RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN TO RELY MORE ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ASSEMBLY'S SOCIAL COMMITTEE IS TOLD
Press Release
GA/SHC/3559
RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN TO RELY MORE ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ASSEMBLY'S SOCIAL COMMITTEE IS TOLD
19991112New Structure of INSTRAW Is Discussed; Review of Refugee Issues Continues, with Statement on Behalf of International Committee of Red Cross
The United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) would rely increasingly on new technologies, such as the establishment of the Gender Awareness Information and Network System, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told this afternoon, as it took up its agenda item on the advancement of women's.
The Committee also continued its consideration of issues related to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions.
The new structure of INSTRAW would contain a variety of features such as gender-aware news service, a good practices showcase, research and training materials for distance learning and specialized knowledge on various gender- related issues, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the Institute said. She called for voluntary contributions to the INSTRAW Trust Fund to implement the programme.
A dialogue was conducted between Committee members and the Director of the Institute. The representatives of the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Cuba took part in the dialogue.
As the Committee continued its consideration of issues related to refugees, the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said parties to a conflict had a duty to respect and protect all civilians. He said the twenty-seventh International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which had taken place in Geneva a few days ago, had adopted a Plan of Action which requested that all parties to an armed conflict avoid all measures which could provoke population displacement.
Also this afternoon, the Committee received two draft resolutions -- one, on issues related to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the other on human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3559 45th Meeting (PM) 12 November 1999
The Committee will meet again on Monday (15 November), at 10 a.m., to continue its consideration of issues related to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions. It is also expected to take action on draft resolutions related to crime prevention and criminal justice; elimination of racism and racial discrimination; and the rights of peoples to self-determination.
Committee Work Programme
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of issues related to refugees and to take up again the agenda item on the advancement of women. (For background information, see Press Release GA/SHC/3521 of 11 October.)
Before the Committee is a report of the Secretary-General on the new structure and working method of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) (document A/54/500). It states that in order for INSTRAW to remain relevant and at the forefront of strategic policy innovation, it must be revitalized. The impetus for the revitalization comes from a central role of gender issues on the global agenda; increasing use of new technologies replacing traditional methods of information, knowledge- gathering and management; and the need to be cost-effective. It is essential that the resources of the revitalized INSTRAW should be focused on activities that have a significant and measurable effect on the advancement of women.
According to the report, in view of the need to revitalize INSTRAW to meet the needs for the twenty-first century, the Economic and Social Council, at its 1999 summer session, adopted resolution 1999/54, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Board of Trustees of INSTRAW, to draw up a new structure and working method for the Institute.
The report states that the revitalized INSTRAW will use new information technologies as a means of producing, managing and disseminating gender knowledge and information on critical issues and trends affecting women and men and their roles in development. The essential part of the new Institute - the Gender Awareness Information and Networking System -- is an integral knowledge and information management system. It is a one stop Web site with such interactive features as a database, networks, gender-search capability and on-line discussion forums.
The Committee was expected to receive a draft resolution on enlarging the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/C.3/54/L.57). By terms of the text, the Assembly would decide to increase the number of members of the Committee from 54 to 57 States. It would request the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its organizational session for 2000.
The draft is sponsored by Chile, Côte d'Ivoire and Republic of Korea.
By a draft expected to be introduced on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance (document A/C.3/54/L.61), the Assembly would reaffirm that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person, and guaranteed to all without discrimination. The Assembly would urge States to ensure their constitutional and legal systems provided effective guarantees for these freedoms, including effective remedies where the right was violated. It would also urge States to ensure that no one within their jurisdiction was deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person, or be subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention because of religious beliefs. Further, it would urge States to take all necessary action to prevent such instances and to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and violence as well as all other acts of coercion with respect to matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. It would urge States to ensure that officials did not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs.
Finally, the Assembly would note the Special Rapporteur's request that his title be changed from Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance to Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. It would encourage the Special Rapporteur to contribute to the World Conference against Racism in 2001.
The draft is sponsored by Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.
Statement by ICRC
ZORAN JOVANOVIC, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said humanitarian law was all too often violated. There were numerous cases in which the civilian population was deliberately targeted, provoking massive displacement as a result. The ICRC sought to protect and assist displaced persons whenever possible. Parties to a conflict had a duty to respect and protect all civilians.
The twenty-seventh International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which had taken place in Geneva a few days ago, had demonstrated its strong concern for the victims of displacement, he said. During that Conference, a Plan of Action had been adopted. The Plan requested that parties to armed conflict avoid measures which could provoke population displacement. It further sought to ensure that displaced persons be respected and protected. In addition, it requested that the civilian character of refugees and internally displaced persons in camps be maintained. It also sought that the displaced be allowed to return voluntarily, in peaceful conditions and in safety, to their homes, or to voluntarily resettle elsewhere.
Introduction of Drafts
The representative of Chile introduced the draft resolution on enlarging the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document A/C.3/54/L.57).
The representative of Ireland introduced the draft resolution on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance (document A/C.3/54/L.61). She said Afghanistan would become an additional co-sponsor.
Statement on Institute for Advancement of Women
ANGELA E.V. KING, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, said the core functions of the Institute would rely primarily on new technologies. Also, it would establish the Gender Awareness Information and Network System, a one-stop Web site with a database, networks, search capability and on-line forums. It would also contain a variety of features such as a gender-aware news service, a good practices showcase, research and training materials for distance learning and specialized knowledge on various gender-related issues.
Many clients and end-users would benefit from such a system, she said. Governments, the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, womens groups, intergovernmental and international organizations, academia and womens rights groups, as well as individual women and men, would benefit from the system. The system would enhance communication, build dialogue through panel discussions and on-line conferences.
The most tangible proof of the support of the international community would be voluntary contributions to the INSTRAW Trust Fund to implement the programme, she said. We have no doubt that the Institute will provide good value for money and carry out gender-related research and training to match the demands of the twenty-first century, she said.
Dialogue
ELENI STAMIRIS, Director of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, said she would answer questions or receive comments.
The representative of the Dominican Republic said she was pleased that the operations of the Institute would be founded on new technology. The new mechanisms that had been developed would be of special relevance to her region, particularly the Cybernetic Park. Nevertheless, it must be kept in mind that the Institute had been established as one that would promote the involvement of women in development. A feasibility study should be conducted with regard to the new modalities.
The representative of Mexico said she fully supported the Institute and what it represented for the United Nations, regarding gender and the region. Her country had announced a voluntary contribution for next year.
The representative of Cuba said it was important to consider how the information would reach the women who constituted the majority of the world and who did not have access to the Internet. The traditional methods should not be given up, even though new technology would facilitate the streamlining and broadening of INSTRAW.
Ms. STAMERIS said that access to all the women of the world was one of the questions that loomed large in all minds. Even traditional methods reached relatively few women, those who could read. Next year, 700 million people would be using the Internet. Many of those were women from developing countries. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had set up a development network in developing countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was contacting women through the Internet.
Ms. KING said that as the five-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action approached it was important to keep INSTRAW viable and at the service of women.
* *** *