| Asia
Women’s Conference on a Culture of Peace
ESCAP, UNESCO TO HOLD REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON ASIAN WOMEN
FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE, HANOI, 6 - 9 DECEMBER
***PRESS RELEASE***
1 December 2000 No/ G/49/00
Women
seek equal participation in decision-making and development
for peace
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – In
celebration of the International Year for the Culture of
Peace, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, is organizing
a Regional Conference on Asian Women for a Culture of Peace
in Hanoi from 6 - 9 December.
The
Conference will provide a forum for Asian women to outline
a strategic plan of action to strengthen their contribution
to achieving a culture of peace as a prerequisite for and
a goal of sustainable development. Approximately 120 women
leaders, politicians, gender and peace researchers, educators,
national and community-based peace promoters, and media
and communication professionals will attend. Delegates are
expected from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Lao
People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines,
Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.
The
Vice President of Viet Nam, H.E. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh and
H.E. Mr. Chowdhury Anwarul Karim, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
to the United Nations, will deliver keynote speeches.
Other
participants of note include the Deputy Prime Minister of
Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Pham Gai Khiem; the Director General
of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura; the Deputy Executive
Secretary of ESCAP, Ms. Kayoko Mizuta; and the Mayor of
Hanoi, Dr. Hoang Van Nghien. State Ministers in charge of
Women's Affairs of several countries will also be among
the participants.
Discussion
topics at the conference include the role and status of
women in peace-building and non-violence in Asia five years
after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and
their role and potential for building peace and non-violence
in Asia. Delegates will also seek new and strengthened development
strategies and initiatives, including capacity building
and provision of safeguards against the uncertainties and
changes in conditions associated with globalization. Such
strategies and initiatives may be used throughout the region
to prevent redistributive issues from causing social instability.
Organizers
expect to achieve an overall assessment of Asian women's
political, social, and economic empowerment as well as an
assessment of the educational and training
requirements needed to strengthen their capacities to transform
societies away from violence and towards a culture of peace
and ensure gender equality in the region. They hope to develop
a greater
awareness and understanding of Asian women’s actual
and potential roles in peace-building, development and human,
social and economic security.
The
meeting will engender concrete suggestions for a Women’s
Plan of Action for a Culture of Peace and Sustainable Development
in Asia, to be implemented in relation to the UN Decade
for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children
of the World (2001-2010).
Background
information
At the United Nations General Assembly Special Session to
review the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action, held in New York in June 2000, the
roles of women in prevention, non-violent conflict resolution
and peace-building were among the emerging concerns highlighted.
In October that year the Security Council unanimously adopted
Resolution 1325 (2000) reaffirming women's contribution
and called on all actors in peace process to adopt a gender
perspective, including the special needs of women suffering
in conflict and gender-based violence. The Regional Conference
is expected to be an important step to follow-up and further
develop these recent initiatives.
Culture
of Peace
Culture of Peace is a global movement to promote a transition
from a culture of violence to a culture of peace by building
defence against violence in the minds of men and women,
at the individual, family, community, national, and international
levels. Further to the movement, there has been a growing
consensus that beyond non-violent conflict resolution, prevention
of conflict should be the primary focus through addressing
the root causes of conflicts, such as to respond to poverty,
social inequities, scarcity of resources.
For
further information, please contact:
Ms. Thelma Kay, Chief, Women in Development Section
United nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific
Tel: (66-2) 288-1989; Fax: (66-2) 288-1000/1018; E-mail:
wid.unescap@un.org
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, United Nations Information Services/Bangkok
Tel: (66-2) 288-1863-1867; Fax: (66-2) 288-1052; E-mail:
unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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