SOLIDARITY CRITICAL TO COMBATING POVERTY, COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN TOLD
Press Release
WOM/910
SOLIDARITY CRITICAL TO COMBATING POVERTY, COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN TOLD
19960314 Solidarity -- between North and South, governments and civil society, rich and poor, and men and women -- was critical to combating poverty, speakers told the Commission on the Status of Women this morning. The Commission was conducting a dialogue among governments on poverty as part of its follow-up to the Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995).Providing an example of how solidarity had helped it to reduce poverty, Tunisia said that by recycling its debt in cooperation with Sweden, Tunisia had been able to channel more resources to social services. The Republic of Korea stressed that international financial organizations must cooperate with developing countries in order to address poverty in the least developed countries. Chile said the struggle against poverty was not a matter to be dealt with by governments alone; all of mankind must participate.
Namibia said there was great disparity between the income of its black and white population. Whites had a per capita income exceeding $16,000 per year, while that of blacks was just $85 per year. To redress those disparities, the Government had initiated measures such as land reform, but it required external resources in that effort. European countries must increase their solidarity, support and understanding of the problems faced by developing countries.
Developing States were not alone in discussing the problems they faced. The United States said its social safety net was being dismantled and expressed concern over the rising incidence of poverty among children, which was caused, in large part, by the failure to pay child support of their fathers -- the so-called "deadbeat dads".
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Italy said that in some developed countries, poverty, especially among women, was linked to labour shortages. The European Union was working to address the problem of unemployment based on equal opportunities for men and women. The eradication of poverty was central to the functioning of genuine democracy, since poverty prevented people from exercising their rights.
Cuba said women's human rights were also economic and social rights, not just civil and political. Structural adjustment and neo-liberal economic policies imposed by the World Bank on many developing countries which had caused an increase in poverty should be examined.
Côte d'Ivoire said structural adjustment programmes, which were designed by the World Bank to recoup its funds, had already affected the poorest of the poor, especially women. She stressed that the Bank must cancel the debt of some developing countries in the interests of poor women. Pakistan said the cancellation of debt burden was the most effective way to deal with poverty.
Bulgaria said it was critical to identify projects that would serve to implement the recommendations of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Ireland said that access by women to secure, well-paid employment was key to tackling poverty, as well as the related issues of exclusion and violence. Malaysia also stressed the importance of jobs and said mere access to credit would not eliminate poverty. Poor men and women needed jobs, as they did not have the skills to create their own employment opportunities. Access to credit could help women raise income levels once they were working. It was very important to examine why past efforts at poverty eradication had failed.
Dominican Republic highlighted the importance of the work of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, which had been carrying out valuable activities for 25 years.
The feminization of poverty had struck Austria. Cuts in social spending had directly affected the social situation of women.
Nigeria said women were empowered economically through education and that could help eliminate poverty. However, their education should focus on skills which could be utilized in the market.
Canada said the reallocation of resources, including military expenditures, must include a gender component if they were to help address the feminization of poverty.
Japan said governments should identify women's issues as a high priority in policy planning. Education was a key factor for eradicating poverty, and Japan was increasing its input in that area. It stressed the importance of non-governmental organizations, particularly grass-roots ones.
Ethiopia said that international and national efforts should include strategies which reached out to rural people. But poverty eradication could not work without the mobilization of new and additional resources.
Women's Commission - 3 - Press Release WOM/910 7th Meeting (AM) 14 March 1996
Costa Rica, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the feminization of poverty was too big an issue to be dealt with in one session, as it cut across all concerns expressed in the Platform for Action. New and additional resources, a major shift of domestic and international resources and new partnerships were needed to address the problem. Portugal added that the feminization of poverty was a global economic issue. However, attention should also be given to the way poverty deprived women of their cultural, civic and political and human rights.
France said poverty was a problem in all regions, and all countries and national governments must make firm commitments and take responsibility for dealing with it, otherwise, outside assistance would not help. The allocation of public expenditures should ensure women and children had access to basic social services.
China called attention to the causes of poverty, which he said was a threat to international peace and security. All countries should try to fulfil their commitments to the Platform for Action. International cooperation and a North-South dialogue were indispensable for eliminating poverty.
The Sudan said United Nations agencies should help develop special training programmes for women to increase their employment skills.
Finland stressed that the mainstreaming of gender perspective should be more strongly emphasized. Sweden added that mainstreaming strategies should not preclude special programmes for women, adding that attention should not just focus on safety nets for women and treat them as victims.
Australia said its overseas programmes had shifted emphasis and now concentrated on the human factor, including the needs of women and girls. The United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions must include women's perspective both in policy determination and programme delivery.
Antigua and Barbuda stressed the importance of including gender perspectives in the policies of transnational corporations as their activities were purely profit oriented and often contributed to the feminization of poverty.
Mexico said international efforts should be adjusted to different national programmes and stressed the importance of including a gender perspective in all statistics which measured poverty.
Federally Employed Women said that macroeconomic policies must be reassessed according to their effect on all women. Governments, in
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partnership with grass-roots organizations, should redesign public policies to target women and take into account their special needs.
International League for Peace and Freedom said war was one of the most pernicious causes of poverty, and militarization depleted national and human resources. She urged governments to curb military spending by at least 5 per cent annually and invest the savings in civil society.
The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today to convene a panel of experts on women and the media.
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