Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509180125
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
An end to the confab, the largest of its type ever held. Only the beginning, though, of work necessary to have nations, large and small, rich and poor, live up to the platform's ambitious ideals for human betterment.
Human, did we say? That's right. While no one may be entirely satisfied with the 150-page platform, and it is not entirely lacking in zealous excesses, it does reflect a breakthrough in awareness of women's rights as human rights.
That, to her credit, is what America's first lady Hillary Clinton was talking about when she addressed the conference at its start. Many naysayers, including China's leaders, have been all too willing to dismiss women's concerns as special pleadings.
The platform is built on convincing arguments - and an emerging consensus among development specialists - that uplifting women's status worldwide is the key to stronger, healthier, happier families and to more stable and prosperous societies.
Women will make up half the world's paid labor force by the year 2000. Numerous international groups now recognize that living standards for the world's men, women and children increasingly rely on women's (1) access to health care, education and economic opportunities and (2) greater role in decision making - within families and within enterprises and governments.
The platform patched together in Beijing endorses initiatives by the world's governments to give women greater ``empowerment.'' It declares, for example, that women have the right to decide matters related to their own sexuality and child-bearing.
Of course, the platform has no binding effect on governments represented at the conference, even if they signed off on the final language.
Far from assured is an end now to coercive laws and policies such as China's one-child-per-woman limit, often enforced with forced abortions or sterilizations. Nor can the platform guarantee an end to cultural traditions that, notwithstanding glib talk about multicultural understanding and respect, continue to promote abuse of women in many countries.
Nor is there any assurance that more enlightened nations, the United States included, will work harder to advance women's prospects within their borders or contribute more significantly to international efforts.
But so what? This was only a conference. Its point is to help propel and focus the work of translating ideals into action.
Betty Friedan, author and pioneer feminist, says the session marked ``the coming to maturity of the women's movement as a global force of great power.'' The movement's mission and momentum are now worldwide.
by CNB