EU Presidency Statement - 4th World Conference on Women

Madam Chairwoman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. Bulgaria, Czech republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey endorse this declaration.

2. As regards the topics that concern us today, the year 2000 has been marked by the preparations for and holding of the Special Session of the General Assembly on "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the 21st century". That session and the regional meetings which preceded it brought together men and women from all over the world. Governments, international organisations, NGOs and other civil society players were able to pool their experiences, air their problems and highlight their common objectives. That wide-ranging debate provided the basis for defining new initiatives for better implementation of the Platform for Action adopted in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on Women. It reaffirmed that the objective of women's full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the basis for the success of future action and essential to the advancement of women in general.

3. In June 2000 the governments strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives of the Beijing Platform, their responsibility for achieving those objectives and the equal importance of all twelve critical areas of concern. The Beijing Platform remains the cornerstone of our policy for the advancement of women and must be the basis for our action. The final document which we adopted reaffirms the achievements of the Beijing platform in promoting and protecting human rights of women and contains significant advances in many areas. Four of them merit particular mention.

4. As regards violence, we stated that no forms of violence can be tolerated. The obligation on States to develop policies to combat violence to women also applies to domestic situations, including marital rape and all those forms of violence which go under the heading of customary or traditional practices. Particular mention should be made of so-called honour crimes here. The European Union hopes that the resolution on the subject submitted by one of its Member States will receive the widest support.

5. We stressed the growing importance of women in economic life. As the statement adopted at the close of the Millennium Summit has since reminded us, promoting equality and empowering women are effective ways to combat poverty and achieve truly sustainable development. Globalisation must be accompanied by a greater role for women in decision-making processes - whether political or economic - at both national and international levels. This requires not only a strong political will, but also suitable instruments: gender-disaggregated statistics, quantified objectives and indicators which can be used in any country are aids to success. Throughout the world, poverty mainly affects women and girls. Policies to eradicate poverty should reduce the disparities between men and women in the allocation of resources, land reforms, the introduction of technology and the determination of development policies.

6. The education of girls and women is the key to their advancement: quantified objectives were adopted for the campaign against illiteracy and for primary and secondary education. A newer feature is the emphasis placed on the need for access to higher education, especially in the area of technology. The new sectors offer huge opportunities and women must share in them. It is a question not just of personal development, but of the common interest.

7. We reiterated that equality between women and men is not the concern of women alone. It is vital to the harmonious development of our societies and requires the full participation of everyone, male and female. Men and women should be able to enjoy the same rights and opportunities. In order to do that, they must share power and decision-making at every level and in every sphere, whether public or private, and especially in political life. In the same way, they must share responsibilities and tasks, including domestic tasks. This dual objective can only be achieved by finding ways of properly reconciling private life and working life.

8. The European Union welcomes all the progress made at the Special Session. It would have liked to go even further and is particularly disappointed that the document adopted in New York does not specifically mention sexual rights and did not take into account the progress made at the Special Session on Population and Development on matters such as sexual health, reproduction and abortion. It also regrets that the document does not mention the legislative measures taken by a growing number of States to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.

9. The advancement of women and equality between men and women of course go beyond the strict framework of "Beijing + 5". These are concerns which transcend the work of all the world conferences implemented under the aegis of the United Nations. So it is necessary to ensure that the main summits and world conferences are held and followed up in a coordinated and integrated fashion. The United Nations system, which brings together the various players, governments, national bodies and NGOs, must encourage implementation of the objectives to which States subscribe by holding regular meetings.

10. The energy displayed this year at the Special Session must not abate. The States - for theirs is the prime responsibility - must remain vigilant and ensure in particular that the aim of equality, which covers the fight against violence and discrimination and the enjoyment of fundamental rights, is systematically taken into account in framing policies and drawing up budgets. If States are to be successful in their endeavours, it is important that they establish partnerships with all the players concerned, and in particular with the NGOs. It is also important that the process of reform of the United Nations result in broader dialogue with civil society and enhancement of its role. The importance of coordination at regional level has been demonstrated and it is essential that activity continue in this most suitable of frameworks. The European Union particularly welcomes the cooperation initiated between the Economic Commission for Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Commission. It would point also to the importance of international cooperation and salutes the contribution of the United Nations in this regard. The achievements of the Special Session on women's rights and mainstreaming of equality must be reflected in the work of this session, especially as regards the human rights.

Madam Chairwoman,

11. We still have a long way to go before women's rights are fully respected. The objective of universal ratification in 2000 of the Convention on the elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted in 1979, has not been achieved. While it is undeniable that, as pointed out at the Vienna Conference in 1993, the human rights of women and the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, it is also plain that particular importance attaches to the only international instrument which deals specifically with women's rights. We call on those States which have not yet done so to ratify this Convention. We would give a reminder that the States parties are under the obligation to translate their commitments into their legislation, to ensure that they are actually implemented and to take into account the recommendations of CEDAW.

12. Almost a year ago, (October 6, 1999) we adopted an Optional Protocol to that Convention which, by making it possible for communications to be submitted by or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals, will give fresh impetus to implementation of the Convention against all forms of discrimination. The European Union welcomes the lodging of the tenth instrument of ratification, which will enable the Protocol to enter into force by the end of the year. It urges those States which have not yet done so to sign or ratify the text. It will be vital for the committee set up by the Convention, whose powers will be widened, to have sufficient resources to carry out its work.

13. The European Union also welcomes the adoption of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. These two texts mark a major step forward in protecting the rights of girls child.

14. The Commission on the Status of Women is a body ideally placed to defend women's rights effectively, to promote equality and to act on the findings of the Special Session. We hope that it will continue its work with renewed vigour.

15. We attach the greatest importance to the adoption during this Session of the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its additional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The increase in the scale of such trafficking is of grave concern. It is by combining our efforts that we shall manage to bring it to an end, together with all forms of exploitation, whether economic or sexual, of which women and girls are the chief victims. It is vital that these instruments come rapidly into force as a basis for international cooperation on preventing and combating these forms of trafficking.

Madam Chairwoman,

16. Advancing women's rights and effectively guaranteeing the principle of equality between men and women are fundamental values of the European Union. Alongside action specifically concerning women's rights, steps have recently been taken to bring equality fully into existence in all the Union's fields of activity. Two themes essential to true autonomy for women will be developed in the coming months: decision-making and reconciling working life and family life.

17. In 1996 the European Union, which has been implementing equality measures since 1975, adopted a Recommendation on the equality of women in political, economic, social and cultural decision-making. At the close of the Paris Conference in April 1999 the EU Member States renewed their commitments on the subject; the production of indicators and a commitment by the Member States to achieve quantified objectives for equality of men and women in public decision-making are part of that European policy. The creation of a European Gender Institute is also under consideration.

18. Social changes make it imperative that account be taken of reconciling working life and family life and, more generally, of the various "compartments" of life in public policies and in the policies of economic and social players. The European Union is continuing the work begun on the "balanced participation of women and men in family and working life", and will be producing a dozen or so indicators on the basis of macro- and socio-economic data in a gender perpective.

19. Because this theme is a linchpin in the organisation of society and economic activity it will be discussed at a conference of Ministers responsible for equality on 27 October 2000 in Paris and a seminar of experts on equality in the workplace on 24 November. Finally, for the first time, several Councils of Ministers of the European Union will deal with equality between men and women by linking it to an agenda item. This should strengthen the impact of the policy of mainstreaming by widening the frame of reference of the debate.

20. This mainstreaming of equality in all policies is also illustrated by several of the European Union's recent major initiatives. Take, for example, the European Social Agenda which will be examined at the Nice European Council in December 2000. This agenda aims to encourage greater interaction between economic, social and employment policies and takes equality between women and men as one of its objectives.

21. Advancing women's rights and setting equality objectives are part and parcel of the Union's external action vis-à-vis third countries. Through its policy on human rights, the Union supports many projects to promote observance of women's rights, fight discrimination against women and make them part of the electoral process and the decision-making process around the world. Equality between men and women is an integral part of the global objectives of the Union's development cooperation policy and a guarantee of effectiveness for sustainable development policies.

Madam Chairwoman,

22. If the daily life of women and men is to change, we must advance on all fronts. Today we must fight effectively all the various forms of discrimination still suffered by women, and enable them to enjoy their rights. Equality between men and women, in all areas of society, will bring a sea change in the world in which we live, to the benefit of each and every one of us. It is for us to shoulder our responsibilities so that that aim swiftly becomes a reality.

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