WOMEN 2000: GENDER EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Joan McGrath-Triulzi, member of the Holy See delegation, spoke yesterday afternoon before the Third Committee of the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly on the advancement of women and the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century."

She remarked that "Six years have passed since the Fourth World Conference on Women and one year since the Beijing +5. The Holy See would like to reiterate its support for what it called 'the living heart' of the Beijing Platform for Action: the recognition of the dignity of women, the importance of strategies for development, ending violence against women, access to employment, land and capital, and the provision of basic social services. These objectives bear a close correspondence to the social teaching of the Holy See" which, she added, "continues to be a major provider of basic social services to girls and women, especially in developing countries."

Then, addressing the "phenomenon of globalization," Mrs. McGrath-Triulzi said, "The question we must ask ourselves is, how can women attain the best position to reap the benefits of globalization and avoid its negative effects?"

"Several conditions must be in place to achieve this," she answered. "Recognition of the dignity of the human person, especially women and girls, must be the starting point for fostering authentic human development. ... Secondly, ... the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls must be protected so that they will benefit from globalization. Respect for the right to freely enter into marriage and raise a family, to seek employment and just wages and to be protected from abuse and exploitation is a prerequisite to women's contribution to economic development.

"Lastly, investment in basic social services is the bedrock for women's well-being and economic development. ... It is imperative then, that the education and health of girls and women be a priority in development programs."

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