SEVEN DRAFT TEXTS INTRODUCED IN COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN

Press Release
WOM/916

SEVEN DRAFT TEXTS INTRODUCED IN COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN

The Commission on the Status of Women would condemn the murders, violence and terrorism against women journalists, particularly in Algeria, by the terms of one of seven drafts introduced in that body this afternoon.

Also by the draft, which was introduced by the representative of Costa Rica, the Commission would pay a warm tribute to all women who, with courage, sacrifice and determination, contributed through the media to improving the status of women.

Other drafts introduced this afternoon would have the Commission:

-- Call for the establishment of a mechanism under the aegis of the Centre for Human Rights that would deal with the situation of migrant workers;

-- Request the Secretary-General to invite members of the international community to submit additional views on a possible optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

-- Adopt agreed conclusions that call for new, innovative methods of work for the Commission; and

-- Recognize the important role played by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and stress the need for it to further cooperate with other institutions.

Two of the drafts introduced this afternoon are submitted for the Commission's approval and subsequent adoption by the Economic and Social Council. By one, the Council would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with the provisions and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Hague Conventions and the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of the Civilian Persons in Time of War. Members of the

__________ * The 13th meeting of the Commission was closed.

Women's Commission - 1a - Press Release WOM/916 14th Meeting (PM) 21 March 1996

international community would be urged to intensify assistance for projects which responded to the needs of Palestinian women.

The other text submitted for Council adoption concerns the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. It deals, in five parts, with: a framework for the Commission's functioning; terms of reference; documentation; Commission work programme; and the regional aspect.

The draft texts were introduced by a representative of Austria and two representatives of the Philippines.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday, 22 March, to take action on draft resolutions.

Commission Work Programme

The Commission on the Status of Women met this afternoon to hear the introduction of draft resolutions.

A draft resolution on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (document E/CN.6/1996/L.6) would have the Commission recognize the important role the Institute must play in implementing the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) and stress the need for it to further develop active and close cooperation with the specialized agencies and related United Nations organizations and other institutions. It would commend the Institute's efforts to address all levels of poverty which hampered women's advancement.

A draft on violence against women migrant workers (document E/CN.6/1996/L.7) would have the Commission call for the establishment of a mechanism under the aegis of the Centre for Human Rights to be funded from within existing resources that would: continually study the situation of migrant workers; disseminate information on them; train them to assert their human rights; make recommendations; serve as a forum for the exchange of views; and organize seminars. States would be called upon to explore the possibility of adopting measures to prevent the victimization of women migrant workers by sexual traffickers and to penalize those traffickers. They would also be called upon to adopt and/or implement legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women, including migrant workers.

The text is sponsored by Fiji, Ghana and the Philippines.

A draft text, sponsored by Costa Rica on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, on women and the media (document E/CN.6/1996/L.8) would have the Commission condemn the murders, violence and terrorism against women journalists, particularly in Algeria, because of their sex and profession. It would appeal to the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the international community to join in combating terrorism and all forms of intolerance and violence. The Commission would pay a warm tribute to all women who, with courage, sacrifice and determination, contributed through the media to improving the status of women.

A draft resolution on Palestinian women (document E/CN.6/1996/L.9) is recommended for adoption by the Economic and Social Council. It would have the Council demand that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with the provisions and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Hague Conventions and the 1949 Geneva Convention on the protection of the Civilian Persons in Time of War, in order to protect the rights of Palestinian women and their families. It would also call on Israel to facilitate the return of all refugees and displaced Palestinian women and children to their

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homes and properties in the occupied Palestinian territory, in compliance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The Council would urge Member States, international financial organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and other institutions to intensify financial and technical assistance for projects which responded to the needs of Palestinian women, especially during the transition period. It would ask the Commission to monitor and act on the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, particularly paragraph 260 on the Palestinian women and children and the Beijing Platform. The Secretary-General would be asked to continue reviewing the situation and assist Palestinian women and report to the Commission on the resolution's implementation.

The draft is sponsored by Costa Rica, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

By the terms of a draft submitted by the Chairperson of the open-ended working group, the Commission would request the Secretary-General to invite members of the international community to submit additional views on a possible optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (document E/CN.6/1996/L.11). He would be requested to synthesize those views in a report to the Commission's next session, and to provide that session with another report comparing existing communications and inquiry procedures and practices under international human rights instruments.

Annexed to the text is a draft decision recommended for adoption by the Economic and Social Council. Under its terms, the Council would renew the mandate of the open-ended working group on the elaboration of a draft optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Also before the Commission for adoption are conclusions regarding its methods of work (document E/CN.6/1996/L.12). The Commission would consider that its effectiveness could be improved through innovative methods of work, including inviting experts to participate in its deliberations. Such experts should be chosen from the fields of study under the critical areas of concern outlined in the Platform, taking account of equitable geographical distribution and the involvement of non-governmental organizations. Meetings should be allotted to conduct dialogue with organizations within the United Nations system and civil society and among governmental delegations. Also, the dialogues should produce conclusions containing policy recommendations.

Another draft recommended for adoption by the Economic and Social Council concerns the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women (document E/CN.6/1996/L.13). It deals, in five parts, with: a framework for

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the Commission's functioning; terms of reference; documentation; Commission's work programme; and the regional aspect.

The Council would decide that the Commission should have a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in policies and programmes. The Council would decide that in view of the traditional importance of non- governmental organizations in the advancement of women, such organizations should be encouraged to participate in the work of the Commission. The Secretary-General would be requested to make arrangements to ensure full utilization of existing channels of communication with non-governmental organizations.

Concerning terms of reference, the Council would decide, among others, that the Commission should identify new issues affecting the situation of women that require urgent consideration, and make recommendations on them. Regarding documentation, the Council would decide that requests for reports of the Secretary-General should be limited to the minimum strictly necessary. A proposed multi-year work programme is contained in the draft, which would enable the Commission to consider each of the critical areas of concern identified in the Platform for Action by the year 2000, beginning in 1997, with consideration of: education and training of women; women and the economy; women in power and decision-making; and women in the environment. The final section of the draft deals with the role of regional follow-up in monitoring the Platform's implementation.

Introduction of Drafts

EMILIA CASTRO DE BARISH (Costa Rica) introduced the texts on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; women and the media; and Palestinian women.

RUTH LIMJUCO (Philippines) introduced the draft on violence against women migrant workers. She announced that Israel had joined in sponsoring the text.

ALICIA WORGETTER (Austria) introduced the orally revised text on the elaboration a draft optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

PATRICIA LICUANAN (Philippines) introduced the drafts on the Commission's methods of work and on follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women.

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