UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP IN STRUGGLE AGAINST 'APARTHEID OF GENDER', IN ADDRESS TO ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE
Press Release
WOM/893
UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP IN STRUGGLE AGAINST 'APARTHEID OF GENDER', IN ADDRESS TO ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE
19960129 Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), called for greater cooperation in the struggle against the "apartheid of gender", as she addressed the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.Ms. Bellamy said UNICEF was committed to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women -- which is monitored by the 23-member expert Committee. There was ample scope for greater collaboration regarding implementation of both Conventions at the national and global level, she added.
The Chairman of the Committee, Ivanka Corti, expert from Italy, said that since the anti-discrimination Convention was not very well known, the Committee would appreciate UNICEF's help in publicizing it. Follow-up to the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women provided an opportunity for further cooperation.
Other experts said UNICEF should help the Committee raise awareness about women's rights because any improvement in the situation of women would benefit children. There was a need for regular dialogue between the Committee, UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, it was stressed.
Also this afternoon, the Committee was briefed by Mervat Tallawy, expert from Egypt, on the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Following the Beijing Conference, the Committee had concentrated on the girl child and focused on non-discrimination among children, she said, adding that it had also sought further cooperation with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 30 January, to consider the third periodic report of Hungary.
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director
CAROL BELLAMY, Executive Director of UNICEF, said the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women had been a great step forward. The issue now was the implementation of the Platform for Action adopted by the Conference. This year,
Women Anti-Discrimination Committee - 2 - Press Release WOM/893 303rd Meeting (PM) 29 January 1996
as UNICEF celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, it was re-energized by the Beijing Conference to strengthen work on behalf of girl children in three priority areas: girls' education; health of girls and women; and promotion of girls' and women's rights.
She stressed UNICEF commitment to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Fund was involved in the writing and revision of legislation, promoting awareness, developing plans of action, and promoting children's rights. There was ample scope for greater collaboration regarding implementation of both Conventions at the national and global level, she said. The Committee on the Rights of the Child was looking at the implementation of the goals of the 1992 World Summit for Children. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women now had the Beijing Platform for Action to measure implementation of the Convention at the national level.
In that regard, she said UNICEF could help through ongoing dialogue and exchange of experience. It would continue to work on behalf of women and children and to oppose all forms of exploitation and violence against girls and women. The UNICEF was aware that it could not solve all problems of the world, but it could help to make a real difference for girls and women. The Women's Conference, in Beijing, had offered the opportunity to strengthen partnerships. "Let us work together in the struggle against the apartheid of gender", she concluded.
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