UNITED NATIONS, New York - Recent experience confirms that improving women's access to health care results in a very definite, measurable improvement in women's well-being, Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said today.
Dr. Sadik was commenting on the results of a UNFPA review of countries' efforts to implement the agreements reached at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. She spoke as the moderator of a UNFPA-organized panel discussion on "Best Practices in Promoting Gender Equality in Population and Development". The discussion was held in connection with the General Assembly's "Beijing+5" special session taking place this week at United Nations Headquarters to review progress since the Beijing conference.
Panellists were: Eveline Herfkens, Minister for Development and Cooperation, the Netherlands; Aicha Belarbi, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Morocco; Mu Sochua, Minister of Women and Veteran's Affairs, Cambodia; Hadja Mariama Bruce Aribot, Minster for Social Affairs, Guinea; and Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, Vice-President of Uganda.
Dr. Sadik's statement
Linkages summary of the panel discussion
Dr. Sadik will address the special session plenary on Friday, 9 June.
On Monday, 5 June, UNFPA sponsored a press conference by three members of the United States Congress. They presented the results of a national poll indicating that a majority of women in their country are concerned about foreign policy and believe that the United States should work closely with other states through institutions like the United Nations to address global problems.
Other Beijing+5 Links
Division for the Advancement of Women
Womenwatch, Women 2000
(Links provided for information purposes only.)
Contact Information:
Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org
William A. Ryan
Tel.: +66 2 288 2446
Email: ryanw@unfpa.org