SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS 20-YEAR ACTIVITIES OF UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMEN

29 October 1996

Press Release
SG/SM/6100
WOM/923

SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS 20-YEAR ACTIVITIES OF UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR WOMEN

19961029 Awards Presented to Three Grass-Roots Organizations Said to Symbolise Commitment of World Body to Improve Lives of Families, Communities, Nations

These are the remarks of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at a ceremony at Headquarters this evening when three grass-roots women's organizations received awards from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM):

I am honoured to welcome you here this evening to the UNIFEM Achievement Award Ceremony in celebration of UNIFEM's 20 years of commitment to the world's women. I am proud to recognize the work of UNIFEM, an organization that has been at the centre of the struggle for mainstreaming gender issues and for the advancement of women in all realms of life.

One year ago, thousands of women and men from all over the world met in Beijing for the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Platform for Action adopted there is an inspiring document, providing a clear blueprint for gender equality and women's empowerment in all Member States and within the international system as well. The United Nations family stands firm in its commitment to incorporating gender concerns into all its policies and programmes.

In our common efforts towards these objectives, UNIFEM has proven itself a powerful catalyst for women's opportunities and a formidable advocate for women's rights.

UNIFEM helps women lift themselves out of poverty and reach their full potential. It assists governments with gender-responsive planning. It promotes dialogue between governments and women's organizations to bring more women's voices and leadership into the policy- and decision-making process. It is an example of how the United Nations aims to practice what we preach.

The grass-roots women and the organizations we honour here today exemplify the hard work, dedication and courage that women everywhere are

displaying in the quest to improve not only their lives but the lives of their families, communities and nations. These women have overcome the greatest odds, and become peacemakers, entrepreneurs and advocates for democracy. Their accomplishments are vivid testimony to the fact that women can make all the difference.

As we have learned over the past two decades, the empowerment of women is essential to a goal we all share: achieving sustainable development and stable, peaceful, prosperous societies. I salute UNIFEM for the many successes of the past 20 years. And I congratulate the award-winners here tonight for their invaluable contributions.

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