DESIGN POLICIES TO FAVOR WOMEN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, the Holy See Delegation participated in the 50th session of the Commission on the Status of Women of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), which is meeting to consider themes arising from the Fourth World Conference on Women and from the 23rd special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century."

  The delegation recalled how the purpose of the Commission "is to prepare recommendations and reports to the ECOSOC on promoting women's rights," and expressed the view that "policies should be designed that restore balance and fairness to social and political structures in such a way that their very success persuades all people to work towards the true advancement of women."

  The Holy See delegation had words of praise for the recently-completed Year of Microcredit which was particularly aimed at women entrepreneurs in developing countries, pointing out that this phenomenon "has had the support of local Catholic Churches for many years." On a different matter, the delegation again drew attention to the dangers of human trafficking which "has a particularly negative impact on women," and highlighted the fact that "in armed conflicts, women and girls are also victims of systematic rape for political purposes."

  The delegation issued a stern condemnation of "the sexual violence that frequently has women and girls for its object," and encouraged "the passing of laws that will effectively defend them from such violence." It also condemned "the widespread culture which encourages the systematic exploitation of sexuality and corrupts even very young girls into letting their bodies be used for profit in a world-wide three billion dollar industry."
DELSS/PROMOTION WOMEN/ECOSOC                    VIS 20060303 (300)