

Joint statement to the 37th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Agenda Item: Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women.
This statement has been signed by the following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): All India Women's Conference, Bahá'í­ International Community, Gray Panthers, International Association for Religious Freedom, International Council of Nurses, International Council on Social Welfare, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, International Federation of University Women, International Federation of Women Lawyers, International Union of Family Organizations, New/Fourth World Movement, Population Communication International, Pan-Pacific South East Asian Women's Association (PPSEAWA), Society for International Development, Soroptimist International, Trickle-Up Program, Women's International Democratic Federation, Women's International Zionist Organization, World Federation of Mental Health, World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP), World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations

Vienna, Austria
March 1993

As NGOs around the world direct their attention to the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Beijing in 1995, two fundamental questions immediately come to mind. What measurable progress will be reported as the result of another decade of effort toward advancing the status of women? How will the Fourth World Conference differ from previous ones?

Progress during the first decade was reported in the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women (NFLSAW), in terms of what women have done: "In some countries and in some areas, women have made significant advances, but overall progress has been modest during the Decade [1976 - 1985] as is evident from the review and appraisal." (para. 34)

The wide variety of measures put forth in the Forward Looking Strategies would, if implemented, surely overcome obstacles to the advancement of women. In fact, there are more than 300 prescriptions expressed in different ways and addressed to different social actors. The phrase "governments should" is used over ninety times. The other two hundred plus "Should's" are written in a passive form and imply action by businesses, non-governmental organizations, the media, political parties, education systems, national research institutions, law-reform committees, private institutions, employers, trade unions, intellectuals, policy-makers, decision-makers and planners.

If the great majority of the individuals that comprise the groups and sectors listed above happens to be male (as is true in most societies), then the ability to achieve real progress is heavily dependent on men. Furthermore, the impressively broad range of potential agents and actors called upon to promote changes in the status of women speaks directly to the need for "alliances and solidarity groups across sexual lines." (Para. 34) Clearly, raising the consciousness and expectations of women - although vital - is not sufficient to accomplish extensive changes in the status of women. Any effort to promote improvement in the status of women in a comprehensive and multi-sectoral way must necessarily involve changes in men's thought and behavior. These changes in men must become manifest in decisions and actions which reflect their commitment to relate to women in new ways.

Improving the status of women is not a women's issue - it is a human issue. It is, therefore, time to call men into action in this arena. Men must educate themselves on the issues and strive to modify their attitudes and behaviors to prepare themselves to work as genuine partners with women.

Growing numbers of NGOs are mobilizing women and men to create and strengthen genuine partnerships through action along the following lines:


a. Making men more aware of their responsibility to actively promote equal rights and opportunities for women and to prepare themselves for effective partnership with women in this effort;
b. Identifying individuals and groups already committed to equality and partnership and enhancing their efforts; 
c. Promoting research and reflection on gender roles, barriers to equality, differing communications styles and value systems, methods for promoting effective interaction and active partnerships across gender lines;
d. Providing opportunities for the free, full and frank exchange of views and experiences through conferences, institutes, symposia, etc.; and 
e. Promoting the use of the arts to explore, clarify and communicate about these issues.

Global action to mobilize men and to foster genuine partnerships for the advancement of women will contribute to measurable progress by 1995. Furthermore, including the role of men in improving the status of women could add a new and exciting dimension to the agenda of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The undersigned NGOs are committed to forming "alliances and solidarity groups across sexual lines," as called for in the Forward Looking Strategies. They hereby call upon the Commission to include the constructive role of men and the vital contribution of partnership toward improving the status of women as a topic for reflection and action at the Fourth World Conference on Women.

BIC Document #93-0316