From kimo@pipeline.comWed Sep 13 12:35:35 1995
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 13:06:35 -0400
From: Langston James Goree VI <kimo@pipeline.com>
To: enb@igc.apc.org
Subject: ENB Vol. 14 No. 17 FWCW
EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN <enb@igc.apc.org>
PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT (IISD)<iisd@web.apc.org>
WRITTEN AND EDITED BY:
Peter Doran <foeeire@iol.ie>
Virginia Hulme
, Yang Wanhua <whyang@iisdpost.iisd.ca>
, Lynn Wagner <grund@usc.edu>
Steve Wise <swise@vps.com>.
. FRENCH TRANSLATION BY:
Mongi Gadhoum <gad@tunisia.eu.net>.
. INTERNET COORDINATION BY:
Barbara Ann O'Leary <vsister@igc.apc.org>.
Managing Editor
Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" <kimo@pipeline.com>
A DAILY REPORT ON THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
Vol. 14 No. 17 Tuesday, 12 September 1995
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 1995
Delegates to the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW)
continued negotiations on the draft Platform for Action and
Declaration. The Main Committee briefly met during the
afternoon. Working Group I considered issues related to
health and the girl child. The Contact Group of Working
Group I met to consider final outstanding issues. Working
Group II considered issues related to Section D (violence),
and the Contact Group of Working Group II deliberated on the
Beijing Declaration. The Plenary continued to hear country
and NGO statements.
MAIN COMMITTEE
The second meeting of the Main Committee, chaired by
Patricia Licuanan, was convened during an afternoon session
to review the results of the Working Groups, as contained in
non-papers prepared by the Secretariat. The Chair urged
delegations to make their reservations in the Main
Committee, which would be included in the final report
presented to the Plenary on Friday. Upon approval by the
Main Committee, the text and corrigenda would be issued in
all UN languages. She then invited the Committee to consider
Chapter IV, Section E (armed conflict).
Several delegates, including Mauritius, on behalf of all
francophone delegations, the EU, France, Benin, Tunisia, and
Paraguay expressed concern that the non-papers were only
prepared in English. The Secretariat proposed reading the
new language so that delegates could hear through the
interpreters exactly what they were adopting. The Chair,
however, noted the general consensus that without text in
all UN languages there could be no progress, and adjourned
the meeting until Tuesday.
WORKING GROUP I
Working Group I met during a morning session, chaired by
Nana Amma Yeboaa (Ghana), to hear a report from the Contact
Group on health, to discuss the section on the girl child,
and to consider work by informal groups.
The chair of the Contact Group on health, Mervat Tallawy,
announced that agreement had been reached on paragraphs 97
(sexual rights) and 107(k) (review punitive measures for
illegal abortions). The Working Group adopted the
amendments, following which several nations noted the
reservations they would make. Japan reserved on 107(k). Iran
emphasized their understanding that the paragraphs fell
under the issue of health and in the framework of marriage.
Sudan reserved on the word sexuality. Venezuela, Yemen,
Argentina, Jordan, Libya, Malta, Iraq, the Holy See, Syria,
Ecuador, Bangladesh and the Philippines also announced
reservations.
SECTION L (girl child): In 269 (sexual violence and STDs),
the Chair noted the health group's agreement to "unprotected
and premature sexual relations," which was adopted for this
paragraph. Canada, supported by India, the US and others,
proposed deleting the reference to trafficking in human
organs and tissue. The EU preferred keeping the reference.
Yemen proposed a reference to illegal adoption of children.
In 270 (girls with disabilities), delegates adopted an
Australian redraft noting the need to ensure non-
discrimination and equal enjoyment of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms. New Zealand proposed acceptance of the
reference to enabling girls "in all their diversity" in 272
(eliminate barriers), but Benin preferred "without
exception," which the Group adopted.
In 273 (mainstream gender perspective), Mexico proposed
encouraging analysis to assess gender-sensitive impacts, but
a number of delegations preferred the original call for
analysis before decisions are taken, which was accepted. In
274(d) (succession and inheritance), Egypt explained that
countries of Islamic faith could not accept "equal
inheritance." Norway noted that countries with different
systems could not accept "equitable," and suggested using
reservations.
Delegates then reviewed and adopted text from an informal
group on 30 (women and family), 31 (religion, spirituality
and belief) (which will become 25bis), and 245(b) (media
materials on role models). The bracketed text in 245(b) will
be replaced with a reference to experiences of balancing
work and family responsibilities, as mothers and as
professionals. The Working Group continued consideration of
the section on the girl child during an evening session.
CONTACT GROUP OF WORKING GROUP I
Contact Group I of Working Group I met Monday evening to
hear a report from the informal group convened to resolve
outstanding Platform brackets on parental rights and
responsibilities. A comprehensive textual reference for
inclusion in paragraph 108 (e) of Section C (health) and in
paragraph 267 (ICPD) of Section L (girl child) was presented
and agreed: "Taking into account the rights of the child to
access to information, privacy, confidentiality, respect and
informed consent as well as the responsibilities, rights and
duties of parents and legal guardians to provide, in a
manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child,
appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the
child of the rights recognized in the Convention on the
Rights of the Child and in conformity with the CEDAW. In all
actions concerning children the best interests of the child
shall be a primary consideration." In addition, paragraphs
108 (g) (adolescents) and 109 (l) (programmes for boys) in
the health section will refer to the comprehensive text.
Paragraphs 262 (gender stereotyping), 281 (d) (peer
formation), (e) (physiology of reproduction), and (g)
(services and counseling) will also include appropriate
references to the comprehensive text.
In Section B (education) bracketed language on parental
rights in paragraph 76 (curricula) was deleted. In 85(b)
(training educators), brackets were removed. The language
was reformulated in 85 (l) (integrated services). Paragraph
82 (f) (enrollment) was deemed not to be a parental rights
concern.
WORKING GROUP II
The Working Group, chaired by Irene Freudenschuss
(Austria), met during a morning session to discuss Section D
(violence). Informal consultations were held during the
evening to review outstanding issues.
In 113 (description), delegates agreed to leave the
sentences in their current order and to unbracket [all]
societies. Paragraph 115 (acts of violence) is pending the
results of the contact group on health. In 118 (acts/threats
of violence), "equity" was deleted. In 119 (historical and
cultural origins of violence), delegates agreed that media
images of violence "are" contributory factors.
In 122 (training of officials), the G77/China proposed
lifting the brackets. Azerbaijan, supported by India,
proposed a reference to women hostages in areas of armed
conflict. The EU, supported by Australia, the Holy See and
Canada, proposed deleting the bracketed text. The G77/China
proposed forming a group to ensure all elements in the
paragraph were covered elsewhere in the document before
deleting them. In 123 (trafficking in women and girls),
brackets were lifted from "unwanted pregnancy."
In 125(a) (compliance with Declaration on Elimination of
Violence against Women), Canada amended the reference to the
Declaration with the phrase "as set out in." In 125 (d)
(review legislation), "compensation for" was replaced by
"access to just and effective remedies including
compensation and indemnification." In paragraph 125 (e)
(human rights instruments), the G77/China and Canada
reformulated the bracketed language to read "work actively
to ratify and/or implement all international human rights
norms and instruments as they relate to violence against
women." In 125(j) (national and local plans of action), the
G77/China proposed lifting the brackets. The EU, supported
by the US, proposed "national and/or local" or "at all
appropriate levels of government." In 125 (p) (mobilization
of resources), "at all appropriate" levels was added. In 126
(f) (intermediate institutions and abuse related services),
brackets were removed from "family planning centers" and
"existing school health services."
In 126 (g) (education and training on effects of violence),
Norway, supported by the EU and G77/China, introduced an
amendment on sensitization programmes on the effects of
violence and non-violent communication and training for
protection. In 126 (j) (media and stereotypes), existing
brackets were removed and bracketed texts were introduced:
"consistent with freedom of expression" (US) and a reference
to the need for freedom of information not to justify
stereotyping (Cuba).
In 130 (d) (stereotypes in the media), the G77/China
proposed lifting the brackets. The EU preferred "which in
some cases may foster," but accepted lifting the brackets.
In 131(d) (healing for victims of trafficking), the EU
lifted the brackets around the paragraph.
The informal evening session discussed a proposal to resolve
the approximately twenty bracketed sections regarding
"universal" human rights. An additional paragraph would be
added to 213 (introduction to human rights section), noting
that the promotion and protection of human rights must be
considered as a priority objective of the UN, that they are
legitimate concerns of the international community, and that
the international community must treat human rights
globally, in a fair and equal manner. In addition to that
resolution, brackets would be removed from 12 (World
Conference on Human Rights) and the bracketed phrase
regarding universal human rights removed from 11 (human
rights of women and girls) with the remaining text
unbracketed. Delegates would also remove the bracketed
reference to "universal" from paragraphs 2, 4, 8, 9, 11,
12, 14, 33, 46, 113, 132, 223, 274(f), and 326.
CONTACT GROUP OF WORKING GROUP II
The informal drafting group of the Contact Group on the
Beijing Declaration met all day Monday and into the evening
to deal with bracketed text. Delegates settled most disputed
paragraphs in the preambular sections. They deleted one
paragraph regarding protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms without discrimination when
disagreements could not be resolved.
IN THE CORRIDORS
As NGO Forum participants accustomed to rain and mud in
Huairou adjust to the "pristine" Beijing International
Conference Center (BICC), delegates at the BICC are
adjusting to the new influx of NGO representatives.
Observers noted relatively crowded rooms in the morning
briefing and open meetings, and conference officials
reported that the remainder of some 4000 pre-registered
credentials for NGO participants were being claimed in large
numbers. It was unclear what the impact would be as the
Conference moves toward decisions on critical and
controversial issues, mostly in informal meetings
inaccessible to NGOs. Observers noted that strategic NGOs
have been participating in the FWCW since it opened but that
the new arrivals could provide additional energy and leg
work to the dozens of organized issue caucuses.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
PLENARY: The Plenary will continue to hear statements under
Agenda Item 8, General Exchange of Views, in Hall No. 1.
MAIN COMMITTEE: <M>The Main Committee is expected to meet
during afternoon and evening sessions in Hall No. 16.
WORKING GROUP I: The Working Group is expected to meet
during the morning and after the Main Committee in the
afternoon and evening in Hall No. 16.
WORKING GROUP II: The Working Group is expected to meet meet
in the morning and after the Main Committee in the afternoon
and evening in Hall No. 15.
CONTACT GROUP OF WORKING GROUP II: The Contact Group is
expected to meet in the morning and after the Main Committee
in the afternoon and evening in Hall No. 10.
This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c)
<enb@igc.apc.org> is written and edited by Peter Doran
<foeeire@iol.ie>, Virginia Hulme, Yang Wanhua
<whyang@iisdpost.iisd.ca>, Lynn Wagner <grund@usc.edu> and
Steve Wise <swise@vps.com>. French translation by Mongi
Gadhoum <gad@Tunisia.EU.net>. Internet coordination by
Barbara Ann O'Leary <vsister@igc.apc.org>. The Managing
Editor of the Bulletin is Langston James Goree VI "Kimo"
<kimo@pipeline.com>. The sustaining donors of the Bulletin
are the International Institute for Sustainable Development
(iisd@web.apc.org), the United Nations Environment Programme
and the Pew Charitable Trusts. General support for the
Bulletin during 1995 is provided by the United Kingdom,
Switzerland, GTZ and the World Bank. Partial funding for
this volume of the Bulletin has been provided by the Ford
Foundation, CIDA, Denmark, UNFPA, the Rockefeller Foundation
and UNIFEM. The authors can be contacted in Beijing at the
Continental Grand Hotel by phone at +86 10 491 55 88 and fax
at +86 10 491 0107. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage
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