Shirley Jones
The structure of the United Nations (UN) World Conferences on Women has consisted of two parallel activities: the UN Conference on Women, composed of government-appointed representatives from UN member states, and the Non-Governmental (NGO) Forum on Women which includes representatives of accredited organizations concerned about women's issues. It is important to point out that the first International Women's Year was proposed to the UN's General Assembly by the Women's International Democratic Federation, on NGO organization.
NGOs have been in the forefront of activities of all of the UN World Conference for Women, using the world conference themes as the focal point for their forums. These forums have led to the development of new programs, organizations and networks, as well as a platform for feminist perspectives and women's approaches to a variety of issues and problems.
I was working for the United Nations in 1975 when the International Women's Year (IWY) was proclaimed by the General Assembly, with the themes equality, development, and peace. The First International Conference on Women was held in Mexico City that year. The Second World Conference on Women, held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980, added three sub-themes: education, employment and health.
Unable to attend the first two meetings, I did participate as an NGO representative in the Third UN World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985. This conference, like the others, was not without its critics. Concerned about issues the NGOs might raise, the government of Kenya placed the NGO Forum at a site separate from that of the government representatives' conference. However, this did not prevent the delegates of he forum and the conference from working together and adopting "Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the Year 2000." This platform became the underpinning for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development, and Peace, held in Beijing in September, 1995.
I attended the NGO Forum on Women `95, the parallel activity to the UN Conference, which was held in Huairou, China. As in the previous conference held in Kenya, the Chinese government placed the forum site a distance from that of the conference. In addition, the China Organizing Committee's (COC) presence was noticeable throughout the Forum and surveillance of participants was widespread. Certain buildings and roads were off limits to foreigners, and the residents of Huairou, especially women, were rarely visible. Complaints from the NGO participants lessened the surveillance and reduced some of the barriers. Gradually, residents of the area became more comfortable with the NGO participants, while partpicipants became more knowledgeable about working through the Chinese bureaucracy and barriers.
The spirit of the women attending the NGO Forum was not dampened by the barriers they encountered. Women, many dressed in native attire, spent hours, as I did, networking and advocating for change. For example, I travelled from Huairou in a caravan of several hundred buses to the opening session of the NGO Forum which was held in Beijing, an hour away; I attended a workshop on "African Women and Development" where one of the keynote speakers told about the plight of women in Rwanda, and another workshop on "Problems and Inequality of Farm Women," hosted by New Zealand NGOs. I was deeply moved both by the singing of "We Shall Overcome Some Day" by a group of women from India who were protesting the treatment of women in their country and by the parade of quilts made and carried by women from all over the world.
Critics have questioned the high cost of these world conferences on women, but they fail to acknowledge the value of women's work globally. Eighty percent of the world's food providers are women and a disproportionate number of them live in Asia and Africa. A major purpose of these conferences is to educate governments and the general public about the contributions of women.
I am convinced that the people of China have benefitted from their exposure to diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, class, lifestyle, religion and ideology at the world conference. Further, it was important for others to see the development of China as a nation and to experience the warmth and friendliness of the Chinese people. I was particularly pleased with my exchange with Chinese women, including farmers, academicians and town officials, and I look forward to continuing our dialogues through electronic mail.
Having followed the World Conferences on Women since 1975, I am saddened that the World Conference may be the last sponsored by the UN. This suggests that women must develop collaborative and cooperative means to advocate for and monitor policies related to their specific problems. NGOs must continue their leadership roles and ensure that the objectives of "The Platform for Action" are included in all global conferences. The critical areas of concern of this platform are: poverty, education, health, violence against women, effects of armed conflict, economic structure, inequality in decision-making, gender equality, women's human rights, media, environment, and the protection of female children.