Noboru SATTO (Japan): My country,appreciates the efforts made by FAO for implementing the Plan of Action since its approval by the 94th Session of the Council. The seven priority areas proposed for 1990/91 ace appropriate for carrying out this programme, after having started the training of FAO personnel this year. We expect a successful achievement of this plan, with necessary inter-divisional cooperation within FAO and also with inter-agency cooperating among UN and other organizations. From the viewpoint of the importance of training, my country has been oi?ganizing a training course for rural life improvement for women governmental officials in developing countries. It is mainly for South-East Asian countries to promote women's participation in rural development.
Chang Hyuk SUM (Ebrea, Republic of): The delegation of the Republic of Korea would like to express sincere appreciation for FAO's concerns and preparation for the integration of women into agricultural and rural development. We fully support the Plan of Action prepared by FAO.
In connection with women in development, I should like to stress the important roles of women in many areas of development activities. The activities are not only related to agricultural production and marketing but also related to off-farm works and improving rural living conditions. Until recent years, the Korean government only emphasized the roles of women in agricultural production, and thereby only training programmes for agricultural production. However, in the process of a nation-wide rural development in the 1970s, rural women began to participate in various activities such as construction of village facilities, contributing to a village common fund for development, and non-farm works for income generation. Considering the increasing role of rural women in development activities, we propose that more opportunities for training should be given to rural women in the fields of farm machinary operation, sanitation, family planning, rural construction and marketing activities. I especially stress the importance of family planning in developing countries because economic development is highly affected by population growth. Moreover, special government subsidized loans should be given to women who are actively participating in income-generating activities such as animal and fishery production and off-farm works.
Bernd VON SYDOW (Germany, Federal Republic of) (original language German): Thank you for giving me the floor. Already at the 94th Council Meeting of FAO in November 1988 the delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany welcomed the Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Rural and Agrarian Development. My country can endorse this comprehensive and very convincing guideline.
The Plan of Action takes into account all factors which are necessary for the successful promotion of vanen in the agricultural sector. These include improved legal structures, giving women access to credit and inputs, inclusion of women in mainstream activities together with the systematic and consistent procedures for women in the UN system.
With this excellent plan, we feel that FAO is truly in the forefront of the United Nations system, but FAO does not stand alone. We therefore ask FAO, in preparing projects and programmes with UN partners who already hold a mandate in this sector, such as ILO, Unesco, UNIDO, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM and so on, to see to it that there be close cooperation. In this way, overlapping and duplication can be avoided, and the work can be organized more efficiently and lead to tangible and sustainable results.
We also welcome that this new priority by way of appropriate reallocations will be given adequate resources in the medium-term. Finally we would like to state that the progress report, we feel, is a very premising document.
Ni HONGXING (China) (original language Chinese): First of all, I would like to express our appreciation to the Secretariat for preparing the document C 89/14 for this Conference.
Now I would like to briefly express our views on this item. We have noted that to implement the resolution an Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development, FAO has done work and achieved good results in training their staff, increasing the number of staff engaged in activities concerning women, allocating more budgetary funds, mobilizing extra-budgetary resources, giving policy advice to Member Governments, establishing a working criteria and preparing manuals, and engaging in TCDC activities.
We have also noted that FAO will further carry out the above mentioned activities utilizing Regular Programme and Extra-Budgetary Resources, and at the same time regularly monitor progress in the WIP plan. All this will help to improve the social, economic and political status of women and allow them to participate more fully in rural development work. We therefore support the WIP plan and also hope that activities in this field will be further strengthened.
It is our belief that the problem of women is not an isolated one; rather, it is closely linked to social and economic development as a whole. At present, the situtation of women's low social status and the discrimination against them is more serious in developing countries than in developed countries, and is more serious in rural areas than in urban areas. This shews that guaranteeing equal rights for womenis not merely a question of laws and traditional ideas, but also a matter of social and economic development. The final solution of this problem lies in the social and economic development. Therefore what is needed is not only the introduction of legislation and new ways of thinking to improve women's social status, but also in-depth reforms to be carried out in the existing social and economic structure. The solution of the problem of women should be viewed as an organic integral part of the strategy for social and economic developments. In the course of development, ways should be found to solve the problem and guarantee equal rights for them.
Since the founding of new China, the Chinese Government has attached great importance to improving women's social and economic status, particularly enabling them to play their role in socialist economic construction. Towards this end, we have adopted a series of new policies and taken concrete measures which legally ensure all women the same political and economic rights as those enjoyed by men, as well as equal access to education and development activities. Moreover, the Women's Federation at all levels has also done its best to guarantee these rights. All this has greatly improved the social, economic and political status of Chinese vanen, enabling them to play a more and more important role in economic development and modernization construction. However, due to the influence of the traditional feudal mentality, in some regions, poor and remote rural areas in particular, women are still denied equal rights as provided for by law, and still encounter many restrictions keeping them from taking part in development work. The Chinese Government will make further efforts and would like to strengthen cooperation with FAO and other friendly countries, and share experiences with them in order to ensure an even more effective integration of women in development.
Russell R. MULELE (Zambia): Following your call for brevity, I shall endeavour to be brief. My delegation commends FAO for its efforts, as reflected in the Progress Report on the Plan of Action for Integration of Women in Development, in implementing Resolution 3/87 passed by the 24th Session of the Conference in 1987.
Mr Chairman, I wish to state that my delegation is happy with the Administrative Priorities and Actions taken in pursuit of the Plan and Council Recommendations. Furthermore, we note with satisfaction the series of interactions between FAO and its Governing Bodies set in motion through the Internal Machinery for Women in Development. It is our firm belief that this measure will go a long way in enhancing the understanding of the dire need to properly accommodate women in agricultural and rural development endeavours.
Mr Chairman, with regard to the Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development, the Zambian delegation wishes to join all those who have indicated their support. We thus endorse this Plan. But in doing so we would like to stress the importance of addressing the fundamental issues highlighted in Section la on page 6 because in our view these issues impede the full production capacity of women, particularly those who happen to be head in households.
Finally, my delegation wishes to concur with the distinguished delegate from Kenya about the input of rural sociologists and anthropologists. We believe that they have an important role to play in the implementation of the Plan of Action at field level - aimed at giving women equal opportunities.
Jamil M. DABBAGH (Iraq) (original language Arabic): As well, on your request, I will try to be brief, and I will content myself with speaking about a few points regarding the documents. I will not go into detail about the importance of the role of women in development, but very briefly I shall reiterate once again the very clear fact which is that there is no economic or social development in any country without giving due importance to the role of vanen. In my country the development policy has given women a much larger role to play so that they can enjoy their natural right in participating in all fields of life, especially with regard to agricultural production and rural development.
As far as civil rights are concerned, there are several laws, especially those of rural women, which allow them to participate in everything, especially that she can own properties, she can cultivate her own land, she can obtain credit and profit from cooperative societies, etc., as well as taking decisions in these societies and at home, but despite all legislations and laws that have been enacted, yet there are still some social barriers Which we have inherited from the past which still impede wowen from fully enjoying their role in social and economic development.
My country, Iraq, endorses the point of view and the Plan of Action that those legislations are not enough to fully integrate women in the development process. Therefore, we feel that we should do a lot, and we are hoping that the FAO through its Plan will accelerate the appropriate measures which will enable us to achieve progress in this field.
Finally my country endorses the Plan of the Organization in integrating women in the development process and especially with the decisions taken in the 94th Session in November 1989, and we thank and appreciate all the efforts in implementing this Plan.
Carlos GARCIA DE ALBA (México) : La delegación de Mexico ha analizado el informe preparado por el Secretariado. Comparte de manera particular la prioridad que se asigna a la formación de personal, la misma que vemos acompañada por la inquietud que se señala en el Plan de que se requiere incrementar la cuota de contratación y premoción del personal profesional femenino. Creemos que se deben reforzar los mecanismos que favorezcan la integración e interacción de la mujer en los óiganos rectores de la FAO.
México coincide en que para favorecer la integración de la mujer al desarrollo rural, en coincidencia con las estrategias planteadas por la FAO, es menester apoyar su incorporación de manera más activa y equitativa en las diferentes fases de la cadena productiva agropecuaria, así cerno también, y de manera específica, la generación de empleos, el aprovisionamiento de servicios educativos, la capacitación técnica y facilidades de acceso al crédito.
Por cuanto concierne al Plan de Acción, compartimos la doble preocupación esbozada en él. La primera, en el sentido de que la mujer debe tener igualdad de derechos y de oportunidades. Y la segunda, en el sentido de que la mujer pueda participar en las actividades agrícolas y en general de desarrollo rural, de manera apropiada a sus peculiaridades y posibilidades.
Estamos conscientes de que los instrumentos de acción deben ser más eficaces. Se requieren planes más firmes y claros y de myores apoyos estadísticos y de indicadores sociales y económicos.
Sin embargo, si nos referimos a puntos específicos, Sr. Presidente, es sólo por oportunidad y conveniencia metodológica. Las asignaciones presupuestarias serán las que dirán la última palabra sobre el interés de nuestra Organización en la integración de la mujer a un desarrollo rural equilibrado y equitativo.
Concédanos la posibilidad de insistir; que la mujer participe más activamente en el desarrollo significa estructurar un modelo de convivencia social y económico que no sólo beneficia a ellas sino a toda la especie. Teniendo claro lo anterior, creemos que el Plan es coherente, es realista; que sus objetivos convienen a todos los Estados Miembros de esta Organización. Por eso, será objeto de ion atento seguimiento por parte de nuestro Gobierno. Observaremos su evolución en el Informe de la Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural.
Creemos que sobre este tema, preocupación central de todo país debe ser que la realidad no rebase a lo ya conquistado en las leyes y en los programas nacionales de premoción de la mujer. La única forma de lograrlo es incidiendo en el entorno económico y social con una orientación claramente proclive a las mujeres.
Finalmente, de manera específica queremos hacer un par de referencias. La primera es para expresar nuestro reconocimiento al Gobierno y al noble pueblo de Noruega por sus contribuciones con fondos extrapresupuestarios. Dicha actitud constituye un ejemplo digno de emular. La segunda mención es para dar nuestro apoyo al Proyecto de Resolución que ha presentado la hermana delegación de Costa Rica. Coincidimos plenamente con su contenido.
David DRAKE (Canada): Canada has already stated its full support for the FAO Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development at the Twenty-Fourth Conference and in subsequent Council sessions. Many previous speakers have stressed the importance of this document, and I would be hard-pressed to improve upon their presentations. My delegation's comments will therefore be focused on the Progress Report.
The Canadian delegation wishes to state its appreciation for the clarity of the Progress Report submitted to the Conference. It is a thoughtfully prepared document, which concretizes the approach set out in the Plan of Action for Women in Development adopted by the Council in November 1988. The report sets out relevant priorities for programming while simultaneously establishing institutional mechanisms to achieve better integration of women in the development process.
The Progress Report is also informative on what has been accomplished by the FAO Secretariat since November 1988. We are particularly pleased by the work initiated in relation to FAO staff training on gender analysis and the adoption of a strategy to increase the representation of women, particularly women originating from developing countries, at all professional levels within the Organization in order to make progress towards reaching the United Nations' target of 30 percent by 1995. Canada encourages the governments of developing country Member States to give special consideration to proposing qualified women to FAO recruitment. We are pleased that a staffing strategy has been put forward. We would like to know how the Secretariat intends to monitor this strategy.
The Canadian delegation is supportive of the priorities identified in the report and of the time frame set for their implementation. As far as funding is concerned, we believe that because of the special importance of this issue, and if the gender consideration is to become fully part of the mainstream of FAO programming, the core priorities of the Plan of Action should be financed exclusively through FAO's Regular Programme resources. However, we understand that some extra-budgetary financing is welcomed to accelerate the implementation of certain activities for the 1990-91 biennium.
The Canadian delegation has noted that some FAO reports sutmitted to the Conference do not yet clearly incorporate the results of gender analysis or contain sufficient gender-disaggregated data. The Canadian experience would indicate that the institution-strengthening approach that FAO is recommending it adopt should produce the most dividends once all FAO staff have been fully trained in that area. In this regard we would appreciate clarification on how this will be followed up by the Secretariat. The issue of institutionalizing gender considerations within the FAO is especially important from the Canadian perspective, because having gone through a similar, albeit imperfect, exercise ourselves, we can now see its advantages. Effective utilization of resources to face the challenges of agricultural development, such as featured in the address of the Director-General to the Plenary, depends fundamentally upon equality for women and the full participation of women in the development process. In this way, women in development is not only a women's issue; it is also the issue of all men and women, because the need for maximizing our development resources is indeed universal.
The introduction of gender sensitization techniques in the Canadian International Development Agency, for example, has enabled virtually all those working in development at CIDA. to acquire tools which allow them to address women's concerns throughout the course of their work. My delegation is confident that the FAO, in choosing a similar course of action, in which all FAO staff in headquarters and in regional or country offices should participate and with the full support of senior management at the highest levels, will soon see positive results throughout its own activities and operations. This will in turn inevitably result in better agricultural development for beneficiaries of FAO programmes.
Finally, given the importance of closely monitoring the implementation of the priorities listed in the Progress Report, my delegation recommends that an interim report on further measures taken to implement the Plan of Action be tabled at next year's November Council session. Furthermore, we feel that it is essential that a biennial progress report, which should include a full report on progress nade in recruiting and promoting women, complete with gender-disaggregated staffing data and reporting on the incorporation of women in development, as well as the resources allocated to this purpose at the divisional level, be submitted to the next Conference.
As far as any resolutions on this item are concerned, like Sweden, Canada would like to reserve the right to intervene at an appropriate point to give its commentary on whatever resolutions are before the Commission in this regard once these are generally available to the members.
Mohammed Badr El Din EL MASOUDI (Libya) (original language Arabic): Ohe
delegation of the Libyan Jamahiriya would like to associate itself with all those delegates who have supported FAO in these actions. We should like to reiterate our support for FAO's actions aimed at integrating women in rural development.
We would like to point out that the document pertaining to this natter, C 89/14-Sup.1, receives our full and total support. We consider that women should be entitled to exactly the same rights as men enjoy. Indeed, women can only exercise these rights if they have the same opportunities in terras of education and jobs. This is what we have achieved in our country.
We feel that women are not only teachers, are not only responsible for the wellbeing of their family but are true agents of production. This is precisely the role that women play in my country. Women have the same rights and responsibilities as men. They have the right to development inputs and should benefit from all the opportunities that men have.
In our plan for development we take into account the extremely important part that can be played by vanen. In the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, our basic text includes the rights of both men and vanen and approves the principle of integrating vanen in development. We know that vanen account for half our population, and therefore their integration is the best proof and the best way to strengthen efforts towards development and to help the country conquer its dependence.
Shahid NAJAM (Pakistan) : We first of all wish to congratulate and compliment the FAO Secretariat for producing all encompassing Plan of Action for Integration of Women in Development (as embodied in document C 89/14 and C 89/14-Sup.1). The plan is multi-faceted and exhaustive and proposes wide range of activities for integration of women in the major spaces of civil, economic, social and decision-making processes.
Mr Chairman, before dwelling upon the various aspects of plan, my delegation will like to preface with a note that the strategy of implementation of this plan of action and extent of its espousal by the member countries, will vary from country to country in view of this particular threshold of its socio-economic development and the prevalent cultural milieu. Of necessity, this would entail flexibility and adaptability to be able to reflect on and be responsive to the conditions obtained in a particular country.
We will also like to stress that there are quite a few societies and countries characterized by potent inherent traditionalism and colossal gender barriers where participation of the women in various facets of national life is severely hampered and the women find it extremely difficult (well nigh impossible), to give manifest expression to their collective will. In order to be able to break the obstacles of antiquated taboos and customs, a massive attitudinal change would essentially be required. This is a key factor.
Hasty actions may boomerang; delayed actions nay procrastinate the process of induction of women in development. We will, therefore urge that the implementation of the plan of action need to be carried out through concerted, assiduous and well gauged efforts. There are certain universal imperatives which also need to be specifically articulated and highlighted.
The first imperative is to acknowledge that women have been neglected and to affirm that the result of this neglect in terms of low productivity illiteracy and poor health are an unacceptable cost, both morally and economically.
The next imperative is to pledge that, within an overall development context, special efforts will be made for the uplift of women through programmes based on provision of full equality of opportunity in education, health, employment and all other spheres of national life.
A third imperative is to create an awareness among both policy-makers and the public at large of the discrimination vanen suffer and its social and economic costs. A major effort must be nade to convince the people that the subjugation of women is not a national fact but a costly and reversible human choice.
Turning to the plan of action, the plan aims at ensuring that in FAO's spheres of activities, women are granted equal rights and opportunities to participate in and contribute to the development of their societies. The strategy proposed for this purpose revolves round the collection of information and data on the status of women, policy advice and development of adequate action programmes initially covering three biennia with a total budget of US$ 11.8 million including US$ 2.26 million from extra budgetary resources.
We have examined the specific issues, objectives and FAO actions envisaged for the integration of women in the development under the civil status sphere, economie sphere, social sphere and the decision making sphere devised for implementation of strategy. These have been comprehensively spelled out and we generally endorse them. However, we would like to stress and highlight some of the points under these spheres which warrant more rigorous scrutiny while carrying out the implementation. In regard to the economic sphere, more specifically the issue of access of women to labour and employment, the problem of unemployment is phenomenal in the developing countries and together with under-employment, it irakés it extremely difficult for creating additional employment opportunities for women. The existing opportunities will have to be tapped to give equitable share to women. It is also to be recognized that the women are doing a commendable job and making immense contribution in the field of agriculture, food processing and marketing. Their productive capacity and efficiency are being considerably benefited from in the ever expanding economic base. What is required is the recognition, identification and projection of their quantitative contribution in the various spheres of activity.
As regards income control and economic adjustment, the state of abject poverty hardly leaves any scope for segregation of income between naie and female members of the family. In fact even snail children have to contribute to be able to feed the family. The income is jointly controlled in which women do have a say. However, wherever it is possible, share of the income of the women should be controlled by them.
Under the social sphere we would, in particular like to emphasize the status of nutrition and quality of life of women. The lactating mothers and pregnant women exhibit chronic malnutrition and health deficiencies. Therefore, the nutritional and health aspects are to be given special attention. The World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and UNICEF are already doing a commendable job in this regard in the developing countries.
As regards education, there is no denying the fact that the literacy rate of females has to be improved. However, the dilemma is that quite a few of the educated, trained and professionally qualified females abandon the income-earning activity after marriage. This dilemma needs to be addressed and appropriately reflected in the Plan of Action, so that the capacity of women for making a useful contribution to the national economy can be fully harnessed.
We also agree with the analysis and the actions envisaged under Part VII regarding the improvement of the Instrument of Action; we particularly emphasize that the role of technical assistance to WID should be given due weight.
As regards the Progress Report, it is a matter of immense satisfaction that specific actions and measures have already been initiated by FAO to expedite the process of induction of women in the development process.
We generally agree with the Programme priorities outlined for 1990/91 biennium in paragraphs 23 to 32. However, we would like to stress that more emphasis should be placed on the creation of awareness and bringing about attitudinal change among the countries and the peoples to the essentiality of gender equality.
The administrative priorities spelled out in paragraphs 33 to 36 in terms of staff training and awareness, funding arrangements, increase in the number of women staff and inter-agency mechanism for coordinating the activities, are also supported. We hope that FAO will be able to raise extra-budgetary resources in view of the tight budgetary position of the Regular Programme for funding additional inputs and initiatives for women's integration in development. It is heartening to note that Norway and the Netherlands have already lent a helping hand to FAO in this regard, for which both these countries deserve appreciation.
It is also a step in the right direction to bring the process of the integration of women into the mainstream of FAO's activities in terms of assigning it to various FAO governing bodies and main committees. This will certainly facilitate greater recognition of womens' special needs and ensure them a proper and equitable place in developmental activities.
Mr Chairman, we entirely agree with the FAO's assessment given in the concluding note that the implementation of Plan of Action would depend on the interest and commitment of the respective governments. In this connection, we would like to point out that the Government of Pakistan, fully cognizant of the role and importance of participation of women in development, is already implementing policies and programmes in various spheres of our national life through well defined constitutional, institutional, administrative and financial arrangements.
Pakistan being an Islamic state, is committed to safeguarding the rights of women duly enunciated in the Islamic Law and tradition. Our Constitution which is based on Islamic tenets, accordingly enshrines the rights of women in terms of equality of citizens (article 25), full participation of women in national life (article 34), promotion of family (article 35), etc. comprehensively. Besides, statutory and legal codes on specific subjects and spheres of activity ensure that women are not subjected to discriminatory or unequal treatment.
Women play a key role in agricultural development in Pakistan including the livestock sector, food preparation and processing and in other diversified activities relating to agriculture. According to estimates, women are responsible for 60-70 percent of feeding, harvesting and marketing of the produce. Out of the total female labour force, 72.25 percent are engaged in agriculture related activities. They have ownership rights, including joint ownership and co-ownership of land and have accordingly free access to land and credit resources.
A full fledged Ministry of Women has been created at the Federal level to articulate and formulate, policies and programmes of action for uplifting the lot of women in conjunction with provincial government agencies, NGOs and voluntary organizations. The nain strategic thrust is towards accelerated expansion of opportunities of technical education skill development, professional and entrepreneurial training and employment. Rural education also ranks high and the seventh five-year plan has fixed a target of 47 percent increase in the female literacy rate. A special emphasis has been given to organizing the cooperatives in the agriculture, cottage and small industries sectors. The Government has also decided to establish a Women's Bank for advancing loans to poor women for productive purposes in rural and urban areas.
The Ministry of Women in Development has also conducted many fruitful studies on the vital areas of women's interest, findings of which are being appropriately incorporated in the policy process. The very fact that the first ever woman Prime Minister in the Muslim countries has been elected from Pakistan is in itself a palpable manif estation of the role which women play in our society. This is further borne out from the fact that there are five lady Ministers on our Federal Cabinet in addition to the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Adequate representation to our women in the provincial legislative assemblies and local government institutions has also been given which indicative of their active involvement in an hierarchy of decision raking at all levels.
In conclusion, while we fully endorse the Plan of Action for the integration of women in development and recommend the Conference to approve it, we state with satisfaction that our own efforts at national level are reflective of our commitment and resolve to ensure fuller participation of women in our national life.
Sra. Marta VAZQUEZ SANDOVAL (Nicaragua): Hemos leído los documentos del Plan y escuchado la clara exposición del mismo. Nos agradan los avances, a pesar de las dificultades ya conocidas por todos. Señor Presidente, para lograr el éxito de este Prograna en cada una de las etapas, es necesario destacar el papel fundamental y decisivo que tienen que jugar los gobiernos, ya que sólo existiendo una voluntad decisiva se puede superar la discriminación de que ha sido objeto una gran parte de la población: la mujer. Esta discriminación afecta notablemente al desarrollo integral de los hijos, volviéndose así un factor que, a su vez, influye sobre el desarrollo de la sociedad en su conjunto.
Queremos destacar, entre otras cosas, la importancia que tiene el reconocimiento de parte de la sociedad del principio de igualdad, de derechos y deberes del hombre y de la mujer de acceso a la tenencia de la tierra, al crédito, a la educación, capacitación, trabajo, salud, alimentación, etcétera. Y para esto, repito, existe la necesidad de una aceptación global de la sociedad en su conjunto y una voluntad política de parte de los gobiernos que concretice estos principios a través de la Constitución.
En este sentido, en mi país se han promulgado leyes que promueven la integración de la mujer en la sociedad y en el desarrollo rural. La Ley de Reforma Agraria y la Ley de Cooperativas reconocen la igualdad jurídica de hambres y mujeres y establece claramente el derecho de la mujer de acceder a la propiedad de la tierra, a través de cualquiera de las formas organizativas de la producción social. De hecho, en el movimiento cooperativo, a nivel nacional, el 8,3 por ciento de los socios son mujeres, y así podríamos seguir enumerando actividades que impulsan la integración de la mujer. Sin embargo, esto no significa que estemos libre de pecado. En mi país existe discriminación de la mujer; es claro que no institucionalizada, sino producto del machismo. En el siglo XX aún persisten actitudes esclavistas medievales en la humanidad. La guerra y el bloqueo económico inpuesto en mi país es parte de esta mentalidad, que afecta doblemente a la mujer en su desarrollo.
Con esto, señor Presidente, quería ilustrar que no sólo es necesaria la formulación de leyes; también se requiere una campaña educativa permanente, a todos los niveles. Y, dado que éste es un problema histórico crónico, creemos que es fundamental la educación a la niñez para incidir en otra raíz del mismo. Consideramos fundamental que las políticas sociales públicas deben proporcionar los instrumentos, como servicio de guarderías y asistencia a la niñez, para permitir la plena integración de la mujer al proceso productivo.
El servicio de asistencia infantil, sin embargo, debe entenderse cada vez más como un apoyo a la familia en su conjunto y no sólo a la mujer. Consideramos que el Plan, con sus objetivos y actividades, es un instrumento que coadyuvará a que la mujer ocupe el rol que merece en la sociedad.
Para concluir, señor Presidente, nuestra Delegación aprueba plenamente el Plan de Acción de Integración de la Mujer y manifestamos el apoyo decidido para la ejecución del mismo. Esperamos que la FAO cuente con los recursos necesarios para su implementación, y también queremos unirnos a otras delegaciones para expresar nuestro agrado ante los gobiernos que han manifestado apoyo para la ejecución del mismo.
Assefa YILALA (Ethiopia): The Delegation of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have had the opportunity to examine the document on the Integration of Women in Development, both in relation to the Progress Report and the Plan of Action. We would like to thank FAO for the comprehensive documents we have before us and for the introduction which has been provided.
Ethiopia's views in relation to this item were positively expressed in the statement of the Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, where he reiterated our support.
Although the two documents that were presented for our consideration deserve our support, we should like to make some observations in relation to the realities of Ethiopia.
The central problem of the Ethiopian economy, and most probably that of developing countries as a whole, is the low level of development of the productive forces, including the low level of capital accumulation, the low level of technological development, subsistence production and vulnerability to drought. We believe that any development strategy designed to tackle these fundamental issues of development in Ethiopia will also have a positive impact on women. Conversely, whatever is done to address the issues of women in development will contribute positively towards the socio-economic transformation of the whole population and its economic development.
With this as a rationale, the issues of women are addressed and incorporated in the various sectors of development. Development plans where such implicit and explicit incorporations are evidenced include the National Food and Nutrition Strategy, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Strategy, the Population Policy - just to mention a few. We believe that the full integration of women in development is a process that will require gender information, social awareness and sensitivity. We feel that the integration of women in development will need to address itself to a wide scope of development arenas.
Plans are under way to integrate women in all developmental programmes, based on the broad policy guidelines and legislative acts in Ethiopia, which include the National Democratic Revolution Programme, the Programme of the Working Party of Ethiopia, the Constitution, the Labour Proclamation and the establishment of the Ethiopian Womens' Association - areas which we consider will assist in this endeavour of women's integration in development and include areas in agriculture, technology, industry, energy, education, population and health.
1. AGRICULTURE
a) Facilitation of the participation of women in training on improved methods and agricultural technologies.
b) In view of the objective of food self-sufficiency, agricultural extension in all its aspects should encompass women on an equal footing with men. The current bias towards home-economics should be rectified,
c) To encourage and provide the necessary extension services for women to participate in such activities as horticulture, poultry, improved cattle breeding etc., that would bring additional incomes for the family.
d) To train and actively involve women in forestry and soil conservation and development and fuelwood plantation projects.
e) To examine the constraints and bottlenecks that have hindered women's participation in such institutions as Peasant Associations, Producers and Service Cooperatives so that women can play a more active role and thereby derive the benefits that accrue to members.
2. INDUSTRY
a) Increase the production of improved agricultural implements and other inputs.
b) Expand snail-scale agro-industries with the view to increase off-farm employment and particularly to increase processed food production to gradually substitute the time-consuming and burdensome traditional food preparation.
c) Establish modern grain mills, manufacturing plants with the view to replace the traditional grain-milling method which consumes much labour and time of, particularly, rural women.
d) Promotion of handicrafts such as pottery, basketry, garment, spinning and weaving, leather works to increase off-farm employment and income. In this regard, the necessary supports in terms of market, credit, improved implements, upgrading of traditional skills and on-the-job training shall be given priority.
3. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
a) Develop and increase the availability of appropriate technology, based on the felt needs of women. These could include the introduction of labour-saving technology for household chores, transport equipment, etc.
b) Properly evaluate these new technologies to make sure their adaptability to community needs as well as their acceptability by the community.
c) Provide technical advice, as well as training women in the use and maintenance of improved technologies.
4. ENERGY
a) expansion of fuel-efficient cooking stoves
b) expansion of fuelwood plantations
c) expansion of rural electrification
d) expansion of biogas and briquette fuel
5. EDUCATION
a) continue and strengthen literacy and post-literacy programmes
b) expansion of primary education
c) expand adult education particularly strengthening of community Skill Training Centers
d) expanding day-care centers as well as training of child minders
6. POPULATION, HEALTH AND NUTRITION
a) expand and strengthen the on-going national health programme of Primary
Health Care (FHC), particularly
- Health education
- Food and nutrition
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) / Family Planning
b) formulate and implement appropriate population policy
We feel that assistance towards implementing these programmes of action for the integration of voten in development will face little or no difficulty, these being programmes of action in the present and immediate future, long-term plans to address issues relating to the population and to the integration of women in development as an independent and separate chapter in the draft stage. As the government is already convinced and pushing towards its implementation, the chances are very high that it will be implemented in the next five-year plan, which is a successor to the present plan which is at its completion stage.
The plan is basically a "Comprehensive and Multi-faceted" one. It identifies measures in the civil, économie and decision-making spheres. It advocates the focusing of activities to support women in their roles as producers in agriculture, including fisheries and forestry.
The FAO Plan does not substantively differ from that of UNICEF, UNDP, and other international organizations or the many NGOs who are operating on women focused interventions in Ethiopia. In fact, one would say they complement each other. Therefore, FAO should carefully design its country specific Plan of Action - programme and projets - taking due consideration of:
- The plan of action of other international organizations and NGOs, so that duplication of efforts and wastage of resources may be minimized especially if applied in the same area or region. For example, when the plan considered nutrition intervention and planning, we have already started initiating a coordinated national nutrition surveillance system under the chairmanship of ONCCP - and supported jointly by UNICEF/FAO/WHO. The same thing applies for population education which has been started by the Ministry of Education.
- The conceptual issues as elaborated in the above few pages and as they pertain to the Ethiopian condition.
- The broad policy guidelines, programme and sectoral activities which are stipulated in the draft FYP.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that a cursory look at the contents of the FAO Plan of Action for WID and the Progress Report for the same, strongly complements and enforces the efforts being made, here at the ONCCP, with regards to the issue of integrating WID in our development planning process.
Turning to FAO's Plan of Action 1990/95, the FAO Plan of Action for Women's Integration in Development or the Progress Report on the Implementation of Women in Development is an adaption and amplification of the objectives and strategies in FAO's specific areas of responsibility. It is an application of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategy principles to the sector of agriculture, food and rural development to which FAO is mandated. The strategy of the Plan of Action is, on the whole, congruent to that of our Five-Year Development Plan. However, there are some sweeping statements here and there, as in Strategy No. 2. This implies changing traditions, economies and societies in a profound way. I would say that care should be taken for such statements not to imply disrupting the basic household economy and household division of labour.
Additionally, there are no explicit statements in the Strategy, nor in the objectives that pertain to the efforts being promoted in Ethiopian conditions and reality with regard to cooperatives, grassroot womens' groups as intervention targets for woraens' projects, settlements and villagization programmes, etc. Support, both technical and financial, that would build up the capacity of women in Ethiopia as per the above should be given priority in designing Ethiopia's development efforts, so far as the item under discussion is concerned. Ultimately, the Plan of Action that we have before us is given clearance for implementation and is supported by our delegation.
Mone Diaka KEBE (Guinée): Ma délégation se félicite de l'heureuse initiative de la FAO d'avoir inscrit à l'ordre du jour l'examen de ce problème important qu'est l'intégration des femmes dans le développement rural. La participation de la femme au développement économique revêt une importance particulière pour l'émancipation de nos populations. Dans les pays en développement tels que le mien, la femme participe en effet pour plus de la moitié au processus de développement rural car la majorité des populations rurales est constituée de femmes.
Conscient de cette situation, le Gouvernement de la deuxième République de Guinée, dans son oeuvre de reconstruction nationale, accorde une place de choix à l'agriculture et surtout à la participation effective de la femme au développement rural. C'est ainsi que, par le biais des collectivités décentralisées, des groupements féminins de cultures maraîchères, de commercialisation de produits du cru constituent la cheville ouvrière du développement rural; ce sont des exemples parmi tant d'autres de l'action positive de la femme dans l'économie nationale.
Le plan proposé dans les différents domaines juridique, économique et social, et dans le domaine des décisions, mérite d'être mis rapidement en action avec les instruments enumeres dans le rapport adopté par la quatre-vingt-quatorzième session du Conseil.
La délégation guinéenne appuie les mesures fondamentales et les recommandations du Conseil, en particulier en ce qui concerne le programme de formation et, dans ce cadre, la réorientation des programmes d'enseignement d'économie familiale et d'agriculture qui représentent la base d'un développement économique solide.
Nous soutenons la proposition d'une augmentation budgétaire faite par le Directeur général pour l'exercice biennal 1990-91.
Pour terminer, la délégation guinéenne se félicite du contenu du Plan d'action tel qu'adopté par le Conseil et souhaite que notre commission l'examine favorablement.
Masuhla Amphrey LETTERA (Lesotho) : My delegation commends the Secretariat for the detailed document before us and also congratulates Dr Dutia for his excellent introduction of the document. The discussion of women's integration in development has been going on for some time now. Progress seems to have been slow to come, as reflected in the number of debates which took place in different fora.
we are happy to know that, on the basis of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies towards the year 2000, increasing emphasis recently seems to have been given to a multilateral approach taking into account women's multiple roles combined with efforts, to develop and assess practical approaches in field-level projects and programmes. The Plan of Action of the FAO on Women in Development should be seen in this light as a sound basis for serious cognition as a dynamic force in the development process of many developing countries. The experience in Lesotho has been different compared to other countries. The economy is solely run by vanen especially in the rural areas whereby agriculture forms the livelihood of the rural population. It is in this area whereby the majority of households are headed by women, because 60 percent of the able-bodied males are migrant labourers in the Republic of South Africa. Women's involvement in the mainstream of women's development, therefore, as part of the débate in the recent past has been on the need to change the gender-orientated legislations. The main focus has been the Land Act because of the realization that women are an indispensable force in this sphere; not only in this sphere but in other managerial and professional positions do women play a better role in Lesotho. We therefore endorse the conclusions of the Progress Report that there is a need to support women in their role as producers in agriculture.
The priorities are suggested, and the fields in which they focus, all go well with what we consider as relevant development strategies, and we support the idea that governments should give them serious consideration. The comparative advantage of FAO in the field of information analysis and dissemination, policy formulation and guideline, and technical assistance can contribute to our changing attitudes of many governments.
We share the sentiments that access to and means of production, in this case land capital and other related facilities, will lay a basis for smooth decision-making and full participation of women in the full production process. This, together with legislature, we shall ensure and guarantee their rights to participate in development-orientated activities in their respective societies and this also would, of necessity, mean creation of conditions for improved output and innovations, improved socio-economic standing of women to become equal partners society and in development generally. We too recommend adoption of this Plan of Action and its implementation as recommnended by Council. Let us disregard the sad legacy brought by all modes of production which reduced women to subordinate partners and dormant instruments in the production process.
In conclusion, we are happy to observe that Plan of Action focuses not simply on agriculture but on the rural sector as a whole. It promotes a style of development where women play a major role in generating production growth and receiving the benefits of that development.
We also urge the need for greater responsiveness to the needs of women in the design and irtplementation of development projects by governments.
Hein COPPER (Netherlands): As a consequence of the Nairobi-Women Conference on Forward-looking Strategies and of the FAO World Conference Agrarian Reform and Rural Development held in 1979, the Member States requested FAO during the FAO Conference of 1987 to design a Plan of Action for the integration of women in FAO's programmes and projects.
The Plan of Action that is now presented to the Conference for endorsement is aimed at reaching women in development to ensure that women are equally involved in Rural Development activities. In the Plan of Action detailed proposals are presented for the improvement of the social status of women, their economic position and especially the involvement of women in decision-making process.
The Netherlands have always been a strong advocate for Women in Development affairs since, in so many countries, women play an important and often crucial role in farming and marketing, be it as farmers, farm workers or members of the household.
The Plan of Action that has been developed by FAO is a good starting point on the long way we still have to go. And I would like to congratulate FAO and especially the ESHW Service for this Plan of Action. The Plan is analytic, comprehensive but very ambitious, and I would like to call on all the Member States to accept this Plan of Action.
The Progress Report on the Implementation of the Plan of Action is in effect a more detailed programme, in which ESHW develops step-by-step its plans on how to proceed in the six years to come. In general I can agree with these plans, however I would like to make some observations.
First of all I would like to discuss here the training programme for FAO staff. My delegation feels that this part of the programme is the core of the matter.
It is a good sign that FAO reserved US$ 572 000 for training for the coming biennium. However, we have our doubts where it would be possible that the FAO staff, with its inherent variety of training needs, can be trained well and in such a fairly short period, with this relatively small amount of money.
The participatory training methodology such as rightly chosen by FAO, after intensive consultations with experts of various training institutes, requires in our view highly experienced trainers. Moreover, while various training institutes have a lot of know-how and experience on WID training, little ready-made training materials are yet available. Thèse will have to be worked out by external consultants, in close cooperation with FAO staff members, on the basis of FAO's specific requirements and experiences.
Learning from experience should, in our view, become the FAO practice. This would imply that an in-service training approach is followed.
We should like to propose to the ESHW Service to call a meeting with the different training institutes and consultants already involved to discuss, together with the officers concerned in FAO, possible ways of operationalizing the training strategies and possible contributions from their part to the implementation of this training programme.
Another observation I Would like to irake concerns the involvement of the different technical divisions in FAO.
In reading the progress report on the implementation of Women in Development, I have the impression that so far the involvement of the technical divisions in this important issue is somewhat lagging behind. A stronger commitment of all the relevant technical divisions to the integration of WID should therefore be prorated in order to ensure that it becomes an integral part of FAO and the great majority of its staff.
Just as sustainability has become a leading principle behind development efforts, the effects of those development efforts on people, both men and women, should get similar attention. It is therefore important, if not essential in our view, that the technical divisions take these WID aspects into account from the very beginning whilst drawing up development plans and programmes. The Women's Division cannot possibly do it all alone. It must be a joint effort, which should be reflected in the progress report to the next Conference.
We would also like to call on ESHW to draw more on the experience of the People's Participation branch. This branch of the ESH Division has more than 10 years of fruitful experience of involving the rural population in the process of development.
When one discusses the involvement of the People's Participation experience in the development of women in rural areas, it is logical that also the involvement of NGOs in this respect is considered. In the progress report little is written on NGOs. Nevertheless, the report states that they will be involved when necessary. In our view, People's Participation is not possible without sufficient involvement of the rural people's participation. We would like to stress that FAO supports those NGOs that have proven their commitment to the rural poor in rural areas and that FAO tries to work out, together or in consultation with these NGOs, what specific extra input FAO could provide to strengthen and support the work being done by these NGOs.
In this respect, I may express our disappointment that this Conference has not received any documentation, or even a progress report on the People's Participation Plan of Action, the design of which was recommended earlier this year during CQAG and Council meetings.
The integration of WID is basically a matter of integrating socio-economic and cultural aspects of development with technical aspects. Therefore, we are of the opinion that these areas of prime concern to the various ESH sections should be more integrated within this Division as well as within the whole of FAO's technical Departments.
Finally, regarding the draft resolution on Measures for the Implementation and follow-up of the Plan of Action for Integration of Women in Development, I can be very brief. We can support it, assuring however, that the phrase under point 3 reading, and I quote "subject to the availability of Regular and extra-budgetary funds", is deleted. We feel this a superfluous addition for such a clear priority area.
I ask the Secretariat to do its utmost to ensure that sufficient funds became available.
Mme. Evelyne SENGStWAN (France): La délégation française souhaite féliciter le Secrétariat pour la présentation des deux documents qui sont soumis à notre examen. Nous tenons à le remercier du travail ainsi accompli.
Le "Plan d'action pour l'intégration des formes dans le développement" servira dorénavant de repère fondamental pour mesurer les progrès établis dans l'application des résolutions des Nations Unies adoptées au long des quinze dernières années et qui concernent l'intégration des femmes dans le développement.
Nous savons que les femmes jouent un rôle décisif dans de nombreuses productions. Elles représentent parfois l'essentiel de la main-d'oeuvre mais aussi du savoir agricole.
Nous ne reviendrons pas cependant sur les raisons essentielles qui ont conduit à souhaiter puis obtenir que ce problème déterminant soit intégré dans la conduite quotidienne des actions de développement.
Je préfère m'attarder sur le contenu clair et détaillé du Plan d'action.
Outre les problèmes généraux, mais qui ne sont pas mineurs, du droit à l'égalité dans l'éducation, du statut juridique, de la participation à la décision, vous abordez les questions techniques quelquefois délicates, qui permettraient d'aboutir à terme à l'accroissement de la productivité du travail et à la promotion sociale des f entres rurales. Ce sont des questions bien connues, sans cesse répétées de l'accès à la terre, à la vulgarisation agricole, aux intrants et aux technologies nouvelles, au crédit, et du droit à la juste répartition des fruits d'un travail familial.
Affirmant la pratique, vous consacrez un chapitre au changement des mentalités et à la nécessité d'amener des évolutions dans ce domaine, sans lesquels aucun progrès n'est possible.
L'amélioration de la situation matérielle de la femme n'est pas seulement liée au progrès que l'on pourrait constater dans les sphères de la production, de la transformation et de la commercialisation. Elle est également liée aux progrès apportés à l'allégement du travail domestique. Les progrès technologiques importants constatés dans le monde rural devraient avoir absolument des retombées au niveau de ce travail.
Elle est également liée à l'existence, la proximité et la qualité des "services sociaux" mis à la disposition des populations. Le temps des femmesf le capital le plus précieux et le plus rare, ne peut être gaspillé dans des parcours longs et fatigants, jusqu'à des centres de santé, de surcroît souvent démunis.
Elle est aussi liée au plus haut degré, à la démographie et à la nécessité de permettre aux femmes d'espacer les naissances, dans le but de sauvegarder leurs vies, celles de leurs enfants et de procurer à toute la famille une qualité de vie décente. En liant comme vous le faites démographie et développement, vous posez le problème dans une réalité complexe, variée, riche de traditions, mais que les moyens de communication appropriés, aujourd'hui connus, devraient permettre de faire évoluer par une compréhension juste de la dimension du problème. Le taux inacceptable de la mortalité maternelle dans les PED, particulièrement dans le monde rural inpose de la part de tous une recherche de solutions urgentes et durables.
Adoptant ime approche réaliste, il semble désormais admis que des négociations puissent systématiquement être menées avec les Etats partenaires, pour que les actions conjointes soient conduites avec le souci de faire leur juste place aux besoins et aux droits des femmes.
Et c'est en les aidant à s'organiser, en groupements, associations, mutuelles, que l'on fera comme vous l'indiquez, progresser la situation favorablement.
Enfin, dans une approche exhaustive, vous tracez le schéma de ce que doit être désormais à l'intérieur de l'OAA le parcours d'un projet de développement qui enfin prendrait en compte, dès la première étape de l'identification et jusqu'à l'évaluation finale, la dimension féminine.
Et ceci en se munissant d'outils nécessaires pour le recueil de données, la tenue de statistiques différenciées par sexe, la connaissance de la division traditionnelle des tâches et des rôles entre les hommes et les femmes ainsi que des conséquences sur les femmes des politiques d'ajustement structurel.
Avant de terminer, je souhaiterais apporter quelques brefs commentaires sur le Rapport d'activité pour la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action. Inconstestablement, l'OAA a joint la parole à l'acte; des mesures concrètes ont été prises, au cours de l'année 1989, que ce soit au niveau:
- du fonctionnement des services de l'Organisation
- de la coordination avec les autres agences des Nations Unies et les donateurs
- de la définition de priorités et d'un calendrier des activités.
A cet égard, la formation du personnel de l'OAA tant au Siège que sur le terrain constituera un des axes prioritaires du premier biennium du programme. Nous soutenons les initiatives prises dans ce domaine. Mais nous souhaitons que les principales activités du programme soient éventuellement financées par le Programme ordinaire.
La délégation française souhaite un plein succès à la réalisation du Plan d'action de l'OAA. Mais nous avons conscience que l'amélioration des conditions de vie de la femme dépend largement d'une volonté bien affirmée des responsables politiques.
Mme Ivone DIAS DA GRAÇA (Gabon) : Intervenant pour la première fois au sein de cette Commission, la délégation gabonaise voudrait tout d'abord vous féliciter pour votre nomination à la Présidence et vous dire le plaisir qu'elle a à vous voir présider nos débats.
Par ailleurs, nous voudrions remercier M. Dutia pour la présentation très claire du document C 89/14 et son supplément.
Ma délégation est heureuse d'examiner le Rapport d'activité sur la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action pour l'intégration des femmes dans le développement, Plan d'action qu'elle avait appuyé lors de sa présentation durant la 94ème session du Conseil.
Nous voudrions réaffirmer ici notre soutien à ce Plan d'action et à sa mise en oeuvre. Nous appuyons totalement l'objectif du Plan et les 7 priorités de programmation énoncées.
Nous approuvons les domaines d'action dans lesquels le Plan se propose d'intervenir et aimerions mettre l'accent sur l'importance du domaine économique et social.
Nous voudrions à ce sujet reprendre à notre compte l'intervention de la déléguée du Cap-Vert. Nous estimons qu'il est important de permettre l'accès des femmes à l'Education à tous les niveaux et de leur apporter des facilités d'accès au crédit, aux ressources, et un soutien dans leur rôle de producteur agricole.
Nous estimons que le Plan doit viser par ses interventions dans les domaines juridique, économique, social et de décision, à une reconnaissance économique et sociale du rôle effectif et primordial de la femme dans le développement.
A cet égard, et partant de l'idée que les mentalités changent bien souvent après les faits, tout en reconnaissant l'importance des bases culturelles du problème, nous appuyons toutes les mesures d'aide aux Gouvernements et aux institutions financières afin de leur permettre la mise en oeuvre des programmes nationaux destinés aux femmes. En ce qui concerne les projets pour l'intégration des femmes dans le développement, ira délégation, tout en reconnaissant la valeur et l'Importance des projets spécifiques aux femmes, estime qu'ils ne doivent représenter qu'une étape initiale et qu'une partie des projets et serait plutôt en faveur d'une prise en compte des femmes et de leur intervention progressive dans toutes les activités des projets généraux.
En ce qui concerne les priorités administratives et l'action à mener au niveau des cadres organiques, ma délégation soutient le même type de raisonnement à savoir que nous concevons la création d'ime unité spécifique comme une étape initiale du processus, qui devrait se poursuivre par une prise en compte progressive, dans tous les services, de la notion d'intégration des femmes dans le développement et par l'application des mesures correspondantes.
A cet égard, nous approuvons toutes les activités de formation de personnel et la stratégie visant à augmenter le personnel féminin à tous les niveaux du cadre organique ainsi que l'idée de renforcement du nombre de femmes intermédiaires dans la mise en oeuvre des projets de développement.
En ce qui concerne les ressources nécessaires à la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action, ma délégation appuie la position exprimée par d'autres délégations, notamment les pays nordiques, à savoir qu'elles doivent être prises en compte par le Budget ordinaire, avec toutefois la possibilité d'un financement extrabudgétaire pour certaines activités bien définies (et à cet égard, nous remercions les pays donateurs).
Pour terminer, nous voudrions appuyer ponctuellement quelques mesures citées dans le rapport comme par exemple, l'encouragement du respect des normes juridiques internationales du statut de la femme, l'attention réservée à l'accès au crédit et à l'accès à la terre, la campagne visant à éliminer les préjugés concernant la famme dans le développement et tous les programmes qui ont pour but de faciliter et moderniser toutes les activités agricoles de la femme.
Helmut HAUSER (Austria) (original language German) : Ihe Austrian delegation has studied most carefully and with great satisfaction and interest the two documents C 89/14 and C 89/14-Sup.1 concerning the Progress Report on the Implementation of the Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development. We have listened to the most valuable contributions made by delegations on this very important issue. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat for the preparation and presentation of this very comprehensive survey and for the excellent introduction by Mr Dutia.
With regard to document C 89/14, the seven priorities listed in paragraphs 86 through 104 have our complete approval. We particularly approve the areas of focus such as training of staff, counseling of Member States and project developments, together with compilation of data and research studies. We can fully endorse the Progress Report in its present version.
Regarding document C 89/14-Sup.1, we wish to emphasize that the following four areas of focus are the subject of our special attention: the legal status of women, economic activities of varen, social aspects and the essential involvement of women in decision-making processes as an equal partner in society. We are therefore very pleased with the FAO Plan of Action for the Integration of Women in Development because we recognize the importance of their role in the rural areas, particularly in the social field and in society as a whole.
By way of appropriate training, further training and ongoing training and advisory services, women should be prepared for their responsible role in agricultural development more than ever before, and also be guided towards the role and the task they have to fulfil there. Looking at the importance of this FAO Plan of Action, we agree with many delegations who have expressed a hope that this important document would be unanimously adopted by our Conference.
Allow me Sir, as representative of a European country, to make one brief further remark. In the European region we have the FAO Working Party called "Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development" which our country feels to be particularly important and where Austria has always been very active. We are happy that in the context of this working party, this Working Group, next year in Spring there will be a special meeting held in Vienna where the whole idea of training, further training and advisory activities will be given broad focus. The Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry of my country declared at the Plenary of this Conference the importance of the role of women, and has also extended officially the invitation to this meeting to be held in Vienna next Spring.
In conclusion, we would like to say that according to our views, the Plan of Action should be funded by the ordinary FAO budget, and we furthermore welcome the wish already expressed by many delegations that FAO in this important area should involve women and rural families in development, and that this whole be further pursued together with all other appropriate international organizations.
We thank again for this excellent document and are pleased that the role of vanen and their significance in rural development has found the necessary focus.
Javier TANTALEAN ARBULU (Perú) : Sernos conscientes de la existencia de la discriminación de la mujer en muchas de las dimensiones y esferas de la vida en mi país; y por supuesto, esta discriminación está presente en el ámbito del sector agrícola. Todo ello, a pesar de las iniciativas que ha tenido mi Gobierno en relación al tena, y a las medidas que se siguen tarando. Creemos que el problema se encuentra en estructuras históricas que tienen que ver con la mentalidad, las costumbres, las normas jurídicas, los comportamientos, las actitudes, etc. Todo lo cual es parte del modelo cultural institucional ctaeij^ante. Inclusive la discriminación es palpable en las células sociales más antiguas y ancestrales de mi país, que son las comunidades campesinas andinas.
De 3 000 comunidades campesinas abarcando 5 millones de seres humanos, sólo vina comunidad es presidida por una mujer.
Por eso, compartjmos la preocupación básica del Plan de Acción de la FAO para la integración de la mujer en el desarrollo, consistente en la necesidad de cambiar las tradiciones, las economías y la sociedad en su conjunto; preocupación bastante ambiciosa, pero en estos temas se tiene que partir de visiones globales y de grandes objetivos.
Nos parece que la función de la FAO debería tener ima doble dimensión: de un lado, lo que puede hacer la FAO en sus programas y proyectos que ejecuta, así cono en la asistencia técnica a los gobiernos; de otro lado, lo que la FAO debe realizar dentro de la Organización. como delegación, pensamos que ambas dimensiones están consideradas y recogidas en el Plan de Acción de la FAO y que el documento como tal está bien estructurado. De ahí nuestra felicitación a la Secretaría.
Quisiéramos insistir en dos aspectos del plan: el de educación y el de la esfera de tena de decisiones. En el caso de la educación, nos parecen urgentes las acciones que se puedan tonar, ya que la formación tiene que ver con el cambio de mentalidades en hombres y mujeres, puesto que en la mentalidad está la base de la discriminación hacia la mujer. La otra esfera, la de toma de decisiones, tiene que ver con los mecanismos en que se desarrolla el poder en una sociedad, desde sus células de base hasta el poder nacional. En el ámbito agrario, los mecanismos de tona de decisiones están presentes en lo político, lo económico, lo social y la propia vida cotidiana en las mujeres campesinas. Aquí pueden desarrollarse proyectos específicos por parte de la FAO para alentar a la integración de la mujer en la toma de decisiones, asumiendo esto como un componente básico al desarrollo rural.
Señor Presidente, si bien es cierto que es necesario tener un narco global o visión integral de los problemas de la mujer, mucho es lo que se puede avanzar en el plano sectorial, y aquí nos parece fundamental el rol de sensibilización que la FAO puede cumplir; para ello contará con todo el apoyo de mi Gobierno.
Para terminar, quisiéramos expresar una duda respecto a los recursos que se necesitan para ejecutar el Plan de Acción. Por eso quisiéramos preguntar a la Secretaría cómo se va a hacer frente a esta cuestión, ya que los puntos 50 a 59 del informe dan lugar a dudas sobre la forma en que se van a financiar las demandas del Plan.
Sra. Olga Clemencia FERNANDEZ (Colcnfcia): Primero que todo, queremos agradecer al Dr. Dutia la presentación de este tema y felicitar a la Dra. Spring y todo el equipo que ha colaborado en la preparación y elaboración de estos documentos.
La delegación de Colombia considera que, dos artos después, esta Conferencia debe reconocer que el Director General acogió positivamente y en forna eficaz la Resolución del anterior período de sesiones cuando, mediante
Resolución 3/87, pedimos que se presentara al Consejo un Plan de Acción para la Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo. En efecto, la primera versión del plan fue presentada al Consejo en su 94s período de sesiones y ahora está ante nosotros. En el Consejo, la Delegación de Colombia participó activamente en las discusiones, y ese Plan, que fue recomendado unánimemente, sigue mereciendo nuestro más pleno apoyo, con algunas consideraciones que nos permitiremos hacer.
Estimamos que ésta es apenas una primera contribución de la FAO, Organización que abarca importantes aspectos de su mandato y que puede acentuar su acción en favor de la igualdad de las mejores oportunidades para las mujeres. Esta Conferencia debe apoyar mejor y reforzar el documento adoptado por el Consejo. En efecto, este Plan tiene carácter indicativo, basado en recursos humanos y financieros limitados, y aunque se afirme que el principio fundamental incorporado ha sido el de la eficacia, se requiere una acción decidida y un grande apoyo político para que estas buenas intenciones se conviertan en realidad.
Con honestidad, el párrafo 8 de este documento dice que "parte de las propuestas aquí presentadas se encuentran ya en la inspiración básica y en las iniciativas de anteriores progranas de la FAO". Entonces, lo que ha faltado en realidad es ponerlas en práctica. Por ello, estamos de acuerdo con las conclusiones que aparecen en la nota final, en el sentido de que, sin el interés y la participación de los Gobiernos, de nada servirán las medidas previstas ni las iniciativas de la FAO para integrar a la mujer en el desarrollo.
Pudiera parecer que las mujeres somos desafortunadas, en cuanto a estas iniciativas se refiere, en el seno de la FAO, porque este despertar en favor de la reivindicación de los derechos femeninos se ha producido justamente en momentos de grave crisis financiera de nuestra Organización. Sin embargo, expresamos la esperanza de que la falta de recursos no vaya a impedir la implementación de este Plan, al cual, estamos seguros, muchos Gobiernos progresistas ofrecerán recursos extrapresupuestarios para que se usen específica y exclusivamente en la ejecución de estas prqpuestas.
Opinamos que esta Conferencia debe apoyar el más alto nivel que en el seno de la Organización se les está concediendo a estas actividades, bajo la orientación del propio Director General, coto dice el párrafo 9. Esto es esencial para que todo el personal de la FAO tome muy en serio estos propósitos y contribuya a la justa recuperación de las oportunidades y de los derechos que en el pasado se han desconocido a las mujeres.
Encontramos muy bien que en el marco de la FAO el objetivo principal sea el de asistir a la mujeres para que gradualmente se vayan transformando en verdaderas productoras agrícolas, con plenos derechos. Para ello, será necesario modificar radicalmente las obsoletas bases jurídicas y culturales, que tradicionalmente han sido barreras infranqueables para el completo desempeño de la mujer. La FAO debe intensificar su campaña para que los Gobiernos y la opinión pública en general promuevan la modificación de normas internacionales que consagren definitivamente a la mujer en un adecuado plano de igualdad. En las labores agrícolas, la mujer debe tener completo acceso y plenos derechos a la tierra, al agua, al crédito y a la participación en todas las actividades inherentes al ejercicio de sus derechos. Con respeto por la soberanía de los Estados, la FAO tiene los medios para promover intercambios de experiencias entre los Gobiernos y ofrecer asesoramiento a los países en desarrollo, a fin de que transformen sus anticuadas legislaciones nacionales, para adaptarlas a las más avanzadas normas internacionales.
Concédenos gran importancia a la educación y a la capacitación de la mujer para que ésta esté en condiciones de entender y ejercer sus responsabilidades y derechos. Los cursillos de capacitación podrán desempeñar un papel importante.
Atribuimos mucha significación a la parte VI, "La esfera de la toma de decisiones". Estamos de acuerdo en que la participación activa y equitativa de la mujer en todos los aspectos económicos, sociales y humanos, la vinculará efectivamente a la toma de decisiones, aspectos con los cuales se sentirá asi solidaria. Deseamos preguntar a la Secretaria hasta qué porcentaje ha avanzado en el personal de la FAO el cumplimiento de la Resolución 40/285 de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, aprobada a fines de 1985, en el sentido de que el personal profesional y directivo de los organismos del Sistema debe alcanzar el 30 por ciento en personal femenino. ¿Cuál es hoy este porcentaje en la FAO?
Finalmente, señor Presidente, la delegación de Colombia apoya plenamente el párrafo 5 de la nota final, en cuanto a que este Plan de Acción sea objeto de seguimiento continuo y su evolución se incluya en el informe que sobre los resultados de la Conferencia Mundial sobre el Desarrollo Rural y Reforma Agraria se presentará periódicamente a la Conferencia. Pensamos que este seguimiento continuo nos permitirá controlar y vigilar muy de cerca el cumplimiento de estas propuestas, que, sobre el papel, parecen satisfactorias y constituyen un primer paso hacia la reivindicación de las aspiraciones justas y a los derechos indiscutibles de la mujer.
Apoyamos, con reservas, las medidas para la implementación y seguimiento del Plan de Acción para la Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo propuestas por la señora Delegada de Costa Rica.
Ahyan ELCI (Turquie): Permettez-moi, tout d'abord, de remercier le Secrétariat pour la documentation très instructive qui a été préparée pour cette session. Cerarne c'est toujours le cas, l'exposé de M. Dutia était très clair. Nous remercions de même Mme Spring, Chef du Service des femmes dans la production agricole et le développement rural, qui est l'unité coordinatrice, au sein de l'Organisation, des activités concernant les femmes dans l'agriculture et le développement rural.
Ma délégation est d'accord avec l'information présentée dans le Rapport d'activités sur la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action pour l'intégration des femmes dans le développement. Nous sommds satisfaits des priorités telles que mentionnées dans le Rapport. Nos commentaires sur les points substantiels du Rapport susmentionné sont les suivants:
Nous sommes en plein accord avec la première priorité, qui concerne la formation du personnel de la FAO en vue de l'intégration des femmes dans le développement. Nous pensons, en effet, que celui-ci n'est pas seulement un thème important concernant l'égalité, mais qu'il revêt aussi une importance significative pour la planification. Nous observons souvent que les projets de développement sont formulés sans qu'une attention particulière soit portée aux caractéristiques de la participation de la population cible aux activités du projet et au profit des bénéficiaires du projet lui-même. L'Organisation accorde ione grande importance au Programme de formation du personnel de la FAO, tel que mentionné dans le paragraphe 25 du Rapport d'activité. Toutefois, il est indiqué dans le paragraphe 53 qu'un montant de 780 000 dollars au titre de ressources extra-budgétaires sera nécessaire pendant l'exercice 1990-91 pour le soutien de ces activités. Monsieur le
Président, na délégation aimerait avoir plus de détails à ce sujet, à savoir de quelle source ce montant sera obtenu, et, au cas où ces fonds ne se matérialiseraient pas, est-ce que cela pourrait affecter la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action?
Une mise en oeuvre effective du Plan d'action pour les femmes dépend en grande partie de la participation active de toutes les divisions techniques de la FAO. Le Rapport d'activité décrit tout d'abord les priorités qui doivent être adoptées par la Division des ressources humaines, des institutions et de la réforme agraire du Département des politiques économiques et sociales.
Le Rapport fournit aussi des informations sur les activités d'autres divisions, mais il n'indique pas clairement les priorités des autres départements et divisions techniques en faveur des femmes rurales. Ma délégation voudrait proposer que le prochain rapport d'activités établisse leg priorités d'actions à adopter et à réaliser par tous les départements et divisions de la FAO, tels que l'agriculture, les forets, les pêches, et l'information, et que soient indiquées les ressources à affecter.
En Turquie, nous attachons une grande importance à l'intégration des femmes dans le développement. De ce fait, dans le but d'apporter notre contribution à la mise en oeuvre du plan d'action, je voudrais vous faire part ici de notre souhait de voir une réunion internationale se tenir dans mon pays. Nous pensons que le thème de cette réunion pourrait être choisi parmi les priorités du plan d'action. Ma délégation prendra contact à ce sujet le moment venu avec le Secrétariat.
En dernier lieu, je voudrais souligner ici qu'à notre connaissance la FAO est l'une des agences des Nations Unies qui compte le plus petit nombre de femmes dans le cadre de notre Organisation. Nous aimerions qu'un objectif soit fixé pour que la proportion des femmes dans le cadre de l'Organisation, soit au siège, soit sur le terrain, atteigne un niveau satisfaisant.
Sra. Mercedes FERMIN GOMEZ (Venezuela): La Delegación de Venezuela se complace en expresar su satisfacción por vera nuestro amigo, el Briba jador Medicis, presidiendo esta Comisión, especialmente en este tena de la mujer, y agradece al Sr. Dutia la presentación, junto con el equipo de mujeres que trabajó en este plan.
Nosotros consideramos que es un progreso notable el que vamos logrando desde que en 1985 se presentó en la Conferencia la Resolución 2/75 sobre la mujer en el medio rural. En aquella oportunidad habíamos pedido al Director General que se estudiara la posibilidad de que en todos los programas de la FAO se prestara especial atención a la participación de la mujer campesina que desarrolla tareas de agricultura, de pesca y actividades forestales y que se le brinden oportunidades apropiadas para su capacitación.
Indudablemente que la FAO está cumpliendo con esta tarea a través de sus programas de campo y de cooperación técnica. La preparación de este plan, si bien no se le presta una atención específica, haciendo énfasis en la mujer campesina, se ocupa de los problemas de la mujer y esto es lo que nosotros deseamos solicitar, porque en la Conferencia de 1987 fue aprobada la Resolución 4/87 en que se solicitaba del Director General una reunión de expertos para examinar, junto con la Secretaría, la manera de integrar y sistematizar los progranas y orientaciones necesarias a fin de poner en práctica las estrategias de integración de la mujer en el proceso de desarrollo rural y en las diversas actividades de la Organización.
No hay duda de que todavía en el plano mundial hay unos cuantos países en que todavía no le han prestado la atención - y esto lo podemos deducir por las intervenciones que hemos escuchado ayer y hoy - en que todavía se está aspirando, y simplemente como aspiración, la igualdad jurídica de la mujer. Hay muchos países en que todavía este proceso social no incorpora a la mujer en general a las actividades a que tienen derecho como miembros de una comunidad, en cuanto a educación, capacitación, igual salario a igual trabajo, que son principios que ya son realidad en los países desarrollados y que, naturalmente, los países del Tercer Mundo seguirán inscribiendo esto entre sus aspiraciones; pero no por eso la FAO puede hacer énfasis en un plan de acción de la mujer, olvidando poner en letras muy sobresalientes, que es la mujer en el medio rural a la cual la FAO ha dedicado todo un año cato su tena principal, así como se lo dedicó a la juventud rural en la cual está involucrada la joven rural, a quienes debemos prestar atención específica con programas para la mujer en el medio rural - aunque a algunas personas no les gusta usar este término, pero hablando castellano se dice mujer campesina, y así es como debemos llamarla, ya que no tenemos porqué sentirnos mal hablando de la mujer campesina, porque tenemos un alto porcentaje de mujeres campesinas que trabajan la tierra con todo su esfuerzo, que contribuyen a sostener sus hogares y actúan como jefes de familia y justo es que se les reconozca el derecho de igualdad cuando se trata de la tenencia de la tierra, cuando se trata del crédito y cuando se trata de la asistencia técnica. Aquí es donde debe actuar la FAO y nosotros esperamos que así lo haga.
La capacitación de la mujer no es necesario que la hagan mujeres, ya que eso sería caer en un feminismo a ultranza, del cual estamos a leguas. Nosotros podemos perfectamente lograr la capacitación de la mujer campesina integrada a su medio, que es lo que queramos. Nosotros hemos planteado siempre la integración de la mujer en el desarrollo rural, y especificamos "en el desarrollo rural", porque hay muchos países que ya tienen, afortunadamente, establecida la igualdad jurídica de la mujer, la igualdad de educación en el medio urbano, pero hay una verdadera distancia, de siglos a veces, entre la mujer del medio urbano y la mujer del medio rural. Sin ánimo de que cualquiera pueda pensar que no estoy de acuerdo con que los planes de este Plan de Acción se dediquen a las mujeres profesionales de la FAO; pienso que está bien que se entrene, que se eduque, a las mujeres que están trabajando en FAO, para que puedan comprender el problema de las mujeres del medio rural, de la mujer campesina, prácticamente abandonada de los organismos técnicos internacionales. Porque cuando preparan proyectos para la mujer, generalmente se dedican a la mujer del medio urbano, y las mujeres campesinas se quedan siempre rezagadas. Debemos hacer, por tanto, énfasis en la mujer campesina, y para eso no necesitamos un proceso largo de entrenar primero a las mujeres de la FAO para, en el ano 2000, cuando tengamos el 30 por ciento de la mujeres en FAO, organizar los cursos o los programas preparativos de la mujer en el medio rural.
Yo creo que la FAO tiene ya dos programas esenciales, sus verdaderos instrumentos de trabajo que son el Prograna de Cooperación Técnica y el Programa de Campo, a través de los cuales puede lograse perfectamente la integración de la mujer del medio rural al desarrollo rural. En esta Conferencia, cuando está poniendo en una reorientación de la agricultura lo que ahora estamos llamando "agricultura sostenible" y "desarrollo sostenible", estamos poniendo en vigencia de nuevo la "agricultura de subsistencia", como la llamamos quienes estudiamos hace unos cuantos años. Entonces hablábamos de la agricultura de subsistencia. En mi país, eso se llama conuco, un término indígena, vernáculo, que significa el cultivo mixto, el cultivo integrado de diferentes tipos de plantas que se atienden simultáneamente y que tiene la gran ventaja de que incluso se fertilizan unas a otras, como ocurre en el caso de las plantas nitrificantes. Tenemos el frijol negro, que nitrifica el suelo y eso les sirve de ventaja al maíz, de manera que el campesino que siembra frijol negro y maíz está haciendo un buen trabajo. Esto lo reconozco, yo lo he estudiado en la universidad.
A eso está llegando ahora la agricultura sostenible, estamos regresando, entonces, a una agricultura que será más adecuada para la situación de hambre, de pobreza, de malnutrición que está viviendo el mundo.
Con esa agricultura sostenible la familia campesina podrá tener una parcela en la cual producir los alimentos básicos de su dieta, y es ahí donde quiero traer a la mujer; es justamente esta mujer campesina la que se ocupa del cultivo de esa parcela que va a alimentar a su familia.
En países como el mío, Venezuela, donde los jefes de familia suelen ser mujeres en cientos de hogares rurales, y las razones no las vamos a analizar porque van a salir perdiendo los hombres, y por esa responsabilidad que obliga a la mujer a ser la jefe de familia, ya que ella tiene que hacer frente al cultivo de su parcela, es justo que a esa mujer se le dé el derecho a la posesión de la tierra, se le dé el derecho al crédito y, en consecuencia, a esa mujer debe llevar la FAO la cooperación técnica y el trabajo de campo para darle la asistencia técnica de una tecnología de acuerdo con esta agricultura sostenible que pueda ayudarla a salir adelante del estado de pobreza crítica en que se encuentran la mayoría de estas familias campesinas.
En este sentido veo yo la integración de la mujer al desarrollo rural, de la mujer campesina -y dejo que otras compañeras se dediquen a las mujeres del medio urbano-, pero yo me dedico a la mujer campesina, porque por ella estoy yo aquí luchando en la FAO en beneficio de ellas. Por esta razón creo que integrar a la mujer en el desarrollo en cualquiera de los niveles, estamos de acuerdo, pero integrar a la mujer del medio rural a su desarrollo, significa capacitarla por medios técnicos, técnicos elementales, técnicas muy sucintas, que ella es muy capaz de hacer, ya que ancestralmente ella se ha dedicado a eso. Igualmente que las familias peruanas durante siglos han estado haciendo lo que hacen en el cultivo de la papa, en cualquiera de nuestros países tenemos familias que ancestralmente han ido heredando lo que es la agricultura tradicional para atender a su alimentación, y que hasta ahora lo habían estado haciendo bien hasta que llegó la situación trágica que estamos viviendo, algunos países con la deuda externa, y otros con la falta de créditos.
Por esa razón, cuando yo hablo de la integración de la mujer al desarrollo rural estoy hablando de una transformación de la posible familia campesina que está ahora en la edad de la infancia, o en la edad de la adolescencia, es la que va a recibir una educación para atender a las necesidades de sus familias con otro criterio diferente del que lo hicieron sus abuelas. Es a esas generaciones a las que la FAO debe ayudar a través de este Plan de Acción de la Mujer. Por eso, repito, no voy a estudiar las diferentes esferas sociales, jurídicas, y otros de que habla el Plan, que me parece excelente; pero me parecen excelentes para estudiarlas y para ponerlas en práctica, pero yo me voy a dedicar a atender lo que la mujer campesina necesita tanto en América Latina, como Africa o Asia; no hay mucha diferencia. Conozco esos países ya que he andado por ahí muchas veces y sé pefectamente que no hay mucha diferencia entre una mujer de Kenya, donde he estado, o una mujer del Irak, o una mujer campesina venezolana, o de cualquier país latino americano. Todas están haciendo frente a una vida de necesidades, y de necesidades que comienzan con la posesión de la tierra que no es de ellos, con gente que ha vivido sembrando una tierra ajena con desmedro de esa tierra, con daños de esa tierra en donde el terrateniente les permite cultivar en el orlo de su posesión un pedacito de tierra, que ellos cultivan con amor, que lo convierten en tierra fértil y cuando se dan cuenta de que esto produce les ponen en otra tierra y así se reinicia el proceso de ir convirtiendo en tierra fértil lo que era un erial. De manera que ésta es la mujer que yo quiero que la FAO recuerde en su Plan de Acción, la mujer campesina; a esta familia campesina que son millones en el Tercer Mundo, las cuales están en niveles de pobreza crítica, que saben lo que es el hambre, lo que es la malnutrición, donde hay niños que están muriendo trágicamente de necesidad en toda la superficie de la tierra; esa mujer es la que interesa a la FAO. Mujeres jóvenes, viejas, niñas y adolescentes, cada una en su nivel. Esa es la mujer a la que débenos capacitar para que reciban la educación y puedan ser eficaces cuando lleguen a la edad de producir y de tomar decisiones en relación con los problemas de su comunidad. Ellas son las que deben pertenecer a las organizaciones.
En Venezuela las mujeres son dirigentes de las ligas campesinas, son dirigentes sindicales agrarios igual que los hombres, no hay ninguna diferencia, y si los dueños quieren pagar menos a la mujer que al hombre es sencillamente porque sai mujeres. Son discriminaciones que se deben superar. Hay que capacitar a la mujer campesina para que sepa reclamar sus derechos y pueda tenar parte en la toma de decisiones cuando le llegue su oportunidad se ser dirigentes de su comunidad.
Nosotros hemos pedido al Director General que prestara especial atención en las actividades de la Organización al estudio de los problemas de la mujer y, particularmente, los dedicados a la capacitación y al acceso de los insumos y a la tecnología. Nosotros no estamos pidiendo una tecnología de la revolución verde, eso no nos interesa; nosotros nos interesamos en los fertilizantes, pesticidas, plaguicidas, en esta nueva ola que en buena hora ha traído la FAO a esta Conferencia, pidiendo la agricultura sostenible, está pidiendo el desarrollo sostenible que nos llega como a la medida de los países que todavía no hemos alcanzado el desarrollo y estamos en camino de lograrlo.
Por esa razón insistimos en el desarrollo rural, que es la única manera de que el mundo progrese cuando podamos ir superando esta diferencia tremenda que existe entre la ciudad y el campo. Los europeos no saben de eso, no saben que hay diferencias entre la ciudad y el campo, ya que para ellos el compo es una delicia. Yo me entristezco algunas veces con eso que se dice de la tristeza del bien ajeno, que es la envidia. Cuando yo recorro los campos italianos y cuando pienso en los campos nuestros, en los campos latino americanos cuando sale uno de la ciudad y llega al campo, y se pasan kilómetros en donde no hay cultivo porque es tierra baldía ¿y qué significa tierra baldía? significa latifundio, posesión de la tierra por pocas manos en grandes extensiones, y significa que no hay campesinos dueños de un pedazo de tierra para cultivarlos con amor, para cultivarlos como algo que les pertenece. Esa es la diferencia del europeo. El europeo cultiva su tierra con amor hace más de 3 000 años, en este país donde vivimos y que nos admiran, que siguen conservando un suelo fértil porque ha sido cultivado con amor. Nuestros campesinos ponen amor en ese trocito de tierra hasta que el terrateniente lo echa. ¿Creen ustedes que puede cultivarse algo con amor sabiendo que tienen que ser echados? Por eso nosotros tenemos que insistir en que parte de la educación de la mujer y parte de este Plan de la Mujer debe ser el acceso a la tierra para la mujer. ¿Y por qué para la mujer? Porque ellas son las que conservan el hogar en la mayoría de nuestros medios rurales. Son las mujeres las que mantienen no el fuego del hogar, sino la posesión de la tierra y de la familia.
Desearíamos que este desarrollo sostenible, que esta agricultura sostenible incidiera fundamentalmente en la colaboración que la mujer puede prestar en la horticultura, en los viveros forestales que de esta manera colaborarían en los planes de acción forestal en los trópicos, en la acuicultura. Hemos visto en China, y yo me quedé impresionada cuando vi aquellas familias con una inmensa canasta al lado de su barco que tenían su cría de peces y que todos los días podían temar la pesca de su canasta.
En China hacen lo mismo con las verduras, y también lo están haciendo en Africa. Yo me pregunto, ¿por qué no podemos generalizar esto, si la mujer puede perfectamente colaborar? Eso no es un trabajo tan difícil, no es un trabajo que requiera una fuerza especial para poder cultivar unos peces en una laguna. Esto puede ser uno de los programas para incorporar al desarrollo rural a la mujer. El cultivo de peces mediante un programa de acuicultura en cualquiera de nuestros países, porque todos tienen agua y todos tienen un pedacito de tierra donde poder cultivarla. De esta manera nosotros podremos capacitar a la mujer en técnicas que no son tan elevadas, que no requieren tanto talento ni tanto ingenio y que requiere aquéllo que la mujer tiene: dedicación, paciencia, tiempo que lo tiene incluso para aburrirse porque no tiene nada que hacer. Eso sería pues lo que nos interesaría desde el punto de vista de lo que yo llamo el desarrollo rural y la participación de la mujer en las actividades para ese desarrollo rural.
Yo creo que los estoy aburriendo un poco, pero no temo, porque esta lucha es larga. Hace muchos años que yo estoy en esto, y algunas veces con oídos que retumbaban y que no me hacían caso. Por esa razón pues, nosotros creemos que si seguimos machacando en los oídos de los hombres, los hombres van a poder aceptar este plan de acción de la mujer que me parece excelente; y podemos perfectamente seguir adelante, insistiendo en que la FAO puede lograr incorporar a la mujer a este desarrollo a través de sus programas de campo, de sus programas de cooperación técnica y con pequeños proyectos a través de este nuevo concepto de agricultura sostenible y de desarrollo sostenible.
Ya voy a terminar. Quiero decir que para que este Plan de Acción no se pierda, porque aquí dice que esto tiene un plan de siete años, sería conveniente que los gobiernos, en colaboración con la FAO desde luego, porque los gobiernos siempre necesitan alguien que les llame la atención, y las mujeres muchas veces se olvidan de eso cuando regresan a sus países; porque vienen aquí y hablan en esta Conferencia cosas muy hermosas, pero después regresan a los países, y como que se olvidaron de lo que hablaron en la Conferencia, y no vuelven a pensar en eso. Pues las mujeres que regresan a sus países deben insistir con sus gobiernos que este Plan de Acción es para ponerlo en práctica y para llevar a cabo, no todo lo que dice el plan de acción, pero sí algunas de las cosas, las que vienen a medida de los países.
Y luego, lo que voy a sugerir aquí, porque no sé si estoy en condición y capacidad de proponer, es que de aquí a estos próximos siete años para los cuales está contemplado el desarrollo del Plan, cada año estas mujeres presionen a sus gobiernos para que se convoque una reunión de lo que yo Hartaría evaluación, balance o como ustedes quieran llamarlo, pero examen del Plan, y ver qué es lo que se está haciendo.
Yo por mi parte pediré siempre para las campesinas. Insistiré en lo que he dicho hoy. Pienso que ellas son las que necesitan mayormente, porque una mujer que ya ha llegado a tener un título universitario y que ha llegado a tener una educación superior de este nivel, si no es capaz de arreglárselas por sí misma, ha perdido todo su tiempo. Entonces, esas pobres campesinas que no han podido ir a la escuela son las que más nos necesitan a nosotros para que las ayudemos.
Entonces, sugiero pues esa reunión anual para examinar el Plan y como va progresando. Y finalmente, además de la divulgación del Plan, ya me falta expresar solamente un deseo. Y es poder ver en una realidad que la FAO cree un grupo de trabajo que se ocupe de los problems de la mujer en el desarrollo rural; bueno, que no dejen atrás a la del medio urbano pero que hagan énfasis en la del medio rural, a ver si podaros progresivamente alcanzar mi verdadero deseo, que es que entre las Comisiones de la FAO figure una Comisión de la Mujer, que sería la meta a la que podemos y tenemos derecho a perseguir. Que entre estas Colusiones podamos tener una Comisión de la Mujer para su integración; no para tratar los asuntos de la mujer separadamente porque el feminismo está trasnochado y ya en desuso. Nosotros tenemos que hablar de la mujer integrada a su comunidad, como debe ser, para poder realizar la tarea que nuestro mundo espera de ella. Y me perdona. Sr. Presidente, por haber hablado tanto.
EL PRESIDENTE: Agradezco a la distinguida representante de Venezuela de decir lo que siempre oímos con interés y atención, y que no nos aburre nunca.
Oloche EDACHE (Nigeria) : My delegation seeks your indulgence to present Nigeria's intervention as prepared, as we consider the issue of rural development and women's participation of vital importance. The issue has in fact become very topical in my country in recent years. "The Nigerian experience in integrating women in agricultural and rural development has attracted considerable international attention in recent times. Just last week we hosted an international seminar on Women in Development under ECA sponsorship as a follow-up to the Nairobi Strategy, with participants attending from all over Africa. The World Bank has also shown keen interest in our programme of integrating women in agriculture, as has UNDP and ILO. We look forward to closer collaboration with multilateral and bilateral organizations in programme planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring in this key area, so as to enhance the potentials of our rural women. Nigerian women are quite resourceful and hard-working; they are actively engaged in agricultural production, trade and home-making which we hold quite dear to our hearts. The percentage of women engaged in agriculture varies from state to state, which is a reflection of our cultural and religious diversities. In some states, it is over 80 percent. The national average is estimated at 50 percent. Rural women allocate approximately 14 percent of their time schedule to agriculture, compared to men, 29 percent. Processing takes 14 percent of women's time as compared to half of one percent which men put into processing.
Child care and housekeeping take about 16 and 15 percent respectively of women's time schedule, compared to only one-half of one percent which men devote to each of these activities. Men, on the other hand, have more than two times the leisure time at the disposal of women. It is our intention to strengthen our gender data base, to enhance proper need-identification and programme development.
Under the national policy on agriculture, we have formulated broad development strategies on the basis of the dual role of women in farm production and heme management. The Governments of the Federation have established home economics and community development units in their respective Ministries of Agriculture with a mandate to develop and implement those programmes which will lead to the uplifting of the quality of life of rural women. Some of the major activities include women in agriculture, which aims at fully integrating wcmen in agricultural development through their full participation in the agricultural development programmes being executed throughout the country with the World Bank assistance. Under this Programme we intend that women benefit from the resources being targeted primarily at naie farmers, including access to credit, technical information and production inputs.
The appropriate technology and skilled training scheme aims at fostering the acquisition of income-generating skills among rural woman in diverse fields. The Programme aims at identifying labour-saving devices which will reduce the drudgery of womens chores so as to free time for socio-economic activities and leisure. Multi-purpose centres have also been established by Governments in several locations of the country as learning and social centres for women. Nò account of integrating women in development in Nigeria would be complete without mentioning the contributions of the First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, who, over the past two years has spear-headed the Better Life for Rural Women Programme. The First Lady has awakened the conscience of the nation to the poor life conditions of rural women and has, in concert with the wives of State Governors, developed a pragmatic plan of action towards improving and enriching the lives of rural women and mobilizing them towards effective participation in the development process through education, creative employment and agricultural production. Urban women in non-governmental voluntary organizations, such as the Soroptomists, Zonta International, the Lions Club, National Council of Women, National Council of Women's Societies, etc., have in recent times been quite active in promoting the cause of rural women.
In the area of legislation, there are no separate strategy provisions targeted at the constraints of women's participation in development. However, statutory provisions on working women do exist. They include: by-laws which compel parents to send their children to school; by-laws which permit pregnant women to continue their education; and by-laws which grant paid leave to pregnant working mothers. It is of interest that there are no discriminatory wage rates for women workers in the public service of the Federation.
I have taken quite a bit of your time already, but please do permit me to briefly address the documents before us, that is C 89/14 and C 89/14 - Sup.1. The initiative of the FAO and the quality of the documents are quite commendable. Their essence, in our opinion, is to provide women with the opportunities that will enable them to develop their potentials and contribute optimally to development.
My delegation shares the view of the British delegation that the objectives embodied in the documents might be too many. The implication could be lack of focus leading to poor results. One way of avoiding such a problem, of course, would be to prioritize, and to restrict efforts to critical areas of need at a time in order not to dissipate scarce resources too thinly.
The campaign for a change of image of women embodied in the documents should be subtly handled in traditional societies in order not to offend long-held value systems and jeopardize success.
My delegation is totally in support of the call for assistance to enhance planning and policy formulation at national levels. Such support will enhance coherence of policy and consensus building.
Finally, I wish to thank you for giving my delegation the opportunity for this intervention.
Christodoiilos CHRISTODOULOU (Cyprus): the Plan of Action for Integration of women in Development has been prepared after extensive consultation with many parties concerned as most of the documents submitted by the Secretariat for the consideration of the Conference.
We find the plan of action to be coherent, realistic and comprehensive and wish to express our full support to the FAO's efforts and activities for the implementation of this important plan- We also agree with the proposal of the Council that the implementation of the Plan should take place within the mainstream of FAO's activities and should be basically funded from the Regular Programme. However, extrabudgetary resources will facilitate the implementation of this plan and possible donors should be urged to come forward.
Among the most important aspects of the Plan we believe that more emphasis should be placed on legal aspects, education and training.
Discriminatory perceptions and attitudes towards women are deeply rooted and women do not yet enjoy equal rights and treatment in all parts of the world. It will take considerable time to change this situation. "The most important tool to pursue such a goal is education and training which should follow legal recognition of women's equality. In this respect let me inform you, Mr Chairman and the distinguished delegates, that recently the House of Representatives of Cyprus has unanimously approved a Bill providing for equal pay for men and women doing the same work. Ihis pleasant event places Cyprus in line with its international obligations on equality between sexes and is in conformity with the objectives of the Plan under discussion.
Regarding training, we believe that FAO has an important role to play in providing in-service training as well as the systematic organization of training courses for women in basic fields such as technology, nutrition and marketing.
In concluding, Mr Chairman, let me emphasize the fundamental role of women in the development of all societies. We believe that all necessary activities should be undertaken in order to promote and expand the interest of the governments and the people in general so that this important role of women would be widely accepted.
Mme. Piera MARIN (Italie): La délégation italienne se félicite pour le travail que la FAO a produit dans la présentation du Plan d'action pour l'intégration des femmes dans le développement. L'expérience italienne nous a montré que le développement industriel entraine l'abandon des campagnes par les hommes et l'entrée des femmes dans le marché du travail agricole. Afin que cette substitution se fasse dans des conditions meilleures, nous souhaitons qu'il soit principalement possible de développer les services d'information et les activités de formation pour les femmes. En même temps, on doit donner priorité à l'amélioration de la législation qui régit l'accès des femmes à la terre afin qu'elles puissent faire reconnaître leur travail avec toutes les garanties de la loi.
The meeting rose at 12.45 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 45
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.45 horas
