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UN NGLS Development Dossier

 

THE UNFINISHED STORY OF WOMEN AND THE UNITED NATIONS

By Hilkka Pietila

2007

 

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TEXT ON WOMEN - HISTORIC AND MODERN

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HISTORIC

 

FIRST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

12 FEBRUARY 1946

 

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD

 

"This first Assembly of the United Nations marks the second attempt of the peoples of the world to live peacefully in a democratic world community. This new chance for peace was won through the joint efforts of men and women working for common ideals of human freedom at a time when the need for united effort broke down barriers of race, creed, and sex.

 

In view of the variety of tasks which women performed so notably and valiently during the war, we are gratified that seventeen women representatives and advisers, representatives of eleven Member States, are taking part at the beginning of this new phase of international effort. We hope their participation in the work of the United Nations Organization may grow and increase insight and in skill. To this end we call on the Governments of the world to encourage women everywhere to take a more active part in national and international affairs, and on women who are conscious of their opportunities to come forward and share in the work of peace and reconstruction as they did in war and resistance.

 

We recognise that women in various parts of the world are at different stages of participation in the life of their community, that some of them are prevented by law from assuming full rights of citizenship, and that they therefore may see their immediate problems somewhat differently.

 

Finding ourselves in agreement on these points, we wish as a group to advise the women of all our countries of our strong belief that an important opportunity and responsibility confront the women of the United Nations: first, to recognise the progress women have made during the war and to participate actively in the effort to improve the standards of life in their own countries and in the pressing work of reconstruction, so that there will be qualified women ready to accept responsibility when new opportunities arise; second, to train their children, boys and girls alike, to understand world problems and the need for international cooperation, as well as the problems of their own countries; third, not to permit themselves to be misled by anti-democratic movements now or in the future; fourth, to recognise that the goal of full participatin in the life and responsibilities of their countries and of the world community is a common objective toward which the women of the world should

assist one another."

 

Signed by:

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, United States

Mrs. Marie-Helene LeFaucheaux, France

Miss Minerva Bernardino, The Dominican Republic

Mrs. Bodil Begtrup, Denmark

Mrs. Frieda Dalen, Norway

Mrs. H. Verwey, The Netherlands

and 11 other women delegates to the General Assembly

 

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MODERN

 

H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain

President of the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly

Speaking on 12 September 2006

 

"I believe it is the common responsibility of you, the Member States, to make the General Assembly and the United Nations even more effective. As efforts to revitalize the General Assembly are under way, we must not lose sight of the main purpose of these actions: to meet the rising expectations of the hundreds of millions of peoples around the world.

 

We have a challenging task to meet their expectations; those that are poor, malnourished, illiterate or victims of disease...We have a challenging task to ensure their economic and social security which is just as important as their political and military security...We have a challenging task to liberate them from want while seeking to liberate them from fear...

 

I would also like to underline that over half of the world's population, namely women, typically have less access to health care, employment, decision making and property ownership. This disparity needs to be addressed so that women and men can enjoy the same opportunities, the same rights, and the same responsibilities in all aspects of life. To promote gender equality, we need to empower women so that they have more autonomy to lead their lives. To achieve these goals it is essential that we work closely together, so that together, we can promote human rights and achieve sustainable development."

 

UN NGLS Book Note: Sheikha Haya from Bahrain is a champion of women's rights, particularly in the legal sphere and defending women before the Islamic sharia courts in her country. She is also an advocate of a progressive interpretation of Islamic texts as they apply to women.

 

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