Daily report for 8 June 2000

The Plenary convened in the morning and afternoon, and the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole met at 5:00 pm and 12:00 am. Working Groups I and II met in morning, afternoon, evening and late-night sessions. A contact group chaired by Vice-Chair Patricia Flor met during the day on contentious issues. Delegates worked throughout the night in the COW in an attempt to clear remaining brackets. The following covers negotiations through 1:30 am.

PLENARY

Delegates heard statements on the review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the PFAs 12 critical areas of concern. Speakers included 18 Ministers, five Vice-Ministers and 12 Chiefs of Delegation. Statements can be found on the Internet at: http:// www.un.org/ga/webcast/stat.htm

AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At 5:00 pm, Yakin Ertrk, Director of DAW, updated delegates on the status of negotiations. Chair Kapalata opened the floor for suggestions on how best to move forward, appealing to delegates for concrete solutions. IRAN, JUSCANZ, SYRIA, GUATEMALA, PAKISTAN, LIBYA, CHINA, the G-77/CHINA, the EU, CARICOM, the HOLY SEE, IRAQ, and EGYPT spoke in favor of continuing negotiations until all brackets had been removed.

At 12:00 am, delegates reconvened to debate text in Sections II and III. In paragraph 20, SENEGAL, with many others, suggested deleting reference to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. CUBA, the EU, JUSCANZ, SOUTH AFRICA and TURKEY opposed. IRAN called for the deletion of the paragraph. The reference remains bracketed. In 48 bis, delegates discussed formulations from G-77/China and Jamaica. The paragraph remains bracketed.

WORKING GROUP I

SECTION II: ACHIEVEMENTS AND OBSTACLES

Delegates addressed references to political will in paragraphs 7, 19, and 28. In paragraph 7, delegates accepted Chair Mlacaks proposal on "lack of resources and insufficient political will and commitment" and "inappropriate design and application of" SAPs. The paragraph was agreed. In paragraph 19, language on inadequate financial and human resources and a lack of political will "in many countries" was debated at length, and the reference remains bracketed. Violence: Delegates agreed to paragraph 10, after a slight EU amendment referring to combating violence against women and girls. In paragraph 11, delegates accepted text on "many countries," and on the health system, work places, the media, the education system, as well as the justice system.

Decision-making: In paragraph 17, delegates agreed to retain PFA language on conflict "prevention and" resolution mechanisms. Delegates agreed to Syrias proposal on "a number of countries," and the paragraph was adopted.

Institutional Mechanisms: Delegates adopted paragraph 18 after the PHILIPPINES, EGYPT and JUSCANZ proposed retaining text on the achievement by national mechanisms in monitoring CEDAW implementation.

Media: In paragraph 23, EGYPT, with IRAN, ARGENTINA, the PHILIPPINES, and others proposed PFA language on "pornographic and obscene materials." SUDAN, with CUBA, opposed. NIGERIA, SLAC, CUBA and IRAN noted other PFA references, resulting in a bracketed reference to "violent and degrading or pornographic media products."

Girl Child: In paragraph 26, delegates agreed to language on support mechanisms for pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, and on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. The paragraph was agreed.

SECTION III: CURRENT CHALLENGES

In paragraph 51, the G-77/CHINA, with the HOLY SEE, suggested eliminating a list of forms of violence. The EU suggested postponing discussion to allow for feedback from a contact group also discussing violence. No consensus was reached, and the initial and alternative G-77/China and EU proposals remain bracketed.

Delegates adopted paragraph 54, on the need for effective and coordinated plans and programmes, after Egypt introduced a reformulation, supported by the G-77/CHINA, IRAN, UAE and the PHILIPPINES, on, inter alia, capacity-building efforts being needed at the national level to increase transparency and accountability. In paragraph 55, a G-77/China proposal was adopted after delegates agreed to delete references to "all," and add language emphasizing the need for specific and targeted activities, gender equality and "enhanced" international cooperation.

WORKING GROUP II

SECTION IV: FURTHER ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES

Vice-Chair Patricia Flor presented contact group results, and Working Group II agreed on a set of sub-paragraphs for paragraph 135, in the following order: 125G, on effective measures to address the challenges of globalization; 125D, on womens participation and international development cooperation; 125A, on poverty eradication with womens participation; 135(d), on intensifying efforts to implement poverty eradication programmes; 135(e) bis, on links between gender equality and poverty eradication; 135(g), on accessible financial services; 125J, on quality skills training to achieve agreed poverty eradication targets; 135(e), on social development funds, where appropriate, to alleviate the negative effects of SAPs and trade liberalization; 125C, on debt; and 135(f), on the Cologne initiative.

National Actions: No consensus was reached on whether to maintain "as appropriate" in 102(e). The sub-paragraph was deleted. In 103(i), there was no consensus on referring to "including" instead of "particularly." The sub-paragraph remains bracketed.

International Actions: Regarding outstanding placement, 121(a) bis was maintained under international actions and 122(a) bis was shifted to national and international actions. Delegates adopted 122(b) ter with verbatim language from WSSD+5 on peoples right to self-determination.

National and International Actions: Consensus was reached to adopt 125H with "create an enabling environment" and without "design and implement policies." In EU-proposed 125(h), EGYPT specified full participation of all countries. PAKISTAN, with others, deleted "uniform." With these amendments, and deletion of "ethical guidelines" in elements of a possible database, the sub-paragraph was agreed. Delegates deleted 125(f).

In 126(b), IRAN and EGYPT qualified the language to support governments in their efforts to institute action-orientated programmes for accelerated PFA implementation. LIBYA specified full implementation. Delegates accepted programmes and measures, and a reference to time-bound targets and/or measurable goals and evaluation methods. The EU specified including gender impact assessments, and proposed deleting 126(c). With these amendments, a reference to full participation of women for measuring and analyzing progress, and placement under national actions, the sub-paragraph was agreed.

Delegates debated a proposal for 127(d), on promoting and protecting womens rights at work as defined by the relevant ILO conventions, based on informal consultations. EGYPT, with CUBA, CARICOM and LIBYA, preferred either deleting both 127(d) and 127(j), on child labor, or adopting an earlier G-77/CHINA formulation for 127(d) and WSSD language for 127(j). The EU, with PAKISTAN and JUSCANZ, proposed deleting 127(d) and importing WSSD language for 127(j). No consensus was reached.

In paragraph 127(g), after deleting language on encouraging reorientation of investments, delegates agreed to reaffirm commitment to gender-sensitive development and support womens role in sustainable and ecologically sound consumption and production patterns and approaches to natural resource management. Delegates relocated 128(b) under national actions as 118(i) bis. In 128(i), delegates agreed to continue to support and strengthen national, regional and international adult literacy programmes, with international cooperation in order to achieve a 50 per cent improvement in adult literacy levels by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.

In 130(a), IRANs call for a reference to all forms of commercialized sex was repositioned as a reference to all forms of commercial sexual exploitation, and the sub-paragraph was agreed. In 130(d), delegates deleted reference to civil society, inserted ethnic-based violence, and retained current placement. The HOLY SEE proposed compromise text on 132(c), on respecting and promoting the right of women to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and recognizing the central role that religion, spirituality and belief play in the lives of women. Delegates debated references to "promote," "central," "may" and "millions of." They adopted the sub-paragraph after opting for PFA language. In 133(a), PAKISTAN supported "where appropriate," and the sub-paragraph was agreed. LIBYA and others asked that 134(a) be deleted. The HOLY SEE suggested, and JUSCANZ supported, alternative placement in the sub-paragraph of the reference to freedom of expression. The sub-paragraph was adopted with this amendment.

In 134(h), some delegates expressed concern that the expression "herstories" would not be translatable and an explanatory footnote was added, together with a reference to best practices, and the sub-paragraph was adopted. Delegates adopted 135(m), formerly 135(b) bis, with a reference to "appropriate technology," as supported by IRAN and SYRIA. JUSCANZ proposed, and delegates adopted, new text reorganizing 136(a). Delegates adopted: 136(c) on multi-stakeholder partnerships with civil society; 136(d) on partnerships among, inter alia, governments, international organizations and the private sector; and 138(e) bis on the effects of the world drug problem.

CONTACT GROUP

Armed Conflict: Paragraph 13 generated heated debate, with some delegates preferring to specify the increase in use of specific arms. The adopted text uses language from PFA paragraph 143.

Health: In paragraph 8, delegates agreed on: "family planning and contraceptive methods," "health care and health services," "health care services," and the need to implement PFA paragraph 96 in some countries. However, two delegations registered their reservations, in conformity with their reservations on paragraph 96 of the PFA. The sections referring to abortion remain bracketed.In paragraph 37, language on the need for strategies to empower women on issues of their sexuality was adopted with two reservations, following agreement to exclude "safe sex."

In 115(a), delegates agreed to PFA language on "informed consent" instead of "with informed choice and consent." In 115 ter, delegates adopted "review and revise national policies" but deleted the reference to implementation "without delay." On paragraph 115(a) bis, delegates accepted the need to ensure access to primary health care "throughout the life cycle." In 115(d), delegates agreed to place "full participation of women" after "review," and agreed to retain references to health care and services for all women and the diverse needs of women. The paragraph was adopted. There was no consensus on 115(f) bis and 115(h), as delegates diverged about providing adolescents with "full and equal access" to reproductive and sexual services, and the emphasis on "contraceptive methods" in respect to meeting womens health needs. Both references are bracketed.

Delegates adopted 125(i) after dropping "indicators," and agreed on 125(i) bis after clarification that clinical trials involving women will take "due regard for their human rights." They shortened 132 (e) to refer only to the effects of certain traditional and customary practices, and deleted: measures to be accorded refugees in 133(n); reference to specific methods to control sexually transmitted infections in 138(c); and reference to world conference reports in paragraph 139.

Family: Consensus was reached in paragraphs 4 and 30 sexter, with adoption of references to women "and their respective families." References to "discrimination" were retained in a merger of 30 sexter and 51 ter. The text was adopted. Paragraph 104, a merger of 105(a) and 137(c), provides for the protection and support of women and their respective families, and the development and strengthening of policies to support family security. In 127 bis (a), merged from 119(a) and 137(a), delegates agreed on the "multiple roles of women" and the "family in its various forms."

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

PLENARY: The Plenary will convene at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm in the General Assembly Hall.

AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: The COW will meet at a time to be announced in Conference Room 2.