Title: Statement: International Labour Organization [ILO].

POPLINE Document Number: 154996

Author(s):

Zhang Y

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 2000. Presented at the Twenty-Third Special Session of the General Assembly: "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century", June 5-9, 2000. 3 p.

Abstract:

This paper presents the statement of Ms. Youyun Zhang, chairman of the International Labor Office, New York, addressed during the 23rd Special Session of the UN General Assembly. Zhang notes that in Beijing, the international community pledged a clear commitment to gender equality, development and peace, and developed a comprehensive agenda for the empowerment of women. After 5 years of its implementation, some progress has been made in the critical areas contained in the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA); however, much more remains to be done to fully achieve the goal set in Beijing. Zhang emphasizes that with the onset of globalization in the world, multi-faceted gender inequalities have emerged, highlighting the need to fully implement the Beijing PFA. To this effect, Zhang suggests that there should be a change in the attitudes of the whole society, and in particular of those responsible for public and private policy at all levels. In addition, strengthened political will and commitment are called for. Moreover, Zhang states that the International Labor Organization, with its tripartite structure, has developed a strategic agenda for a global vision of Decent Work, as contributions to an integrated framework and to the accelerated implementation of the Beijing PFA.

Keywords:

Conferences and Congresses
Gender Issues
Inequalities
Women's Empowerment
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Women's Status