ECOSOC 24TH JULY 2007

General Segment

Afternoon Meeting

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss about the implementation of the declaration on the granting of the independence to colonial countries and peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations.

First of all, Ms Toledano, the representative of Cuba, presented a draft resolution entitled “support for non-self governing territories by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations” and which the goal is the recognition by those organisations of the legitimacy of these people’s aspirations to exercise their rights to self-determination. The resolution requests to those agencies to maintain close contact on these matters and to facilitate the participation of these territories in the relevant meeting. As no objections had been made, the resolution was adopted.

Thereafter, the chairman decided to review on draft resolution E/2007/L.19 trough examination of items 7(e), concerning the mainstreaming of gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the UN system, 13(l), on women development, and 14(a), focused on the advancement of women.

First, the representative of Mexico drawn up a panorama of women situation which is still worrying (poverty, inequality in job access…). Indeed, according to him, there is still a gap between the commitments undertaken and the reality (sexual violence…). He observed that despite all, he had seen some advances in this field. However, progresses made are limited in particular in areas not linked directly with women issues.

Then, the delegate of Chile said that his country carried out a reform concerning women situation through a change of the current national health and pension organization. Indeed, the government created a system of minimum benefit paid more balanced. This pension aim all women, workers or not, to permit them to live in dignity. Moreover, the government also created a women national council in order to bridges gaps on women situation and make reports on this field.

The Iraqi representative was very proud to say that the new Iraqi constitution will fully devote gender balance trough the article 20.

Thailand expressed that, even if her country is not yet member of HCR, Thailand fully support declarations concerning women issues. She emphasized that progresses have been made concerning violence against women thanks to education’s reform which promote information on women’s role in the society.
The representative of Paraguay stressed the importance to strengthen legal and social conditions to reach this gender perspective. He also underlined the necessity to take into account the orphans and elderly situation which is often forget.

Finally, the chairman proposed the adoption of a draft resolution on the situation of Palestinian women.

The delegate of Pakistan expressed that a similar resolution already had been made by his country in March of this year which faced a great success.

Finally, the resolution, after a vote, had been adopted with 38 votes for and 2 against (USA and Canada).

The US representative took the floor in order to explain his vote. He deplored that the situation of Israeli women is fully ignored by international community whereas she hugely suffer as well. He also expressed that this resolution only aim to undermine the efforts made for peace.

The last speaker, the representative from Israel, was stricken by this adoption which is not universal. According to him, this resolution does not take into account terrorism.