stereotypes; and the reduction of
and to punish violations against
Girls. Through the leadership of
female illiteracy and the promotion
women.
African states, the G-77-a group of
of family engagement in learning.
The platform recognizes that if
about 132 developing countries—
Bracketed areas involve barriers to
women are to fully exercise their
introduced a new section for the
schooling for pregnant girls and
rights, they must be informed about
platform focusing on eliminating
young mothers, teacher training
those rights. The U.S. was part of a
discrimination and ensuring the
programs and materials to promote
broad consensus recognizing that
rights of girls. The U.S. worked at the
mutual respect and shared responsi-
innovative programs must be devel-
PrepCom to strengthen the proposed
bilities between girls and boys, and
oped to help women achieve legal
section by making it applicable
religious expression in educational
literacy so that they understand and
globally rather than regionally.
institutions.
exercise their rights.
Bracketed language remains concern-
Environment. The U.S. actively
Inequality in Power-sharing
ing discouragement of early mar-
supported recognition of and action
And Decision-making. Drawing
riage; addressing son preference that
to address the data gap concerning
from the Universal Declaration of
leads to prenatal sex selection;
women's susceptibilities and expo-
Human Rights, which provides that
disparities in access to food, health
sures to environmental hazards and
everyone has a right to take part in
services, and education on reproduc-
toxic substances-the particular
the government of his or her country,
tion; and the prevention of sexually
situation of women with low in-
the platform includes a section on the
transmitted diseases.
comes, indigenous women, and
importance of increasing the partici-
Poverty. The platform calls
minority women-the participation
pation of women in politics. Al-
attention to the increasing burden of
of women and girls at all levels of
though there was disagreement over
poverty on women-the feminization
decision-making in both formal and
the types of mechanisms for facilitat-
of poverty-and places women's
informal arenas that influence
ing this participation-with some
situations in the context of the global
environmental quality; and equal
economy and the effects of global
2
access to education, information, and
intended to be interpreted and
Implementation and Follow-up.
resources in furtherance of environ-
understood as it is in ordinary,
The U.S. supported language in the
mental protection and natural
generally accepted usage.
document introduced by Australia
esource management objectives. U.S.
Diversity. The U.S. made inclu-
that invites governments to come to
anguage relating to risks to women's
siveness a priority, working to ensure
Beijing ready to state specific na-
health in low-income areas with high
that the diversity of women was
tional commitments for priority
concentrations of polluting industrial
recognized and that some women
action within the context of the
facilities remains bracketed.
face additional barriers to advance-
platform. These commitments are
Economics. In the section on
ment because of factors other than
seen as first steps toward implemen-
economic structures, the U.S. sup-
gender. This concept is recognized
tation, not as a substitute for action
ported and introduced new language
throughout the document; for
on the entire document. Currently,
that focused on the need for wider
example, the U.S. and other support-
the U.S. is giving serious thought to
acceptance of basic worker rights
ers, working with women themselves,
the nature of commitments and types
as minimum labor standards for
were successful in including women
of initiatives it may bring to Beijing
women; facilitating women's access
with disabilities and those from
that will result in practical outcomes
to credit and capital markets and
ethnic and racial minorities. One
for women and girls in the United
training; and developing new,
paragraph, early in the platform,
States.
financial intermediaries to serve their
describes the diverse situations of
The U.S. also supported and
needs, including reaching hard-to-
women which should be incorpo-
contributed to language that calls
serve women, such as those in rural
rated into action plans. Because it is
upon governments to consult with
areas.
bracketed, it will be negotiated in
relevant institutions and non-
Mechanisms. There is much in
Beijing.
governmental organizations,
this chapter that was supported by
Non-Governmental Organiza-
preferably before the end of 1995, on
the U.S., including improved gender-
tions (NGOs). The U.S. strongly
how to best develop implementation
sensitive analysis of statistics,
supported recognition of the role
strategies for the platform. Further,
information, and policy analysis; anti-
NGOs play in policy planning,
governments are called upon to have
discrimination; promotion of family-
development, implementation, and
such plans developed and in place
friendly policies for both women and
monitoring of programs for the
within a year. The U.S. is committed
men; and the acceptance and use of
advancement of women, and urged
to an ongoing process between
life-long learning for women and
in several places in the document that
government and non-governmental
men in and out of school environ-
governments work in partnership
organizations to achieve full equality
nents.
with NGOs, grant NGOs legal status
and partnership between women and
The platform urges governments
and protection, and permit the
men in the political, economic, and
to make efforts to measure and better
independence of NGOs, including
social structures of the U.S.
understand unremunerated work,
financial independence. Some
In this time of tight resources, the
and to seek to develop methods to
delegations within the G-77 strongly
U.S.-as was true of donor nations in
assess its value in quantitative terms
oppose a monitoring role for NGOs.
general-took a conservative ap-
for possible reflection in accounts that
The U.S. has consistently supported
proach toward finances and resources
are separate from but consistent with
inclusion of monitoring.
for implementation, urging refocus-
core national accounts.
Young Women. Working with
ing and reallocation of existing
the youth caucus, the U.S. introduced
resources where possible. Also,
Document-Wide Features
language in the Global Framework
because the U.S. is interested in
calling attention to the importance of
overall reform of the UN and better
Gender. A few countries moved
young people in shaping the next
coordination and linkage between
to delete or bracket the word "gen-
century, and the commitment that the
its agencies and the whole series of
der" throughout the text. In order to
international community must make
international conferences that have
resolve this issue, a special working
to prepare them for the role they
been held in the past 10 years, the
group met in New York in May 1995.
must play in the future. Young
U.S. concentrated on ensuring that
The U.S. joined consensus on the
women should be part of the pro-
implementation of the Beijing
adoption of a chairman's statement
cess-working to ensure that their
platform be in concert with this
that will appear in the conference
needs and futures are addressed. The
overall process.
report. The statement reaffirms that
U.S. also supported specific refer-
"gender," as used in the platform, is
ences to young women or youth
throughout the document.
3
Clinton Presidential Records
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indicated below.
Scope Paper
Divider Title:
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SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
Scope Paper
Fourth World Conference on Women
September 4-15, 1995
Summary
The following outlines the United States approach and
priorities for the Fourth World Conference on Women. Delegates
should use the negotiating matrix developed by the U.S.
Government.
A number of issues related to human rights, diversity,
resources, and macroeconomic policies were successfully
negotiated at a July 31-August 4 informal negotiating session
in New York. What remains to be negotiated in Beijing are
several difficult issues not resolved at the informals, as well
as issues not addressed that week, those related to the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD),
and girls.
Priorities
The primary U.S. objective is to promote the advancement
and empowerment of women, and to reaffirm and build on the
commitments made at other important UN Conferences. Women
played vital, participatory roles in those conferences and were
principal actors in implementing those agreements. Many issues
essential to women's empowerment were addressed at those
conferences, and women's central role in sustainable
development was recognized.
Health
Issues related to health are the least negotiated because
they were pushed to the end of the March prepcom and were not
addressed during the summer informals. The United States, in
partnership with other key actors, was successful, however, in
expanding the section to address a lifespan approach to women's
health as well as a wide range of health issues. The language
in brackets is primarily consensus language agreed to in 1994
at the International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD). During the prepcom, it seemed that generally the G-77
was standing behind the agreements on issues such as
reproductive and sexual health, reproductive rights, unsafe
abortion and condoms, but the handful of countries which took
reservations at the ICPD were not willing to accept the
language again here.
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The United States places a high priority on its commitment
to reaffirming the agreements achieved at the ICPD, many of
which are fundamental to women's empowerment.
At the ICPD, a great deal of time was spent negotiating
broadly accepted language on parental involvement with
adolescent health services. Unfortunately, that language is
not included in the draft Platform, but more than 20 references
using non-consensus language on parental involvement (some of
which are entirely ill-placed) are included in the draft
Platform. The United States will recommend the inclusion of
the ICPD consensus paragraph 7.45 in the section on health, and
the removal of the additional parental involvement references
that are in brackets.
The United States supports including language opposing
coercive reproductive practices, such as forced sterilization
or forced abortion. We also support language requiring fully
informed consent regarding prescriptions and medical procedures.
Human Rights
Significant progress was made at the recent informals in
reaching consensus on human rights related language. Two
important issues were left unresolved: clear language about
the universality of human rights and about equality between men
and women. In addition, issues of reproductive rights were not
addressed at the informals and remain to be negotiated.
At the informals, the United States, the Holy See, and the
European Union sought to unbracket references to the "universal
nature of all human rights," drawn directly from the
Declaration from the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights,
while the G-77 as a group sought to add language regarding
"objectivity and non-selectivity" in applying human rights
standards (also from Vienna). A compromise was worked out
which would have combined these ideas. Only Malta objected.
The United States will seek support of all delegations in
advancing this compromise in Beijing.
There was no resolution of the proposal by Iran to refer to
"equitable" and not just "equal" rights between men and women,
in particular in regard to inheritance rights, property rights,
and the right to engage in business or other economic
activity. Several African delegations led the opposition to
the Iranian proposal, which would undermine the concept of
equality. African and Latin delegations told us that they
believe they can isolate Iran and several other countries and
emerge with a document with strong references to equality. The
United States will support this move and will work closely with
these and other delegations on the strategy to do so.
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Reproductive rights issues and related paragraphs about
cultural and religious particularities were not discussed at
the informals, and like health related issues remain to be
negotiated. The United States places high priority on
upholding language from Cairo about reproductive rights, both
in the health and the human rights sections. We will also seek
to replace currently bracketed language about cultural
particularities, and place high priority on unbracketing all
reproductive rights and other Cairo language before accepting
any such language.
Political Issues
There are several political issues currently bracketed in
the document which the United States will seek to delete, or
reduce the number of references to.
While the United States condemns all harmful practices,
including the idea of trafficking in human tissues and organs,
there is no evidence that this practice exists, and references
to it in the document derive from a 1980s Soviet and Cuban
disinformation campaign to spread the rumor that U.S. citizens
sought organs and tissues from children in developing
countries. There is no validity to the charge. Unfortunately,
however, the rumors continue and resulted in the near-fatal
beating of an American woman in Guatemala. The United States
will seek to delete references to this issue throughout the
document, particularly in the sections referring to the girl
child.
In addition, the United States will seek to ensure that
references to military spending and weapons are pertinent to
the other issues in the document. We will seek to use
Copenhagen language regarding excessive military spending. The
United States is a leader in world-wide efforts to stop the
indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines, and will
propose language calling for export moratoria of such landmines.
Families/Mothers
Like many other countries, the United States wants this
document to refer to the many roles women play in society,
including but not limited to that of mother. At the
intersessionals the United States took the lead in
reformulating two paragraphs (one referring to the burdens
women bear and one to media images of women leaders) which
would include reference to women's roles as mothers, among
other roles. Latin delegations strongly supported our
language. Some African and EU delegations were hesitant to
accept the reference to mothers because of their concern that
emphasis is all too often placed only on motherhood excluding
other aspects of life. We believe all these references are
important, and can demonstrate the multiple roles of women and
that they should be able to change those roles.
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In both the ICPD and the WSSD, countries recognized the
family as the basic unit of society and that various forms of
families exist (e.g. single parent or multi-generational
families).
We hope all delegations will accept the carefully balanced
language on mothers and reaccept the concept of families, other
than simply "the family."
Media
The Media section in the document has not been
controversial, but some of it remains to be negotiated, and
there are a few key points of concern for the United States.
The United States is particularly concerned that the
references to the media both in the media section and other
sections, not in any way compromise freedom of the press. The
United States will oppose language that implies or states that
governments can direct the media to cover certain issues or
tell the media how to cover issues. The United States will
seek to include further references to freedom of the press in
relevant chapeaus and action items. The United States will
oppose any efforts to include discredited ideas such as the
"right to communication" which have been promoted by
authoritarian governments that seek the "right" to direct the
media.
Financial Resources
The draft Platform for Action contains bracketed language,
introduced by the G-77, that requests "new and additional
resources" to implement the Platform. Given the increasing
constraints placed on the U.S. budget, we believe it is
unrealistic to continue to ask governments to provide "new and
additional" resources.
At past conferences, Japan and the European Union have
shared the U.S. view. However, WC understand that Japan and
the EU can now accept the term "new and additional" -- not
because they intend to increase their financial contributions,
but because the exchange rate favors their currency, making
their current contribution worth more in U.S. dollars than it
was in the past.
In describing resources required by UN organizations to
carry out their mandates, the United States should insist on
the terms "adequate" or "sufficient" and "within existing
resources of the regular budget of the UN."
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In describing resources needed to implement the Platform,
the United States should push for "adequate" rather than "new
and additional." The United States can accept "new and
additional" only if the language is consistent with (preferably
identical to) the World Summit for Social Development, which
recognizes that other actors-not just governments--will have
to be approached for resources (as in Commitment 9(i) and
paragraph 14a of the Programme of Action.
Debt Cancellation
The draft Platform for Action contains three alternative
proposals on debt relief (para 6lc):
-- The original text, proposed by the G-77, calls on the
international financial institutions (IFIs) to cancel or
substantially reduce the debt burden, or convert the debt
servicing of developing countries.
-- The EU text paraphrases the Social Summit language and
calls on IFIs to find effective development-oriented and
durable solutions to external debt problems through the
immediate implementation of the terms of debt forgiveness
agreed upon in the Paris Club in December 1994.
-- The text proposed by Japan calls on IFIs to continue
efforts to alleviate the debt service burden.
The United States prefers the language introduced by Japan,
although it is unlikely to be accepted by the G-77. The EU
text paraphrases the World Summit for Social Development and
the ideas presented in it are acceptable. However, rather than
paraphrasing the WSSD, we would prefer to quote directly from
it. (WSSD language on debt: Commitments 1(k), 7(c), 9(0), and
paragraphs 10(a), 11(e), 90(a)-(f).)
The language on debt relief was a hard fought consensus at
the WSSD, which took place less than six months ago. We
believe it is too early to reopen the negotiations on this
issue. If the Japanese alternative text is not accepted, the
United States should push for the WSSD language.
Environmental Issues
There are a few key environmental issues which remain
unresolved:
We want to make sure that the Platform for Action
recognizes that women who live in low income and urban areas,
where there is a high concentration of polluting and industrial
facilities, may face disproportionate health risks (para 247).
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The United States supports language concerning respect for
and preservation of the knowledge, innovations and practices of
indigenous women. A paragraph on this issue (para 110j) is
already agreed to in the health section of the Platform. The
United States also supports including language in the
Environment Section of the Platform that reaffirms the goals
established by Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological
Diversity. However the bracketed text on that issue (para
253c) goes beyond Article 8(j) by, for example, introducing a
reference that might be interpreted as creating a new
intellectual property right for indigenous knowledge.
On the issue of transboundary movement of. hazardous and
radioactive waste, the United States agrees with the EU that
the language should be consistent with the Basel Convention and
para 208 of the 1994 ministerial decision of the Commission on
Sustainable Development.
G/CS:S B Kotok, M Curtin, E Marshall
08/22/95 647-3129 SEC1 651
Cleared by:
G/CS:T Loar
IO:S Blodgett - OK
USUN:V Marrero - OK
PRM/POP:E Marshall - OK
L/HRR:D P Stewart - OK
L/UNA:E T Bloom - OK
NSC:ESchwartz
EB/IFD/ODF:J Dehmlow - OK
USUN/W:S A George - OK
IO/SB:D Wynes - OK
IO/ESA:M Pollack - OK
DRL:T Hushek - OK
USUN:B Williams-Manigault - OK
EPA:R Ward - OK
Clinton Presidential Records
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marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
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indicated below.
Talking Points /
Flash Points
Divider Title:
Remarks to Delegation
Talking Points for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
Briefing on the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women
June 26, 1995
Introduction and Context
Thank you for joining us at the White House to hear about our plans for U.S.
participation in the upcoming United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
and our hopes to include women across America in the discussion of the issues. We
also want to make sure that the United States plays a leadership role, as it
appropriately should, both in preparation for the Conference and at the Conference
itself. Your concerns and interest on these issues is well-known and respected.
This is an important year for all women because of this upcoming international
conference, but it is an especially important year for American women. Seventy-five
years ago we won the right to vote, something I hope will be adequately celebrated
this year so women and girls today will better understand the achievement that others
secured for them. Fifty years ago at the State Department, the Women's Bureau at the
Department of Labor was established and we're looking forward to marking that
celebration with programs this year that particularly highlight the needs of working
women. And I hope that we will be able to continue to make sure that a lot of the
gains that women have been able to mark in the United States will be preserved. With
all of this in mind, both in terms of our world role and our domestic one, we want the
Women's Conference to be a vehicle that really does help us to promote and advance a
progressive agenda on behalf of women.
All of us have a stake in how women live in our country and around the world. The
issues the conference will address are issues that women live with, talk about, and
worry over. And women should be active participants in helping their societies and
their family address them. These are issues about improving the status of American
women with the focus on economic security, strong and healthy families, safe homes
and communities, and quality education. The Conference will raise these issues to the
top of agendas wherever they are considered at home and around the world.
Our overall message will be one that focuses on women as agents of change active
participants in helping their societies meet the challenges of this and the next century.
But that can only be achieved if women are empowered through education and access.
Empowerment and access will enable women to take their rightful place as they work
in partnership with men to strengthen their families and contribute to their
communities.
[You might mention your experience in South Asia and the programs you visited for women,
particularly ones in which women themselves played leadership roles. Lessons to be learned.]
U.S. PRIORITIES
Our overall priority at the Women's Conference is to build on the commitments made
at previous important UN conferences such as Nairobi, Rio, Vienna, Cairo, and
Copenhagen, and to guard against any backsliding, which is always a possibility, and
to try to advance the agenda.
One of the most urgent goals for the United States is to be sure that the Conference
reaffirms human rights for women. We will focus on two interrelated objectives --
preventing violence against women and legal literacy programs.
We will also work toward a life cycle approach to health and education and focus on
health concerns specific to women. This includes, of course, reproductive health, but
we want the agenda to be broader than that. We want the agenda to start looking at
the other health challenges women face, both as women and as mothers. Because we
think that there are some very important health care issues that we need to address.
Issues pertaining to cancer and its prevalence in certain populations and other illnesses
predominately affecting women.
We want to drive home the point that the most transforming investment we can make
is in universal primary and secondary education, especially for girls. I remember in
the work I did in education in Arkansas, and that I was privileged to work with many
of you and the groups that you have founded around the country, over and over again
we came back down to noticing that one of the most important criterion to the
academic achievements a child would make is the level of education the child's mother
had received -- not the father but the mother. And I think that we have to continue
to stress access to education opportunities. When I was in Copenhagen, I had the
privilege to announce a new USAID initiative for the education of girls and women.
We will use the commitment I announced to urge other countries to make similar
investments around the world.
As we talk to American women about this Conference, we want to be listening as
well. We had a remarkable report that was issued in 1994 called "Working Women
Count." The Women's Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor surveyed women nd
then analyzed over 250,000 responses from working women about the challenges and
obstacles that they face in the workplace in balancing families and work. We learned
a lot from that. We want to continue to listen as we try to understand how women
can be helped to balance work and family and the opportunities they have available to
them. if they take advantage of those opportunities.
We will, on behalf of the United States, promote women's equality with men in the
governmental, political, and economic decision making structures of society.
We will also highlight and try to involve as many NGOs as possible. We believe
strongly in participation by NGOs in all United Nations activities. When I was in
Copenhagen, I stressed the role of NGOs, paid a visit to the Women's Caucus, and
made clear that the United States would continue to press not only the United Nations
but also any host country, such as China, about ensuring that the broad range of NGOs
who wished to be able to attend, would be able to.
We also intend to move ahead, beyond this Conference, beyond rhetoric to action. In
order to ensure the goals of the Conference are achieved, the Administration will
develop a plan of action for domestic implementation.
DELEGATION TEAM
We are putting together a very strong leadership team to head our delegation to the
Women's Conference. I will serve as honorary chair. Ambassador Madeleine Albright
will lead our delegation, and Under Secretary Tim Wirth will be our Alternate Chair.
Marjorie Margolies Mezvinsky will be our Deputy Chair. Also, we have a number of
public members who have participated in the preparatory conferences (Lynn Cutler and
Veronica Biggins should be at this briefing). Finally, we have selected top-notch
government representatives and others with a needed expertise and perspective have
been added to the delegation.
We cannot do this Conference right if we do not have the kind of support from the
Corporate community that was essential to our success in Cairo and many other ways.
So, to help us make some good things happen for women here and women around the
world, we really need your help.
Introduce Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Tim Wirth
Reasons for White House Attendance at the
Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing
WH attendance would signal to domestic constituencies and
the world this Administration's commitment to women's
advancement.
The Conference focuses on issues affecting mainstream
American women who are concerned about the quality of their
work and family life. The Conference addresses women's
access to the American dream: training, education,
employment, personal safety.
WH presence at the plenary and NGO Forum would lend strong
support to NGO partnership with governments at UN
conferences. NGOs are an important citizen empowerment and
democracy-building tool around the world. This
Administration has broken new ground in involving NGOs in
governance and encouraging the UN system to permit greater
access for NGOs in the UN system.
WH could use the occasion of the conference to be a strong
advocate for human rights and women's rights by making a
very focused speech at the plenary of the Conference and at
the NGO Forum.
WH attendance would demonstrate a pro-active stance to
China's human rights and women's rights problems. A WH
presence would signal a strong commitment to human rights.
Human rights are central to the agenda of the Conference.
is on option
We have been working very closely with human rights groups
(Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B'Nai B'Rith
Women, International Human Rights Law Group) as we prepare
for prepcoms and the Conference. Much of our input on
human rights for the Platform of Action in the Vienna
prepcom was drafted by these groups. We are their
spokespeople at the official conference on these issues.
These groups would welcome a WH presence as a validation of
their efforts in the human rights arena.
produce. The United States is proud of its leadership at the
ICPD that resulted in a new direction on population policy
emphasizing the need to educate girls and empower women in
order to slow population growth and achieve sustainable
development. The Clinton Administration has pledged
additional resources to ensure implementation of these goals.
This year, the World Summit for Social Development, which will
be held in Copenhagen March 6-12, will be the first time heads
of governments will have gathered to address the core problems
of poverty, unemployment and social integration. Again, the
advancement of women is an integral part of the solutions to
those problems.
In addition, the U.S. delegation will work to ensure the full
participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOS) in the World
Conference on Women, in its deliberations and in its plans for
enforcement of policies advancing women in the United States and
worldwide. The public/private partnerships between government and
community organizations are critical to achieving new global
victories for women everywhere.
0 KEY OBJECTIVES FOR THE U.S. AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
Delegates from the United States are committed to providing
leadership for the development of a consensus U.N. Plan of Action.
Key issues include:
The Family: Women play a vital role in sustaining strong families
worldwide. But too often, women are left to raise children on
their own, without access to quality health and child care. Too
many single-parent families live in poverty. Both mothers and
fathers must be held accountable for [child-bearing] and child-
rearing, including economic support of their children. At the same
time, women deserve equal pay at work. And, at a time of falling
wages, women and men need decent income and support systems at
their jobs to enable them to balance work and family
responsibilities. There is a need to promote healthy and enduring
relationships between parents and children.
Recent USA Successes: In 1993, President Clinton signed the
Family and Medical Leave Act, now being enforced at the
federal and state levels. In addition, in 1994, new resources
were put into child immunization, Head Start, family support
services and child support enforcement. By 1966, every child
in the United States will be immunized.
Economic Security: Women in the U.S. and in all parts of the world
need access to decent-paying jobs, family health benefits, food,
housing and education to be productive members of the modern
economy. Over the last two decades, women have entered the work
force in record numbers, both as employees and business owners.
3
However, three out of five U.S. workers earning minimum wages are
women. In many countries women constitute 60 to 80 percent of the
poor.
Recent USA Successes: The number of women starting their own
businesses has more than doubled in the last 10 years.
Throughout the United States, women-owned businesses have
fueled economic growth and helped to keep families stable,
and, in the last two years, the Small Business Administration
has increased loans to women-owned business by 25 percent. New
tax policies, such as the earned-income tax credit, have
helped millions of working families who live just above the
poverty line. President Clinton has asked Congress to raise
the minimum wage to $5.25 over the next two years.
Equal Access to Education: Education is a core American value.
Without a good education, all Americans are acutely vulnerable to
shifts in the rapidly changing global economy. There is now an
international focus on equal education for girls as a critical
building block for economic security. Girls and young women in the
1990s face new social and economic challenges. These challenges
include conflicting and confusing pressures from their parents,
peers, the media and society in general and have resulted in
increasing rates of school drop outs, teenage pregnancies, under-
employment and unemployment.
Recent USA Successes: In 1994, Congress passed comprehensive
education legislation called Goals 2000. This Administration
is strongly committed to full implementation of this law,
which will improve our education system and ensure equal
access for girls under the Gender Equity Act affecting public
schools across the country.
Violence Prevention and Issues of Personal Safety: From battered
women in the United States to millions of impoverished women living
in refugee camps worldwide, women of every class, race and
ethnicity are subject to violence and its aftermath. Women must
have full legal and civil protections for all of their human
rights, including, most importantly, protection from abuse and
violence, and their voices must be heard in the resolution of
conflicts. Young women who have been subjected to violence suffer
harmful effects to their personal development.
Recent USA Successes: The Violence Against Women Act, a
landmark new law passed in 1994, includes programs to curb
family violence and to help its victims by providing support
networks and violence prevention programs in local
neighborhoods. In addition, new provisions strengthen
penalties for crimes against women including rape and spousal
abuse. Secretary of Defense Perry has committed additional
resources to insure that all U.S. troops, including those
involved in U.N. peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, are
trained in working with civilian populations that include
women and children.
The Clinton Administration will be working to make sure that the
World Conference on Women goes beyond rhetoric to implementation
and accountability. It is time to complete our own plan of action
on the issues that have been discussed and debated over the past
twenty years. These issues, raised by women everywhere, deserve
responsive action from their government. But more importantly,
women must become full partners in the decision-making that affects
their lives and families, their communities, their governments and
the world.
5
"THE WORLD OF WOMEN"
Interviews with Influential Women from Around the World
A 13-Part Radio Series (13 programs x approx. 30:00 each)
Program #13: First Lady Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, USA
Produced by the Population Reference Bureau
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 520 Washington, DC 20009
USA
202/483-1100 (tel)
202/328-3937 (fax)
MARLOW: WELCOME TO "THE WORLD OF WOMEN," A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH INFLUENTIAL
WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THEIR LIFE AND TIMES. THE SERIES IS PRODUCED BY
THE POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
TODAY'S GUEST IS MRS. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. MRS. CLINTON IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR
WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY FOR BETTER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND
HEALTH SERVICES. SHE HAS SERVED AS FIRST LADY SINCE HER HUSBAND, PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON, WAS INAUGURATED IN JANUARY 1993.
UPON TAKING OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED MRS. CLINTON TO HEAD HIS TASK FORCE
ON NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM. IN THIS POSITION, MRS. CLINTON PLAYED AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN FOCUSING PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF WOMEN
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
PRIOR TO HER POSITION IN THE WHITE HOUSE, MRS. CLINTON SPENT TWELVE YEARS AS
FIRST LADY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS GOVERNOR. DURING
THAT TIME, SHE WORKED FULL-TIME AS A PARTNER OF A LEADING LAW FIRM, CHAIRED AN.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE, MANAGED A HOME, AND CARED FOR HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER.
MRS. CLINTON WAS GRADUATED FROM WELLESLEY COLLEGE WITH HIGH HONORS AND THEN
ATTENDED YALE LAW SCHOOL, WHERE SHE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF EDITORS OF THE YALE
REVIEW OF LAW AND SOCIAL ACTION.
HERE NOW TO TALK WITH FIRST LADY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON IS THE HOST OF THE
PROGRAM, SHELLY CRYER.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. IN LOOKING AT YOUR
DEVELOPMENT AS AN ACTIVE PUBLIC WOMAN, AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE DID YOU FIRST
BECOME COMMITTED TO TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATION'S SOCIAL PROBLEMS?
CLINTON: Well, Shelly, first, thank you for having me on this series. I appreciate what
you're doing and think it is very important.
I don't know quite how to answer that question, because as a child, many of the
children in my neighborhood were encouraged to do things like collect money or
food, work on behalf of people in nursing homes, or children in migrant labor
camp So we were always brought up with an ethos of service, and it is
something that I first thought about in relation to my neighborhood and
community, and then only later in relation to the entire nation.
But it has been, for me, a life-time idea of what is expected from those of us
who believe, as a friend of mine, Marian Edelman, of the Children's Defense
Fund, says that service is the rent we pay for living.
CRYER:
HOW DID ATTENDING AN ALL-WOMAN'S COLLEGE INFLUENCE YOUR EDUCATION?
CLINTON: I think it had a profound effect in two respects. First of all, it was a
totally nurturing, supportive, challenging environment in which women were
encouraged to speak their minds, to assume roles and responsibilities in the
classroom and in extracurricular activities, where there were no discernible
restraints that were imposed on any of us.
And the other part of the experience that was so meaningful to me is that living
on a campus of an all-woman's college meant that I really made some of the best
friends I could have ever made in my life, because during the week, our
attention was not diverted by, you know, the young men nearby, or the dating or
social scene. So I think it had both an academic and a social effect for the
positive.
CRYER:
AND THEN WHAT THEN ATTRACTED YOU TO THE FIELD OF LAW?
CLINTON: I think that my interest in law grew out of my activism as a student while at
Wellesley College. It was the time of the civil rights movement in the United
States. There was a rather significant, growing protest against the Vietnam
War. It was a time when there was a heightened concern about the poor in our
country.
All of those issues were ones that were of significance to me personally, and I
was active on campus regarding various projects that I undertook with respect to
civil rights, or tutoring children, things like that. And I believed that going
to law school at that time was a way of learning how our political and legal.
system worked, so that I could be a more effective advocate on behalf of the
causes I believed in.
CRYER:
YOUR FIRST JOB OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WAS WITH THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND. WHAT DID
YOU LEARN ABOUT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES?
INTON: That's right. My first job, in 1973, after I graduated from Yale, was as a
staff attorney, working for the Children's Defense Fund. I had previously,
during the summers in law school, worked for the predecessor organization called
the Washington Research Project, which was devoted to the alleviation of poverty
and the political participation of the poor. But from that grew the Children's
Defense Fund, and its founder, Marian Edelman, both because she had three
children of her own, and because of her belief that in order to break the cycle
of poverty and to provide better opportunities for our citizens, one needed to
focus on children.
I had been interested in children's issues ever since I was a child, but
certainly in a more concentrated way starting in college, and then going on in
law school. When I went to work for the Children's Defense Fund, one of the
very first projects I was assigned to concerned the numbers of children who were
not attending school for various reasons. And we actually went door to door in
several communities trying to determine why children were out of school.
And I learned early on that there is a very big problem in many of our
communities in translating into action at the family level, at the neighborhood
level, the kinds of goals that we all hold for our children here in America. We
all want our children to be healthy. We all want them to be well-educated, to
be safe, to have stable environments. But so often, those desires on the part
of our society are not translated into action for a myriad of reasons.
And it convinced me, as I have remained convinced, that children are the
products of the values of both their families and the larger society, and
parents and family members as well as others within our society, whether they be
police officers, or teachers, or youth workers, or clergy, or business owners
all have at least indirect responsibility for the well-being of our children.
And I feel very strongly about the responsibility we all hold, and have
continued to try to fulfill that in my own life, and work to help others do as
well.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, YOU THEN MOVED ON TO ARKANSAS, WHERE YOU WERE A PROFESSOR, A
PARTNER IN A PROMINENT LAW FIRM, A MOTHER, AND A WOMAN IN ACTIVE POLITICAL LIFE.
WHAT INSIGHTS DID YOU GAIN ON THE PROBLEMS WOMEN FACE DURING YOUR ARKANSAS DAYS?
CLINTON: Well, I don't know that if I really gained any new insights. I think that many
of the impressions I had acquired over the years in my own schooling and my
various jobs, as well as my involvement in public life, were confirmed in
Arkansas, that although our country has tremendous opportunities for all of its
people, including all of our women, there are still obstacles, both internally
and externally, to women achieving their own full potential and defining their
lives according to the choices that they believe are right for them.
so, in Arkansas, I met some extraordinary women, who had overcome rather
significant obstacles to achieve success both in their personal lives as well as
in the world of work, or in public life, but I saw firsthand, as I see still
around our country, the difficulties that women confront in being able to obtain
respect for the choices they make, whether it be a choice to become a full-time
wife and mother, to be a full-time career professional without family
responsibilities, or whether, as with most of us, the choice is to try to have a
family and to enjoy the experiences and obligations of family life, but also to
participate, either by necessity or because of a particular calling, in the
world of work.
so much of what I have seen, I have seen throughout my life, including during my
years in Arkansas.
YER:
APART FROM YOUR OBVIOUS PUBLIC PROMINENCE, HOW HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN DIFFERENT FROM
YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE?
CLINTON: Well, that's a good question, particularly for women of my generation, because
many of our mothers, coming out of the experience of the Great Depression and
the Second World War, sought with all their heart, mind and soul, to provide the
best possible environment for their own children, and to encourage their
children, as my mother did for my brothers and myself, to get the best possible
education and to be able to feel and be well-equipped to make choices that were
responsible in one's adult life.
My mother never graduated from any college. She is an extraordinarily bright
and well-educated person, but she never had the opportunities through her own
upbringing that she and my father made sure I and my brothers enjoyed.
She also was very encouraging of me to not only attend college, but to think
about what I could do that would make my own life fulfilling, and to be as
supportive as she could be of choices that were very different from hers. So in
many respects, she equipped me to be ab)- to make the kinds of decisions that I
have made throughout my adult life, even though they were not within her own
direct experience.
CRYER:
HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS?
CLINTON: I don't have any idea, except I hope that she will feel confident enough, and
well-prepared enough, that whatever she chooses to do, she will feel it is the
right choice for her. I do anticipate that she will attend and graduate from
college, but after that, I believe it is hard to predict. But I trust that she
will feel ready to make whatever decisions she chooses.
CRYER:
YOUR OWN LIFE REFLECTS THE EMERGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN AMERICAN SOCIETY OVER THE
PAST FEW DECADES. IN YOUR CAREER, DO YOU FEEL YOU FACED DISCRIMINATION?
CLINTON: Well, I think that I have certainly encountered instances in which I and other
women in positions comparable to mine were not treated, perhaps as they would
have been had they been men attempting to achieve the same goals. I personally
have seen and experienced the surprise, the shock, the disbelief, the
puzzlement, on the part of people that I would want to be a lawyer, for example,
want to be a trial lawyer. That I would be involved in public life. That I
would take on rather daunting responsibilities, like education or health care
reform.
And some of it I have not seen so much as discrimination as just a real
difficulty on the part of people to expand their own horizons and get beyond
their own experiences to break stereotypes about what is or is not appropriate
activity on the part of a woman.
So I certainly am aware of what has occurred in the past, and which I still see,
from time to time, with respect to discrimination. But I think our biggest
barriers, both internally as women and externally in society is to be able to
clear the field so that all women can make the choices that are right for them.
MARLOW: A REMINDER NOW THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO "THE WORLD OF WOMEN," A SERIES OF
CONVERSATIONS WITH INFLUENTIAL WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THEIR LIFE AND
TIMES. WITH US TODAY IS MRS. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. HERE AGAIN IS THE HOST OF THE PROGRAM, SHELLY CRYER.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE TWO OR THREE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING
WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES?
CLINTON: I think that the economy and the capacity of the economy to not only produce
jobs, which we have proven, in the last two-and-a-half years, starting with my
husband's economic policy in 1993, the economy can do; it can produce jobs --
now more than 6.7 million new jobs.
But unfortunately, income and the benefits that used to be taken for granted
along with jobs have not kept pace. And trying to insure that every individual,
and particularly ever family, has a decent standard of living in the face of
downsizing and global economic competition is, I believe, the principal problem
confronting both men and women.
It's particularly important for women, because many women are their sole
support, either individually, or as mothers of children. And many other women
are in the work force, not out of choice, but because it takes two incomes in
today's economy to produce a decent standard of living for a family. There is
so much stress that is related to the economic stress that Americans are living
with, and that stress falls particularly heavily on women in America today.
So first, I would continue tc argue, as my husband has, that we have to continue
to work as hard as we know how to make our economy produce not only jobs, but
jobs with good incomes and benefits. Secondly, the stresses that arise from
family life and the economic pressures on families today is one issue that I
think affects women much more disproportionately even than men, because women
are still, despite their entry into the job market and the work place, primarily
responsible for their families. And many women are working very long days.
It's almost as though we've turned the clock back and they're back to a kind of
subsistence day, in which they rise early to prepare their children, and if they
have a husband, their husband for the work day. They, themselves, go to work.
They come home exhausted. They then prepare meals. They then do washing and
cleaning, and they fall into bed somewhere between 11:00 and midnight only to
start the cycle over again at dawn.
So I know, from my conversations with women around our country, that these
family stresses, which are related to the economy, are ones that weigh very
heavily on women. And I think the final thing I would say is that, although
women now have far more opportunities than certainly our mothers or our
grandmothers ever dreamed of, there are still barriers to women's full
participation, to women's being -- to women being respected for the choices that
they make.
I would like to move beyond the stereotypes, whether they are gender related, or
racially related, that would free up all of our people to live up to their God-
given potential. And that's particularly important for women, because women
still lag behind in confidence and in a feeling that they are going to be able
to make good, responsible choices, and be self-sufficient.
so the economy, the stress level in American life, and the remaining obstacles
to women's full participation, are three issues that I think are still
unresolved for us.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, YOU'VE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM AN EXTENSIVE TRIP THROUGH SOUTH
ASIA. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE RELEVANCE OF WOMEN'S STRUGGLE ABROAD TO THE PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES?
CLINTON: I think that's a wonderful question, because I certainly felt that trip was a
personal highlight for both me and my daughter who accompanied me. And in part
it was because I saw first hand the struggles of both men and women to achieve
democracy and to increase prosperity for their countries.
But I was particularly impressed by the various project I visited, which
demonstrated the roles that women were assuming to take some control over their
own lives. To seek out and obtain education for themselves or for,
particularly, their daughters. To become borrowers from various enterprises,
like SEWA in India, or the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, so that they could create
income for themselves and their families. To become participants in the
political process.
And what I took away from that was not only extraordinary admiration for the
courage that I saw women exhibiting in all the countries that I visited, but a
sense that we in the United States have both much to be grateful for because of
the blessings we have here in our country, and also much work to be done in
order for us to realize our potential.
It is humbling to shake the hands, as I did, of women leaders in those countries
who had paid the ultimate price for democracy, whose husbands or fathers or
brothers or sons -- or mothers -- had been assassinated, who themselves had been
imprisoned, or exiled, or tortured. None of the women I know in this country
have paid that kind of price for their political beliefs, for their commitment
to democracy, and yet we take for granted so much of what we have.
Many women don't even feel connected to the electoral process in our country.
They don't feel they can make a difference. And certainly, when I saw first
hand some of the poorest women in the world taking their own lives in hand so
that they could make a better future for themselves, it made me want to redouble
my efforts to reach as many American women as I could with the challenge that
they, too, can make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their
communities, and their nation.
So it was a very invigorating trip for me, with many, many lessons, and I hope
many ideas about what we can do here, at home.
CRYER:
HOW DID TRAVELING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER ALTER THE EXPERIENCE OF THE TRIP FOR YOU?
LINTON: Well, it was just the very best trip I have ever had, because having her with me
enabled me to experience doubly everything we were seeing and doing. Firsthand,
of course, but through her eyes. And she had so much curiosity about the places
we visited, and the people we met that it kept everything fresh and so exciting
-- not only for me, but I think others on the trip as well.
At one point, I said I wished I could have had every American teenager with me
on that trip, because it certainly opened her eyes, and gave her a new
appreciation, both of her opportunities here in this country, but also of her
responsibilities because of those opportunities.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN WORKING TO DEVELOP HEALTH CARE POLICY
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HEADED THE PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON NATIONAL HEALTH
CARE REFORM. THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC DEBATES, YOU SERVED AS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS so IMPORTANT TO
WOMEN?
CLINTON: Well, I think for several reasons. It is part of a woman's health. It is part
of the cycle of development and life, and it is an important part of the well-
being of women. It is also important that women know as much as possible about
reproductive health so that they can make good decisions about their own
fertility and about any problems that they might encounter.
I feel very strongly that information is power, and information about one's
health, about healthy development, whether it is reproductive health or any
other part of the life cycle, should be made available as broadly and deeply as
possible. And one of the goals we had for health-care reform was to make
available information about reproductive health more widely than it is now, so
that we would have people, particularly women, making good, responsible
decisions. And I still think that that is in, not only the interests of women,
but in the interests of our entire society.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, WE ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING THE UNITED NATIONS FOURTH WORLD
CONFERENCE ON WOMEN. WHAT DO YOU HOPE WILL COME OUT OF THIS CONFERENCE?
CLINTON: I would very much like to see some kind of consensus as to those steps which
could be taken by women anywhere in the world that would promote a better
quality of life. I would like to see the United Nations conference come down
very strongly in favor of educational opportunities for women, of very broadly
accessible health care services for women, of the full political participation
of women, of the extension of credit -- including micro-credit and more
extensive lending to women in every country.
The problems between countries with relation to their stage of development are
such that different strategies have to be employed. But I think there is a
fundamental need to recommit ourselves to the basic human rights of all women,
to the advancement of an agenda of health, education, welfare, and political
participation, as well as economic self-sufficiency that, taken in slightly
different approaches, can be applied to women throughout the world.
I hope we do not see any ideological battles, any rhetorical battles between
people representing their nations, or different points of view, that detract
from our common commitment to advancing the cause of women's development around
the world. And I'm hopeful that we will see something emerge that could be used
as an organizing tool to bring about the changes that I think the vast majority
of people in the world could agree need to be undertaken.
CRYER:
ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT IS LEVELED AGAINST WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENTS IN
GENERAL, AND THE BEIJING CONFERENCE IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
UNDERMINES FAMILIES. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THIS TYPE OF CRITICISM?
CLINTON: Well, I think the criticism is ideologically based, but not based in fact. If
one looks at the quality of life in countries where women are given the tools of
opportunity, there is a higher standard of living, people are healthier, indices
of misery in terms of absolute poverty or infant mortality or disease are lower.
I think the evidence speaks for itself, that the best investment any nation can
make is in the education and well-being of its women and girls.
Now, I know that there are different cultural attitudes with respect to the
appropriate role women should play in particular societies, but I find it very -
hard to accept that providing decent health care, educational opportunity, some
basis for self-sufficiency in the case of need could ever be considered
undermining a family when we know that women do most of the work in the world,
have the responsibility for raising children, and are the backbone of the vast
majority of families throughout the world. Families will be better off when
women are better off, and I think that should be the message of the Beijing.
Conference.
Wavens
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, WE HAVE JUST ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT. YOU SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL FOR
MILLIONS OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD. WHO HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT
ROLE MODELS?
'LINTON: Well, I learn about new role models every day. Certainly, my own mother and the
women who taught me and helped me along my own life's path are my primary role
models, but I think a lot, for example, living in the White House, of Eleanor
Roosevelt, who broke new ground and never let anyone forget that it is a
privilege to be able to serve people, and that women have a particular
opportunity to try to speak out on behalf on those amongst us who are
vulnerable.
One of Mrs. Roosevelt's favorite sayings about political action was that she
thought part of the role of a person in public life should be to comfort the
afflicted and to afflict the comfortable, and I think that made a lot of sense
in her time, and it makes sense today. All of us can do better to further the
goals of a humane and just society, and that's what I hope we do.
CRYER:
MRS. CLINTON, THANK YOU so MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
MARLOW: YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO "THE WORLD OF WOMEN," A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS WITH
INFLUENTIAL WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THEIR LIFE AND TIMES. WITH US TODAY
HAS BEEN MRS. HILLARY RODHMAN CLINTON, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. "THE WORLD OF WOMEN" WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE POPULATION REFERENCE
BUREAU IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE HOST FOR THE PROGRAM IS SHELLY CRYER. THIS IS
MIKE MARLOW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "THE WORLD OF WOMEN."
##
From Cairo to Copenhagen and Beijing:
Themes and Emphases
The road that began in Rio and continued in Vienna wends
its way to Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing in the next 18
months. Although each major world event held in these five
cities is singular, common threads are evident. Each event
requires independent analysis and public affairs treatment, yet
the commonalities also merit emphasis in information and
exchange activities, e.g.:
o
Supporting Sustainable Development (highlighted at the
1992 Rio International Conference on Environment and
Development, particularly in "Agenda 21.")
Centrally involves the sustainable use of natural resources
and protection of the global ecology to promote the well-being
of future generations. Sustainable development also involves
combatting poverty, reducing wasteful consumption, improving
urban conditions.
Democratic governance, education and public awareness are
necessary for sustainable development, as is the full and equal
participation of all relevant groups, including women,
youth, indigenous people and their communities,
non-governmental organizations, farmers, local authorities,
trade unions, business and industry and the science and
technology community." " (Agenda 21)
o
Advancing Human Rights and Democratization
(Re-confirming the Vienna 1993 World Conference on Human
Rights.)
The universality of basic human rights was confirmed in the
Vienna document as well a3 recognition of the importance of
democratic institutions and the importance of development.
O
Building Global Consensus and a Comprehensive Plan of
Action regarding Population and Development (The goal of the
September 5-13 International Conference on Population and
Development in Cairo.)
Involves broadening family planning services, improved
health care, particularly for women and children, equal
education, empowerment of women and equal economic opportunity,
greater involvement of men in family choices and
responsibilities, and greater involvement of women in designing
and carrying out sustainable development strategies and
programs. As Under Secretary of State Tim Wirth said recently,
"
At Cairo, we can forge the necessary consensus around the
goals of human rights, gender equality, environmental
protection, economic and social justice
(March 30 speech.)
-2-
o
Alleviating and Reducing Poverity, Expanding
Employment and Enhancing Social Integration (Goals of the March
1995 Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development.)
These three mutually related goals rest on the convergence
of economics, sustainable development strategies and social and
humanitarian goals. Seeks to free the creative energy and
strengths of individuals and communities, as stated in an
early U.S. statement on the Summit:
Whether in our
domestic programs or in our foreign aid programs, the emphasis
now is on building indigenous capacity, enhancing
participation, decentralization, and the empowerment of
communities and individuals."
o
Fostering the Advancement of Women and Their
Contribution to Global Peace, Prosperity and Human Freedom
(the central concern of the Fourth World COnference on Women:
Action for Equality, Development and Peace," in Beijing in
September, 1995.)
Addressing the full range of concerns that relate to the
empowerment of women in social, political and economic terms,
the Beijing Conference deals directly with the unifying thread
of the four preceding major global events, both retrospectively
and in setting an agenda and goals for future action. "What I
would like to emphasize is the fact that advancing the roles
and rights of women is a critical common thread that must be
woven through the recommendaitons and implementation of our
goals from Rio, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing.
Achievement of gender equality is essential in its own right.
But I also believe that sustainable development cannot be
realized without the full engagement and complete empowerment
of women. (Tim Wirth March 30 speech:)
U.N. DECADE FOR WOMEN: EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
The General Assembly endorsed the Mexico City Plan of Action in
December, 1975 and proclaimed 1976-1985 as the U.N. Decade for
Women: Equality, Development and Peace. It called for a
mid-decade conference in 1980 and added three sub-themes:
employment, health, and education.
During the first half of the decade the International Research
and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
and the U.N. Voluntary Fund for the Decade of Women were
created. Now called UNIFEM, the latter has an annual budget of
about $12 million and provides direct financial and technical
support to low income women's groups in developing countries.
The most widely quoted statistics to come out of the research
conducted during the first half of the decade contained the
ILO's sobering, yet galvanizing, revelations that:
While women represent 50% of the world population and
one-third of the official labor force, they perform nearly
two-thirds of all working hours, receive only one-tenth of
the world income and own less than 1% of world property.
The mid-decade conference in 1980 in Copenhagen drew 1,326
delegates from 145 states. Another 8,000 women attended the
NGO Forum. The Copenhagen conference adopted A World Programme
of Action. It called for women's participation in politics and
decision-making, and for the elimination of discrimination in
law and policy. It encouraged governments and international
institutions to conduct more research and to collect gender
disaggragated data.
The Decade for Women ended with the U.N. World Conference to
Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations
Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace held in
Nairobi, Kenya. The conference drew 1,400 delegates from 157
nations. The NGO Forum drew an estimated 14,000, 60% of them
women from developing countries.
The conference adopted a plan of action for 1986 - 2000, the
Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women.
The Strategies validated the goals and objectives of the
earlier Mexico City and Copenhagen documents, and indicated
concrete measures to overcome obstacles to their achievement,
especially in light of the worsening world economic situation
that was slowing women's advancement as well as setting them
back.
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
Conference Issue Papers /
Negotiation Instructions
Divider Title:
HUMAN RIGHTS TERMINOLOGY IN
THE PLATFORM FOR ACTION
Note: The following are some terms commonly used is discussing
human rights as well as some language which is bracketed in the
draft Platform because it alters the commonly accepted language
in a way which may undermine human rights. If you have further
questions, please ask a member of the human rights team.
The Universal Nature of Human Rights
--The U.S. believes that the words "human rights" should
generally not be preceded by qualifiers such as "universal,"
"universally recognized," "international," or "internationally
recognized." In general, these terms could be used by some to
limit the universality of human rights, which was re-affirmed
in Vienna. For example, a reference to "all universal human
rights," could be misinterpreted to imply that some human
rights are NOT universal--perhaps because they are not
universally respected or applied.
--Generally, if necessary to have a qualifier, the term
"internationally recognized" would be preferable to "universal"
because the rights referred to are, in fact, recognized in
international declarations or conventions, even if not all
countries uphold human rights or have signed on to a given
convention.
--It is because of these kinds of problems that the US
generally prefers to refer simply to "human rights" or "human
rights and fundamental freedoms." That is the language of the
Universal Declaration and the UN Charter.
--Our goal is to ensure that seemingly minor word changes do
not open the door for those who do not uphold rights to assert
that they have no obligation to do so. Keeping the language
simply "human rights" is generally the best.
"Basic" Human Rights
--As with the term "universal," the U.S. prefers to avoid
describing any human right as a "basic" human right, simply
because it may raise the issue of which human rights are
"basic" and which are not.
Human Dignity VS, the "Innate" Dignity of Women
--The concept of human dignity is elemental to the concepts of
human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
the UN Charter assert "faith in fundamental human rights, in
the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal
rights of men and women
"
--In the Platform for Action, however, there were proposals to
discuss the "innate dignity of women.' The US does not support
use of this phrase because it can be seen to imply a different
(and therefore unequal) kind of dignity for women. The US
position is to refer always to "human dignity" or "the dignity
and worth of the human person."
Equality VS. Equity
As noted above, the concept of "equality between men and
women" was included in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and is one of the themes of the Fourth World Conference
on women.
--However, there were efforts to introduce terminology which
would undermine this concept.
-Iran proposed that the document refer in many places to the
need for "equity" rather than or in addition to "equality."
Iran proposed this language based on its view that men and
women have defined roles which are not based on equality
between the sexes. It believes that discrimination on the
basis of sex is and can be "equitable." The US strongly
believes that "equality" should be used alone in most cases,
especially when referring to legal equality or equal
opportunity.
-Another delegation sought to include terminology referring to
the "fundamental" equality between men and women. Again, the
US believes that this implies that women and men are only equal
within their own spheres. We support use of simply the word
"equality."
The Human Rights of Women VS, Women's Human Rights
--In talking about human rights, the US and all other
delegations have agreed that the preferred terminology is "the
human rights of women" rather than "women's human rights."
This formulation makes clear that the human rights under
discussion are not particular to women, but are universal in
nature.
Human Rights Terminology
Drafted by: G/CS: MTCurtin
SEC3 173 8/21/95 x7-3129
Cleared by: L/HRR: DStewart
DRL/MLA:THushek
08 01:95 FRI 11:32 FAI 202 546 7142
A. I. USA D.C.
002
AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
USA
304 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Washington DC 20003
Phone (202)544-0200 Fax (202)546-7142
September 1, 1995
The First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
Office of the First Lady
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mrs. Clinton:
No one who attends the Fourth UN World Conference on Women
will have a louder or more influential voice than you will.
As First Lady of the United States, you will be listened to
closely by both governments and the worldwide NGO community.
This means that should you fail to address several critical
issues, your silence will speak volumes, as well. We beg you
not to remain silent on the state of women's human rights
everywhere in the world.
If you are to be a forceful advocate for the rights of
women, you must be prepared to name the governments which
violato women's rights or which fail to take action to
prevent the full range of abuses against women. We
understand that your primary task is to address women's
rights issues and not China's overall human rights record.
But you cannot afford to be silent on the issue of
violations against Chinese and Tibetan women. The government
of China could Interpret your silence as condoning the
brutal treatment of women such as its forced abortion and
sterilization program.
Furthermore, during the preparation for the conference, the
Chinese government conducted "Public Order" sweeps, which
included sixteen executions and numerous detentions.
One
such case of detention is Ding Zilin, a university professor
and her husband Jiang Peikun. They were accused of "economic
irregularities". We have adopted them as Prisoners of
Conscience, and are demanding their immediate and
unconditional release. Please add your voice to this appeal.
When people are executed or imprisoned so that a UN
conference can take place, it should not be the
responsibility of Amnesty International and other human
rights groups alone to protest. You must not remain mute
when victims of human rights violations have paid such a
price.
Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working impartially for the release of all prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials for
political prisoners and an end to torture and executions. It is funded by donations from its members and supporters throughout the world.
CHAIR. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary W. Gray
DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON OFFICE
William F. Schulz
James O'Dea
08-01/95 FRI 11:33 FAI 202 546 7142
A. 1. USA D.C.
003
2
If this conference is to be a success, it is imperative that
governments leave Beijing having committed to take real and
measurable action to improve the human rights of women.
Specifically, we need your voice to demand that governments
conclude the conference with:
- a commitment to reaffirm and build on their previous
commitments to the universality and indivisibility of the
human rights of women.
women. - a commitment to take action on state violence against
- a commitment to tackle human rights violations of women in
armed conflict.
- a commitment to fulfill their international obligations to
end human rights violations occurring in the private sphere
and in communities.
- a commitment to protect women activists.
cndeavors. Speak, Mrs. Clinton, speak! We wish you success in these
Sincerely,
willia F. Schulz
William F. Schulz
Executive Director
ID:
MHK
April 7, 1995 11:30AM
Gender Talking Points for US Delegation
Gender is a commonly used sociological term
that has been conventionally used in UN documents since the
1970's. The term "gender" is not defined in the current draft
documents of the CSW or FWCW because it is used in its
conventional usage.
Gender signifies that the socio-economic impacts being
discussed are evaluated relative to their differing effects on
men and women.
Within the Platform for Action, "gender" is used in analyzing
eocio-economic data, with gender sensitivity training for
persons assisting girls who have been victims of abuse and
violence, gendor balance when discussing male/female
representation on appointed committees, etc.
We have heard that some text, not connected with the CSW or
the FWCW, has defined the term "gender" to include sexual
orientation. We have not seen this text. Such a definition
is not the way the term is used in the CSW/FWCW text. This is
not the way the USG is using the term "gender" in the text.
We support the decision of the Chair made on April 6 that a
blanket bracketing of "gender" throughout the text is not a
productive way to move the document forward.
Our understanding is that where a working group put brackets
on specific uses of gender, these brackets will romain.
On April 7, the Bureau decided to set up an
ambassadorial-level contact group to begin work no later than
May 15 in New York to address the use of "gender" in the
CSW/FWCW text. The Ambassador from Namibia will chair it.
United States Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Junc 6, 1995
Fourth World Conference on Women
Gender Consultations
The National Review article contains false information.
The US is not seeking to redefine gender in any way. When
the issue of gender was first raised at the UN, the State
Department went on record to support the conventional and
traditional usage of the word.
No country at the UN is seeking to redefine the term gender
Lo encompass five genders.
During the March/April 1995 Preparatory Conference for the
UN's upcoming Fourth World Conference on Women, Honduras
with support from Guatemala and Benin and later several
other delegations, sought clarification of the word's
meaning apparently based on false rumors circulating that
this commonly-used word was somehow a cover for promoting a
radical notion of "five genders.
The US position is that gendor is a commonly used term in
sociological analysis that has been conventionally used in
UN documents since the 1970s. In ito adjectival form, it
is commonly paired with other words such as
gender-disaggregated statistics, gender analysis, and
gender gap. When used in this manner, it signifies that
the soclo-economic action or policies under discussion are
being evaluated relative to their differing impacts on men
and women. These are analytical constructs that enable
policymakers to understand that practices or policy actions
may impact differently on men and women. Common uses for
such analyses include the demonstration of salary
differentials between men and women or studying longevity
differences.
o
The discussion of the word gender is not a North/South
issue. One of the first countries to object to Honduras'
intervention was Indonesia, who made a detailed objection
citing its common usage within the UN system and
internationally.
0
In May, there were two meetings of a UN-based contact group
of interested delegate to resolve the issue.
Chaired by Selma Ashipala of Namibia, the group reached
consensus (with the exception of Guatemala) and adopted the
attached statement on May 31.
U.S. Department of State
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
CONSENSUS ON
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND UNSAFE ABORTION
The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was a major success, with
180 nations endorsing a comprehensive new strategy, embodied in the Program of Action, for
stabilizing world population growth and promoting sustainable development. At the ICPD, held in
Cairo last September, governmental and non-governmental participants worked together to craft a
Program of Action which, among other things, calls for universal access to good quality
reproductive health care services, including safe, effective, voluntary family planning; the
empowerment of women and their full involvement in all aspects of population programs and
policies; expanded access to education and health care services; increased responsibility of men in
sexual and reproductive health and childrearing; and reduction of wasteful resource consumption.
The ICPD was historic for two principal reasons: the new direction of population policies, focusing
on people's needs -- rather than simply demographic targets; and consensus on a broad range of
difficult issues, in particular, defining reproductive health and reproductive rights and how to
address the public health issue of unsafe abortions, which constitute nearly half of the 50 to 60
million abortions performed each year around the world. Reaching consensus on these issues
required thorough and considered discussions to ensure that the interests and concerns of all
nations were addressed.
No new rights were created at the ICPD. No country is required to change its laws. The Program
of Action is a template for how to have successful programs which create the circumstances in
which voluntary decisions about family size can be made.
The ICPD Program of Action contains 16 chapters addressing components of population related
development policies: Preamble; Principles; Interrelationships Between Population, Sustained
Economic Growth and Sustainable Development; Gender Equality, Equity and Empowerment of
Women; The Family, Its Roles, Rights, Composition and Structure; Population Growth and
Structure; Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health; Health, Morbidity and Mortality;
Population Distribution, Urbanization and Internal Migration; International Migration; Population,
Development and Education; Technology, Research and Development; National Action;
International Cooperation; Partnership with the Non-Governmental Sector; and Follow-up to the
Conference.
Text from the ICPD Program of Action
Principles for Implementation
Chapter II introduction: The implementation of the recommendations contained in the Program of Action is
the sovereign right of each country, consistent with national laws and development priorities, with full respect
for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds of its people, and in conformity with
universally recognized International human rights.
Reproductive Health
7.2: Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters related to the reproductive system and to its functions and
processes. Reproductive health therefore Implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life
and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide If, when and how often to do so.
Implicit in this last condition are the right of men and women to be Informed and to have access to safe,
effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of
their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate
health-care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples
with the best chance of having a healthy infant. In line with the above definition of reproductive health,
reproductive health care is defined as the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to
reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes
sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely
counseling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases.
Note: After achieving consensus on this language, the terms reproductive and sexual health are used where
appropriate in the Program of Action.
because such factors as: Inadequate levels of knowledge about human sexuality and Inappropriate or poor- people
quality reproductive health Information and services; the prevalence of hioh McL
a of positive and responsible way with their sexuality Reproductive health eludes many of the world to
in relations and particularly to meeting the educational and service needs of adolescents to enable them deal
commitment, full attention should be given to the promotion of mutually respectful and equitable gender
these rights for all people should be the fundamental basis for government- and community-supported
policies and programs In the area of reproductive health, including family planning As part of their
In the exercise of this right, they should take Into account the needs of their living and future
children and their responsibilities towal the community. The promotion of the responsible exercise of
documents. concerning reproduction free of discrimination coercion and violence as expressed in human rights
the rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and Individuals to decide freely and responsibly
number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the Information and means to do and the
right to decisions attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also Includes their right so, to make
7.3 Bearing in mind the above definition, reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already
recognized in national laws, International human rights documents and other consensus documents. These
Reproductive Rights
Reproductive Rights
7.3: Bearing in mind the above definition, reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already
recognized in national laws, International human rights documents and other consensus documents. These
rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and Individuals to decide freely and responsibly
the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the Information and means to do so, and the
right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes their right to make
decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights
documents. In the exercise of this right, they should take into account the needs of their living and future
children and their responsibilities towards the community. The promotion of the responsible exercise of
these rights for all people should be the fundamental basis for government- and community-supported
policies and programs In the area of reproductive health, Including family planning. As part of their
commitment, full attention should be given to the promotion of mutually respectful and equitable gender
relations and particularly to meeting the educational and service needs of adolescents to enable them to deal
in a positive and responsible way with their sexuality. Reproductive health eludes many of the world's people
because of such factors 25: inadequate levels of knowledge about human sexuality and Inappropriate or poor-
quality reproductive health Information and services; the prevalence of high-risk sexual behavior;
discriminatory social practices; negative attitudes towards women and girls; and the limited power many
women and girls have over their sexual and reproductive lives. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable
because of their lack of Information and access to relevant services In most countries. Older women and men
have distinct reproductive and sexual health Issues which are often inadequately addressed.
Note: This is the only paragraph in the Program of Action which Includes the term reproductive rights.
Unsafe Abortion
8.25: In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning. All governments and
relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are urged to strengthen their commitment to
women's health, to deal with the health Impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern and to
reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and Improved family-planning services. Prevention of
unwanted pregnancies must always be given the highest priority and every attempt should be made to
eliminate the need for abortion. Women who have unwanted pregnancles should have ready access to
reliable Information and compassionate counseling. Any measures or changes related to abortion within the
health system can only be determined at the national or local level according to the national legislative
process. In circumstances where abortion Is not against the law, such abortion should be safe. In all cases,
women should have access to quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion.
Post-abortion counseling, education and family-planning services should be offered promptly, which will also
help to avoid repeat abortions.
Note: appropriate After in the achieving Program of consensus on Action. this language, the terms reproductive and sexual health are used where
Note: The only other references to abortion in the ICPD Program of Action are:
7.44a: To address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues, Including unwanted pregnancy, unsafe
abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, through the promotion of responsible and
healthy reproductive and sexual behavior, Including voluntary abstinence, and the provision of appropriate
services and counseling specifically suitable for that age group;
8.19: However, a significant proportion of the abortions carried out are self-Induced or otherwise unsafe,
leading to a large fraction of maternal deaths or to permanent injury to the women involved.
8.20a: To promote women's health and safe motherhood; to achieve a rapid and substantial reduction in
maternal morbidity and mortality and reduce the differences observed between developing and developed
countries and within countries. On the basis of a commitment to women's health and well-being, to reduce
greatly the number of deaths and morbidity from unsafe abortion
12.17: Since unsafe abortion is a major threat to the health and lives of women, research to understand
and better address the determinants and consequences of Induced abortion, including its effects on
subsequent fertility, reproductive and mental health and contraceptive practice, should be promoted, as well
as research on treatment of complications of abortion and post-abortion care.
13.14b: In the basic reproductive health services component - Information and routine services for
prenatal, normal and safe delivery and post-natal care; abortion (as specified In paragraph 8.25);
Information, education and communication about reproductive health, including sexually transmitted diseases,
human sexuality and responsible parenthood, and against harmful practices; adequate counseling; diagnosis
and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and other reproductive tract Infections, as feasible; prevention
of infertility and appropriate treatment, where feasible; and referrals, education and counseling services for
sexually transmitted diseases, Including HIV/AIDS, and for pregnancy and delivery complications.
1
unsafe abortion is defined as a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the
necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards or both (based on World Health
Organization, The Prevention and Management of Unsafe Abortion, Report of a Technical Working Group, Geneva,
April 1992 (WHO/MSM/92.5).
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF
ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)
"VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN DON'T JUST VICTIMIZE
INDIVIDUALS; THEY HOLD BACK WHOLE SOCIETIES GUARANTEEING HUMAN
RIGHTS IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE WITH RESPECT TO DOTII WOMEN AND MEN.
IT IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN MAKING WHOLE NATIONS STRONGER, FAIRER.
AND BETTER."
U.S. Secretary of State Warten Christopher
from an address in the World Conference on Human Righes, Vicnna, Austrin, 1993.
BACKGROUND
On December 18, 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimina-
tion of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Convention was
the culmination of more than thirty years of work by the United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women, a body established in 1946 to monitor the situation of women
world wide and to promote women's rights.
Until 1979, when the General Assembly adopted CEDAW. there was no legally hinding
convention that took an international view of a woman's rights within the family and
within the political, economic and social life of her country.
CURRENT STATUS
As of January 1994, 131 countries had ratified the Convention.
The United States was active in the drafting of the Convention and signed it July 17.
1980. It was transmitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in November of
1980. In the summer of 1990, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings
on the Convention. At that time, the State Department testified it was not prepared
with = legal analysis of the Convention to determine how it comports with U.S. law.
In the spring of 1993, a letter signed by sixty-eight members of the Senate was sent to
President Bill Clinton asking him to take the necessary steps to rarify CEDAW. In June
of 1993, Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced at the World Conference on
Human Rights in Vienna that the Administration would move on CEDAW and other
human rights treaties.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. CONTACT THE WORKING GROUP ON RATIFICATION OF
CEDAW, c/o AILEEN COOPER, B'NAI B'RITH WOMEN, 1828 L STREET, N.W., SUITE
250. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036. TELEPHONE (202) 657-1370
Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
has made public his destre to move CEDAW to the floor of the Senate for a vote as
soon as is feasible after receiving the State Department report.
Sixty-seven "yes" votes are required for the Senate to consent to ratification. Action by
the House of Representatives is not required for international treaty ratification.
IMPORTANCE OF U.S. RATIFICATION
The Convention reinforces the definition of discrimination against women so that
those who would discriminate on the basis of sex can no longer claim that no clear
definition exists.
Many women in other parts of the world lack basic legal rights or protection of their
rights under the law. The cry that women's rights are human rights originates from
consideration of the plight of these women. As a leading advocate for human rights,
the United States has an Interest in helping improve conditions for these women. Yet,
as one of the few nations that has failed to ratify the Women's Convention, the United
States compromises its credibility and persuasiveness as n force for human rights for
women. The fact that the United States was heavily involved in the drafting of
CEDAW also lends weight to its obligation to ratify.
Ratification of the Convention is called for in the concluding documents of the
Vienna/Helsinki agreements of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (CSCE). The United States was a signatory of CSCE and should comply with
its provisions.
U.S. ratification means that the United States can join the United Nations Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination (CEDAW), which monitors reports of progress
in treatment of women from the countries that have ratified CEDAW.
TREATY SYNTHESIS
ARTICLE 1 defines discrimination against women as any distinction or restriction made
on the basis of sex which has the effcct or purpose of impairing the recognition, enjoy.
ment or exercise of human rights.
ARTICLE 2 mandates States Parties to condemn discrimination in all its forms and w
and women.
ensure that national legal frameworks embody the principles of equality between men
ARTICLE 3 mandates ratifying countries to guarantee women their basic human rights.
equality. ARTICLE 4 directs ratifying countries to initiate special measures to accelerate women's
ARTICLE S states that family education should include a proper understanding of mater-
nity and that both men and women play a role in the upbringing of children.
ARTICLE 6 mandates ratifying countries to initiate measures that will suppress all
forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women through prostitution.
ARTICLE 7 outlines the rights of women in political and public life, including the
right to vote in elections, to participate in the formulation of government policy, to
hold office and to participate in non-governmental organizations concerned wich the
political life ofthe country.
ARTICLE 8 requires that women have the opportunity to represent their governments
at the international level.
ARTICLE 9 mandates that women will have equal rights to acquire, change or retain
their nationality and that of their children.
ARTICLE 10 outlines equal rights in career and vocational guidance, choice of cur.
ricula, scholarships and study grants, and continuing education.
ARTICLE 11 outlines equal rights in employment including equal opportunities, free
choice of employment and professional training, equal remuneration, health benefits,
and evaluation of work.
ARTICLE 12 mandates equal access to health care services.
ARTICLE 13 states that women shall have, on an equal basis with men, the following
rights. bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit and participation in
recreational activities, sports and all aspects of cultural life.
ARTICLE 14 focuses on the particular problems faced by rural women including
access to health care, access to training and education, and access to credit and loans.
ARTICLE 15 requires that women have equal treatment before the law including the
right to make contracts and be free to choose their residence and domicile.
ARTICLE 16 mandates that women have equal rights with men in matters relating to
family and marriage including the right to choose a spouse, and the right to ownership
of property.
ARTICLE 17 calls for the establishment of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which will evaluate progress made in
implementation of the Convention.
ARTICLE 10 establishes a schedule of reporting on progress by ratifying countries.
ARTICLE 19 establishes a term of two years for officers of CEDAW.
ARTICLE 20 establishes a cycle of meetings to review reports of ratifying countries.
ARTICLE 21 directs CEDAW to make general recommendations based on reports.
scope of their activities.
ARTICLE 22 allows for specialized agencies to submit reports that fall within the
ARTICLES 23 - 30 detail administration of the Convention.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ENDORSED THE CONVENTION
ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN
American Association of Retired Persons
National Council of Jewish Women
American Association of University Women
National Education Association
American Bar Association
National Federation of Business and
Americans for Democratic Action
Professional Women's Clubs
American Federation of Teachers
National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
American lewish Committee
National Hook-up of Black Women. Inc.
American Jewish Congress
National Ladies Auxiliary. Jewish War Veterans
American Medical Women's Association
National Jewish Community Relations
American Nurses Association
Advisory Council
American Psychiatric Association
Narional 1 swyees Guild
American Veterans Committee
National Organization For Women (NOW)
Amit Women
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
Amnesty International
National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is
Anti-Defamation League of B'onai B'rith
of the United States
Association for Women in Psychology
National Women's Conference Committee
Association for Women in Science
National Women's Political Caucus
Black Women's Agenda
National Women's Studies Association
B'nai B'rirh International
Organisation of Pan-Asian American Women
B'nai B'rich Women
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Center for Pulicy Alternatives -
United Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
(Women's Economic Justice Center)
Society for the Advancement of Women's
Church Women United
Health Research
Committee For International
Soropcimist International
Human Rights Inquiry
Sc Joan's Alliance
Episcopal Church. USA
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Fivangelical Lutheran Church in America
Unicirian Universalist Association
Emunah Women
of Congregations
Federally Employed Women
United Church of Christ
Gray Panthers
United Methodist Church
Hadassah
United Nanons Association of the United States
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
United States Conference of Mayors
Leaderchip Conference on Civil Rights
Wider Opportunities for Women
League of Women Vocers of the USA
The Women Activist Fund, Inc.
Na'amat USA
Women for International Peace and Arbitration
National Assembly of Religious Women
Women's Action Alliance, Inc.
National Association of Commissions
Women's American ORT
for Women
Women's Branch, Union of Orthodox lewish
National Association of Social Workers
Congregations of America
National Association of Women Judges
Women's International League for
National Association of Women Lawyers
Peace and Freedom
National Black Women's Health Project
Women's International Public Health Network
National Board of the YWCA of the USA
Wumen's League for Conservative Judaism
National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Women's Legal Defense Fund
National Conference of Christians and Jews
Womens Action for New Directions
National Council of the Churches of Christ
World Federalist Association
in the USA
Zonta International
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON
September 13, 1994
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On behalf of the President, I am writing to convey the
Administration's strong support for prompt ratification of the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women.
As you are aware, this important human rights treaty has
been pending before the Senate since 1980, when the United
States signed it. Despite the expression of strong support for
ratification by a wide spectrum of the non-governmental
community at several Congressional hearings, prior
Administrations did not embrace the Convention. Consequently
the process of ratification has languished. Over 130 States
are now parties to the Convention; the United States is not.
It is time to remedy this situation.
The Clinton Administration has placed particular emphasis
on the protection and advancement of women's rights in the
international community. We strongly supported inclusion of
provisions on women's rights in the Vienna Declaration and
Program of Action adopted at the Second World Conference on
Human Rights last summer. We have taken steps to incorporate
women's concerns into U.S. assistance programs, refugee
programs, and population policy. We are funding projects
around the world to assist women's groups and promote women's
rights, ranging from expanding literacy (including literacy in
legal matters) and promoting health care to protecting refugee
women. Working closely with the United Nations, we are
promoting the systematic integration of women's issues into UN
programs, the training of UN personnel to ensure sensitivity
and competence in addressing gender-based abuses, and the
appointment of more women to positions of responsibility in the
UN. We strongly supported the appointment of a Special
Rapporteur on Violence Against Women at the last session of the
The Honorable
Claiborne Pell,
Chairman,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
United States Senate.
- 2 -
UN Human Rights Commission. Another top priority is to ensure
that the War Crimes Tribunal investigating the former
Yugoslavia addresses the systematic rape of women as an
instrument of ethnic cleansing.
Ratification of the Convention at this time would serve
both to underscore our commitment to women's rights and to
enhance our ability to protect and promote those rights
internationally. With the Fourth World Conference on Women
impending, it is in the U.S. interest to ratify this treaty
promptly, since we are the only country in the Western
Hemisphere which has not. In particular, participation by the
United States in the work of the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination Against Women, which oversees implementation
of the treaty by States Parties, would provide an opportunity
for the United States to play an even more active and effective
role in the articulation and advancement of the principles of
non-discrimination and equality for women around the world.
These principles find clear expression, of course, in our
own domestic law. At both the federal and state levels,
current U.S. law provides strong guarantees of equal
protection, as well as effective protections against
discriminatory conduct. As a result, our law largely complies
with the requirements of the Convention. Ratification can
therefore be premised on a relatively small number of
reservations, understandings and declarations. They are set
forth in the enclosed list.
To assist the Committee in its consideration of these
proposals, I am enclosing a detailed memorandum analyzing the
requirements of the Convention in relation to the relevant
provisions of current U.S. law and explaining the reasoning
behind each of the proposed reservations, understandings and
declarations.
On behalf of the President, I urge the Senate to give its
advice and consent to ratification of this important human
rights treaty.
Sincerely,
Warren.
Warren Christopher
Enclosures:
1. Proposed Reservations, Understandings and
Declarations
2. Analysis of the Convention