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UN – CSW [United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women]
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UN – CSW [United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women]
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Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration)
Melanne Verveer's Subject Files
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. bio
re: Linda Tarr-Whelan [Personally Identifiable Information] [partial]
02/01/1996
b(6)
(1 page)
002. memo
Patsy L. Thomasson to Melanne Verveer re: non-selection (3 pages)
01/02/1996
b(6)
003. bio
re: Linda Tarr-Whelan [Personally Identifiable Information] [partial]
02/01/1996
b(6)
[duplicate of 001] (1 page)
004. memo
Patsy L. Thomasson to Melanne Verveer re: non-selection [duplicate
01/02/1996
b(6)
of 002] (3 pages)
005. letter
To Hillary Rodham Clinton re: non-selection (2 pages)
11/09/1995
b(6)
006. bio
re: non-selection (1 page)
00/00/0000
b(6)
007. bio
re: non-selection (3 pages)
00/00/0000
b(6)
008. clipping
re: non-selection (3 pages)
09/03/1995
b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer
OA/Box Number: 20056
FOLDER TITLE:
UN- CSW [United Nations - Commission on the Status of Women]
2013-0534-S
rc1854
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
file
UN Commission
States 9 Wamer
mS7-ir'n
N.-
MS7
{
PHOTOCOPY
Department
Date
1/26/95
of State
Number of pages including cover sheet 14
TO: Kathy Hendvix
FROM: Sharon Katon
Office of Economic and
Social Affairs
Bureau of International
Organization Affairs
Phone 456-6266
Fax Phone 456.6244
Phone
202-647-1155
Fax Phone 202-647-4628
CC:
REMARKS:
Urgent
For your review
Reply ASAP
Please Comment
Please deliver to Kathy Herdrix
P.01
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:45
Excepted from the Classification Act by DL 420 8104 Gongross) P.L.34 Cas 200 (4).81 &
as
Standard form No. 75
1. Check one:
2. Official beadquarters:
4. Afency position'No.
Bray
February 1940
JIMG
Dept's
Field
How York
E
64
DS-110-USUN
&. Reason for submission:
5. C. 8. O. certification No.
UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
(a) If this position replaces another (I. . change of dutica
in an existing position), Identify such position by title,
allocation (service. and grade). and position number
POSITION DESCRIPTION
a
APR 20 351
(b) Other (specify)
5.
CLASSIFICATION ACTION
COPY
7. Date oscupation Cod received from C.8.O.
CLASS
ALLOCAMON nt
CLASS TITLE or POSITION
INITIALS
01/7/018
DATE
Service
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Grade
a. CNB Service Commission
AT
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2. Organizational time of pusition (if any)
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10. Name of employee w pacancy. specify V-I.
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11. agency. or establishment
a Third subsivision
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d. Fourth subdivision
U. S. Nission to the United Nations
Bound subdivision Feonome draine after
c. Fifth subdivision
Office of the U.S.Rep. on K60S00
in A curablete and accurate description of the duties and responsibilities of
as positive
12. This position is a complete and accurate description of the dutice and responsibilities of the
(Signature of immediate supervisor)
(Date)
(Signature of employee)
(Date)
Title:
14. Certification by head of bureau. division. deld office. or designated representative
is Certification by department. or establishment
their will APR20
(Signature)
(Date)
(Signature)
(Date)
Title: Personnel Officer, USUD
Title: Chief, Classification Branch
la Description of duries and responsibilities (See Ouide to Position Classifiers, Employees, and Supervisors for the Preparation of Position Descriptions, Standard Form No. 701
Serves as G WAB basis as United States Representative on the Commission on the
Status of Karry of the Economic and Social Council of the United Eations. The fune-
tions of the Commission are to prepare recommendations or reports to the Economic and
Social Council on promoting women's rights in political, evonomie, civil, social, and
educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on
urgent problems requiring inmediate attention & the field of women's rights with the
proposals to give effoot to such recommendations.
object of implementing the principle that men and world shall have equal rights. and devole
The Commission on the Status of Women consists of one representative from each
of 15 members of the United Nations solected by the Economic end Social Council.
P.02
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:46
5-64
2
Infeyes The
Agency:
Department of State
Position Title:
U. S. Representative to the Commission on the
Status of Women of the Economic and Social
Council
47500
Salary:
$33,505 (WAE)
KORY NE KANEVKT HORBAL KANCY FLACK REYAORDS
Present Incumbent:
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Koontz (Appointed 1/30/69)
Introduction:
The Commission on the Status of Women functions within the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
The Commission prepares recommendations and reports to the
Council on promoting Women's rights in political, economic, civil,
social, and educational fields, and on the development of women S
role in society and On family planning. The Commission's agenda-
has nt. times contained items which could be exploited for political
Datien:
Under instructions of the Secretary and the Department,
serves as 11. S. Representative on the Commission with responsi
bility for acting as U. S. spokesman at its meetings and report
ing to the Department san its activities. Maintains liaison with
counterpart representatives of other member governments For the
purpose of exchanging views and information and negotiating to
encourage and gain their support of U. S. policies and positions
As assigned, serves on special study groups in proparing reports
and recommendations for the Council.
1/ The Commission meets annually, either in New York or Geneva
Incumbent is paid on a "when octually employed" basis for a
period of approximately three weeks a year.
P.03
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:46
May LU, 02 10:17 US MISSION 10 100 UN WAINERS
3
-2-
(Position Title:
U. S. Representative to the Commission on the
Status of Women of the Economic and Social
Council)
(The U. S. Representative must have technical knowledgelin
the fields of women's rights, together with political astuteness.
The incumbent must be able to identify toms which could be
exploited for political gain, analyze them and report them to
the Department.)
END
Datages 3/5/82
T. Ir/ADm.
KATHY TEMPENSNI
thin USUN
H
P.04
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:47
I talked to John Mathiason this morning about preparations for
the upcoming CSW meeting (March 11-22) in New York.
There will be an EXTENDED BUREAU MEETING JANUARY 30. John
will notify (or has notified) Lucy Tamlyn.
-
This is an election year for the CSW, and the regional
groups will be encouraged to decide their candidates before
the CSW begins. The chair will come from Latin America and
the Caribbean, the rapporteur from Asia, and the
vice-chairs from WEOG, EE, and Africa.
ANGELA KING will be named the new Director of the Division
for the Advancement of Women. (It's a D-2 position.)
Angela is from Jamaica and is currently in the Office of
Resources Management. (We've worked with her over the past
few years to try to improve the status of women in the
Secretariat.)
On December 20, the SYG named ROSARIO GREEN as his high
level person responsible for implementing the Platform and
for mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout the UN
system. (I'll try to get the press release off the
Internet.)
The major agenda items for the 1996 CSW are:
- the priority themes;
- the optional protocol to CEDAW;
- follow-up to the FWCW.
The priority themes that will be discussed at the 1996
session are:
-
Equality: elimination of stereotyping of women in the
mass media;
-
Development: child and dependent care, including
sharing of work and family responsibilities;
-
Peace: education for peace.
Delegations will make one formal statement in the plenary
on follow-up to the FWCW. (The President's Interagency
Council on Women has already offered to draft this speech!)
The Secretariat is drafting three major reports:
-
on the SWMTP. This report will not be ready until
right before the CSW.
-
on the CSW's LONG-TERM PROGRAM OF WORK. Mathiason
hopes this draft will be ready in time to release at
the extended bureau meeting January 30.
-
an interim report on INTEGRATED FOLLOW-UP to the FWCW,
which would include recommendations on what the CSW,
UNIFEM, and INSTRAW should do to implement the
Platform. This report will try to recommend a win/win
solution on the question of the merger of UNIFEM and
INSTRAW.
The Secretariat is putting together these and other reports
and hopes to have some ready very soon. (I'll ask Lucy to
get me copies as soon as they are available.)
As a result of our meeting at Mohonk last October, the CSW
is going to try to change its method of work and be more
interactive. This means that its reports on the priority
themes will raise questions rather than provide answers and
that Member States will be encouraged to put experts on
their delegations who could speak about the priority
themes, follow-up to the FWCW, and the optional protocol to
CEDAW.
FYI, Evan Bloom called to say that one of the L interns is
interested in the CSW. Two areas that we could use her help
would be: the optional protocol to CEDAW and the priority
theme on the elimination of stereotyping of women in the mass
media.
Women then and Medea
funer Singe
FEB-01-1996 15:21
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.02/04
February 1, 1996
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you because we believe that the leadership the United States provides at the
United Nations on the Commission on the Status of Women is important to American
women and to those who, globally, look to the United States for the leadership our
government provided at the 4th World Conference on Women.
The CSW plays a critical role in promoting women's political, economic and social rights
at the United Nations. Post-Beijing, the CSW also has the potential to play an influential
role within the UN urging the systemwide gender reform called for in the Platform for
Action. Certainly, the CSW will continue to stimulate attention to the patterns of
discrimination against women and to promoting women's rights described in the Platform.
The person chosen to head the United States' delegation to the Commission on the Status
of Women should represent the best of what America wants. We feel the following basic
criteria are required:
substantive knowledge of women's issues;
demonstrated negotiating skills;
experience with the United Nations;
personal influence and confidence sufficient to command attention and form
consensus; and
access to and the trust of the NGO community.
These qualifications made a significant difference in the quality of our leadership in Beijing.
We urge you to choose a women to head the US delegation to the CSW to follow in the
traditions of Madeleine Albright and Geraldine Ferraro.
In addition, the U.S. delegation should be backed by a strong strategic and advisory staff
and assisted by the permanent participation of at least three NGO representatives. The
Fourth World Conference on Women was shaped largely by NGO women. In this post-
Beijing implementation period it will be essential to continue the vital link between
government and NGOs in the work of the CSW.
International Center for Research on Women
1717 Mossachusetts Ave. N.W., Suite 302
Washington, DC 20036 USA
Telephone: 202-797-0007
Fox: 202-797-0020
e-mail: [email protected]
FEB-01-1996 15:22
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.03/04
Mr. President, we applaud your serious search for the right candidate for the job. We stand
ready to assist you in this process and look forward to working with the head of delegation,
once chosen.
We stand by you and your commitment to the advancement of women and to the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Cordially,
jull Merrick Merrick
Jill Merrick
Director, Communications and Public Policy
International Center for Research on Women
Lea Browning
Rosa Briceño
Pat Rengel
Chief Legislative Council
Amnesty International/USA
Julianne Cartwright-Traylor
Human Rights Advocates, Inc.
Donna Shavlik
Director, Office of Women in Higher Education
The American Council on Education
Mahnaz Afkhami
Executive Director
Sisterhood is Global Institute
Barbara R. Arnwine
Nicole Etlhait
Association for Women in Development
Vicki Ferguson
Gender Analysis and Development Consultant
Lauren Gilbert
Director, Women and International Law Program
Washington College of Law
FEB-01-1996 15:22
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.04/04
Mary P. Haney
Member of Board and Executive Committee of
U.S. Committee for UNIFEM
Jodi Jacobson
Co-Director
Health and Development Policy Project
Patricia Krommer
Board Member
International Education Development, Inc.
Marjorie Lightman
Acting Executive Director
International League for Human Rights
Surita Sondosham
Executive Director
Equality Now
E. Maxina Ankrah
Senior Advisor, Women's Initiative
Family Health International/AIDSCAP
Suzanne Kindervatter
Interaction/Committee for Advancement of Women
Robin Phillips
Director, Women's Human Rights
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
JoAnn Lewis
Senior Vice President
Family Health International
Dorothy Thomas
Director, Women's Rights Project
Human Rights Watch
Joan Dunlop
President
International Women's Health Coalition
Janet Benshoof
President
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
TOTAL P.04
THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
RUTGERS
Thereso
Center for Women's Global Leadership
61
Douglass College
27 Clifton Avenue
New Brunswick
New Jersey 08903
USA
Phone: 1-908-932-8782
Fax: 1-908-932-1180
E-mail: [email protected]
February 21, 1996
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Honorary Chair, U.S. Delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women and Honorary
Chair of the President's Interagency Council on Women
The White House
Old Executive Office Building
Room 100
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mrs. Clinton:
We are writing to invite you or your representative to a meeting we have requested with the
President's appointee to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. We have
proposed March 1, from 1:30 to 3:30, at the offices of Human Rights Watch in New York (485
Fifth Avenue, between 41st and 42nd Streets). We know of your support and interest in
these matters, and hope you will be able to join this conversation.
Attached please find a letter to the President, describing our hopes for such a meeting. We
deeply appreciate your critical role in bringing women's human rights issues to public
attention, and insisting they remain solidly on the agenda of the Fourth World Conference on
Women. Your continued support and willingness to engage in this conversation will help
ensure a forceful commitment to women's human rights in implementing the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action. Please feel free to contact Charlotte Bunch at the
Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University (telephone: (908) 932-8782.
Fax: (908) 932-1180) with any questions or comments.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Sincerely,
Bella Abzug, Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Lea Browning
Charlotte Bunch, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Rhonda Copelon, International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, City University of New
York Law School
Kit Cosby, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the U.S.
Joan Dunlop, International Women's Health Coalition
Cathy Powell, member of the International Network of Women of Color North/South
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International/USA
Donna Sullivan, International Human Rights Law Group/Women in the Law Project
Dorothy Q. Thomas, Women's Rights Project of Human Rights Watch
On behalf of the Working Groups on Women's Human Rights based in Washington, DC and
New York/New Jersey
THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
RUTGERS
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Douglass College
27 Clifton Avenue
New Brunswick
New Jersey 08903
USA
Phone: 1-908-932-8782
Fax: 1-908-932-1180
E-mail: [email protected]
February 20, 1996
President William J. Clinton
The White House
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of a number of non-governmental organizations concerned with women's human
rights, we would like to invite the United States' representative to the UN Commission on the
Status of Women (CSW) and other relevant government officials to a meeting to discuss the
upcoming Commission on the Status of Women session (March 11-22). Since time is so
short, we have set aside March 1, from 1:30-3:30 at the offices of Human Rights Watch in
New York (485 Fifth Avenue, between 41st and 42nd Streets) for a meeting. If this date is
not convenient, we would be glad to arrange another appointment in the following week.
At the recent Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the United States played a
significant role in securing a Declaration and Platform for Action that advances the rights of
women. The upcoming session of the Commission on the Status of Women will lay the
groundwork for ensuring the implementation of the Platform into the 21st century. It is,
therefore, critical that the United States continue to demonstrate its support for women's
human rights through strong representation on the Commission. Moreover, we hope that the
positions of the US will continue to reflect consultation with non-governmental organizations
attentive to, and knowledgeable about, these issues. We believe these conversations have
been mutually productive, as we expect they will continue to be. To facilitate such efforts, we
would like to meet with your representative to this session of the CSW to discuss the agenda
and the activities of the Commission.
We respectfully urge you to make a speedy appointment and make it widely known to the
public so that non-governmental organizations concerned with this session can initiate
contact with this representative. Once you have made such an appointment, we request that
you transmit this invitation to meet with us to your appointee, as well as to other government
officials responsible for women's human rights, including the President's Interagency Council
on Women and State Department personnel.
We greatly appreciate the openness your administration has shown to NGOs around recent
United Nations world conferences by hosting regular briefings for non-governmental
organizations. We cordially appeal to you to continue this tradition by hosting an open
briefing for the wider NGO community with the US delegation to the Commission on the
Status of Women, in addition to conducting NGO briefings throughout the sessions.
We appreciate your administration's efforts to consult with the NGO community, and look
forward to continuing this working relationship at the CSW and beyond. If it is possible for
the CSW representative and other officials to meet with us, we respectfully request that they
respond to Charlotte Bunch at the Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers University
(telephone: 908-932-8782; fax: 908-932-1180). Thank you in advance for your kind
consideration of this invitation.
Sincerely,
Bella Abzug, Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Lea Browning
Charlotte Bunch, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Rhonda Copelon, International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, City University of New
York Law School
Kit Cosby, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the U.S.
Joan Dunlop, International Women's Health Coalition
Cathy Powell, member of the International Network of Women of Color North/South
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International/USA
Donna Sullivan, International Human Rights Law Group/Women in the Law Project
Dorothy Q. Thomas, Women's Rights Project of Human Rights Watch
On behalf of the Working Groups on Women's Human Rights based in Washington, DC and
New York/New Jersey.
CC:
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary Chair of the U.S. Delegation to the Fourth World
Conference on Women and Honorary Chair of the President's Interagency
Council on Women
Robert J. Nash, Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel
Helmsley - 42ml
linda
madelines office
Communica
9Am 941 922 1443
mothing
Sun DC 12:30 -
CSW SPEECH DRAFT
Faxhine 527-7989 703
Kamy- 212-866-8311 Sal/Sun.
- 5287773
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS (FILL IN SHARON, LTW)
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by breadth and depth of the
NGO Forum and the force of the NGOs themselves; and in a spirit
of renewal and rededication that the celebration of the United
Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us encouragement. The designation of
Rosario Green as coordinator of all women's issues in the UN
system and the appointment of Angela King as director of the
Division for the Advancement of Women come as good news. These
are women of great ability and reputation. We place our
confidence in them without reservation. We wish them every
success and we stand ready to offer them every assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. Now is the time for the members of the CSW to raise the
questions and work together to find the answers that will prepare
the CSW for its work into the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
The United States strongly supports the agreements we
reached at the Fourth World Conference and later in the General
Assembly, that the Commission must have:
a clear mandate;
a central role in monitoring implementation of the
Platform, although primary responsibility for
implementation rests with governments themselves;
a cooperative and coordinated working relationship with
the related commissions of the Economic and Social Council
that constitutes synergy;
a catalytic role in implementation of the Platform for
Action within the UN system;
o and a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective
in UN activities; and in ensuring that women and women's
issues are fully integrated into the mainstream of
society and all its institutions?
This is hard work, but the four world conferences on women
that have been held since 1975 have paved the way. At Beijing
governments recognized women's issues as legitimate concerns of
nations. And, as the Platform for Action makes clear, the world
now recognizes that all its issues have an impact, and are of
concern, to women.
Twenty years of organizing, advocating, gathering and
analyzing data, discussing and working together came to fruition
in Beijing. Victims of oppression have become activists for
change. Beneficiaries of programs are becoming constituents of
political society. Women have become a political force and they
are claiming the public arena.
As it is for the United Nations, so it is for the United
States. My country is very serious about implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and about fulfilling
its particular commitments announced at Beijing. For the first
time, the United States has created a mechanism especially for
implementation and follow-up.
On the eve of the Fourth World Conference, President Clinton
announced the establishment of the "President's Interagency
Council on Women" to, in the President's words, "make sure that
all the effort and good ideas actually get implemented when we
get back home."
We are proud to say that the Council is in operation, and
that it operates out of the White House; that a member of the
President's Cabinet, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
Shalala, who was a part of the leadership of our delegation to
Beijing, chairs the Council. And we are especially happy to have
the strong support of the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who
is honorary chair of the Council, just as she was of the U.S.
delegation.
Time is short and the task before us great. The United
States is determined to waste no time and the President's Council
has begun the work of implementation now. It is our goal to
institutionalize as much change as possible now so that in the
future good policies and programs will be in place and not depend
solely on the good will of individuals.
As we proceed with this work of implementation, the
Council's members, all of whom are high level representatives of
all government agencies, are overseeing implementation for their
individual agencies. All have set themselves the task of
analyzing the Platform, asking "How does our agency measure up?"
and "What initiatives can we develop in the spirit of the
Platform to further women's progress through the mission,
policies and programs of our agency?"
Fortunately we are not starting from ground zero. In many
respects our laws and practices already meet the standards set
forth in the Platform for Action. For all of our failings and
shortcomings, we are the world's oldest continuing democracy, and
ours is a society where government responds to the demands of the
people, and where people have a long tradition of organizing
themselves for advocacy and action. It is our tradition, and, to
a large extent, our identity.
Women have been organizing in the United States since the
early days of the republic -- for education, against slavery, for
the right to vote, against child labor, for better working
conditions.
All of these efforts have borne results -- in our
legislation at the national, state, tribal and local levels, in
our interpretation and extension of existing Constitutional
rights, in our institutions and organizations, both public and
private.
But failings, shortcomings and discrimination persist. Life
The SG has a ferm policy
of discrimination
can and should be better for women in our country, especially
those groups, who because of additional factors such as age,
race, ethnicity, indigenous status, religion, culture,
disability, sexual orientation, poverty, or other status, face
L-
additional forms of discrimination to those that all women share.
As we now work to implement the Platform, we continue to
look to those women, whom we now call NGOs, to help us define the
problems and find solutions, and hold their government
accountable. We will work in partnership and take joint
responsibility for the work of implementation.
As many of you will remember, the United States took the
position at the Fourth World Conference, and at the preparatory
conferences, that implementation must be done within existing
resources, through refocusing, reordering priorities, thinking
creatively. This is hard to do.
Nevertheless, we have no choice in the United States at this
time but to take our own advice. This is not a time when the U.S.
can or will allocate new and additional resources to implement
the Platform in our country. We are proceeding with
implementation at a time when many federal agencies are
undergoing severe budget reductions and reductions of personnel.
We do not celebrate this, but neither will we use it as an excuse
to do nothing.
We cannot wait for an ideal set of circumstances. We are
moving ahead and are determined that this difficult situation
will bring out the best in us.
EXAMPLES: GSA and recycling/childcare; violence; etc. I WILL
SUPPLY THESE LATER TODAY
These are sometimes small, but always significant steps. Not
surprisingly, however, we are learning, or perhaps confirming
what we knew in our hearts, that the hardest work of all is not
that of taking new initiatives. Integrating women, and issues of
concern to them, into the mainstream of society and its
institutions can be maddeningly subtle work.
Likewise the application of a gender perspective to the
identification, analysis and solution of problems. Adopting a
gender perspective means changing much more than policies and
programs as they appear on paper. It cannot be done by fiat,
although it certainly helps to have the support and direction
come from the highest level. It means changing the way we think,
changing our world view, internalizing and assimilating this
perspective by individual men and women and into the body politic
so that never again will women be marginalized and their issues
put on the agenda as an afterthought, something to be considered
only if time and resources allow.
As one NGO said of her own organization's efforts to
implement the Platform and integrate a gender perspective into
the issues, "As we now get specific, we find we're meeting
resistance." Abstract concepts are just so many lofty ideals.
However, as they become concrete, reality sinks in.
A word about CEDAW. Ratification remains a priority for the
Administration. However it cannot be done without the advice and
consent of the Senate, and we are still waiting for the Senate to
act. Although we are not yet a state party to CEDAW, we look
forward to making a positive contribution as participants in the
drafting session of the optional protocol during this session.
In the meantime NGOs in the United States, many of whom have
worked for the past 10 years for CEDAW's adoption, have begun a
massive campaign with two strategies. They seek to create
widespread grassroots support for CEDAW through public education,
showing Americans, especially American women, in concrete terms
why CEDAW is important for the U.S. not only diplomatically but
to American women at home. They intend also to work for
governmental and institutional support, urging universities,
other institutions, and state and municipal legislatures to
"adopt" or endorse CEDAW.
Whether it is ratification of CEDAW, action on a particular
issue or the entire Platform, one phenomenon continues to astound
us. There have been hundreds, and probably thousands of post-
Beijing events across the United States. This is not a government
effort but a community and grassroots effort. "Bringing Beijing
Home, " and "Beijing and Beyond" have become commonplace phrases
in cities and towns from Tacoma, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia,
from San Antonio, Texas to Poughkeepsie, New York. With the
Platform as its model, a coalition of women's groups in
Pittsburgh, Pa. is at work on the "Pittsburgh Plan of Action."
And in Louisville, Kentucky a group of middle school students put
on a post-Beijing event for 300 young people, and the boys in the
group led the workshop on the image of women in the media.
In short, we realize that something profound happened in
Beijing and it inspired not only the women who attended but those
at home also. There is an energy, and a desire to get involved
and get to work on these issues that renews our hope and
confidence in the future. We think the United States is not alone
in this. And that is why we are so hopeful about this meeting of
CSW and the future of the Commission. We look forward to joining
in the dialogue on the three agenda items of poverty, women and
the media and child and dependent care.
How can the Commission on the Status of Women help the
United Nations and individual states to implement the Platform
for Action? How can it ensure that its most difficult task is
accomplished -- the integration of women into the mainstream of
society? We must approach this effort in a spirit of goodwill and
cooperation. This is not time to focus on what is wrong, where
blame should be placed. The right direction is towards the
future. That is where we fix our gaze as we work together to
decide how we can do things better to move humanity towards our
goal of equality, development and peace.
drafted: President's Interagency Council on Women (PICW) : KHendrix
456-7352/FAX456-7357
clearances:TLoar:PICW
LTWhelan:IO/FO
SKotok:IO/ESA
DLeis:IO/SB
SBremner:H
JMeer: G (for GHillman)
THushek:DRL
EBloom:L/UNA
DStewart:L/HRR
KMcGuire:IO/ESA
MLKimble:IO/FOR
Chapter IV
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
45. In each critical area of concern, the problem is diagnosed and strategic
delated
objectives are proposed with concrete actions to be taken by various actors in
order to achieve those objectives. The strategic objectives are derived from
the critical areas of concern and specific actions to be taken to achieve them
cut across the boundaries of equality, development and peace the goals of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and reflect
their interdependence. The objectives and actions are interlinked, of high
priority and mutually reinforcing. The Platform for Action is intended to
improve the situation of all women, without exception, who often face similar
barriers, while special attention should be given to groups that are the most
disadvantaged.
46. The Platform for Action recognizes that women face barriers to full
equality and advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language,
*
ethnicity, culture, religion or disability, because they are indigenous women or
because of other status. Many women encounter specific obstacles related to
their family status, particularly as single parents; and to their socio-economic
sexual orientation as
status, including their living conditions in rural, isolated or impoverished
areas. Additional barriers also exist for refugee women, other displaced women,
including internally displaced women as well as for immigrant women and migrant
women, including women migrant workers. Many women are also particularly
affected by environmental disasters, serious and infectious diseases and various
forms of violence against women.
A. Women and poverty
47. More than 1 billion people in the world today, the great majority of whom
are women, live in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in the developing
countries. Poverty has various causes, including structural ones. Poverty is a
complex, multidimensional problem, with origins in both the national and
international domains. The globalization of the world's economy and the
deepening interdependence among nations present challenges and opportunities for
sustained economic growth and development, as well as risks and uncertainties
for the future of the world economy. The uncertain global economic climate has
been accompanied by economic restructuring as well as, in a certain number of
countries, persistent, unmanageable levels of external debt and structural
adjustment programmes. In addition, all types of conflict, displacement of
people and environmental degradation have undermined the capacity of Governments
to meet the basic needs of their populations. Transformations in the world
economy are profoundly changing the parameters of social development in all
countries. One significant trend has been the increased poverty of women, the
extent of which varies from region to region. The gender disparities in
economic power-sharing are also an important contributing factor to the poverty
of women. Migration and consequent changes in family structures have placed
additional burdens on women, especially those who provide for several
dependants. Macroeconomic policies need rethinking and reformulation to address
such trends. These policies focus almost exclusively on the formal sector.
They also tend to impede the initiatives of women and fail to consider the
differential impact on women and men. The application of gender analysis to a
wide range of policies and programmes is therefore critical to poverty reduction
strategies. In order to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development,
-21-
women and men must participate fully and equally in the formulation of
macroeconomic and social policies and strategies for the eradication of poverty.
The eradication of poverty cannot be accomplished through anti-poverty
programmes alone but will require democratic participation and changes in
economic structures in order to ensure access for all women to resources,
opportunities and public services. Poverty has various manifestations,
including lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensure a
sustainable livelihood; hunger and malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of
access to education and other basic services; increasing morbidity and mortality
from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing; unsafe environments; and
social discrimination and exclusion. It is also characterized by lack of
participation in decision-making and in civil, social and cultural life. It
occurs in all countries - as mass poverty in many developing countries and as
pockets of poverty amidst wealth in developed countries. Poverty may be caused
by an economic recession that results in loss of livelihood or by disaster or
conflict. There is also the poverty of low-wage workers and the utter
destitution of people who fall outside family support systems, social
institutions and safety nets.
48. In the past decade the number of women living in poverty has increased
disproportionately to the number of men, particularly in the developing
countries. The feminization of poverty has also recently become a significant
problem in the countries with economies in transition as a short-term
consequence of the process of political, economic and social transformation. In
addition to economic factors, the rigidity of socially ascribed gender roles and
women's limited access to power, education, training and productive resources as
well as other emerging factors that may lead to insecurity for families are also
responsible. The failure to adequately mainstream a gender perspective in all
economic analysis and planning and to address the structural causes of poverty
is also a contributing factor.
49. Women contribute to the economy and to combating poverty through both
remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the
workplace. The empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of
poverty.
50. While poverty affects households as a whole, because of the gender division
of labour and responsibilities for household welfare, women bear a
disproportionate burden, attempting to manage household consumption and
production under conditions of increasing scarcity. Poverty is particularly
acute for women living in rural households.
51. Women's poverty is directly related to the absence of economic
opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic resources, including
credit, land ownership and inheritance, lack of access to education and support
services and their minimal participation in the decision-making process.
Poverty can also force women into situations in which they are vulnerable to
sexual exploitation.
52. In too many countries, social welfare systems do not take sufficient
account of the specific conditions of women living in poverty, and there is a
tendency to scale back the services provided by such systems. The risk of
falling into poverty is greater for women than for men, particularly in old age,
where social security systems are based on the principle of continuous
remunerated employment. In some cases, women do not fulfil this requirement
because of interruptions in their work, due to the unbalanced distribution of
-22-
Chapter IV
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
45. In each critical area of concern, the problem is diagnosed and strategic
deleted
objectives are proposed with concrete actions to be taken by various actors in
order to achieve those objectives. The strategic objectives are derived from
the critical areas of concern and specific actions to be taken to achieve them
cut across the boundaries of equality, development and peace - the goals of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women - and reflect
their interdependence. The objectives and actions are interlinked, of high
priority and mutually reinforcing. The Platform for Action is intended to
improve the situation of all women, without exception, who often face similar
barriers, while special attention should be given to groups that are the most
disadvantaged.
46. The Platform for Action recognizes that women face barriers to full
equality and advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language,
*
ethnicity, culture, religion or disability, because they are indigenous women or
because of other status. Many women encounter specific obstacles related to
their family status, particularly as single parents; and to their socio-economic
sexual orientation are
status, including their living conditions in rural, isolated or impoverished
areas. Additional barriers also exist for refugee women, other displaced women,
including internally displaced women as well as for immigrant women and migrant
women, including women migrant workers. Many women are also particularly
affected by environmental disasters, serious and infectious diseases and various
forms of violence against women.
A. Women and poverty
47. More than 1 billion people in the world today, the great majority of whom
are women, live in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in the developing
countries. Poverty has various causes, including structural ones. Poverty is a
complex, multidimensional problem, with origins in both the national and
international domains. The globalization of the world's economy and the
deepening interdependence among nations present challenges and opportunities for
sustained economic growth and development, as well as risks and uncertainties
for the future of the world economy. The uncertain global economic climate has
been accompanied by economic restructuring as well as, in a certain number of
countries, persistent, unmanageable levels of external debt and structural
adjustment programmes. In addition, all types of conflict, displacement of
people and environmental degradation have undermined the capacity of Governments
to meet the basic needs of their populations. Transformations in the world
economy are profoundly changing the parameters of social development in all
countries. One significant trend has been the increased poverty of women, the
extent of which varies from region to region. The gender disparities in
economic power-sharing are also an important contributing factor to the poverty
of women. Migration and consequent changes in family structures have placed
additional burdens on women, especially those who provide for several
dependants. Macroeconomic policies need rethinking and reformulation to address
such trends. These policies focus almost exclusively on the formal sector.
They also tend to impede the initiatives of women and fail to consider the
differential impact on women and men. The application of gender analysis to a
wide range of policies and programmes is therefore critical to poverty reduction
strategies. In order to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development,
-21-
2
context, the United States notes as well that many of the most critical actions to be taken in
accordance with the Platform do not require additional funds from the international community,
and can be accomplished through actions at the national and local level.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 48, Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives)
The United States Government has a firm policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and considers that the omission of this reference in Paragraph 48 and elsewhere in the
Platform for Action in no way justifies such discrimination in any country.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 207(b), (e) and (f), Chapter IV, Section H. (Institutional Mechanisms)
With respect to paragraphs 207(b), (e), and (f) in Chapter H, the United States will seek to
develop more comprehensive knowledge as well as seek to improve data collection on the issue
of unwaged work, to the extent that funds are available. We plan to consult, in a cooperative
manner, with appropriate research and documentation organizations.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 247, Chapter VI, Section K (Environment)
The United States would like to underscore that it interprets the sentence beginning
"Hurricanes in Paragraph 247 to mean that these listed occurances can cause environmental
degradation in certain circumstances but not in others. The United States also remains concerned
about the reference to "nuclear testing" in this paragraph, which appears not to have been
reviewed fully in the working group.
and testing of
II.
Statements Previously Made for the Record by the USG in
Main Committee on September 12, 13 and 14
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 19, Chapter II (Global Framework)
The United States understands that the phrase "radical transformation of the relationship
between men and women" in paragraph 19 is a reference to the realization of full equality
between women and men. It is in that context that the United States accepts this paragraph.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 27, Chapter II (Global Framework)
Paragraph 27 of the Platform recognizes the importance that non-governmental organizations
play and the importance of working with them for progress. The United States recognizes the
03/08/96
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002
Welcoming Remarks for International Women's Day
AS DELIVERED by Secretary of State Warren Christopher, March 8, 1996
Distinguished Members of Congress, ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen
guests: I am glad to welcome you this morning. On this International
Women's Day, we commemorate the remarkable achievements of women in our
government and we celebrate the progress over the past year for women's
rights and political participation. we must seize the opportunity before
us to put women's issues at the top of the agenda in America -- and the
world. And it is particularly good to have Gerry Ferraro, who has taken
such a leading role in promoting human rights, with us today.
Where women's rights are not protected, human rights are not secure.
Where women are not educated about their health, their families suffer
along with them. where women play no role in protecting the environment,
it does not get protected. But where women enjoy equal rights and equal
protection, all society progresses. That is why this Administration is
committed to bringing women's issues into the mainstream of American
diplomacy.
Nowhere is our commitment reflected more clearly than in the
Department's twentieth annual human rights reports released this week.
You will find not just a section on women, but documentation throughout
the reports on abuses from workplace discrimination to physical
mutilation. The reports show that the harm done to society is very great
when women's rights are neglected in peace or trampled in war.
Our first priority in the Department and around the world must be
our work for peace. As much as the soldier with a gun, the face of war
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0
1003
2
is the child born in a refugee camp, the rape victim and the women whose
sons and husbands have disappeared -- and there are all too many of
those.
In 1996, President Clinton and I have rededicated ourselves to the
task of seeking peace with justice. In Bosnia, we not only achieved the
end of war but an unprecedented role for the International War Crimes
Tribunal that is seeking justice. for victims of deliberate policies of
murder and rape. In Haiti, our victory in the fight for democracy is
allowing Haiti's women and men to turn to the fight against poverty, and
thus to improve the rights of women and children.
As we promote peace, we work with women like Sonja Licht. Her
courageous advocacy of human rights and defense of NGOS in Belgrade has
come to symbolize hope for a more open society in Serbia. We also stand
with the Catholics and Protestants who overcame their losses in the
bloody conflict in Northern Ireland to found Women Together, a great
organization which is doing so much to renew the peace process there.
The world saw these faces and heard these voices at the Beijing
Conference on Women. The Beijing Conference threw out a challenge to the
forces of poverty, ignorance and intolerance. The First Lady summed up
that challenge simply: "women's rights are human rights, and human
rights are women's rights." Her forceful presence, and the hard work of
many of you here today, as well as the outstanding work of our UN
ambassador Madeleine Albright, helped set a forward-looking agenda for us
to take from Beijing. All Americans should be proud of what our
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3
delegation accomplished -- committing the nations of the world to take
concrete steps to improve women's health and education and increase
women's participation in the lives of their societies.
The United States must lead the way in fulfilling the Beijing
Platform for Action. This year we will promote the political and legal
rights of women -- and we should ratify the Convention to Eliminate All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We will also emphasize
programs like USAID's Girls' and Women's Education Initiative, aimed at
increasing the number of girls who complete primary school in countries
from India to Indonesia, from Guinea to Guatemala.
Our Women in Africa initiative is a good example of how we can
integrate these priorities into our foreign policy. Each of our
embassies in Africa is monitoring the follow-up to the Beijing
Conference. African women made a great contribution at Beijing, and SO
it is appropriate that our embassies are working with African women to
make the biggest difference with our limited resources -- with projects
as traditional as improving access to family planning or as cutting-edge
as improving NGO access to computers and communications. These projects
have a real possibility to lift the lives of Africans and advance key
objectives of American diplomacy.
The Beijing priorities reaffirm the conclusions of the Cairo
Conference on Population and Development. we are focusing on womer:'s
education and empowerment as we move forward to implement the Cair
commitments. But our leadership to ensure access to safe, voluntary
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005
4
family planning services for millions of women and men is under attack by
many in Congress. I am deeply indebted to those on the platform who have
SO strongly defended our programs and requests for resources to carry
them out. I thank them for their efforts.
On my trip to Latin America last week, I had the pleasure of meeting
some outstanding women and men who are providing free legal services to
over 700,000 pcople in Chile. I was struck by the leadership and support
of Chile's Minister of Justice, Mrs. Soledad Alvear. Across South
America, the women who marched to restore democracy are founding
community centers and development banks. Their vision of justice for all
is a reminder that women's participation and determination are
indispensable.
I am proud to say that this Administration has made good strides in
putting women in positions of power and prominence in American diplomacy
-- not enough, but many in high positions doing great work. And let me
acknowledge the efforts and excellence of the many here who give American
diplomacy the face ot a woman every day. Thank you.
We are very fortunate to be joined today by several members of
Congress, women whose work has furthered the cause of women's equality
and women's rights and kept these issues before Congress and before the
American people.
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01 006
AMBASSADOR GERALDINE FERRARO
HEAD OF U.S. DELEGATION
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, MARCH 8, 1996
THANK YOU so MUCH, TIM, FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION. IT IS A GREAT
HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY WITH so MANY FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES, AND TO HAVE
THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE
ESSENTIAL ROLE THEY BOTH PLAY IN OUR EFFORTS TO FASHION A NEW AND
BETTER WORLD FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW US.
BEFORE I BEGIN, HOWEVER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN
SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE TO HONOR TODAY, MR. SECRETARY. I AM
PLEASED, BUT NOT SURPRISED, BECAUSE EACH OF THEM HAS BEEN AT THE
THE FOREFRONT OF THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, EACH
OF THEM FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, THE POOR, THE DISABLED
AND THE DISENFRANCHISED AT HOME BEFORE COMING TO WASHINGTON. so
MOVING INTO THE ARENA OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS HAS BEEN A
NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR THEM.
THESE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR THE CAUSES THEY
BELIEVE IN. INDEED, THE DESIRE TO FIGHT FOR SUCH BELIEFS WAS WHY
THEY RAN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT MANY RUN AND ONLY A FEW WIN. WHAT WE SEE HERE ARE WOMEN WHO
HAVE HELPED MAKE HISTORY, EACH IN HER OWN WAY, WOMEN WHO OVERCAME
THE OBSTACLES OTHERS SO OFTEN PUT IN THEIR PATH. TOGETHER, THEY
PROVE THAT IT NOT JUST POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN OF PRINCIPLE TO LEAD, BUT
THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY DO.
THIS, THEN, IS CHANGE. AND CHANGE IS WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS
ACHIEVED, BOTH WITH REGARD TO WOMEN AND TO HUMAN RIGHTS. YOU KNOW
AND I KNOW THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN EASY. BUT CHANGE IS TAKING
PLACE. THERE ARE MORE WOMEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR
GOVERNMENT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, DEMONSTRATING THEIR COMPETENCE,
DAY IN, DAY OUT, PROVING THEIR VALUE TO THE COUNTRY AND TO THE
WORLD -- NO NONSENSE WOMEN LIKE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. I DON'T KNOW
HOW MANY OF YOU SAW HER ON TELEVISION THE OTHER DAY, WHEN THE
CUBANS WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW SHOOTING DOWN
UNARMED PLANES
IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS WAS SOMEHOW AN ACT OF COURAGE. MADELEINE
LET THE WORLD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF THEIR SO-CALLED
MACHISMO, AND SHE CALLED IT WHAT IT WAS IN PLAIN ENGLISH, AS WELL
AS IN SPANISH. YES, MADELEINE HAS BEEN A MOST ARTICULATE
SPOKESPERSON FOR THIS COUNTRY NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S DONNA SHALALA, JANET RENO AND HAZEL
O'LEARY, HANDLING COMPLEX CABINET PORTFOLIOS WITH SKILL AND
DETERMINATION. AND HERE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT: ROBIN RAPHEL IS
DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH INDIA AND PAKISTAN; TONY VERSTANDIG IS
MAKING REAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS; MELINDA
1
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007
KIMBLE PROVED HERSELF A LEADER AT THE BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE;
AND NANCY ELY-RAPHEL MADE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF
THE VIENNA CONFERENCE AND MORE RECENTLY THE DAYTON ACCORDS. BOTH
LYNN DAVIS AND JOAN SPERO ARE AMONG THE SECRETARY'S MOST TRUSTED
ADVISORS, WHILE PHYLLIS OAKLEY HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF STRENGTH ON
REFUGEE ISSUES, AND PRU BUSHNELL HAS SHOWN ENORMOUS LEADERSHIP ON
AFRICAN ISSUES.
THERE ARE MANY MORE OF YOU WHO ALSO DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS
WELL, WOMEN WHO STAND IN THE TRENCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND DO BATTLE
EVERY DAY FOR THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JUST
A HANDFUL OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN HERE IN GOVERNMENT ANY MORE; WE'VE
GOT THOUSANDS OF THEM. IN EVERY OFFICE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND
AGENCY IN THIS GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE WOMEN MAKING BELIEVERS OF
THOSE WHO DOUBTED THEM BEFORE. THIS IS CHANGE.
IT'S A MEASURE OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT THAT THIS CHANGE IS, I BELIEVE,
IRREVERSIBLE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I THINK THE BATTLE TO ENSURE WOMEN'S RIGHTS
IS OVER IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED EQUALITY IN THE
WORKPLACE AND IN THEIR PAYCHECKS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE
PUT AN END TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THAT WE ARE FREE TO WALK OUR
STREETS AT NIGHT, OR THAT THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE NO LONGER HAUNTS THE
DAILY LIVES OF MILLIONS. NOR DOES IT MEAN THAT THOSE WHO WOULD
TURN US AGAINST EACH OTHER, PITTING THOSE WHO STAY AT HOME TO RAISE
THEIR CHILDREN AGAINST THOSE WHO GO TO WORK, HAVE SUDDENLY SEEN THE
LIGHT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE GLASS CEILING IS SHATTERED OR THAT
EVERY DEADBEAT DAD IS PAYING FOR HIS CHILDREN NOW. IT DOESN'T EVEN
MEAN THAT WE, AS A SOCIETY, UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WOMAN
TODAY, WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK A TIGHTROPE BETWEEN FAMILY AND THE
WORK PLACE, AT A TIME WHEN SO MUCH IS CHANGING AND YET so LITTLE.
NO, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THERE IS A COURSE TO HISTORY. HOW
MANY WOMEN WORKED HERE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT A GENERATION AGO --
NOT JUST IN SECRETARIAL POSITIONS -- WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS FILLED THOSE
SPOTS -- BUT AS ANALYSTS, OFFICE DIRECTORS, DESK OFFICERS? THERE
WAS ELEANOR DULLES, A SPECIALIST IN GERMAN AFFAIRS WHOSE BROTHER
JUST HAPPENED TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE -- AND WHO ELSE? NOT MANY.
LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS NOW. WHO AMONG YOU THINKS WE'RE EVER GOING
BACK?
I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE I AM CONVINCED THAT THE
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE OPENED WILL NEVER AGAIN BE
CLOSED. THE GAINS WE HAVE ACHIEVED WILL BE BUILT ON -- NOT ONLY IN
THE STATE DEPARTMENT, BUT IN CONGRESS AND IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURES, ON WALL STREET AND IN SILICONE VALLEY, IN THE
BOARDROOMS, THE NEWSROOMS AND THE CLASSROOMS OF OUR GREAT
UNIVERSITIES, IN THE SCIENCE LABS AND IN SPACE AND WHEREVER THE
NEXT CHAPTERS OF OUR HISTORY ARE BEING WRITTEN.
IT WILL BE TOUGH. EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WILL BE CONTESTED. POWER
2
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U. 008
IS ALWAYS CONTESTED.
BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC FOR ANOTHER REASON. IN 1984, WHEN I WAS RUNNING
FOR VICE PRESIDENT, THE CAMPAIGN HAD ME SHY AWAY FROM
EMPHASIZING WOMEN'S ISSUES. I DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE TO ANYONE WHERE
I STOOD ON EQUITY FOR WOMEN. I HAD TO CONVINCE "THE GUYS" THAT I
HAD THE COURAGE AND THE INTELLIGENCE TO RUN THE COUNTRY. BUT IT
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. HOW CAN A WOMAN NOT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN?
AND SO IN LATE OCTOBER, RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, I GAVE MY ONE
AND ONLY WOMEN'S SPEECH. IT ADDRESSED EVERY ISSUE WE CARE ABOUT
AND HAVE FOUGHT FOR OVER THE LAST DOZEN YEARS. I WAS CONCERNED
THAT SOMEHOW THE MESSAGE WOULD BE LOST IF WE DIDN'T BRING IN THE
OTHER HALF OF THE POPULATION, AND SO I SAID: "I AM NOT ONLY
SPEAKING TO WOMEN HERE TONIGHT. EVERY MAN IS DIMINISHED WHEN HIS
DAUGHTER IS DENIED A FAIR CHANCE; EVERY SON IS A VICTIM WHEN HIS
MOTHER IS DENIED FAIR PAY."
THOSE ARE THE SAME POINTS WE MAKE WHEN WE DISCUSS WOMEN'S RIGHTS AS
HUMAN RIGHTS AS THE FIRST LADY DID so ELOQUENTLY IN BEIJING.
ALLOWING WOMEN FULL PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY BENEFITS NOT JUST
THEM, BUT SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
MANY OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO THE EFFORT WHICH
MADE THE BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE SUCH A SUCCESS. I WAS
PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THE DELEGATION. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
FASCINATING AND EXHILARATING EVENTS I'VE EVER ATTENDED. THE
PLATFORM FOR ACTION WE ADOPTED COMMITS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO
HALTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS TO FREE
SPEECH, HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AND ESTABLISHING A HIGHER STANDARD OF
RESPECT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS THAN EVER BEFORE IN HISTORY.
THIS, IN ITSELF, IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT
WE WILL HAVE DONE OUR JOB UNTIL THE STANDARD WE SET IS MET -- AND
NOT JUST IN AMERICA, BUT EVERYWHERE. AND THAT WILL TAKE A LOT OF
WORK ON THE PART OF ALL OF US WHO CARE ABOUT WOMEN AND HUMAN
RIGHTS. FOR WE ALL KNOW HOW EASY IT IS FOR SOME NATIONS TO AGREE
TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ONE MOMENT THEN FORGET THEM ENTIRELY THE
NEXT. SO WILL IT BE WITH THE BEIJING PLATFORM IF YOU AND I RELAX
OR FOCUS TOO NARROWLY ON OURSELVES.
IT IS THE SPECIAL FATE OF AMERICA TO BE THE PARTICULAR CHAMPION OF
HUMAN LIBERTY. IT IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY BURDEN TO LIVE WITH.
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE HOPES OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD REST ON OUR SHOULDERS. AND WE KNOW WHY:
WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS PROVEN ITSELF INCAPABLE OR UNWILLING
TO LEAD, THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE.
IT TOOK TWO GENERATIONS OF SACRIFICE TO WIN THE COLD WAR AND BRING
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM TO A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE.
AND NOW, IN BOSNIA, IN HAITI AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE EYES OF
THE VICTIMS ARE TURNED TO WASHINGTON AGAIN. THERE ARE JOBS WHICH
ONLY WE CAN DO. NOT THAT WE CAN DO THEM ALL, OR THAT WE CAN ALWAYS
3
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009
DO THEM BY OURSELVES. BUT THE FACT IS, WE ARE DIFFERENT; WE ARE A
CATALYST. WHEN WE ACT, OTHERS FOLLOW.
SO IT IS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN LEADING FOR
OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS. THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE. LEADERSHIP IN
HUMAN RIGHTS IS A BURDEN WE EMBRACE IN THIS BUILDING, IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION, AND IN HUNDREDS OF PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEADING BACK TO GENEVA NEXT WEEK
FOR THE MEETING OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. THERE WILL BE
A LOT ON OUR PLATE THERE -- CHINA, BOSNIA, CUBA AND THE MIDDLE
EAST. BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT NO DELEGATION IS
GOING TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THE DEFENSE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS THAN WE
WILL.
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL, BUT THEY'RE ALSO AMERICAN THROUGH AND
THROUGH. THEY'RE AS OLD AS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AS NEW
AS THIS WEEK'S HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS. DESPITE OUR LAPSES, OUR.
INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES ARE GROUNDED IN A GENUINE BELIEF THAT THE
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WE CHERISH BELONG TO EVERYONE. AND THAT GIVES
US A STRENGTH MOST OTHER NATIONS LACK.
THAT IS WHY I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY OUR VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WILL
PREVAIL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ONE DAY THE STANDARD WE FIRST SET IN
OUR OWN INSTITUTIONS AND THEN HELPED ESTABLISH IN THE INTERNATIONAL
ARENA WILL BECOME THE ONE BY WHICH ALL COUNTRIES JUDGE THEMSELVES.
OUR JOB, THEN, IS TO TAKE THAT VOICE AND AMPLIFY IT, TO USE THE
POWER OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR PEOPLE, PEOPLE
LIKE YOU TO HOLD THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD -- OUR OWN INCLUDED --
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STANDARDS WE HAVE SET FOR OURSELVES so MANY
TIMES -- WHETHER IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE U.N. CHARTER OR THE
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- OR MORE RECENTLY IN THE
VIENNA DECLARATION, THE BEIJING PLATFORM AND OUR 1996 HUMAN RIGHTS
REPORTS.
OF COURSE, SOME GOVERNMENTS WON'T BE DISSEMINATING OUR REPORTS THIS
WEEK. THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR BEST TO SILENCE THEM. THEY MAY
SUCCEED IN THE SHORT TERM. THEY MAY JAM THE VOICE OF AMERICA.
THEY MAY CENSOR THEIR NEWSPAPERS, LOCK THEIR DISSIDENTS IN DISTANT
JAILS. THEY MAY OPPOSE US AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND AT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION. THEY MAY BLUSTER AND RAGE AND OBFUSCATE. BUT
TIME IS NO LONGER ON THEIR SIDE. EVENTUALLY, WITH MODERN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS THE TRUTH WILL FIND ITS WAY TO EVEN THE MOST
REMOTE OUTPOST OF INJUSTICE. THEY ARE GOING TO FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO KILL IDEAS WHICH JUST WON'T DIE, IDEAS LIKE FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY.
WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT BOSNIA OR BAGHDAD, TO CUBA OR CHECHNYA OR
THE DESPERATE REFUGEE CAMPS IN SUDAN, TANZANIA AND ZAIRE TO SEE HOW
FAR WE HAVE TO GO. FOR IF WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS AND
4
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010
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL -- AND ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD HAVE
AGREED THEY ARE -- THERE MUST COME A TIME WHEN THE RESPECT FOR
THESE RIGHTS BECOMES UNIVERSAL, TOO. THERE MUST COME A TIME WHEN
WORDS BECOME DEEDS, NOT JUST IN AMERICA, BUT IN EVERY HUT AND EVERY
HOME IN EVERY LAND.
YES, I THINK THAT TIME WILL COME. IT MAY NOT BE IN MY LIFETIME,
BUT IT WILL COME. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD
WON'T NEED TO PETITION THE POWERFUL FOR PROTECTION, WHEN "POOR" AND.
"DEFENSELESS" WON'T BE NAMES WE GIVE TO HALF A BILLION WOMEN.
THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN GIRLS ARE NOT LEFT TO STARVE UPON A
HILLSIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BORN BOYS, WHEN THEIR GENITALS ARE
NOT MUTILATED TO PLEASE SOME CRUEL, OUTDATED CUSTOM; WHEN THEY ARE
NOT VIOLATED IN THE NAME OF ETHNIC CLEANSING; WHEN GIRLS ARE NOT
SOLD INTO PROSTITUTION OUT OF FINANCIAL DESPERATION; WHEN THEY ARE
NOT BURNED BECAUSE THEIR DOWRIES ARE TOO SMALL OR THEIR HUSBANDS
DIED BEFORE THEM.
THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN WOMEN WILL NOT BE EITHER THE VICTIMS OR
THE CAUSE OF OVERPOPULATION; WHEN THEY WILL NOT BEAR EIGHT CHILDREN
IN THE HOPE THAT THREE MAY LIVE; WHEN THEY ARE NOT FORCED INTO
EARLY MARRIAGE; WHEN THEY WILL NOT LACK THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO
BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN REFUGEE WOMEN WILL NOT SELL THEMSELVES
FOR FOOD; WHEN THEY WILL NOT BE RAPED BY MARAUDING SOLDIERS; WHEN
THEY WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED BECAUSE THEY COME FROM THE WRONG GROUP
OR THE WRONG CITY OR BECAUSE THEY CHOSE THE WRONG TIME TO GATHER
FIREWOOD TO COOK THE FAMILY MEAL.
YES, THERE WILL BE A TIME FOR ALL OF THAT. THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN
THE WOMEN OF AMERICA CAN WALK THE STREETS OF OUR CITIES AND NOT
KNOW FEAR. THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN THE LIFE OF A GHETTO GIRL WILL
MEAN AS MUCH AS ONE IN THE WEALTHY SUBURBS; WHEN COMPARABLE WORK
WILL MEAN COMPARABLE PAY; AND WHEN WE CAN LOOK OUT ACROSS ANY
MEETING ROOM IN ANY COUNTY OF THIS COUNTRY AND SEE AS MANY WOMEN
THERE AS MEN.
BUT THAT IS SOME TIME OFF. UNTIL THEN, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WILL
REMAIN A THREAD THAT KNITS THE WORLD'S RICH AND POOR TOGETHER. NO
NATION IS IMMUNE. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OF THE DEVELOPED OR
DEVELOPING WORLD. IT IS NOT AFRICAN OR ASIAN OR AMERICAN ALONE.
IT IS UNIVERSAL. IT IS OUR PROBLEM; IT IS EVERY NATION'S PROBLEM,
AND so IT WILL REMAIN UNTIL WOMEN TAKE THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE
ALONGSIDE MEN, IN ALL STRATA AND AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY. FOR
VIOLENCE IS A REFLECTION OF SECOND-CLASS STATUS.
AND so AS I LOOK AROUND ME HERE AND SEE so MANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT
THIS COUNTRY CAN PRODUCE WHEN IT NURTURES ITS GIRLS AS WELL AS
BOYS, T CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL PRIDE THAT WE WOMEN HAVE BEGUN TO FORCE
HISTORY TO MARCH FORWARD. BUT TIME HAS CAUGHT US IN MID-STEP. OUR
WORK, THE WORK OF EVERYBODY HERE TODAY -- MEN AND WOMEN -- IS BUT
5
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011
HALF-DONE.
AND YET I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE EXCITING TIME TO RE ALIVE. THERE
IS $0 MUCH TO DO AND SO MANY TALENTED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO DO IT.
WOMEN, NOT JUST HERE IN AMERICA, BUT EVERYWHERE, ARE ON THE MOVE,
BRUSHING ASIDE THE OBSTACLES, DEFENDING OUR INTERESTS, OUR FAMILIES
AND OUR VALUES. WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING, BUT I CAN FEEL THE SWEEP OF
HISTORY NOW. IT'S IN THIS ROOM AND IN THIS COUNTRY. AND IT WON'T
STOP HERE. ONE DAY THE PULSE OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY WILL
BEAT IN EVERY WOMAN'S HEART, NOT JUST IN AMERICA, AND NOT JUST ON
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, BUT IN EVERY VILLAGE AND IN EVERY NATION
OF THE WORLD EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. IT MAY NOT HAPPEN SOON, BUT I
KNOW THAT WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, ITS TIME IS SURE TO
COME.
THANK YOU.
6
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a
sub-agency of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). ECOSOC and CSW has 45 members which are elected by the
full ECOSOC on the following basis: 13 from African states; 11
from Asian states; 9 from Latin American and Carribean states; 8
from Western European and other states (WEOG) ; and 4 from Eastern
European states. The term of office is three years. The U.S.
was off the CSW for 1994, but was re-elected at the summer 1995
ECOSOC. Therefore, on January 1, 1996, the U.S. resumes its seat
on the CSW.
The responsibilities of the U.S. representatives to the U.N.
Commission on the Status of Women are to:
Attend the two week meeting of the Commission at the UN
in New York (March 11-22)
Represent the US at this meeting (with appropriate
staff support from the State Department and the US Mission
to the UN)
Attend special meetings and ad hoc sessions throughout
the year (none are scheduled at this point)
Attend the General Assembly in the fall during the
two or three days when women's issues are discovered discussed
Meet with American non-government organization
representatives as feasible who follow the international and
development and other UN issues.
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AND TYPE
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02/01/1996
b(6)
(1 page)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer
OA/Box Number: 20056
FOLDER TITLE:
UN- CSW [United Nations - Commission on the Status of Women]
2013-0534-S
rc1854
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
02/01/1996 11:41
2029862539
POLICY ALTERNATIVES
PAGE 02
CENTER FOR
POLICY
ALTERNATIVES
BIOGRAPHY
Linda Tarr-Whelan
Linda Tarr-Whelan has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Policy
Alternatives since 1986. CPA is a 20-year-old non-partisan progressive public policy center which
connects innovative people and ideas across the fifty states to build a new economy that is inclusive,
sustainable and just.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan has had 25 years of public policy experience as an advocate and government official
in the areas of health care, employment, economic development, education and women's issues. She
has served as deputy assistant to the President for Women's Concerns in the Carter White House,
director of government relations for the National Education Association, administrative director of
the New York State Department of Labor, and director of program development for the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
She has edited: A Women's Economic Justice Agenda: Ideas for the States (and an earlier version,
The Women's Rights Agenda for the States); and America's States: Building a Progressive Future;
has published over 25 articles in a variety of publications; has testified frequently before Congress and
state legislatures; and speaks on public policy issues and has special expertise on women and the
economy.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan is a founder of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Center for Women
in Government. She serves as president of the State Issues Forum, treasurer of Voters for Choice
and currently serves on the board of directors of the Advocacy Institute, Independent Sector,
National Commission on Working Women, the Benton Foundation, the National Conference of State
Legislatures Foundation for State Legislatures and other non-governmental organizations. As a
public member of the US Delegation to the United Nation's Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing, China, she has participated in the UN Preparatory Committees in 1994 and 1995 and in
the Vienna Regional Meeting in 1994. Ms. Tarr-Whelan has just been awarded with the Women
Executives in State Government "Breaking the Glass Celling" Award, which she will receive in
February, 1996.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan was born in
(b)(6)
She is a nurse with a B.S.N. from the Johns
Hopkins University and M.S. trom the University of Maryland. She is married to Keith Tarr-Whelan,
and has two children, Scott, 28 and Melinda, 26, and one newborn grandson, Gerhig Wade.
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 710
January 1996
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-6030 FAX (202) 986-2539
printed on recycled paper
FEB-01. 96 18:02 FROM:
TO: 66244
PAGE: 02
FEB-01-1996 15:23
ICRW
202 797 0020
P.02/04
February 1, 1996
The President
The White House
Washington. DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you because we believe that the leadership the United States provides at the
United Nations on the Commission on the Status of Women is important to American
women and to those who, globally, look 'to the United States for the leadership our
government provided at the 4th World Conference on Women.
The CSW plays a critical role in promoting women's political, economic and social rights
at the United Nations. Post-Beijing, the CSW also has the potential to play an influential
role within the UN urging the systemwide gender reform called for in the Platform for
Action. Certainly, the CSW will continue to stimulate attention to the patterns of
discrimination against women and to promoting women's rights described in the Platform.
The person chosen to head the United States' delegation to the Commission on the Status
of Women should represent the best of what America wants. We feel the following basic
criteria are required:
substantive knowledge of women's issues;
demonstrated negotiating skills;
experience with the United Nations;
personal influence and confidence sufficient to command attention and form
consensus; and
access to and the trust of the NGO community.
These qualifications made a significant difference in the quality of our leadership in Beijing.
We urge you to choose a women to head the US delegation to the CSW to follow in the
traditions of Madeleine Albright and Geraldine Ferraro.
In addition, the U.S. delegation should be backed by a strong strategic and advisory staff
and assisted by the permanent participation of at least three NGO representatives. The
Fourth World Conference on Women was shaped largely by NGO women. In this post-
Beijing implementation period it will be essential to continue the vital link between
government and NGOs in the work of the CSW.
International Center for Research on Women
1717 Mossachusetts Ave. N.W., Suite 302
Washington, DC 20036 USA
Telephone: 202-797-0007
Fax:
202-797-0020
.
e-mail: [email protected]
TO: 66244
PAGE 03
FEB-01 96 18:02 FROM:
FEB-01-1996 15:24
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.03/04
Mr. President, we applaud your serious search for the right candidate for the job. We stand
ready to assist you in this process and look forward to working with the head of delegation,
once chosen.
We stand by you and your commitment to the advancement of women and to the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Cordially,
fill Merrick
Merrick
Jill Merrick
Director, Communications and Public Policy
International Center for Research on Women
Lca Browning
Rosa Briceño
Pat Rengel
Chief Legislative Council
Amnesty International/USA
Julianne Cartwright-Traylor
Human Rights Advocates, Inc.
Donna Shavlik
Director, Office of Women in Higher Education
The American Council on Education
Mahnaz Afkhami
Executive Director
Sisterhood is Global Institute
Barbara R. Arnwine
Nicole Etlhait
Association for Women in Development
Vicki Ferguson
Gender Analysis and Development Consultant
Lauren Gilbert
Director, Women and International Law Program
Washington College of Law
TO: 66244
PAGE: 04
FEB-01 96 18:02 FROM:
FEB-01-1996 15:24
ICRW
202 797 0020
P.04/04
Mary P. Haney
Member of Board and Executive Committee of
U.S. Committee for UNIFEM
Jodi Jacobson
Co-Director
Health and Development Policy Project
Patricia Krommer
Board Member
International Education Development, Inc.
Marjorie Lightman
Acting Executive Director
International League for Human Rights
Surita Sondosham
Executive Director
Equality Now
E. Maxina Ankrah
Senior Advisor, Women's Initiative
Family Health International/AIDSCAP
Suzanne Kindervatter
Interaction/Committee for Advancement of Women
Robin Phillips
Director, Women's Human Rights
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
JoAnn Lewis
Senior Vice President
Family Health International
Dorothy Thomas
Director, Women's Rights Project
Human Rights Watch
Joan Dunlop
President
International Women's Health Coalition
Janet Benshoof
President
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
TOTAL P.04
MELANNE VERVEER
Your talking
points for
tomorrow.
03-12-1996 07:05PM FROM
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OUTGUING FAX
** IF RECEIVED INCOMPLETE CALL (212) 415- 4119
UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
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DATE: 3/12 7:15
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TO: 1)
Melanne
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(OFFICE/TEL #)
(FAX # ONLY)
2)
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(OFFICE/TEL #)
(FAX F. ONLY)
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03-12-1996 07:06PM
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Reporton
MV Talking Points for MKA Reception
Dips
Audience: dozens of delegation heads and Perm Reps (snore)
American NGOs (no idea how many since most are not here for the entire
two week period.)
maybe some magazine folks
maybe some New York feminist glitterati
o
The First Lady asked that I send along her best wishes to the representatives to the
Commission on the Status of Women and to the representatives of non-governmental
organizations attending this Commission meeting.. She continues to be committed to bringing
Beijing to American women through her work as Honorary Chair of the President's Interagency
Council on Women.
The work you are all doing here this week and next is crucial to the follow-up work to
Beijing that is going on all around the world.
o
We are very fortunate that Linda Tarr-Whelan agreed to serve as our new Representative
to the Commission. Americans are well-served by the experience she brings as an NGO and a
member of our delegation to Beijing.
o
US participation in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing was a great
success - in large part due to the contribution of the thousands of American women and men who
were determined that this Conference would identify solutions for each every challenge women
and girls face and devise strategies to promote stronger families, communities and societies.
As the President's Council implements the Platform for Action at the federal government
level, its efforts have been enhanced by the continuing partnership with the nongovernment
community. This partnership brought us to Beijing and will continue to move us along as we
work to institutional changes to better the lives of American women and girls.
o
The President's Council is hard at work, operating out of the White House. With the
leadership of Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala and the expertise and
energy of senior officials from all across the federal government, the Council is meeting the
commitments Ambassador Albright announced at the Conference and developing new
commitments to ensure that women get a fair shake when the US government develops its
policies.
o
We realize that something profound happened in Beijing and that it inspired not only the
women and men who attended but those at home also. There is an energy and a desire to get
involved, particularly among young women. We are hopeful that the work of the Commission
will benefit from this renewed commitment and that we will soon be able to offer young girls
around the world a futrue where equality, opportunity, and security enable them to do their best.
TOTAL P.02
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P.01
FROM
UNITED STATES MISSION
UNITED NATIONS
OPTIONAL FORM 99.(7-90)
TAX TRANSMITTAI
# nf ПЯПАН
3)
United Nativus Plass
From
To
J.LOAR
ew York, N.Y. 10017
Dept./Agency
Phone 12-45-4226 #
Tel. 212-415-4050
PRESS REI
Tax
456-6244
+1 415-4119
Fax #
FAX 212-415-4053
5099-101
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NSN 7540-01-317-7368
FOR IMME RELEASE
USUN PRESS RELEASE #30-(96)
MARCH 12, 1996
Opening Statement by Linda Tarr-Whelan, United States
Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of
Women, at the United Nations, March 12, 1996
Thank you Madame Chair. The United States delegation
congratulates you in your new role as chairperson of the Bureau
and also congratulate the other members of the Bureau. We wish
you all success and pledge our support.
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of the Fourth world Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by the breadth and depth of
the NGO Forum and the force of the NGOs themselves; and in 3
opirit e= renewal and rededicarion that the oclebration of the
United Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us strong encouragement. The designation
by the Secretary General of Rocarie Green as coordinator of all
women's issues in the UN system and the appointment of Anyela
King as director of the Division for the Advancement of Women
come as good news. They are women of great ability and
reputation. We place our confidence in them without reservation.
We wish them every success and we stand ready to offer them our
assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. We have reached consensus. Now is not the time to re-
discuss those topics where our discussions and negotiations led
us to this point. Now we have a different and difficult task. It
is time for the members of the CSW to raise the questions and
work together to find the answers that will enable the CSW to
meet the goals of the Beijing Platform for the equality of women
and girls in the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
TO
912024566244 P.02
03-12-1996 03: 18PM
FROM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USUN PRESS RELEASE #30-(96)
MARCH 12, 1996
Opening Statement by Linda Tarr-Whelan, United States
Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of
Women, at the United Nations, March 12, 1996
Thank you Madame Chair. The United States delegation
congratulates you in your new role as chairperson of the Bureau
and also congratulate the other members of the Bureau. We wish
you all success and pledge our support.
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by the breadth and depth of
the NGO Forum and the force of the NCOs themselves; and in a
spirit of renewal and rededication that the celebration of the
United Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us strong encouragement. The designation
by the Secretary General of Rosario Green as coordinator of all
women's issues in the UN system and the appointment of Angela
King as director of the Division for the Advancement of Women
come as good news. They are women of great ability and
reputation. We place our confidence in them without reservation.
We wish them every success and we stand ready to offer them our
assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. We have reached consensus. Now is not the time to re-
discuss those topics where our discussions and negotiations led
us to this point. Now we have a different and difficult task. It
is time for the members of the CSW to raise the questions and
work together to find the answers that will enable the CSW to
meet the goals of the Beijing Platform for the equality of women
and girls in the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
03-12-1996 03:19PM FROM
TO
912024566244 P.03
-2-
The United States strongly supports the agreements we
reached at the Fourth World Conference and later in the General
Assembly, that the Commission must have:
a clear mandate;
a central role in monitoring implementation of the
Platform, although primary responsibility for
implementation rests with governments themselves;
and,
a catalytic role in implementation of the Platform for
Action within the UN
system;
a cooperative and coordinated working relationship with
the related commissions of the Economic and Social Council
that constitutes synergy;
and a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective
in UN activities; and in ensuring that women and women's
issues are fully integrated into the mainstream of
society and all its institutions.
This is hard work, but the four world conferences on women
that have been held since 1975 have paved the way. At Beijing
governments recognized women's issues as legitimate concerns of
nations. And, as the Platform for Action makes clear, the world
now recognizes that all its issues have an impact, and are of
concern, to women.
Twenty years of organizing, advocating, gathering and
analyzing data, discussing and working together came to fruition
in Beijing: women as equal partners and decision makers in the
political and economic spheres; men as equal partners in family
life transcended individual issues. No longer are women simply
victims of oppression but activists for change. Beneficiaries of
programs are instead becoming constituents of civil society.
Women have become a political force and they are claiming their
place in creating equality, development and peace.
As it is for the United Nations, so it is for the United
States. My country is very serious about the implementation of
the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and about
fulfilling our particular commitments announced at Beijing. For
the first time, the United States has created a formal mechanism
especially for implementation and follow-up.
On the eve of the Fourth World Conference, President Clinton
announced the establishment of the "President's Interagency
Council on Women" to, in the President's words, "make sure that
all the effort and good ideas actually get implemented when we
get back home."
TO
912024566244 P.04
03-12-1996 03:19PM
FROM
-3-
We are proud to say that the Council is in operation, and
that it operates out of the White House; that a member of the
President's Cabinet, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
Shalala, who was a part of the leadership of our delegation to
Beijing, chairs the Council. And we are especially happy to have
the strong support of the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who
is honorary chair of the Council, just as she was of the U.S.
delegation.
Time is short and the task before us great. The United
States is determined to waste no time and the President's Council
has begun the work of implementation now. It is our goal to
institutionalize as much change as possible.
As we proceed with this work of implementation, the
Council's members, all of whom are high level representatives of
all government agencies and many of whom were delegates to
Beijing, are overseeing implementation for their individual
agencies.
Fortunately we are not starting from ground zero. In many
respects our laws and practices already meet the standards set
forth in the Platform for Action.
But failings, shortcomings and discrimination persist.
Poverty is a reality for too many. Violence against women
continues at high levels. Life can and should be better for women
in our country, especially those women facing additional forms of
diScrimination beyond those that all women share. The U.S.
government has a firm policy of non-discrimination. And we must
be able to offer our girls a future where equality, opportunity
and security enable them to be their best.
As we now work to implement the Platform, we continue to
look to women in non-governmental organizations to help us define
the problems and find solutions and to hold their government
accountable. We will work in partnership and, as recommended in
the Platform, take joint responsibility for the work of
implementation.
As many of you will remember, the United States took the
position at the Fourth World Conference, and at the preparatory
conferences, that implementation must be done within existing
resources, through refocusing, reordering priorities, thinking
creatively. This is hard to do.
03-12-1996 03:20PM FROM
TO
912024566244 P.05
-4-
Nevertheless, we have no choice in the United States at this
time but to take our own advice. This is not a time when the U.S.
can or will allocate new and additional resources to implement
the Platform in our country. We are proceeding with
implementation at a time when many federal agencies are
undergoing severe budget reductions and reductions of personnel.
We do not celebrate this, but neither will we use it as an excuse
to do nothing.
We cannot wait for an ideal set of circumstances. We are
moving ahead and are determined that this difficult situation
will bring out the best in us.
Our efforts are both national and international. We shall be
releasing a report following up on our commitments made at
Beijing and on additional efforts at implementation during the
course of this CSW meeting.
These are sometimes small, but always significant steps. Not
surprisingly, however, we are learning, or perhaps confirming
what we knew in our hearts, that the hardest work of all is not
that of taking new initiatives. Our work at home may very well
parallel the work we do together in the Commission on the Status
of Women. Integrating women, and issues of concern to them, into
the mainstream of society and its institutions can be very
difficult work.
so too the application of a gender perspective to the
identification, analysis and solution of problems. Adopting a
gender perspective means changing much more than policies and
programs on paper. It cannot be done by fiat, although it
certainly helps to have the support and direction come from the
highest level. It means changing the way we think, changing our
world view, internalizing and assimilating this perspective into
the body politic SO that never again will women be marginalized
and their issues put on the agenda as an afterthought, something
to be considered only if time and resources allow.
As one NGO said of her own organization's efforts to
implement the Platform and integrate a gender perspective into
the issues, "As we now get specific, we find we're meeting
resistance." Abstract concepts are just SO many lofty ideals.
However, as they become concrete, reality sinks in.
A word about CEDAW. Ratification remains a priority for the
Clinton Administration. However under our Constitution treaties
must be ratified with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Despite the Administration's support, and we are still waiting
for the Senate to act. Although we are not yet a state party to
CEDAW, we look forward to making a positive contribution as
TO
912024566244 P.06
03-12-1996 03:20PM FROM
-5-
participants in the drafting session of the optional protocol
during this session.
In the meantime NGOs in the United States, many of whom have
worked for the past 10 years for CEDAW'S adoption, have begun a
massive campaign with two strategies. They seek to create
widespread grassroots support for CEDAW through public education,
showing Americans, especially American women, in concrete terms
why CEDAW is important for the U.S. not only diplomatically but
to American women at home. They intend also to work for
governmental and institutional support, urging universities,
other institutions, and state and municipal legislatures to
"adopt" or endorse CEDAW.
Whether it is ratification of CEDAW, action on a particular
issue or the entire Platform, one phenomenon continues to astound
us. There have been hundreds, and probably thousands of post-
Beijing events across the United States. This is not a government
effort but a community and grassroots effort. "Bringing Beijing
Home, If and "Beijing and Beyond" have become commonplace phrases
in cities and towns from Tacoma, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia,
from San Antonio, Texas to Poughkeepsie, New York. with the
Platform as its model, a coalition of women's groups in
Pittsburgh, Pa. is at work on the "Pittsburgh Plan of Action."
This week leaders in Colorado and Massachusetts unveiled state
plans. And in Louisville, Kentucky a group of middle school
students put on a post-Beijing event for 300 young people, and
the boys in the group led the workshop on the image of women in
the media.
In short, we realize that something profound happened in
Beijing and it inspired not only the women who attended but those
at home also. There is an energy, and a desire to get involved
and get to work on these issues that renews our hope and
confidence in the future. We think the United States is not alone
in this. And that is why we are so hopeful about this meeting of
CSW and the future of the Commission and we look forward to
joining in the dialogue on the three agenda items of poverty,
women and the media and child and dependent care.
HOW can the Commission on the Status of Women help the
United Nations and individual states to implement the Platform
for Action? How can it ensure that its most difficult task is
accomplished -- the equality of women and their integration into
the mainstream of society? In a spirit of goodwill and
cooperation we must fix our gaze on the future and plan together
how we can do things better to move humanity towards our goal of
equality, development and peace.
****
TOTAL P.06
AR-04-96 MON 14:58
P. 03
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 1, 1996
PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES LINDA TARR-WHELAN TO BE
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
President Clinton today appointed Linda Jane Zack Tarr-Whelan
of Virginia as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women.
3/4
Ms. Tarr-Whelan has had 25 years of public policy experience as
an advocate and government official in the areas of health care,
MV.-
employment, economic development. education and women's issues She
has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for
Policy Alternatives since 1986. In addition, she has served as
deputy assistant to the President for Women's Concerns in the Carter
Fyl
White House, director of government relations for the National
Education Association, administrative director of the New York State
Department of Labor, and director of program development for the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Ms Tarr-Whelan is a founder of the Coalition of Labor Union
NOV
Women and the Center for Women in Government. As a public member of
privatedvise mendated sector eF(as by State
the U.S. delegation to the United Nation's Fourth World Conference on
Women in Beijing, China, she has participated in the UN Preparatory
lawyes)
G
Committees in 1994 and 1995 and in the Vienna Regional Meeting in
1994. Ms. Tarr-Whelan has published numerous articles and is the
recent recipient of the Women Executives in State Government
"Breaking the Glass Ceiling" Award.
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
002. memo
Patsy L. Thomasson to Melanne Verveer re: non-selection (3 pages)
01/02/1996
b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer
OA/Box Number: 20056
FOLDER TITLE:
UN- CSW [United Nations - Commission on the Status of Women]
2013-0534-S
rc1854
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Department
Date
1/26/95
of State
Number of pages including cover sheet 14
TO: Kathy Hendrix
FROM: Sharon Katon
Office of Economic and
Social Affairs
Bureau of International
Organization Affairs
Phone 456-6266
Fax Phone 456.6244
Phone
202-647-1155
Fax Phone 202-647-4628
CC:
REMARKS:
Urgent
For your review
Reply ASAP
Please Comment
Please deliver to Kathy Heravix
P.01
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:45
Exempted the Classification Act by DT. 120 8104 Congress) too (4).81 &
as
Standard form No. 25
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UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
(a) " this position replaces another (L ., . change of dutica
in an existing position), Identify such position by litte,
allocation (service, antial grade). and position number
POSITION DESCRIPTION
6.
APR 20 351
(b) Other (specify)
CLASSIFICATION ACTION
7. Date received from C.S.O.
5.
OTHER COPY
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CLASS
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CLASS TITLE or POSITION
INITIALS
01/7/018
DATE
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(Signature of immediate supervisor)
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14. Certification by head of buread. division. deld effice. or designated representative
as Certification by department, or ostablishment
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Title: Personnel Officer, USUN
Title: Chief, Classification Branch
1a. Description of duries and responsibilities (See Outde to Position Classifiers, Employees, and Supervisors for the Preparation of Position Descriptions, Standard Form No. 70/
Serves on a WAB basis as United States Representative on the Commission on the
Status of Korean of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The fune-
time of the Commission are to prepare recommendations or reports to the Economic and
Social Council on promoting women's rights in political, evonomie, sivil, social, and
educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on
urgent problems requiring inmediate attention & the field of women's rights with the
object of implementing the principle that non and women shall have equal rights. and devole
proposals to give effect to such recommendations.
The Commission on the Status of Women consists of one representative from each
of 15 members of the United Nations solected by the Economis and Social Council.
P.02
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:46
5-64
2
Infeyes Jr
Agency:
Department of State
Position Title:
U. S. Representative to the Commission on the
Status or Women of the Economic and Social
Council
47500
Salary:
$39,505 (WAE)
KORY NE KANEVKI HORBAL KANCY FLACK REYAORDS
Present Incumbent:
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Koontz (Appointed 1/30/69)
Introduction:
The Commission on the Status of Women functions within the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
The Commission prepares recommendations and reports to the
Council on promoting Women's rights in political, economic, civil,
social, and educational fields, and on the development of women is
role in society and On family planning. The Commission's agenda-
has nt. times contained items which could be exploited for political
onds.
Dutien:
Under instructions of the Secretary and the Department,
serves as 11. S. Representative on the Commission with responsi
bility for acting as U. S. spokesman at its meetings and report
ing to the Department san its activities. Maintains liaison with
counterpart representatives of other member governments For the
purpose of exchanging views and information and negotiating to
encourage and gain their support of U. S. policies and positions
AS assigned, serves on special study groups in proparing reports
and recommendations for the Council.
1/ The Commission meets annually, either in New York or Geneva
Incumbent is paid on a "when actually employed" basis for a
period of approximately three weeks a year.
3.03
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:46
may 10,02 10:17 US MISSIN IU 100 UN DAINERS
3
-2-
(Position Title:
U. S. Representative 10 the Commission on the
Status of Women of the Economic and Social
Council)
(The U. S. Representative must have technical knowledge.in
the fields of women's rights, together with political astuteness.
The incumbent must. be able to identify items which could be
exploited for political gain, analyze them and report them to
the Department.)
END
Dathaps 3/5/82
T. Ir/ADin-
KATHY TEMPLINSAI
(hin USIN
H
P.04
JAN-26-96 FRI 14:47
I talked to John Mathiason this morning about preparations for
the upcoming CSW meeting (March 11-22) in New York.
There will be an EXTENDED BUREAU MEETING JANUARY 30. John
will notify (or has notified) Lucy Tamlyn.
-
This is an election year for the CSW, and the regional
groups will be encouraged to decide their candidates before
the CSW begins. The chair will come from Latin America and
the Caribbean, the rapporteur from Asia, and the
vice-chairs from WEOG, EE, and Africa.
-
ANGELA KING will be named the new Director of the Division
for the Advancement of Women. (It's a D-2 position.)
Angela is from Jamaica and is currently in the Office of
Resources Management. (We've worked with her over the past
few years to try to improve the status of women in the
Secretariat.)
-
On December 20, the SYG named ROSARIO GREEN as his high
level person responsible for implementing the Platform and
for mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout the UN
system. (I'll try to get the press release off the
Internet.)
-
The major agenda items for the 1996 CSW are:
- the priority themes;
- the optional protocol to CEDAW;
- follow-up to the FWCW.
The priority themes that will be discussed at the 1996
session are:
-
Equality: elimination of stereotyping of women in the
mass media;
-
Development: child and dependent care, including
sharing of work and family responsibilities;
-
Peace: education for peace.
Delegations will make one formal statement in the plenary
on follow-up to the FWCW. (The President's Interagency
Council on Women has already offered to draft this speech!)
The Secretariat is drafting three major reports:
-
on the SWMTP. This report will not be ready until
right before the CSW.
-
on the CSW's LONG-TERM PROGRAM OF WORK. Mathiason
hopes this draft will be ready in time to release at
the extended bureau meeting January 30.
-
an interim report on INTEGRATED FOLLOW-UP to the FWCW,
which would include recommendations on what the CSW,
UNIFEM, and INSTRAW should do to implement the
Platform. This report will try to recommend a win/win
solution on the question of the merger of UNIFEM and
INSTRAW.
The Secretariat is putting together these and other reports
and hopes to have some ready very soon. (I'll ask Lucy to
get me copies as soon as they are available.)
As a result of our meeting at Mohonk last October, the CSW
is going to try to change its method of work and be more
interactive. This means that its reports on the priority
themes will raise questions rather than provide answers and
that Member States will be encouraged to put experts on
their delegations who could speak about the priority
themes, follow-up to the FWCW, and the optional protocol to
CEDAW.
FYI, Evan Bloom called to say that one of the L interns is
interested in the CSW. Two areas that we could use her help
would be: the optional protocol to CEDAW and the priority
theme on the elimination of stereotyping of women in the mass
media.
Women then and Medea
Junior Singe
FEB-01-1996 15:21
ICRW
202 797 0020
P.02/04
February 1, 1996
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you because we believe that the leadership the United States provides at the
United Nations on the Commission on the Status of Women is important to American
women and to those who, globally, look to the United States for the leadership our
government provided at the 4th World Conference on Women.
The CSW plays a critical role in promoting women's political, economic and social rights
at the United Nations. Post-Beijing, the CSW also has the potential to play an influential
role within the UN urging the systemwide gender reform called for in the Platform for
Action. Certainly, the CSW will continue to stimulate attention to the patterns of
discrimination against women and to promoting women's rights described in the Platform.
The person chosen to head the United States' delegation to the Commission on the Status
of Women should represent the best of what America wants. We feel the following basic
criteria are required:
substantive knowledge of women's issues;
demonstrated negotiating skills;
experience with the United Nations;
personal influence and confidence sufficient to command attention and form
consensus; and
access to and the trust of the NGO community.
These qualifications made a significant difference in the quality of our leadership in Beijing.
We urge you to choose a women to head the US delegation to the CSW to follow in the
traditions of Madeleine Albright and Geraldine Ferraro.
In addition, the U.S. delegation should be backed by a strong strategic and advisory staff
and assisted by the permanent participation of at least three NGO representatives. The
Fourth World Conference on Women was shaped largely by NGO women. In this post-
Beijing implementation period it will be essential to continue the vital link between
government and NGOs in the work of the CSW.
International Center for Research on Women
1717 Mossachusetts Ave. N.W., Suite 302
Washington, DC 20036 USA
Telephone: 202-797-0007
Fax: 202-797-0020
e-mail: [email protected]
FEB-01-1996 15:22
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.03/04
Mr. President, we applaud your serious search for the right candidate for the job. We stand
ready to assist you in this process and look forward to working with the head of delegation,
once chosen.
We stand by you and your commitment to the advancement of women and to the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Cordially,
jull Merrick Merrick
Jill Merrick
Director, Communications and Public Policy
International Center for Research on Women
Lea Browning
Rosa Briceño
Pat Rengel
Chief Legislative Council
Amnesty International/USA
Julianne Cartwright-Traylor
Human Rights Advocates, Inc.
Donna Shavlik
Director, Office of Women in Higher Education
The American Council on Education
Mahnaz Afkhami
Executive Director
Sisterhood is Global Institute
Barbara R. Arnwine
Nicole Etlhait
Association for Women in Development
Vicki Ferguson
Gender Analysis and Development Consultant
Lauren Gilbert
Director, Women and International Law Program
Washington College of Law
FEB-01-1996 15:22
ICRW
202 797 0020 P.04/04
Mary P. Haney
Member of Board and Executive Committee of
U.S. Committee for UNIFEM
Jodi Jacobson
Co-Director
Health and Development Policy Project
Patricia Krommer
Board Member
International Education Development, Inc.
Marjorie Lightman
Acting Executive Director
International League for Human Rights
Surita Sondosham
Executive Director
Equality Now
E. Maxina Ankrah
Senior Advisor, Women's Initiative
Family Health International/AIDSCAP
Suzanne Kindervatter
Interaction/Committee for Advancement of Women
Robin Phillips
Director, Women's Human Rights
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
JoAnn Lewis
Senior Vice President
Family Health International
Dorothy Thomas
Director, Women's Rights Project
Human Rights Watch
Joan Dunlop
President
International Women's Health Coalition
Janet Benshoof
President
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
TOTAL P.04
THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
RUTGERS
Thereso
Center for Women's Global Leadership
6V
Douglass College
27 Clifton Avenue
New Brunswick
New Jersey 08903
USA
Phone: 1-908-932-8782
Fax: 1-908-932-1180
E-mail: [email protected]
February 21, 1996
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Honorary Chair, U.S. Delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women and Honorary
Chair of the President's Interagency Council on Women
The White House
Old Executive Office Building
Room 100
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mrs. Clinton:
We are writing to invite you or your representative to a meeting we have requested with the
President's appointee to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. We have
proposed March 1, from 1:30 to 3:30, at the offices of Human Rights Watch in New York (485
Fifth Avenue, between 41st and 42nd Streets). We know of your support and interest in
these matters, and hope you will be able to join this conversation.
Attached please find a letter to the President, describing our hopes for such a meeting. We
deeply appreciate your critical role in bringing women's human rights issues to public
attention, and insisting they remain solidly on the agenda of the Fourth World Conference on
Women. Your continued support and willingness to engage in this conversation will help
ensure a forceful commitment to women's human rights in implementing the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action. Please feel free to contact Charlotte Bunch at the
Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University (telephone: (908) 932-8782.
Fax: (908) 932-1180) with any questions or comments.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Sincerely,
Bella Abzug, Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Lea Browning
Charlotte Bunch, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Rhonda Copelon, International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, City University of New
York Law School
Kit Cosby, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the U.S.
Joan Dunlop, International Women's Health Coalition
Cathy Powell, member of the International Network of Women of Color North/South
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International/USA
Donna Sullivan, International Human Rights Law Group/Women in the Law Project
Dorothy Q. Thomas, Women's Rights Project of Human Rights Watch
On behalf of the Working Groups on Women's Human Rights based in Washington, DC and
New York/New Jersey
THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
RUTGERS
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Douglass College
27 Clifton Avenue
New Brunswick
New Jersey 08903
USA
Phone: 1-908-932-8782
Fax: 1-908-932-1180
E-mail: [email protected]
February 20, 1996
President William J. Clinton
The White House
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of a number of non-governmental organizations concerned with women's human
rights, we would like to invite the United States' representative to the UN Commission on the
Status of Women (CSW) and other relevant government officials to a meeting to discuss the
upcoming Commission on the Status of Women session (March 11-22). Since time is so
short, we have set aside March 1, from 1:30-3:30 at the offices of Human Rights Watch in
New York (485 Fifth Avenue, between 41st and 42nd Streets) for a meeting. If this date is
not convenient, we would be glad to arrange another appointment in the following week.
At the recent Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the United States played a
significant role in securing a Declaration and Platform for Action that advances the rights of
women. The upcoming session of the Commission on the Status of Women will lay the
groundwork for ensuring the implementation of the Platform into the 21st century. It is,
therefore, critical that the United States continue to demonstrate its support for women's
human rights through strong representation on the Commission. Moreover, we hope that the
positions of the US will continue to reflect consultation with non-governmental organizations
attentive to, and knowledgeable about, these issues. We believe these conversations have
been mutually productive, as we expect they will continue to be. To facilitate such efforts, we
would like to meet with your representative to this session of the CSW to discuss the agenda
and the activities of the Commission.
We respectfully urge you to make a speedy appointment and make it widely known to the
public so that non-governmental organizations concerned with this session can initiate
contact with this representative. Once you have made such an appointment, we request that
you transmit this invitation to meet with us to your appointee, as well as to other government
officials responsible for women's human rights, including the President's Interagency Council
on Women and State Department personnel.
We greatly appreciate the openness your administration has shown to NGOs around recent
United Nations world conferences by hosting regular briefings for non-governmental
organizations. We cordially appeal to you to continue this tradition by hosting an open
briefing for the wider NGO community with the US delegation to the Commission on the
Status of Women, in addition to conducting NGO briefings throughout the sessions.
We appreciate your administration's efforts to consult with the NGO community, and look
forward to continuing this working relationship at the CSW and beyond. If it is possible for
the CSW representative and other officials to meet with us, we respectfully request that they
respond to Charlotte Bunch at the Center for Women's Global Leadership, Rutgers University
(telephone: 908-932-8782; fax: 908-932-1180). Thank you in advance for your kind
consideration of this invitation.
Sincerely,
Bella Abzug, Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Lea Browning
Charlotte Bunch, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Rhonda Copelon, International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic, City University of New
York Law School
Kit Cosby, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the U.S.
Joan Dunlop, International Women's Health Coalition
Cathy Powell, member of the International Network of Women of Color North/South
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International/USA
Donna Sullivan, International Human Rights Law Group/Women in the Law Project
Dorothy Q. Thomas, Women's Rights Project of Human Rights Watch
On behalf of the Working Groups on Women's Human Rights based in Washington, DC and
New York/New Jersey.
CC:
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Honorary Chair of the U.S. Delegation to the Fourth World
Conference on Women and Honorary Chair of the President's Interagency
Council on Women
Robert J. Nash, Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel
Helmsley - 42mg
linka
readelines office
in
9Am 941 922 1443
morives!
Sun DC 12:30Pm -
CSW SPEECH DRAFT
Faxline 527-7989 703
Kamy- 212-866-8311 Sal/sun
- 5287773
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS (FILL IN SHARON, LTW)
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by breadth and depth of the
NGO Forum and the force of the NGOs themselves; and in a spirit
of renewal and rededication that the celebration of the United
Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us encouragement. The designation of
Rosario Green as coordinator of all women's issues in the UN
system and the appointment of Angela King as director of the
Division for the Advancement of Women come as good news. These
are women of great ability and reputation. We place our
confidence in them without reservation. We wish them every
success and we stand ready to offer them every assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. Now is the time for the members of the CSW to raise the
questions and work together to find the answers that will prepare
the CSW for its work into the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
The United States strongly supports the agreements we
reached at the Fourth World Conference and later in the General
Assembly, that the Commission must have:
a clear mandate;
a central role in monitoring implementation of the
Platform, although primary responsibility for
implementation rests with governments themselves;
a cooperative and coordinated working relationship with
the related commissions of the Economic and Social Council
that constitutes synergy;
o a catalytic role in implementation of the Platform for
Action within the UN system;
O and a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective
in UN activities; and in ensuring that women and women's
issues are fully integrated into the mainstream of
society and all its institutions?
This is hard work, but the four world conferences on women
that have been held since 1975 have paved the way. At Beijing
governments recognized women's issues as legitimate concerns of
nations. And, as the Platform for Action makes clear, the world
now recognizes that all its issues have an impact, and are of
concern, to women.
Twenty years of organizing, advocating, gathering and
analyzing data, discussing and working together came to fruition
in Beijing. Victims of oppression have become activists for
change. Beneficiaries of programs are becoming constituents of
political society. Women have become a political force and they
are claiming the public arena.
As it is for the United Nations, so it is for the United
States. My country is very serious about implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and about fulfilling
its particular commitments announced at Beijing. For the first
time, the United States has created a mechanism especially for
implementation and follow-up.
On the eve of the Fourth World Conference, President Clinton
announced the establishment of the "President's Interagency
Council on Women" to, in the President's words, "make sure that
all the effort and good ideas actually get implemented when we
get back home."
We are proud to say that the Council is in operation, and
that it operates out of the White House; that a member of the
President's Cabinet, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
Shalala, who was a part of the leadership of our delegation to
Beijing, chairs the Council. And we are especially happy to have
the strong support of the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who
is honorary chair of the Council, just as she was of the U.S.
delegation.
Time is short and the task before us great. The United
States is determined to waste no time and the President's Council
has begun the work of implementation now. It is our goal to
institutionalize as much change as possible now so that in the
future good policies and programs will be in place and not depend
solely on the good will of individuals.
As we proceed with this work of implementation, the
Council's members, all of whom are high level representatives of
all government agencies, are overseeing implementation for their
individual agencies. All have set themselves the task of
analyzing the Platform, asking "How does our agency measure up?"
and "What initiatives can we develop in the spirit of the
Platform to further women's progress through the mission,
policies and programs of our agency?"
Fortunately we are not starting from ground zero. In many
respects our laws and practices already meet the standards set
forth in the Platform for Action. For all of our failings and
shortcomings, we are the world's oldest continuing democracy, and
ours is a society where government responds to the demands of the
people, and where people have a long tradition of organizing
themselves for advocacy and action. It is our tradition, and, to
a large extent, our identity.
Women have been organizing in the United States since the
early days of the republic -- for education, against slavery, for
the right to vote, against child labor, for better working
conditions.
All of these efforts have borne results -- in our
legislation at the national, state, tribal and local levels, in
our interpretation and extension of existing Constitutional
rights, in our institutions and organizations, both public and
private.
But failings, shortcomings and discrimination persist. Life
The U SG has a ferm policy
of discrimination
can and should be better for women in our country, especially
those groups, who because of additional factors such as age,
race, ethnicity, indigenous status, religion, culture,
disability, sexual orientation, poverty, or other status, face
L-
additional forms of discrimination to those that all women share.
As we now work to implement the Platform, we continue to
look to those women, whom we now call NGOs, to help us define the
problems and find solutions, and hold their government
accountable. We will work in partnership and take joint
responsibility for the work of implementation.
As many of you will remember, the United States took the
position at the Fourth World Conference, and at the preparatory
conferences, that implementation must be done within existing
resources, through refocusing, reordering priorities, thinking
creatively. This is hard to do.
Nevertheless, we have no choice in the United States at this
time but to take our own advice. This is not a time when the U.S.
can or will allocate new and additional resources to implement
the Platform in our country. We are proceeding with
implementation at a time when many federal agencies are
undergoing severe budget reductions and reductions of personnel.
We do not celebrate this, but neither will we use it as an excuse
to do nothing.
We cannot wait for an ideal set of circumstances. We are
moving ahead and are determined that this difficult situation
will bring out the best in us.
EXAMPLES: GSA and recycling/childcare; violence; etc. I WILL
SUPPLY THESE LATER TODAY
These are sometimes small, but always significant steps. Not
surprisingly, however, we are learning, or perhaps confirming
what we knew in our hearts, that the hardest work of all is not
that of taking new initiatives. Integrating women, and issues of
concern to them, into the mainstream of society and its
institutions can be maddeningly subtle work.
Likewise the application of a gender perspective to the
identification, analysis and solution of problems. Adopting a
gender perspective means changing much more than policies and
programs as they appear on paper. It cannot be done by fiat,
although it certainly helps to have the support and direction
come from the highest level. It means changing the way we think,
changing our world view, internalizing and assimilating this
perspective by individual men and women and into the body politic
so that never again will women be marginalized and their issues
put on the agenda as an afterthought, something to be considered
only if time and resources allow.
As one NGO said of her own organization's efforts to
implement the Platform and integrate a gender perspective into
the issues, "As we now get specific, we find we're meeting
resistance." Abstract concepts are just so many lofty ideals.
However, as they become concrete, reality sinks in.
A word about CEDAW. Ratification remains a priority for the
Administration. However it cannot be done without the advice and
consent of the Senate, and we are still waiting for the Senate to
act. Although we are not yet a state party to CEDAW, we look
forward to making a positive contribution as participants in the
drafting session of the optional protocol during this session.
In the meantime NGOs in the United States, many of whom have
worked for the past 10 years for CEDAW's adoption, have begun a
massive campaign with two strategies. They seek to create
widespread grassroots support for CEDAW through public education,
showing Americans, especially American women, in concrete terms
why CEDAW is important for the U.S. not only diplomatically but
to American women at home. They intend also to work for
governmental and institutional support, urging universities,
other institutions, and state and municipal legislatures to
"adopt" or endorse CEDAW.
Whether it is ratification of CEDAW, action on a particular
issue or the entire Platform, one phenomenon continues to astound
us. There have been hundreds, and probably thousands of post-
Beijing events across the United States. This is not a government
effort but a community and grassroots effort. "Bringing Beijing
Home, " and "Beijing and Beyond" have become commonplace phrases
in cities and towns from Tacoma, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia,
from San Antonio, Texas to Poughkeepsie, New York. With the
Platform as its model, a coalition of women's groups in
Pittsburgh, Pa. is at work on the "Pittsburgh Plan of Action."
And in Louisville, Kentucky a group of middle school students put
on a post-Beijing event for 300 young people, and the boys in the
group led the workshop on the image of women in the media.
In short, we realize that something profound happened in
Beijing and it inspired not only the women who attended but those
at home also. There is an energy, and a desire to get involved
and get to work on these issues that renews our hope and
confidence in the future. We think the United States is not alone
in this. And that is why we are so hopeful about this meeting of
CSW and the future of the Commission. We look forward to joining
in the dialogue on the three agenda items of poverty, women and
the media and child and dependent care.
How can the Commission on the Status of Women help the
United Nations and individual states to implement the Platform
for Action? How can it ensure that its most difficult task is
accomplished -- the integration of women into the mainstream of
society? We must approach this effort in a spirit of goodwill and
cooperation. This is not time to focus on what is wrong, where
blame should be placed. The right direction is towards the
future. That is where we fix our gaze as we work together to
decide how we can do things better to move humanity towards our
goal of equality, development and peace.
drafted: President's Interagency Council on Women (PICW) : KHendrix
456-7352/FAX456-7357
clearances:TLoar:PICW
LTWhelan:IO/FO
SKotok:IO/ESA
DLeis:IO/SB
SBremner:H
JMeer: G (for GHillman)
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Chapter IV
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
45. In each critical area of concern, the problem is diagnosed and strategic
delated
objectives are proposed with concrete actions to be taken by various actors in
order to achieve those objectives. The strategic objectives are derived from
the critical areas of concern and specific actions to be taken to achieve them
cut across the boundaries of equality, development and peace the goals of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and reflect
their interdependence. The objectives and actions are interlinked, of high
priority and mutually reinforcing. The Platform for Action is intended to
improve the situation of all women, without exception, who often face similar
barriers, while special attention should be given to groups that are the most
disadvantaged.
46. The Platform for Action recognizes that women face barriers to full
equality and advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language,
*
ethnicity, culture, religion or disability, because they are indigenous women or
because of other status. Many women encounter specific obstacles related to
their family status, particularly as single parents; and to their socio-economic
sexual orientation are
status, including their living conditions in rural, isolated or impoverished
areas. Additional barriers also exist for refugee women, other displaced women,
including internally displaced women as well as for immigrant women and migrant
women, including women migrant workers. Many women are also particularly
affected by environmental disasters, serious and infectious diseases and various
forms of violence against women.
A. Women and poverty
47. More than 1 billion people in the world today, the great majority of whom
are women, live in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in the developing
countries. Poverty has various causes, including structural ones. Poverty is a
complex, multidimensional problem, with origins in both the national and
international domains. The globalization of the world's economy and the
deepening interdependence among nations present challenges and opportunities for
sustained economic growth and development, as well as risks and uncertainties
for the future of the world economy. The uncertain global economic climate has
been accompanied by economic restructuring as well as, in a certain number of
countries, persistent, unmanageable levels of external debt and structural
adjustment programmes. In addition, all types of conflict, displacement of
people and environmental degradation have undermined the capacity of Governments
to meet the basic needs of their populations. Transformations in the world
economy are profoundly changing the parameters of social development in all
countries. One significant trend has been the increased poverty of women, the
extent of which varies from region to region. The gender disparities in
economic power-sharing are also an important contributing factor to the poverty
of women. Migration and consequent changes in family structures have placed
additional burdens on women, especially those who provide for several
dependants. Macroeconomic policies need rethinking and reformulation to address
such trends. These policies focus almost exclusively on the formal sector.
They also tend to impede the initiatives of women and fail to consider the
differential impact on women and men. The application of gender analysis to a
wide range of policies and programmes is therefore critical to poverty reduction
strategies. In order to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development,
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women and men must participate fully and equally in the formulation of
macroeconomic and social policies and strategies for the eradication of poverty.
The eradication of poverty cannot be accomplished through anti-poverty
programmes alone but will require democratic participation and changes in
economic structures in order to ensure access for all women to resources,
opportunities and public services. Poverty has various manifestations,
including lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensure a
sustainable livelihood; hunger and malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of
access to education and other basic services; increasing morbidity and mortality
from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing; unsafe environments; and
social discrimination and exclusion. It is also characterized by lack of
participation in decision-making and in civil, social and cultural life. It
occurs in all countries - as mass poverty in many developing countries and as
pockets of poverty amidst wealth in developed countries. Poverty may be caused
by an economic recession that results in loss of livelihood or by disaster or
conflict. There is also the poverty of low-wage workers and the utter
destitution of people who fall outside family support systems, social
institutions and safety nets.
48. In the past decade the number of women living in poverty has increased
disproportionately to the number of men, particularly in the developing
countries. The feminization of poverty has also recently become a significant
problem in the countries with economies in transition as a short-term
consequence of the process of political, economic and social transformation. In
addition to economic factors, the rigidity of socially ascribed gender roles and
women's limited access to power, education, training and productive resources as
well as other emerging factors that may lead to insecurity for families are also
responsible. The failure to adequately mainstream a gender perspective in all
economic analysis and planning and to address the structural causes of poverty
is also a contributing factor.
49. Women contribute to the economy and to combating poverty through both
remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the
workplace. The empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of
poverty.
50. While poverty affects households as a whole, because of the gender division
of labour and responsibilities for household welfare, women bear a
disproportionate burden, attempting to manage household consumption and
production under conditions of increasing scarcity. Poverty is particularly
acute for women living in rural households.
51. Women's poverty is directly related to the absence of economic
opportunities and autonomy, lack of access to economic resources, including
credit, land ownership and inheritance, lack of access to education and support
services and their minimal participation in the decision-making process.
Poverty can also force women into situations in which they are vulnerable to
sexual exploitation.
52. In too many countries, social welfare systems do not take sufficient
account of the specific conditions of women living in poverty, and there is a
tendency to scale back the services provided by such systems. The risk of
falling into poverty is greater for women than for men, particularly in old age,
where social security systems are based on the principle of continuous
remunerated employment. In some cases, women do not fulfil this requirement
because of interruptions in their work, due to the unbalanced distribution of
-22-
2
context, the United States notes as well that many of the most critical actions to be taken in
accordance with the Platform do not require additional funds from the international community,
and can be accomplished through actions at the national and local level.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 48, Chapter IV (Strategic Objectives)
The United States Government has a firm policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and considers that the omission of this reference in Paragraph 48 and elsewhere in the
Platform for Action in no way justifies such discrimination in any country.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 207(b), (e) and (f), Chapter IV, Section H, (Institutional Mechanisms)
With respect to paragraphs 207(b), (e), and (f) in Chapter H, the United States will seek to
develop more comprehensive knowledge as well as seek to improve data collection on the issue
of unwaged work, to the extent that funds are available. We plan to consult, in a cooperative
manner, with appropriate research and documentation organizations.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 247, Chapter VI, Section K (Environment)
The United States would like to underscore that it interprets the sentence beginning
"Hurricanes in Paragraph 247 to mean that these listed occurances can cause environmental
degradation in certain circumstances but not in others. The United States also remains concerned
about the reference to "nuclear testing" in this paragraph, which appears not to have been
reviewed fully in the working group.
and testing of
II.
Statements Previously Made for the Record by the USG in
Main Committee on September 12, 13 and 14
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 19, Chapter II (Global Framework)
The United States understands that the phrase "radical transformation of the relationship
between men and women" in paragraph 19 is a reference to the realization of full equality
between women and men. It is in that context that the United States accepts this paragraph.
USG Interpretive Statement
Paragraph 27, Chapter II (Global Framework)
Paragraph 27 of the Platform recognizes the importance that non-governmental organizations
play and the importance of working with them for progress. The United States recognizes the
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Welcoming Remarks for International Women's Day
AS DELIVERED by Secretary of State Warren Christopher, March 8, 1996
Distinguished Members of Congress, ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen
guests: I am glad to welcome you this morning. On this International
Women's Day, we commemorate the remarkable achievements of women in our
government and we celebrate the progress over the past year for women's
rights and political participation. We must seize the opportunity before
us to put women's issues at the top of the agenda in America -- and the
world. And it is particularly good to have Gerry Ferraro, who has taken
such a leading role in promoting human rights, with us today.
Where women's rights are not protected, human rights are not secure.
Where women are not educated about their health, their families suffer
along with them. where women play no role in protecting the environment,
it does not get protected. But where women enjoy equal rights and equal
protection, all society progresses. That is why this Administration is
committed to bringing women's issues into the mainstream of American
diplomacy.
Nowhere is our commitment reflected more clearly than in the
Department's twentieth annual human rights reports released this week.
You will find not just a section on women, but documentation throughout
the reports on abuses from workplace discrimination to physical
mutilation. The reports show that the harm done to society is very great
when women's rights are neglected in peace or trampled in war.
Our first priority in the Department and around the world must be
our work for peace. As much as the soldier with a gun, the face of war
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2
is the child born in a refugee camp, the rape victim and the women whose
sons and husbands have disappeared -- and there are all too many of
those.
In 1996, President Clinton and I have rededicated ourselves to the
task of seeking peace with justice. In Bosnia, we not only achieved the
end of war but an unprecedented role for the International War Crimes
Tribunal that is seeking justice. for victims of deliberate policies of
murder and rape. In Haiti, our victory in the fight for democracy is
allowing Haiti's women and men to turn to the fight against poverty, and
thus to improve the rights of women and children.
As we promote peace, we work with women like Sonja Licht. Her
courageous advocacy of human rights and defense of NGOS in Belgrade has
come to symbolize hope for a more open society in Serbia. We also stand
with the Catholics and Protestants who overcame their losses in the
bloody conflict in Northern Ireland to found Women Together, a great
organization which is doing so much to renew the peace process there.
The world saw these faces and heard these voices at the Beijing
Conference on Women. The Beijing Conference threw out a challenge to the
forces of poverty, ignorance and intolerance. The First Lady summed up
that challenge simply: "women's rights are human rights, and human
rights are women's rights." Her forceful presence, and the hard work of
many of you here today, as well as the outstanding work of our UN
ambassador Madeleine Albright, helped set a forward-looking agenda for US
to take from Beijing. All Americans should be proud of what our
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3
delegation accomplished. -- committing the nations of the world to take
concrete steps to improve women's health and education and increase
women's participation in the lives of their societies.
The United States must lead the way in fulfilling the Beijing
Platform for Action. This year we will promote the political and legal
rights of women -- and we should ratify the Convention to Eliminate All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). We will also emphasize
programs like USAID's Girls' and Women's Education Initiative, aimed at
increasing the number of girls who complete primary school in countries
from India to Indonesia, from Guinea to Guatemala.
Our Women in Africa initiative is a good example of how we can
integrate these priorities into our foreign policy. Each of our
embassies in Africa is monitoring the follow-up to the Beijing
Conference. African women made a great contribution at Beijing, and SO
it is appropriate that our embassics are working with African women to
make the biggest difference with our limited resources -- with projects
as traditional as improving access to family planning or as cutting-edge
as improving NGO access to computers and communications. These projects
have a real possibility to lift the lives of Africans and advance key
objectives of American diplomacy.
The Beijing priorities reaffirm the conclusions of the Cairo
Conference on Population and Development. we are focusing on womer!'s
education and empowerment as we move forward to implement the Cairo
commitments. But our leadership to ensure access to safe, voluntary
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4
family planning services for millions of women and men is under attack by
many in Congress. I am deeply indebted to those on the platform who have
so strongly defended our programs and requests for resources to carry
them out. I thank them for their efforts.
On my trip to Latin America last week, I had the pleasure of meeting
some outstanding women and men who are providing free legal services to
over 700,000 pcople in Chile. I was struck by the leadership and support
of Chile's Minister of Justice, Mrs. Soledad Alvear. Across South
America, the women who marched to restore democracy are founding
community centers and development banks. Their vision of justice for all
is a reminder that women's participation and determination are
indispensable.
I am proud to say that this Administration has made good strides in
putting women in positions of power and prominence in American diplomacy
-- not enough, but many in high positions doing great work. And let me
acknowledge the efforts and excellence of the many here who give American
diplomacy the face of a woman every day. Thank you.
We are very fortunate to be joined today by several members of
Congress, women whose work has furthered the cause of women's equality
and women's rights and kept these issues before Congress and before the
American people.
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AMBASSADOR GERALDINE FERRARO
HEAD OF U.S. DELEGATION
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, MARCH 8, 1996
THANK YOU so MUCH, TIM, FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION. IT IS A GREAT
HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY WITH so MANY FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES, AND TO HAVE
THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE
ESSENTIAL ROLE THEY BOTH PLAY IN OUR EFFORTS TO FASHION A NEW AND
BETTER WORLD FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW US.
BEFORE I BEGIN, HOWEVER, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN
SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE TO HONOR TODAY, MR. SECRETARY. I AM
PLEASED, BUT NOT SURPRISED, BECAUSE EACH OF THEM HAS BEEN AT THE
THE FOREFRONT OF THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, EACH
OF THEM FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, THE POOR, THE DISABLED
AND THE DISENFRANCHISED AT HOME BEFORE COMING TO WASHINGTON. SO
MOVING INTO THE ARENA OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS HAS BEEN A
NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR THEM.
THESE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR THE CAUSES THEY
BELIEVE IN. INDEED, THE DESIRE TO FIGHT FOR SUCH BELIEFS WAS WHY
THEY RAN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT MANY RUN AND ONLY A FEW WIN. WHAT WE SEE HERE ARE WOMEN WHO
HAVE HELPED MAKE HISTORY, EACH IN HER OWN WAY, WOMEN WHO OVERCAME
THE OBSTACLES OTHERS SO OFTEN PUT IN THEIR PATH. TOGETHER, THEY
PROVE THAT IT NOT JUST POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN OF PRINCIPLE TO LEAD, BUT
THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY DO.
THIS, THEN, IS CHANGE. AND CHANGE IS WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS
ACHIEVED, BOTH WITH REGARD TO WOMEN AND TO HUMAN RIGHTS. YOU KNOW
AND I KNOW THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN EASY. BUT CHANGE IS TAKING
PLACE. THERE ARE MORE WOMEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR
GOVERNMENT NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, DEMONSTRATING THEIR COMPETENCE,
DAY IN, DAY OUT, PROVING THEIR VALUE TO THE COUNTRY AND TO THE
WORLD -- NO NONSENSE WOMEN LIKE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. I DON'T KNOW
HOW MANY OF YOU SAW HER ON TELEVISION THE OTHER DAY, WHEN THE
CUBANS WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN HOW SHOOTING DOWN
UNARMED PLANES
IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS WAS SOMEHOW AN ACT OF COURAGE. MADELEINE
LET THE WORLD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF THEIR SO-CALLED
MACHISMO, AND SHE CALLED IT WHAT IT WAS IN PLAIN ENGLISH, AS WELL
AS IN SPANISH. YES, MADELEINE HAS BEEN A MOST ARTICULATE
SPOKESPERSON FOR THIS COUNTRY NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S DONNA SHALALA, JANET RENO AND HAZEL
O'LEARY, HANDLING COMPLEX CABINET PORTFOLIOS WITH SKILL AND
DETERMINATION. AND HERE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT: ROBIN RAPHEL IS
DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH INDIA AND PAKISTAN; TONY VERSTANDIG IS
MAKING REAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS; MELINDA
1
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KIMBLE PROVED HERSELF A LEADER AT THE BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE;
AND NANCY BLY-RAPHEL MADE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF
THE VIENNA CONFERENCE AND MORE RECENTLY THE DAYTON ACCORDS. BOTH
LYNN DAVIS AND JOAN SPERO ARE AMONG THE SECRETARY'S MOST TRUSTED
ADVISORS, WHILE PHYLLIS OAKLEY HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF STRENGTH ON
REFUGEE ISSUES, AND PRU BUSHNELL HAS SHOWN ENORMOUS LEADERSHIP ON
AFRICAN ISSUES.
THERE ARE MANY MORE OF YOU WHO ALSO DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS
WELL, WOMEN WHO STAND IN THE TRENCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND DO BATTLE
EVERY DAY FOR THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JUST
A HANDFUL OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN HERE IN GOVERNMENT ANY MORE; WE'VE
GOT THOUSANDS OF THEM. IN EVERY OFFICE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND
AGENCY IN THIS GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE WOMEN MAKING BELIEVERS OF
THOSE WHO DOUBTED THEM BEFORE. THIS IS CHANGE.
IT'S A MEASURE OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT THAT THIS CHANGE IS, I BELIEVE,
IRREVERSIBLE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I THINK THE BATTLE TO ENSURE WOMEN'S RIGHTS
IS OVER IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED EQUALITY IN THE
WORKPLACE AND IN THEIR PAYCHECKS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE
PUT AN END TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THAT WE ARE FREE TO WALK OUR
STREETS AT NIGHT, OR THAT THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE NO LONGER HAUNTS THE
DAILY LIVES OF MILLIONS. NOR DOES IT MEAN THAT THOSE WHO WOULD
TURN US AGAINST EACH OTHER, PITTING THOSE WHO STAY AT HOME TO RAISE
THEIR CHILDREN AGAINST THOSE WHO GO TO WORK, HAVE SUDDENLY SEEN THE
LIGHT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE GLASS CEILING IS SHATTERED OR THAT
EVERY DEADBEAT DAD IS PAYING FOR HIS CHILDREN NOW. IT DOESN'T EVEN
MEAN THAT WE, AS A SOCIETY, UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WOMAN
TODAY, WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK A TIGHTROPE BETWEEN FAMILY AND THE
WORK PLACE, AT A TIME WHEN so MUCH IS CHANGING AND YET SO LITTLE.
NO, BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THERE IS A COURSE TO HISTORY. HOW
MANY WOMEN WORKED HERE IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT A GENERATION AGO --
NOT JUST IN SECRETARIAL POSITIONS -- WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS FILLED THOSE
SPOTS -- BUT AS ANALYSTS, OFFICE DIRECTORS, DESK OFFICERS? THERE
WAS ELEANOR DULLES, A SPECIALIST IN GERMAN AFFAIRS WHOSE BROTHER
JUST HAPPENED TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE -- AND WHO ELSE? NOT MANY.
LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS NOW. WHO AMONG YOU THINKS WE'RE EVER GOING
BACK?
I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE I AM CONVINCED THAT THE
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE OPENED WILL NEVER AGAIN BE
CLOSED. THE GAINS WE HAVE ACHIEVED WILL BE BUILT ON -- NOT ONLY IN
THE STATE DEPARTMENT, BUT IN CONGRESS AND IN 'THE STATE
LEGISLATURES, ON WALL STREET AND IN SILICONE VALLEY, IN THE
BOARDROOMS, THE NEWSROOMS AND THE CLASSROOMS OF OUR GREAT
UNIVERSITIES, IN THE SCIENCE LABS AND IN SPACE AND WHEREVER THE
NEXT CHAPTERS OF OUR HISTORY ARE BEING WRITTEN.
IT WILL BE TOUGH. EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WILL BE CONTESTED. POWER
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U 008
IS ALWAYS CONTESTED.
BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC FOR ANOTHER REASON. IN 1984, WHEN I WAS RUNNING
FOR VICE PRESIDENT, THE CAMPAIGN HAD ME SHY AWAY FROM
EMPHASIZING WOMEN'S ISSUES. I DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE TO ANYONE WHERE
I STOOD ON EQUITY FOR WOMEN. I HAD TO CONVINCE "THE GUYS" THAT I
HAD THE COURAGE AND THE INTELLIGENCE TO RUN THE COUNTRY. BUT IT
DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. HOW CAN A WOMAN NOT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN?
AND SO IN LATE OCTOBER, RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, I GAVE MY ONE
AND ONLY WOMEN'S SPEECH. IT ADDRESSED EVERY ISSUE WE CARE ABOUT
AND HAVE FOUGHT FOR OVER THE LAST DOZEN YEARS. I WAS CONCERNED
THAT SOMEHOW THE MESSAGE WOULD BE LOST IF WE DIDN'T BRING IN THE
OTHER HALF OF THE POPULATION, AND so I SAID: "I AM NOT ONLY
SPEAKING TO WOMEN HERE TONIGHT. EVERY MAN IS DIMINISHED WHEN HIS
DAUGHTER IS DENIED A FAIR CHANCE; EVERY SON IS A VICTIM WHEN HIS
MOTHER IS DENIED FAIR PAY."
THOSE ARE THE SAME POINTS WE MAKE WHEN WE DISCUSS WOMEN'S RIGHTS AS
HUMAN RIGHTS AS THE FIRST LADY DID so ELOQUENTLY IN BEIJING.
ALLOWING WOMEN FULL PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY BENEFITS NOT JUST
THEM, BUT SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
MANY OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO THE EFFORT WHICH
MADE THE BEIJING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE SUCH A SUCCESS. I WAS
PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THE DELEGATION. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
FASCINATING AND EXHILARATING EVENTS I'VE EVER ATTENDED. THE
PLATFORM FOR ACTION WE ADOPTED COMMITS THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO
HALTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS TO FREE
SPEECH, HEALTH AND EDUCATION, AND ESTABLISHING A HIGHER STANDARD OF
RESPECT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS THAN EVER BEFORE IN HISTORY.
THIS, IN ITSELF, IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT
WE WILL HAVE DONE OUR JOB UNTIL THE STANDARD WE SET IS MET -- AND
NOT JUST IN AMERICA, BUT EVERYWHERE. AND THAT WILL TAKE A LOT OF
WORK ON THE PART OF ALL OF US WHO CARE ABOUT WOMEN AND HUMAN
RIGHTS. FOR WE ALL KNOW HOW EASY IT IS FOR SOME NATIONS TO AGREE
TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ONE MOMENT THEN FORGET THEM ENTIRELY THE
NEXT. so WILL IT BE WITH THE BEIJING PLATFORM IF YOU AND I RELAX
OR FOCUS TOO NARROWLY ON OURSELVES.
IT IS THE SPECIAL FATE OF AMERICA TO BE THE PARTICULAR CHAMPION OF
HUMAN LIBERTY. IT IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY BURDEN TO LIVE WITH.
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE HOPES OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD REST ON OUR SHOULDERS. AND WE KNOW WHY:
WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS PROVEN ITSELF INCAPABLE OR UNWILLING
TO LEAD, THE UNITED STATES HAS ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE.
IT TOOK TWO GENERATIONS OF SACRIFICE TO WIN THE COLD WAR AND BRING
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM TO A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE.
AND NOW, IN BOSNIA, IN HAITI AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE EYES OF
THE VICTIMS ARE TURNED TO WASHINGTON AGAIN. THERE ARE JOBS WHICH
ONLY WE CAN DO. NOT THAT WE CAN DO THEM ALL, OR THAT WE CAN ALWAYS
3
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009
DO THEM BY OURSELVES. BUT THE FACT IS, WE ARE DIFFERENT; WE ARE A
CATALYST. WHEN WE ACT, OTHERS FOLLOW.
so IT IS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN LEADING FOR
OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS. THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE. LEADERSHIP IN
HUMAN RIGHTS IS A BURDEN WE EMBRACE IN THIS BUILDING, IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION, AND IN HUNDREDS OF PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEADING BACK TO GENEVA NEXT WEEK
FOR THE MEETING OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. THERE WILL BE
A LOT ON OUR PLATE THERE -- CHINA, BOSNIA, CUBA AND THE MIDDLE
EAST. BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT NO DELEGATION IS
GOING TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN THE DEFENSE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS THAN WE
WILL.
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL, BUT THEY'RE ALSO AMERICAN THROUGH AND
THROUGH. THEY'RE AS OLD AS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AS NEW
AS THIS WEEK'S HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS. DESPITE OUR LAPSES, OUR
INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES ARE GROUNDED IN A GENUINE BELIEF THAT THE
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WE CHERISH BELONG TO EVERYONE. AND THAT GIVES
US A STRENGTH MOST OTHER NATIONS LACK.
THAT IS WHY I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY OUR VIEWS ON HUMAN RIGHTS WILL
PREVAIL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ONE DAY THE STANDARD WE FIRST SET IN
OUR OWN INSTITUTIONS AND THEN HELPED ESTABLISH IN THE INTERNATIONAL
ARENA WILL BECOME THE ONE BY WHICH ALL COUNTRIES JUDGE THEMSELVES.
OUR JOB, THEN, IS TO TAKE THAT VOICE AND AMPLIFY IT, TO USE THE
POWER OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR PEOPLE, PEOPLE
LIKE YOU TO HOLD THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD -- OUR OWN INCLUDED --
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STANDARDS WB HAVE SET FOR OURSELVES SO MANY
TIMES -- WHETHER IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE U.N. CHARTER OR THE
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS -- OR MORE RECENTLY IN THE
VIENNA DECLARATION, THE BEIJING PLATFORM AND OUR 1996 HUMAN RIGHTS
REPORTS.
OF COURSE, SOME GOVERNMENTS WON'T BE DISSEMINATING OUR REPORTS THIS
WEEK. THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR BEST TO SILENCE THEM. THEY MAY
SUCCEED IN THE SHORT TERM. THEY MAY JAM THE VOICE OF AMERICA.
THEY MAY CENSOR THEIR NEWSPAPERS, LOCK THEIR DISSIDENTS IN DISTANT
JAILS. THEY MAY OPPOSE US AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND AT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION. THEY MAY BLUSTER AND RAGE AND OBFUSCATE. BUT
TIME IS NO LONGER ON THEIR SIDE. EVENTUALLY, WITH MODERN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS THE TRUTH WILL FIND ITS WAY TO EVEN THE MOST
REMOTE OUTPOST OF INJUSTICE. THEY ARE GOING TO FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO KILL IDEAS WHICH JUST WON'T DIE, IDEAS LIKE FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY.
WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT BOSNIA OR BAGHDAD, TO CUBA OR CHECHNYA OR
THE DESPERATE REFUGEE CAMPS IN SUDAN, TANZANIA AND ZAIRE TO SEE HOW
FAR WE HAVE TO GO. FOR IF WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS AND
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HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL -- AND ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD HAVE
AGREED THEY ARE -- THERE MUST COME A TIME WHEN THE RESPECT FOR
THESE RIGHTS BECOMES UNIVERSAL, TOO. THERE MUST COME A TIME WHEN
WORDS BECOME DEEDS, NOT JUST IN AMERICA, BUT IN EVERY HUT AND EVERY
HOME IN EVERY LAND.
YES, I THINK THAT TIME WILL COME. IT MAY NOT BE IN MY LIFETIME,
BUT IT WILL COME. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD
WON'T NEED TO PETITION THE POWERFUL FOR PROTECTION, WHEN "POOR" AND.
"DEFENSELESS" WON'T BE NAMES WE GIVE TO HALF A BILLION WOMEN.
THERE' LL BE A TIME WHEN GIRLS ARE NOT LEFT TO STARVE UPON A
HILLSIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BORN BOYS, WHEN THEIR GENITALS ARE
NOT MUTILATED TO PLEASE SOME CRUEL, OUTDATED CUSTOM; WHEN THEY ARE
NOT VIOLATED IN THE NAME OF ETHNIC CLEANSING; WHEN GIRLS ARE NOT
SOLD INTO PROSTITUTION OUT OF FINANCIAL DESPERATION; WHEN THEY ARE
NOT BURNED BECAUSE THEIR DOWRIES ARE TOO SMALL OR THEIR HUSBANDS
DIED BEFORE THEM.
THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN WOMEN WILL NOT BE EITHER THE VICTIMS OR
THE CAUSE OF OVERPOPULATION; WHEN THEY WILL NOT BEAR EIGHT CHILDREN
IN THE HOPE THAT THREE MAY LIVE; WHEN THEY ARE NOT FORCED INTO
EARLY MARRIAGE; WHEN THEY WILL NOT LACK THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO
BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN REFUGEE WOMEN WILL NOT SELL THEMSELVES
FOR FOOD; WHEN THEY WILL NOT BE RAPED BY MARAUDING SOLDIERS; WHEN
THEY WILL NOT BE TERRORIZED BECAUSE THEY COME FROM THE WRONG GROUP
OR THE WRONG CITY OR BECAUSE THEY CHOSE THE WRONG TIME TO GATHER
FIREWOOD TO COOK THE FAMILY MEAL.
YES, THERE WILL BE A TIME FOR ALL OF THAT. THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN
THE WOMEN OF AMERICA CAN WALK THE STREETS OF OUR CITIES AND NOT
KNOW FEAR. THERE'LL BE A TIME WHEN THE LIFE OF A GHETTO GIRL WILL
MEAN AS MUCH AS ONE IN THE WEALTHY SUBURBS; WHEN COMPARABLE WORK
WILL MEAN COMPARABLE PAY; AND WHEN WE CAN LOOK OUT ACROSS ANY
MEETING ROOM IN ANY COUNTY OF THIS COUNTRY AND SEE AS MANY WOMEN
THERE AS MEN.
BUT THAT IS SOME TIME OFF. UNTIL THEN, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WILL
REMAIN A THREAD THAT KNITS THE WORLD'S RICH AND POOR TOGETHER. NO
NATION IS IMMUNE. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OF THE DEVELOPED OR
DEVELOPING WORLD. IT IS NOT AFRICAN OR ASIAN OR AMERICAN ALONE.
IT IS UNIVERSAL. IT IS OUR PROBLEM; IT IS EVERY NATION'S PROBLEM,
AND so IT WILL REMAIN UNTIL WOMEN TAKE THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE
ALONGSIDE MEN, IN ALL STRATA AND AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY. FOR
VIOLENCE IS A REFLECTION OF SECOND-CLASS STATUS.
AND SO AS I LOOK AROUND ME HERE AND SEE so MANY EXAMPLES OF WHAT
THIS COUNTRY CAN PRODUCE WHEN IT NURTURES ITS GIRLS AS WELL AS
BOYS, I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL PRIDE THAT WE WOMEN HAVE BEGUN TO FORCE
HISTORY TO MARCH FORWARD. BUT TIME HAS CAUGHT US IN MID-STEP. OUR
WORK, THE WORK OF EVERYBODY HERE TODAY -- MEN AND WOMEN -- IS BUT
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1011
HALF-DONE.
AND YET I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE EXCITING TIME TO BE ALIVE. THERE
IS $0 MUCH TO DO AND so MANY TALENTED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO DO IT.
WOMEN, NOT JUST HERE IN AMERICA, BUT EVERYWHERE, ARE ON THE MOVE,
BRUSHING ASIDE THE OBSTACLES, DEFENDING OUR INTERESTS, OUR FAMILIES
AND OUR VALUES. WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING, BUT I CAN FEEL THE SWEEP OF
HISTORY NOW. IT'S IN THIS ROOM AND IN THIS COUNTRY. AND IT WON'T
STOP HERE. ONE DAY THE PULSE OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY WILL
BEAT IN EVERY WOMAN'S HEART, NOT JUST IN AMERICA, AND NOT JUST ON
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, BUT IN EVERY VILLAGE AND IN EVERY NATION
OF THE WORLD EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. IT MAY NOT HAPPEN SOON, BUT I
KNOW THAT WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, ITS TIME IS SURE TO
COME.
THANK YOU.
6
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a
sub-agency of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). ECOSOC and CSW has 45 members which are elected by the
full ECOSOC on the following basis: 13 from African states; 11
from Asian states; 9 from Latin American and Carribean states; 8
from Western European and other states (WEOG) i and 4 from Eastern
European states. The term of office is three years. The U.S.
was off the CSW for 1994, but was re-elected at the summer 1995
ECOSOC. Therefore, on January 1, 1996, the U.S. resumes its seat
on the CSW.
The responsibilities of the U.S. representatives to the U.N.
Commission on the Status of Women are to:
Attend the two week meeting of the Commission at the UN
in New York (March 11-22)
Represent the US at this meeting (with appropriate
staff support from the State Department and the US Mission
to the UN)
Attend special meetings and ad hoc sessions throughout
the year (none are scheduled at this point)
Attend the General Assembly in the fall during the
two or three days when women's issues, are discovered discussed
Meet with American non-government organization
representatives as feasible who follow the international and
development and other UN issues.
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b(6)
[duplicate of 001] (1 page)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer
OA/Box Number: 20056
FOLDER TITLE:
UN- CSW [United Nations - Commission on the Status of Women]
2013-0534-S
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RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
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b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
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2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
02/01/1996 11:41
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POLICY ALTERNATIVES
PAGE 02
CENTER FOR
POLICY
ALTERNATIVES
BIOGRAPHY
Linda Tarr-Whelan
Linda Tarr-Whelan has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Policy
Alternatives since 1986. CPA is a 20-year-old non-partisan progressive public policy center which
connects innovative people and ideas across the fifty states to build a new economy that is inclusive,
sustainable and just.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan has had 25 years of public policy experience as an advocate and government official
in the areas of health care, employment, economic development, education and women's issues. She
has served as deputy assistant to the President for Women's Concerns in the Carter White House,
director of government relations for the National Education Association, administrative director of
the New York State Department of Labor, and director of program development for the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
She has edited: A Women's Economic Justice Agenda: Ideas for the States (and an earlier version,
The Women's Rights Agenda for the States); and America's States: Building a Progressive Future;
has published over 25 articles in a variety of publications; has testified frequently before Congress and
state legislatures; and speaks on public policy issues and has special expertise on women and the
economy.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan is a founder of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Center for Women
in Government. She serves as president of the State Issues Forum, treasurer of Voters for Choice
and currently serves on the board of directors of the Advocacy Institute, Independent Sector,
National Commission on Working Women, the Benton Foundation, the National Conference of State
Legislatures Foundation for State Legislatures and other non-governmental organizations. As a
public member of the US Delegation to the United Nation's Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing, China, she has participated in the UN Preparatory Committees in 1994 and 1995 and in
the Vienna Regional Meeting in 1994. Ms. Tarr-Whelan has just been awarded with the Women
Executives in State Government "Breaking the Glass Celling" Award, which she will receive in
February, 1996.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan was born in
(b)(6)
She is a nurse with a B.S.N. from the Johns C003]
Hopkins University and M.S. trom the University of Maryland. She is married to Keith Tarr-Whelan,
and has two children, Scott, 28 and Melinda, 26, and one newborn grandson, Gerhig Wade.
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 710
January 1996
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-6030
FAX (202) 986-2539
printed on recycled paper
FEB-01 96 18:02 FROM:
TO: 66244
PAGE: 02
FEB-01-1996 15:23
ICRW
202 797 0020
P.02/04
February 1, 1996
The President
The White House
Washington. DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you because we believe that the leadership the United States provides at the
United Nations on the Commission on the Status of Women is important to American
women and to those who, globally, look 'to the United States for the leadership our
government provided at the 4th World Conference on Women.
The CSW plays a critical role in promoting women's political, economic and social rights
at the United Nations. Post-Beijing, the CSW also has the potential to play an influential
role within the UN urging the systemwide gender reform called for in the Platform for
Action. Certainly, the CSW will continue to stimulate attention to the patterns of
discrimination against women and to promoting women's rights described in the Platform.
The person chosen to head the United States' delegation to the Commission on the Status
of Women should represent the best of what America wants. We feel the following basic
criteria are required:
substantive knowledge of women's issues;
demonstrated negotiating skills;
experience with the United Nations;
personal influence and confidence sufficient to command attention and form
consensus; and
access to and the trust of the NGO community.
These qualifications made a significant difference in the quality of our leadership in Beijing.
We urge you to choose a women to head the US delegation to the CSW to follow in the
traditions of Madeleine Albright and Geraldine Ferraro.
In addition, the U.S. delegation should be backed by a strong strategic and advisory staff
and assisted by the permanent participation of at least three NGO representatives. The
Fourth World Conference on Women was shaped largely by NGO women. In this post-
Beijing implementation period it will be essential to continue the vital link between
government and NGOs in the work of the CSW.
International Center for Research on Women
1717 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Suite 302 Washington, DC 20036 USA - Telephone: 202-797-0007 . Fax: 202-797-0020 . e-mail: [email protected]
TO:66244
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FEB-01-1996 15:24
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202 797 0020 P.03/04
Mr. President, we applaud your serious search for the right candidate for the job. We stand
ready to assist you in this process and look forward to working with the head of delegation,
once chosen.
We stand by you and your commitment to the advancement of women and to the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Cordially,
jull Merrick Merrick
Jill Merrick
Director, Communications and Public Policy
International Center for Research on Women
Lca Browning
Rosa Briceño
Pat Rengel
Chief Legislative Council
Amnesty International/USA
Julianne Cartwright-Traylor
Human Rights Advocates, Inc.
Donna Shavlik
Director, Office of Women in Higher Education
The American Council on Education
Mahnaz Afkhami
Executive Director
Sisterhood is Global Institute
Barbara R. Arnwine
Nicole Etlhait
Association for Women in Development
Vicki Ferguson
Gender Analysis and Development Consultant
Lauren Gilbert
Director, Women and International Law Program
Washington College of Law
TO:66244
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Mary P. Haney
Member of Board and Executive Committee of
U.S. Committee for UNIFEM
Jodi Jacobson
Co-Director
Health and Development Policy Project
Patricia Krommer
Board Member
International Education Development, Inc.
Marjorie Lightman
Acting Executive Director
International League for Human Rights
Surita Sondosham
Executive Director
Equality Now
E. Maxina Ankrah
Senior Advisor, Women's Initiative
Family Health International/AIDSCAP
Suzanne Kindervatter
Interaction/Committee for Advancement of Women
Robin Phillips
Director, Women's Human Rights
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
JoAnn Lewis
Senior Vice President
Family Health International
Dorothy Thomas
Director, Women's Rights Project
Human Rights Watch
Joan Dunlop
President
International Women's Health Coalition
Janet Benshoof
President
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
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Reports
MV Talking Points for MKA Reception
Dips
Audience: dozens of delegation heads and Perm Reps (snore)
American NGOs (no idea how many since most are not here for the entire
two week period.)
maybe some magazine folks
maybe some New York feminist glitterati
o
The First Lady asked that I send along her best wishes to the representatives to the
Commission on the Status of Women and to the representatives of non-governmental
organizations attending this Commission meeting.. She continues to be committed to bringing
Beijing to American women through her work as Honorary Chair of the President's Interagency
Council on Women.
The work you are all doing here this week and next is crucial to the follow-up work to
Beijing that is going on all around the world.
o
We are very fortunate that Linda Tarr-Whelan agreed to serve as our new Representative
to the Commission. Americans are well-served by the experience she brings as an NGO and a
member of our delegation to Beijing.
o
US participation in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing was a great
success - in large part due to the contribution of the thousands of American women and men who
were determined that this Conference would identify solutions for each every challenge women
and girls face and devise strategies to promote stronger families, communities and societies.
o
As the President's Council implements the Platform for Action at the federal government
level, its efforts have been enhanced by the continuing partnership with the nongovernment
community. This partnershi brought us to Beijing and will continue to move us along as we
work to institutional changes to better the lives of American women and girls.
o
The President's Council is hard at work, operating out of the White House. With the
leadership of Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala and the expertise and
energy of senior officials from all across the federal government, the Council is meeting the
commitments Ambassador Albright announced at the Conference and developing new
commitments to ensure that women get a fair shake when the US government develops its
policies.
o
We realize that something profound happened in Beijing and that it inspired not only the
women and men who attended but those at home also. There is an energy and a desire to get
involved, particularly among young women. We are hopeful that the work of the Commission
will benefit from this renewed commitment and that we will soon be able to offer young girls
around the world a futrue where equality, opportunity, and security enable them to do their best.
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UNITED STATES MISSION
UNITED NATIONS
OPTIONAL FORM 99.(7-90)
TAX TRANSMITTAI
nanar
6
United Nativus Plaza
To
From J.LOAR
ew York, N.Y. 10017
Phone #
Dept./Agency
4226
Tel. 212-415-4050
PRESS REI
Γax #
456-6244
12-415-4119 Fax
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5099-101
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NSN 7540-01-317-7368
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USUN PRESS RELEASE #30-(96)
MARCH 12, 1996
Opening Statement by Linda Tarr-Whelan, United States
Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of
Women, at the United Nations, March 12, 1996
Thank you Madame Chair. The United States delegation
congratulates you in your new role as chairperson of the Bureau
and also congratulate the other members of the Bureau. We wish
you all success and pledge our support.
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of Lhe Fourth world Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by the breadth and depth of
the NGO Forum and the force of the NGOs themselves; and in a
opirit em renewal and rededicarion that the colobration of the
United Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us strong encouragement. The designation
by the Secretary General of Rosarie Green as coordinator of all
women's issues in the UN syst.Am and the appointment of Angela
King as director of the Division for the Advancement of Women
come as good news. They are women of great ability and
reputation. We place our confidence in them without reservation.
We wish them every success and we stand ready to offer them our
assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. We have reached consensus. Now is not the time to re-
discuss those topics where our discussions and negotiations led
us to this point. Now we have a different and difficult task. It
is time for the members of the CSW to raise the questions and
work together to find the answers that will enable the CSW to
meet the goals of the Beijing Platform for the equality of women
and girls in the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
03-12-1996 03:18PM
FROM
TO
912024566244 P.02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USUN PRESS RELEASE #30-(96)
MARCH 12, 1996
Opening Statement by Linda Tarr-Whelan, United States
Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of
Women, at the United Nations, March 12, 1996
Thank you Madame Chair. The United States delegation
congratulates you in your new role as chairperson of the Bureau
and also congratulate the other members of the Bureau. We wish
you all success and pledge our support.
This could not be a more critical session of the Commission
on the Status of Women. The events of the past year have brought
us to a turning point. We arrive here empowered by the great
success of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the content
of its Platform for Action; inspired by the breadth and depth of
the NGO Forum and the force of the NGOs themselves; and in a
spirit of renewal and rededication that the celebration of the
United Nations 50th anniversary occasioned.
And we enter the new year with two new appointments at the
United Nations that give us strong encouragement. The designation
by the Secretary General of Rosario Green as coordinator of all
women's issues in the UN system and the appointment of Angela
King as director of the Division for the Advancement of Women
come as good news. They are women of great ability and
reputation. We place our confidence in them without reservation.
We wish them every success and we stand ready to offer them our
assistance.
We must take advantage of this moment and seize the
momentum. We have reached consensus. Now is not the time to re-
discuss those topics where our discussions and negotiations led
us to this point. Now we have a different and difficult task. It
is time for the members of the CSW to raise the questions and
work together to find the answers that will enable the CSW to
meet the goals of the Beijing Platform for the equality of women
and girls in the next century.
What is our vision for the CSW? Specifically what is our
vision for its role within the UN system; with governments in
implementing the Platform?
03-12-1996 03:19PM FROM
TO
912024566244 P.03
-2-
The United States strongly supports the agreements we
reached at the Fourth World Conference and later in the General
Assembly, that the Commission must have:
a clear mandate;
a central role in monitoring implementation of the
Platform, although primary responsibility for
implementation rests with governments themselves;
and,
a catalytic role in implementation of the Platform for
Action within the UN
system;
a cooperative and coordinated working relationship with
the related commissions of the Economic and Social Council
that constitutes synergy;
and a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective
in UN activities; and in ensuring that women and women's
issues are fully integrated into the mainstream of
society and all its institutions.
This is hard work, but the four world conferences on women
that have been held since 1975 have paved the way. At Beijing
governments recognized women's issues as legitimate concerns of
nations. And, as the Platform for Action makes clear, the world
now recognizes that all its issues have an impact, and are of
concern, to women.
Twenty years of organizing, advocating, gathering and
analyzing data, discussing and working together came to fruition
in Beijing: women as equal partners and decision makers in the
political and economic spheres; men as equal partners in family
life transcended individual issues. No longer are women simply
victims of oppression but activists for change. Beneficiaries of
programs are instead becoming constituents of civil society.
Women have become a political force and they are claiming their
place in creating equality, development and peace.
As it is for the United Nations, so it is for the United
States. My country is very serious about the implementation of
the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and about
fulfilling our particular commitments announced at Beijing. For
the first time, the United States has created a formal mechanism
especially for implementation and follow-up.
On the eve of the Fourth World Conference, President Clinton
announced the establishment of the "President's Interagency
Council on Women" to, in the President's words, "make sure that
all the effort and good ideas actually get implemented when we
get back home.
03-12-1996 19PM
FROM
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P.04
-3-
We are proud to say that the Council is in operation, and
that it operates out of the White House; that a member of the
President's Cabinet, Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
Shalala, who was a part of the leadership of our delegation to
Beijing, chairs the Council. And we are especially happy to have
the strong support of the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who
is honorary chair of the Council, just as she was of the U.S.
delegation.
Time is short and the task before us great. The United
States is determined to waste no time and the President's Council
has begun the work of implementation now. It is our goal to
institutionalize as much change as possible.
As we proceed with this work of implementation, the
Council's members, all of whom are high level representatives of
all government agencies and many of whom were delegates to
Beijing, are overseeing implementation for their individual
agencies.
Fortunately we are not starting from ground zero. In many
respects our laws and practices already meet the standards set
forth in the Platform for Action.
But failings, shortcomings and discrimination persist.
Poverty is a reality for too many. Violence against women
continues at high levels. Life can and should be better for women
in our country, especially those women facing additional forms of
dišcrimination beyond those that all women share. The U.S.
government has a firm policy of non-discrimination. And we must
be able to offer our girls a future where equality, opportunity
and security enable them to be their best.
As we now work to implement the Platform, we continue to
look to women in non-governmental organizations to help us define
the problems and find solutions and to hold their government
accountable. We will work in partnership and, as recommended in
the Platform, take joint responsibility for the work of
implementation.
As many of you will remember, the United States took the
position at the Fourth World Conference, and at the preparatory
conferences, that implementation must be done within existing
resources, through refocusing, reordering priorities, thinking
creatively. This is hard to do.
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912024566244 P.06
03-12-1996 03: 20PM FROM
-5-
participants in the drafting session of the optional protocol
during this session.
In the meantime NGOs in the United States, many of whom have
worked for the past 10 years for CEDAW'S adoption, have begun a
massive campaign with two strategies. They seek to create
widespread grassroots support for CEDAW through public education,
showing Americans, especially American women, in concrete terms
why CEDAW is important for the U.S. not only diplomatically but
to American women at home. They intend also to work for
governmental and institutional support, urging universities,
other institutions, and state and municipal legislatures to
"adopt" or endorse CEDAW.
Whether it is ratification of CEDAW, action on a particular
issue or the entire Platform, One phenomenon continues to astound
us. There have been hundreds, and probably thousands of post-
Beijing events across the United States. This is not a government
effort but a community and grassroots effort. "Bringing Beijing
Home, and "Beijing and Beyond" have become commonplace phrases
in cities and towns from Tacoma, Washington to Atlanta, Georgia,
from San Antonio, Texas to Poughkeepsie, New York. With the
Platform 28 its model, a coalition of women's groups in
Pittsburgh, Pa. is at work on the "Pittsburgh Plan of Action."
This week leaders in Colorado and Massachusetts unveiled state
plans. And in Louisville, Kentucky a group of middle school
students put on a post-Beijing event for 300 young people, and
the boys in the group led the workshop on the image of women in
the media.
In short, we realize that something profound happened in
Beijing and it inspired not only the women who attended but those
at home also. There is an energy, and a desire to get involved
and get to work on these issues that renews our hope and
confidence in the future. We think the United States is not alone
in this. And that is why we are so hopeful about this meeting of
CSW and the future of the Commission and we look forward to
joining in the dialogue on the three agenda items of poverty,
women and the media and child and dependent care.
HOW can the Commission on the Status of Women help the
United Nations and individual states to implement the Platform
for Action? How can it ensure that its most difficult task is
accomplished -- the equality of women and their integration into
the mainstream of society? In a spirit of goodwill and
cooperation we must fix our gaze on the future and plan together
how we can do things better to move humanity towards our goal of
equality, development and peace.
****
TOTAL P.06
P. 03
MAR-04-96 MUN 14:58
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 1, 1996
PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES LINDA TARR-WHELAN TO BE
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
President Clinton today appointed Linda Jane Zack Tarr-Whelan
of Virginia as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission
On the Status of Women.
3/4
Ms. Tarr-Whelan has had 25 years of public policy experience as
an advocate and government official in the areas of health care,
MV.-
employment, economic development, education and women's issuest She
has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for
Policy Alternatives since 1986. In addition, she has served as
deputy assistant to the President for Women's Concerns in the Carter
Fyl
White House, director of government relations for the National
Education Association, administrative director of the New York State
Department of Labor, and director of program development for the
sector
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Ms. Tarr-Whelan is a founder of the Coalition of Labor Union NOV
Women and the Center for Women in Government. As a public member of
the U.S. delegation to the United Nation's Fourth World Conference on
privatedvise mendated by State
Women in Beijing, China, she has participated in the UN Preparatory
Committees in 1994 and 1995 and in the Vienna Regional Meeting in
1994. Ms. Tarr-Whelan has published numerous articles and is the
recent recipient of the Women Executives in State Government
"Breaking the Glass Ceiling" Award.
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01/02/1996
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COLLECTION:
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First Lady's Office
Melanne Verveer
OA/Box Number: 20056
FOLDER TITLE:
UN- CSW [United Nations - Commission on the Status of Women]
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of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
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C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
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b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
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and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
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P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
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concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
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and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
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P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
United States Department of State
Office of the Under Secretary
for Management
White House Liaison
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Patsy Thomasson, Deputy Assistant to the President
Presidential Personnel
Melanne Verveer, Deputy Assistant to the President
Office of the First Lady
From:
Ertharin Cousin, White House Liaison 2<
Department of State
Re:
UN Commission on the Status of Women
Date:
November 8, 1995
BACKGROUND ON THE CSW
The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a sub-agency of the UN
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ECOSOC and CSW were founded in 1946.
CSW has 45 members which are elected by the full ECOSOC on the following basis: 13
from African states; 11 from Asian states; 9 from Latin American and Caribbean States;
8 from Western European and Other States (WEOG); and four from Eastern European
states. The term of office is three years. The U.S. was off the CSW for 1994, but was re-
elected at the summer 1995 ECOSOC. Therefore on January 1, 1996, the U.S. resumes
its seat on the CSW.
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CSW
Attached is a list of the previous U.S. Representatives to the CSW. All were Presidential
appointees except Maureen Reagan, who was appointed by the Secretary of State (to
avoid the nepotism laws).
RANK OF AMBASSADOR
President Bush was the first to request the Rank of Ambassador for the U.S.
Representative to the CSW. The request was justified on the basis of the enhanced status
and visibility the Rank of Ambassador would give to the U.S. Representative. The
Clinton Administration successfully sought the source Ambassadorial status for Arvonne
Fraser. When Marjorie Margolies Mezvinsky assumed the job as head of the U.S.
delegation, we did not seek that rank as we were not actual members of the CSW.
As we resume our place in the CSW our commitment to "Bring Beijing Home" would be
further underscored by naming a strong candidate to this position. Because the Senate
has failed to confirm a significant number of Ambassadorial candidates, we should
consider the feasibility of providing the Rank of Ambassador. We note that this is a part
time position, comparable to that of the Ambassador to the UN Human Rights
Commission, where the incumbent is actually employed a cumulative total of 60-90 days
per year. There is no funding or personnel authority for a full time position.
Please consider scheduling a meeting to discuss potential candidates for this position and
to confirm an Administration candidate selection process.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE UNITED NATIONS
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
Dorothy Kenyon
11/7/46
Truman
Olive Remington Goldman
2/2/50
Truman
Lorena B. Hahn
3/11/53
Eisenhower
Gladys A. Tillett
3/8/61
Kennedy and Johnson
Elizabeth Duncan Koontz
1/30/69
Nixon
Patricia Hutar
12/29/73
Nixon and Ford
Koryne Daneski Horbal
7/27/77
Carter
Nancy Clark Reynolds
10/2/81
Reagan
Maureen Reagan
10/13/85
Reagan
Juliette McLennan
9/6/89
Bush
Arvonne Frasier
Clinton
1
1 Arvonne Frasier was never stated by the UN as an U.S. Representative to the CSW.