Kingdom's commitment to Beijing plan discussed

CSW participants to review current challenges and forward-looking strategies for the advancement and empowerment of women around the world

March 2, 2005

NEW YORK (JT) - The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) convened a high-level plenary meeting on the "Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome of the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly." The broad based participation reviewed current challenges and forward-looking strategies for the advancement and empowerment of women around the world. Speaking on behalf of the Kingdom, as well as the Consultative Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which is currently chaired by Jordan, HRH Princess Basma discussed Jordan's commitment to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. She commended the will of His Majesty King Abdullah, in supporting legal amendments and in establishing a system of reserved seats for women's parliamentary representation. "Gender mainstreaming (incorporated by JNCW) has also been recognised, prompting a commitment from the prime minister to mainstream gender perspectives into all future national development plans, and all government institutions," Princess Basma said. However, for change to be permanent, she noted, it is always essential to ensure societal understanding and acceptance of the process. The Princess also stressed the importance of acknowledging local conditions and their direct bearing on the pace at which processes for women's advancement evolve. "We hope that the outcome of this meeting will be sensitive to the diversity of our cultures, religions and interests, and create an enabling climate for our national initiatives to flourish." Princess Basma commended UNIFEM's leading role in protecting and advancing the rights and developments of women; ranging from addressing critical gaps in the follow-up to the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals, to translating Security Council Resolution 1325 into practice. Referring to the 2004 assessment made on the fund's status and resources, the Princess noted that UNIFEM is underresourced to meet the demands of its expanded role, and encouraged member states to contribute further to its core resources. "The way that the UN member states and the UN system itself position and resource gender expertise is an important indicator of the extent of their commitment to gender equality," she added. The outcome the 49th session of the commission will be transmitted through the Economic and Social Council, to the 60th session of the General Assembly, including the event on the review of the Millennium Declaration. The 45-member Commission of the Economic and Social Council, which is required to integrate a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995 into its work, is conducting a 10-year review and appraisal of the Beijing outcome during its current session. This was the first opportunity, since a follow-up session of the General Assembly five years ago, for an in-depth assessment of women's status today by senior government officials and a wide spectrum of civil society experts. The commission will also commemorate International Women's Day, and 30 years of UN efforts to promote Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.