Equality of Women and Men

Mulheres e Homens: Sociedade Para Um Planeta Sadio

Mulheres e Homens: Sociedade Para Um Planeta Sadio

Declaração apresentada ao Congresso Mundial de Mulheres para um Planeta Sadio.

Miami, Estados Unidos—8 November 1991
"O bem-estar da humanidade, a sua paz e segurança, são inatingíveis, a menos e até que, sua unidade seja firmemente estabelecida." Estas palavras proféticas, enunciadas por Bahá’ulláh durante as últimas décadas do século dezenove foram totalmente ignoradas pelos líderes daquela época. Todavia, nesta última década do século vinte, a humanidade tornou-se cada vez mais consciente de sua interdependência e está convencida de que nenhum indivíduo, ou pode viver isolado do todo. A crise do meio ambiente/desenvolvimento fez com que muitas pessoas repensassem a sua visão do mundo e começassem a considerar a terra um sistema orgânico único, interdependente e unido. Consequentemente, a procura do equilíbrio entre as necessidades da sociedade e os limitados recursos da natureza está ocorrendo dentro do contexto mais amplo da procura pelo equilíbrio, paz e harmonia dentro da própria sociedade.

O estreito vínculo entre a unidade da humanidade e a igualdade dos sexos está explicado nas Escrituras Bahá’ís: "... à mulher deve ser dado o privilégio de uma educação igual a do homem e o pleno direito a todas as suas prerrogativas. Ou seja, deve haver diferenças na do homem e da mulher para que a mulher possa desenvolver capacidade e relevância iguais aos do homem na social e econômica. Assim o mundo alcançaria unidade e harmonia. Em épocas passadas, a humanidade tem sido imperfeita e ineficaz, pois estava incompleta. A guerra e sua têm devastado o mundo; a da mulher será um passo gigantesco em prol da e do fim da guerra, pois toda sua influência será usada contra a mesma. A mulher cria a criança e educa o jovem para a maturidade. Ela recusar-se-á a dar seus filhos para serem sacrificados’ no campo de batalha. Na verdade, ela será o maior fator no estabelecimento da paz universal e da arbitragem internacional. Seguramente, a mulher abolirá a guerra entre os seres humanos".

Até o presente momento, a maioria dos sistemas organizacionais da sociedade tem marginalizado as mulheres. De um modo geral, as estratégias modernas de desenvolvimento tendem a reforçar e, algumas vezes, a exacerbar as condições de desigualdade. Para combater a desigualdade entre os sexos, as Nações Unidas lançaram a memorável "Década das Nações Unidas para a Mulher: Igualdade, Desenvolvimento e Paz (1975-1985)". Como resultado de pesquisas realizadas durante esta Década, as contribuições vitais das mulheres para a vida social e econômica de suas nações tornaram-se mais visíveis. As novas pesquisas também evidenciaram os fardos desnecessários carregados pelas mulheres e os obstáculos que impedem sua plena participação na sociedade. Mais significativo ainda, a Década aproximou as mulheres e forneceu-lhes oportunidades sem precedentes para trocar pontos de vista e experiências. As mulheres descobriram que o processo de compartilharem suas preocupações comuns pelo seu próprio futuro e pelo da família humana capacitaram-nas a transcenderem os limites de raça, classe social ou de nação. A Década ainda catalizou a das organizações tradicionais de mulheres e permitiu a criação de Organizações Não-Governamentais (ONG’s) locais, orientados para as necessidades específicas das mulheres. Estas ONG’s facilitaram o estabelecimento de uma extensa rede entre as mulheres, dando-lhes capacidade para expressar suas próprias necessidades, criar seus próprios programas e começar a influenciar em todos os níveis. Como resultado dos esforços realizados durante a Década, os planejadores da área de desenvolvimento começaram a abordar a falta de acesso das mulheres a recursos como educação, tecnologia e crédito. As agências das Nações Unidas, os governos nacionais e as agências de cooperação internacional estabeleceram departamentos para poder dedicar-se às necessidades e preocupações das mulheres.

Estas são conquistas significantes que devem ser grandemente reforçadas e expandidas. Apesar de algum progresso, as mulheres permanecem, todavia, à margem da formulação de diretrizes políticas e os sistemas que as têm tradicionalmente oprimido, permanecem em grande parte intactos. Estes sistemas aderem ao modelo de dominação que tem caracterizado a sociedade por milhares de anos: os homens têm dominado as mulheres; uma raça ou grupo étnico tem dominado outro; uma nação tem dominado outra nação. A despeito da relutância da humanidade em se modificar, "o equilíbrio já está mudando", segundo as Escrituras Bahá’ís, "a força está perdendo sua dominância, e a vivacidade mental, a intuição, e as qualidades espirituais de amor e serviço, nas quais a mulher é forte, estão ganhando ascendência. Portanto, a nova era será menos masculina e mais permeada pelos ideais femininos, ou, falando-se claramente, será uma era em que os elementos femininos e masculinos da civilização estarão mais equilibrados."

Embora a mulher deva desenvolver suas capacidades e caminhar para o desempenho de um papel mais ativo na solução dos problemas mundiais, o impacto de suas ações será limitado, se não houver total cooperação dos homens. Mulheres trabalhando juntas em harmonia e união já realizaram grandes conquistas nas esferas de influência que lhes estão abertas. Agora as mulheres devem juntar-se aos homens em igualdade de parceria. Quando os homens derem total apoio a este processo, acolhendo as mulheres em todos os campos do esforço humano, valorizando suas contribuições e incentivando sua participação, homens e mulheres juntos, ajudarão a criar o ambiente moral e psicológico no qual a paz poderá surgir e uma civilização ecologicamente sustentável poderá progredir e florescer.

As transformações exigidas para uma verdadeira igualdade sem dúvida nenhuma, difíceis tanto para os homens, quanto para as mulheres, pois ambos reavaliar o que é familiar, o que é rotina. A procura de um culpado deve ser abandonada, pois nenhum indivíduo pode ser acusado por ter sido moldado por forças históricas e sociológicas. A culpa deve ser trocada em favor da responsabilidade pelo crescimento. Em face dos profundos desafios que a humanidade está enfrentando, todos são responsáveis pelo reconhecimento de que o velho modelo não mais funciona e que todos responderão às futuras gerações pela administração da civilização humana e sua relação com a terra.

As mudanças são, no entanto, um processo evolucionário que requer paciência consigo mesmo e com os outros, uma educação amorosa e tempo. A transição será mais fácil quando os homens tomarem consciência de que eles serão incapazes de realizar seu pleno potencial enquanto as mulheres forem impedidas de atingir o delas. Na verdade, quando os homens promoverem de maneira ativa o princípio de igualdade, as mulheres mais lutar por seus direitos. Gradualmente, tanto os homens quanto as mulheres se de longas e nocivas atitudes e progressivamente, em suas vidas, os valores que os à verdadeira unidade.

Na da Comunidade Internacional Bahá’í, a mundial emergente será sustentada pelo comprometimento com uma nova série de valores, uma comum do equilíbrio entre direito e responsabilidades e a boa vontade de cada um em servir aos melhores interesses da humanidade como um todo. Para os bahá’ís, o comprometimento com a da mulher não é algo recente, assim como a igualdade entre os sexos é um vago ideal. E nossa que a da raça humana depende do estabelecimento da igualdade entre homens e mulheres. A humanidade, como explicam as Escrituras Bahá’ís, tendo atravessado os estágios de infância e de adolescência tumultuosa, está agora entrando na idade adulta, estágio que testemunhará "a reconstrução e a da totalidade do mundo civilizado - um mundo organicamente unido em todos os aspectos essenciais de sua vida."

Mujeres y Hombres: Una Sociedad para un Planeta Saludable

Mujeres y Hombres: Una Sociedad para un Planeta Saludable

Exposición prsentada al "World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet"

Miami, Florida—8 November 1991

8-12 Noviembre, 1991

"El bienestar de la humanidad, su paz y seguridad son inalcanzables, a menos que se establezca firmemente su unidad." Estas palabras proféticas, pronunciadas por Bahá'u'lláh durante las décadas finales del siglo diecinueve fueron poco menos que pasadas por alto por los dirigentes de la época. No obstante, en la década final del siglo veinte, la humanidad ha comprendido cada vez mejor su interdependencia y se ha convencido finalmente que ningún individuo, institución o nación puede vivir completamente aislados del conjunto. La crisis del desarrollo / medio ambiente ha hecho que muchos re-examinen sus opiniones sobre el mundo y a mirar a la tierra como un sistema único, orgánico y unificado. En consecuencia de ello, la búsqueda del equilibrio entre las necesidades de la sociedad y los recursos limitados del mundo natural se está produciendo en el contexto más amplio de la búsqueda del equilibrio, paz, y armonía dentro de la sociedad misma.

La relación íntima entre la unidad de la raza Humana y la igualdad de los sexos se explica en las Escrituras Baha'is: "... la mujer debe recibir el mismo privilegio en la educación que recibe el hombre y pleno derecho a sus prerrogativas. Es decir, no debe existir diferencia en la educación del varón y la mujer para que las mujeres puedan desarrollar igual capacidad e importancia que el hombre en la ecuación económico-social. Entonces el mundo alcanzará la unidad y la armonía. En épocas pasadas la humanidad fue defectuosa e ineficiente porque estaba incompleta. La guerra y su desolación agotaron al mundo. La educación de la mujer será un paso gigantesco hacia su abolición y fin, ya que la mujer ejercerá toda su influencia contra la guerra. La mujer cría al niño y educa al joven hasta la madurez. Ella rehusará ofrecer sus hijos en sacrificio sobre el campo de batalla. Ciertamente, ella será el factor más importante en el establecimiento de la paz universal y el arbitraje internacional. Es seguro que la mujer abolirá las guerras entre los seres humanos".

Hasta la fecha, la mayoría de los sistemas de organización social han marginado a las mujeres. En su conjunto, las estrategias modernas de desarrollo han tendido a reforzar y, en ocasiones, exacerbar las condiciones de falta de igualdad. Para enfrentar la desigualdad entre los sexos, las Naciones Unidas lanzó el hito "El Decenio de las Naciones Unidas para la Mujer: Igualdad, Desarrollo y Paz (1975-1985)." Como consecuencia de investigaciones hechas durante el Decenio, se hicieron más visibles las contribuciones vitales de las mujeres a la vida social y económica de sus naciones. Las nuevas investigaciones también destacaron las cargas innecesarias llevadas por las mujeres y los obstáculos que impedían su plena participación en la sociedad. Más, significativamente, el Decenio reunió a las mujeres y les suministró oportunidades sin precedentes para intercambiar puntos de vista y experiencias. Las mujeres encontraron que sus preocupaciones compartidas por su propio futuro y por el de la familia humana les permitían trascender fronteras nacionales, de clase y de raza. Además, el Decenio catalizó la revitalización de las organizaciones femeninas tradicionales y la creación desde las raíces de nuevas Organizaciones. No-Gubernamentales (ONGs) que se preocupen de las necesidades específicas de las mujeres. Estas ONGs han facilitado una extensa red entre las mujeres, dándoles el poder para articular sus necesidades, diseñar sus propios programas, y comenzar a efectuar la elaboración de políticas a todos los niveles. Como resultado de los esfuerzos emprendidos durante el Decenio, los planificadores del desarrollo han comenzado a enfrentar la falta de acceso de las mujeres a recursos tales como la educación, la tecnología y el crédito. Las agencias de las Naciones Unidas, los gobiernos nacionales y las agencias internacionales de desarrollo han establecido divisiones para que aborden las necesidades de las mujeres.

Estos son logros significativos que deben ser fortalecidos y ampliados considerablemente. No obstante cierto progreso, las mujeres permanecen marginadas de la elaboración de políticas, y los sistemas que tradicionalmente las han oprimido permanecen, en gran medida, intactos. Estos sistemas adhieren al modelo de dominación que ha caracterizado a la sociedad por miles de años: los hombres han dominado a las mujeres; un grupo racial o étnico ha dominado a otros; y nación ha dominado a nación. No obstante la renuencia de la humanidad al cambio, "el equilibrio está variando, la fuerza está perdiendo su dominio, y la viveza mental, la intuición y las cualidades espirituales de amor y servicio, en las que la mujer es fuerte, están ganando en poder. En adelante tendremos una época menos masculina y más influida por los ideales femeninos o, para explicamos más exactamente, será una época en la que los elementos masculinos y los femeninos de la civilización están más equilibrados".

En tanto que las mujeres deben desarrollar sus capacidades y adelantarse para desempeñar un papel activo en la solución de los problemas del mundo, el impacto de sus acciones será limitado si no reciben la plena cooperación de los hombres. Mujeres trabajando juntas en unidad y armonía ya han logrado mucho en las esferas de influencia que les están abiertas. Ahora las mujeres se deben unir a los hombres como socios iguales. Cuando los hombres brinden su pleno apoyo al proceso, dando la bienvenida a las mujeres en todos los campos del esfuerzo humano, valorando sus contribuciones y estimulando su participación, los hombres y las mujeres juntos ayudarán a crear el clima moral y sicológico en el que puede emerger la paz y pueda avanzar y florecer una civilización sostenible ambientalmente.

La transformación que se requiere para la verdadera igualdad será, sin duda, difícil tanto para los hombres como para las mujeres, porque ambos deberán revaluar lo que es familiar, lo que es rutina. Se debe abandonar la culpabilidad porque ningún individuo puede cargar con la culpa de haber sido modelado por fuerzas históricas y sociológicas. La culpa se debe descartar en favor de la responsabilidad por el crecimiento. A la luz de los profundos desafíos que enfrenta la humanidad, todos cargan con la responsabilidad de reconocer que el antiguo modelo ya no funciona, y todos deberán responder ante las futuras generaciones por su fideicomiso de la civilización humana y su relación con la tierra.

El cambio, no obstante, es un proceso evolutivo que requiere de paciencia con uno mismo y con los demás, educación amorosa y el transcurso del tiempo. La transición se facilitará cuando los hombres comprendan que ellos no podrán lograr sus plenas potencialidades en tanto que se impida a las mujeres de alcanzar las suyas. En verdad, cuando los hombres promuevan activamente el principio de la igualdad, las mujeres ya no tendrán necesidad de luchar por sus derechos. Gradualmente, tanto las mujeres como los hombres abandonarán antiguas actitudes no saludables e incorporarán progresivamente en sus vidas los valores que conducen a la verdadera unidad.

La opinión de la Comunidad Internacional Baha'i es que la civilización mundial que emerge tendrá por base un compromiso común con un nuevo conjunto de valores, una comprensión compartida del equilibrio entre derechos y responsabilidades, y la disposición por parte de cada cual para servir los mejores intereses de la humanidad como un todo. Para los Baha'is, el compromiso con la emancipación de la mujer no es algo reciente y tampoco es la igualdad entre los sexos un vago ideal. Es nuestra convicción que la unificación de la raza humana depende del establecimiento de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres. La humanidad, explican las Escrituras Baha'is, al haber pasado por las etapas de la infancia, niñez y turbulenta adolescencia, ahora se acerca a su madurez, una etapa que atestiguara "la reconstrucción y la desmilitarización de todo el mundo civilizado - un mundo orgánicamente unificado en todos los aspectos esenciales de su vida."

Partneritet për një planet të shëndetshëm

Partneritet për një planet të shëndetshëm

Kërkimi i një ekuilibri midis nevojave të shoqërisë dhe burimeve të kufizuara të botës natyrore po bëhet brenda kontekstit më të gjerë të kërkimit për ekuilibër, paqe e harmoni brenda vetë shoqërisë.

Miami, Florida—8 November 1991

"Mirëqenia e njerëzimit, paqja dhe siguria e tij janë të paarritshme, në qoftë se e përderisa nuk do të jetë vendosur në mënyrë të patundur uniteti i tij". Këto fjalë profetike, të shqiptuara nga Bahá'u'lláh-u në dhjetëvjeçarët e fundit të shekullit të nëntëmbëdhjetë, kanë qenë injoruar nga udhëheqësit e asaj kohe. Por në dhjetëvjeçarin e fundit të shekullit të njëzetë njerëzimi është bërë gjithnjë e më i vetëdishëm për ndërvarësinë e tij dhe është bindur më në fund se asnjë individ, institucion ose komb nuk mund të jetojë në izolim të plotë nga e tëra. Kriza e mjedis/zhvillimit i ka bërë shumë njerëz ta rishikojnë pikëpamjen e tyre për botën dhe të fillojnë ta shohin tokën si një sistem të vetëm organik, të ndërvarur e të unifikuar. Për rrjedhojë, kërkimi i një ekuilibri midis nevojave të shoqërisë dhe burimeve të kufizuara të botës natyrore po bëhet brenda kontekstit më të gjerë të kërkimit për ekuilibër, paqe e harmoni brenda vetë shoqërisë.

Në shkrimet Bahá'í shpjegohet lidhja e ngushtë midis unitetit të gjinisë njerëzore dhe barazisë së sekseve: "...gruas duhet t'i jepet privilegji i shkollimit të barabartë me burrin dhe e drejta e plotë e prerogativave të tij. Domethënë, nuk duhet të ketë dallim në shkollimin e mashkullit e të femrës, në mënyrë që gratë të mund të zhvillojnë aftësi e rëndësi të barabartë me burrin në ekuilibrin shoqëror dhe ekonomik. Atëherë bota do të arrijë unitetin e harmoninë. Në epokat e shkuara njerëzimi ka qenë me të meta e i paefektshëm sepse ishte i mangët. Lufta dhe rrënimet e saj e kanë dëmtuar botën. Shkollimi i gruas do të jetë një hap i fuqishëm përpara drejt zhdukjes e fundit të kësaj të keqeje, sepse ajo do të përdorë të gjithë ndikimin e saj kundër luftës. Gruaja rrit fëmijën dhe edukon të riun deri në pjekuri. Ajo do të refuzojë të japë bijtë e saj për t'u flijuar në fushën e betejës. Në të vërtetë ajo do të jetë faktori më i madh në vendosjen e Paqes Universale e të arbitrazhit ndërkombëtar. Me siguri, gruaja do ta zhdukë luftën midis gjinisë njerëzore".

Deri më sot, shumica e sistemeve të organizimit shoqëror e kanë mënjanuar gruan. Strategjitë e përgjithshme, moderne janë prirur t'i përforcojnë, dhe disa herë t'i acarojnë, kushtet e pabarazisë. Lidhur me pabarazinë e sekseve, Kombet e Bashkuara shpallën "Dekadën e Kombeve të Bashkuara për Gratë: Barazi, Zhvillim dhe Paqe (1975-1985)", e cila shënon një ngjarje shumë të rëndësishme. Si rezultat i kërkimeve që u ndërmorën gjatë Dekadës, dolën më mirë në pah ndihmesat e grave në jetën shoqërore dhe ekonomike të kombeve të tyre. Kërkimi i ri nxorri gjithashtu në pah barrët e panevojshme që mbajnë gratë dhe pengesat që nuk lejojnë pjesëmarrjewn e tyre të plotë në jetën shoqërore. Çka është më e rëndësishmja, Dekada i bashkoi gratë dhe u dha atyre mundësi të papara për të shkëmbyer pikëpamjet e përvojën. Gratë panë se interesat e përbashkëta për vetë të ardhmen e tyre dhe për të ardhmen e

Në shkrimet Bahá'í shpjegohet lidhja e ngushtë midis unitetit të gjinisë njerëzore dhe barazisë së sekseve.

Burrat dhe gratë së bashku do të ndihmojnë për të krijuar atë klimë morale e psikologjike, në të cilën mund të lindë paqja dhe të zhvillohet e lulëzojë një qytetërim i qëndrueshëm nga këndvështrimi i mjedisit.

familjes njerëzore u dhanë atyre mundësi të kapërcejnë kufijtë kombëtarë, të klasës e të racës. Veç kësaj, Dekada shërbeu për rigjalërimin e organizatave tradicionale të grave, si dhe për krijimin e të tjera Organizatave Joqeveritare (OJQ) të bazës, që merren me nevojat specifike të grave. Këto OJQ kanë lehtësuar një angazhim të gjerë midis grave, gjë që u ka dhënë këtyre mundësi të formulojnë nevojat e tyre, të skicojnë programet e veta dhe të fillojnë të ndikojnë mbi politikën në të gjitha nivelet. Si rezultat i përpjekjeve të bëra gjatë Dekadës, planifikuesit e zhvillimit kanë filluar t'i referohen privimit të grave nga të mira të tilla si arsimi, teknologjia e kreditë. Organizmat e Kombeve të Bashkuara, qeveri kombëtare dhe agjensi ndërkombëtare të zhvillimit kanë krijuar zyra për të trajtuar nevojat e shqetësimet e grave.

Këto janë arritje të rëndësishme, të cilat duhen përforcuar e shtrirë shumë. Megjithë njëfarë përparimi, gratë mbeten, sidoqoftë, në skaj të bërjes së politikës dhe sistemet që tradicionalisht i kanë shtypur ato mbeten pothuajse të paprekura. Këto sisteme i përmbahen modelit të sundimit, që ka karakterizuar shoqërinë për mijëra vjet: burrat kanë sunduar mbi gratë; një grup racial ose etnik ka sunduar mbi tjetrin; dhe kombe kanë sunduar mbi kombe. Por megjithë mosdëshirën e njerëzimit për të bërë ndryshime, "ekuilibri tashmë është duke lëvizur -" sipas shkrimeve Bahá'í, "forca po e humbet mbizotërimin e vet dhe mprehtësia e mendjes, intuita e cilësitë shpirtërore të dashurisë e të shërbimit, në të cilat gruaja është e fortë, po shkojnë në ngjitje. Pra, epoka e re do të jetë një epokë më pak mashkullore dhe e përshkuar më shumë nga ideale femërore, ose më saktë, do të jetë një epokë në të cilën elementet mashkullore e femërore të qytetërimit do të jenë më mirë të balancuara".

Ndërsa gratë duhet të zhvillojnë aftësitë e tyre dhe të ecin përpara për të luajtur një rol aktiv në zgjidhjen e problemeve të botës, ndikimi i veprimeve të tyre do të jetë i kufizuar pa bashkëpunimin e plotë të burrave. Gratë që punojnë së bashku në unitet e harmoni kanë arritur tashmë shumë brenda sferave të influencës që janë të hapura për to. Tani gratë duhet të bashkohen me burrat si partnere të barabarta. Kur burrat t'i japin mbështetje të plotë këtij procesi, duke i mirëpritur gratë në të gjitha fushat e veprimtarisë njerëzore, duke vlerësuar ndihmesat e tyre dhe duke inkurajuar pjesëmarrjen e tyre, burrat dhe gratë së bashku do të ndihmojnë për të krijuar atë klimë morale e psikologjike në të cilën mund të lindë paqja dhe të zhvillohet e lulëzojë një qytetërim i qëndrueshëm nga këndvështrimi i mjedisit.

Gradualisht, si burrat dhe gratë do të heqin dorë nga qëndrimet e dëmshme që kanë mbajtur për një kohë të gjatë dhe do të futin progresivisht në jetët e tyre vlerat që çojnë në unitet të vërtetë.

Qytetërimi botëror që po lind do të mbështetet nga një angazhim i përbashkët ndaj një kompleksi të ri vlerash, nga një kuptim i përbashkët i raportit midis të drejtave e përgjegjësive dhe nga vullneti i secilit për t'u shërbyer interesave të vërteta të njerëzimit në tërësi.

Shndërrimi që kërkohet për një barazi të vërtetë do të jetë padyshim i vështirë si për burrat dhe për gratë, sepse si të parët dhe të dytat duhet të rivlerësojnë atë që është e zakonshme, e përditshme. Qortimet duhen lënë mënjanë, sepse askush nuk mund të bëhet fajtor që është formuar nga forca historike, sociologjike. Faji duhet zëvendësuar me përgjegjësinë për përparimin. Përballë sfidave të thella me të cilat ndeshet njerëzimi, të gjithë janë të përgjegjshëm të pranojnë se modeli i vjetër nuk funksionon më dhe të gjithë do të jenë përgjegjës para brezave të rinj për drejtimin e qytetërimit njerëzor nga ana e tyre dhe raportet e tij me tokën.

Ndryshimi, sidoqoftë, është një proces evolucionar që kërkon durim ndaj vetvetes e ndaj të tjerëve, edukim mirëdashës dhe kalim të kohës. Tranzicioni do të bëhet më i lehtë kur njerëzit ta kuptojnë se ata nuk do të jenë në gjendje të arrijnë potencialin e tyre të plotë sakohë që gratë pengohen të arrijnë të vetin. Me të vërtetë, kur burrat të stimulojnë aktivisht parimin e barazisë, grave nuk do t'u duhet më të luftojnë për të drejtat e veta. Gradualisht, si burrat dhe gratë do të heqin dorë nga qëndrimet e dëmshme që kanë mbajtur për një kohë të gjatë dhe do të futin progresivisht në jetët e tyre vlerat që çojnë në unitet të vërtetë.

Sipas mendimit të Komunitetit Ndërkombëtar Bahá'í, qytetërimi botëror që po lind do të mbështetet nga një angazhim i përbashkët ndaj një kompleksi të ri vlerash, nga një kuptim i përbashkët i raportit midis të drejtave e përgjegjësive dhe nga vullneti i secilit për t'u shërbyer interesave të vërteta të njerëzimit në tërësi. Për Bahá'í-të angazhimi për emancipimin e grave nuk është një zhvillim i kohëve të fundit, dhe as është barazia e sekseve një ideal i mjegullt. Ne kemi bindjen se unifikimi i gjinisë njerëzore varet nga vendosja e barazisë midis burrave dhe grave.

Njerëzimi, shpjegojnë Shkrimet Bahá'í, pasi ka kaluar përmes stadeve të foshnjërisë, të fëmijërisë e të adoleshencës së bujshme, po i afrohet tani pjekurisë, një stadi që do të dëshmojë për "rindërtimin e mbarë botës së qytetëruar - një botë e unifikuar në mënyrë organike në të gjitha aspektet thelbësore të jetës së saj".

Vrouwen en mannen: partnerschap voor een gezonde planeet

Vrouwen en mannen: partnerschap voor een gezonde planeet

Een verklaring van Bahá'í International Community

Miami, Florida—8 November 1991

"Het welzijn der mensheid, haar vrede en veiligheid zijn onbereikbaar, tenzij en totdat haar eenheid blijvend tot stand is gebracht."

Deze profetische woorden, door Bahá'u'lláh uitgesproken in het afsluitende decennium van de negentiende eeuw, werden door de leiders van die tijd slechts genegeerd. Maar in het afsluitende decennium van de twintigste eeuw is de mensheid zich meer en meer bewust van haar onderlinge afhankelijkheid en is zij er uiteindelijk van overtuigd geraakt dat geen enkel individu instelling of natie in volkomen afzondering kan leven. De milieu- en ontwikkelingscrisis heeft velen er toe gebracht hun visie op de wereld opnieuw te doordenken en de aarde te zien als een organisch, onderling afhankelijk en verenigd systeem. Ten gevolge daarvan vindt het zoeken naar evenwicht tussen de behoeften van de maatschappij en de beperkte natuurlijke bronnen nu plaats in het bredere verband van zoeken naar evenwicht, vrede en harmonie binnen de maatschappij zelf.

De innige relatie tussen de eenheid van het menselijk ras en de gelijkwaardigheid van de seksen wordt in de bahá'í-geschriften uitgelegd: "... de vrouw heeft het recht een gelijke opleiding te krijgen als die van de man en heeft volledig recht op zijn privileges. Dat wil zeggen, er moet geen verschil zijn in de opleiding van de man en de vrouw, opdat de vrouw zich in het maatschappelijk en economische evenwicht als een bekwaam en belangrijk kan ontwikkelen als de man Dan zal de wereld eenheid en harmonie bereiken. In voorbije tijden was de mensheid gebrekkig en krachteloos, omdat zij onvolledig was. Oorlog en de hierdoor veroorzaakte verwoesting hebben de wereld geteisterd; de opleiding van de vrouw zal een grote stap zijn naar de afschaffing en beëindiging hiervan, want zij zal haar invloed aanwenden tegen de oorlog.

De vrouw brengt het kind groot en voedt de jeugd op tot volwassenheid. Zij zal weigeren haar zonen af te staan om op het slagveld geofferd te worden. Zij zal waarlijk de voornaamste factor zijn in het vestigen van wereldvrede en internationale arbitrage. Zonder enige twijfel zal de vrouw oorlogvoering onder de mensheid afschaffen."

Tot op heden hebben de meeste maatschappelijke organisatiesystemen vrouwen buitenspel gezet. Over de gehele linie hebben moderne ontwikkelingsstrategieën de neiging tot het in stand houden, en bij tijden verergeren, van toestanden van ongelijkheid. Om de ongelijkheid van de seksen aan te pakken, lanceerde de Verenigde Naties het Decennium van de Verenigde Naties voor Vrouwen: Gelijkheid, Ontwikkeling en Vrede (1975-1985). Onderzoek tijdens dit decennium maakte de vitale bijdrage van vrouwen aan het maatschappelijke en economische leven van hun land duidelijker zichtbaar. Het nieuwe onderzoek legde ook de nadruk op de overbodige lasten die door vrouwen worden gedragen, en de hindernissen die hun volledige deelname aan het maatschappelijk leven beletten. Nog betekenisvoller is dat het decennium vrouwen bijeen bracht en hun ongekende gelegenheden verschafte om inzichten en ervaringen uit te wisselen. Vrouwen ondervonden dat de gedeelde zorg voor hun eigen toekomst en voor die van de hele mensheid hen in staat stelden nationale, klasse- en rassengrenzen te overschrijden. Bovendien droeg het decennium bij tot de herleving van traditionele vrouwenorganisaties en het ontstaan van nieuwe Niet-Gouvernementele Organisaties (NGO's) voor de speciale behoeften van vrouwen. Deze NGO's hebben een uitgebreid netwerk onder vrouwen mogelijk gemaakt door hen in staat te stellen hun behoeften onder woorden te brengen, hun eigen programma's op te zetten en een nieuw begin te maken met de beïnvloeding van beleidsvorming op alle niveaus. Het resultaat van inspanningen tijdens dit decennium was dat ontwikkelingsplanners aandacht gingen geven aan ontoegankelijkheid voor vrouwen tot onderwijs, techniek en krediet. Bureaus van de Verenigde Naties, nationale regeringen en internationale ontwikkelingsinstellingen hebben afdelingen opgericht die zich bezig houden met noden en zorgen van vrouwen.

Dit zijn opmerkelijke successen die krachtig moeten worden versterkt en uitgebreid. Ondanks enige vooruitgang echter, blijven vrouwen aan de zijlijn van de beleidsvorming en de systemen die hen traditioneel hebben onderdrukt, blijven grotendeels intact. In deze systemen wordt vastgehouden aan het overheersingspatroon dat de maatschappij gedurende duizenden jaren heeft gekarakteriseerd: mannen overheersen vrouwen; de ene etnische groep overheerst en andere; natie overheerst natie. Ondanks de onwilligheid van de mensheid om te veranderen begint volgend de bahá'í-geschriften "de weegschaal reeds over te hellen; kracht is niet meer doorslaggevend, terwijl een levendige geest, intuïtie en de geestelijke eigenschappen van liefde en dienstbaarheid welke de sterke kanten van de vrouw zijn, de overhand krijgen. Hierdoor zal het nieuwe tijdperk minder mannelijk zijn en meer doortrokken van vrouwelijke idealen, of om het nauwkeuriger uit te drukken, het zal een tijdperk worden waarin de mannelijke en de vrouwelijke elementen van de beschaving in evenwicht zullen zijn."

Terwijl vrouwen hun capaciteiten en bekwaamheden moeten ontwikkelen en voorwaarts moeten treden om een actieve rol te spelen bij het oplossen van de wereldproblemen, zal de uitwerking van hun acties toch beperkt blijven als mannen niet volledig meewerken. 'Vrouwen die samen in eenheid en harmonie werken, hebben al heel veel bereikt binnen de invloedssferen die voor hen open staan. Nu moeten vrouwen en mannen samenkomen als gelijkwaardige partners. Als mannen hun volle steun geven aan dit proces door vrouwen op alle terreinen van menselijke inspanning te verwelkomen, hun bijdrage te waarderen en hun deelname aan te moedigen, zullen mannen en vrouwen samen het morele en psychologische klimaat helpen creëren, waarin vrede kan ontstaan en waarin een milieuvriendelijke beschaving zich kan ontplooien en tot bloei kan komen.

De transformatie, die voor ware gelijkwaardigheid nodig is, zal ongetwijfeld moeilijk zijn voor zowel mannen als vrouwen omdat beiden opnieuw moeten evalueren wat bekend is en wat routine. Van beschuldiging moet worden afgezien omdat niemand er iets aan kan doen dat hij gevormd is door historische en sociologische krachten. Schuldgevoel moet worden afgeworpen ten gunste van verantwoordelijkheid voor groei. Met het oog op de diepgaande uitdagingen waarvoor de mensheid staat, zijn allen er verantwoordelijk voor te onderkennen dat het oude model niet langer werkt en allen zullen verantwoording verschuldigd zijn aan de toekomstige generaties voor hun rentmeesterschap met betrekking tot de menselijke beschaving en haar relatie tot de aarde.

Verandering echter is een evolutionair proces dat geduld vergt met het eigen ik en met anderen, en vereist liefdevolle opvoeding en het verstrijken van de tijd. De overgang zal worden vergemakkelijkt als mannen zich realiseren dat zij niet in staat zullen zijn hun volle potentieel te bereiken zo lang het vrouwen belet wordt het hunnen te verwerven. Inderdaad, als mannen het principe van gelijkwaardigheid actief bevorderen, hoeven vrouwen niet langer voor hun rechten te vechten. Geleidelijk zullen zowel mannen als vrouwen lang gekoesterde ongezonde houdingen verwerpen en de waarden die tot ware eenheid leiden, steeds meer in hun leven opnemen.

Naar de mening van Bahá'í International Community zal de ontplooiende, opkomende wereldbeschaving worden geschraagd door een algemene toewijding aan een nieuw stelsel van waarden, een gedeeld begrip van het evenwicht tussen rechten en verantwoordelijkheden, en de bereidheid van de kant van een ieder de hoogste belangen van de mensheid als geheel te dienen. Voor bahá'ís is de toewijding aan de emancipatie van de vrouw geen recente ontwikkeling noch is gelijkwaardigheid van de seksen een vaag ideaal. Het is onze overtuiging dat de eenwording van het menselijk ras afhangt van de verwezenlijking van de gelijkwaardigheid van mannen en vrouwen

De mensheid, zo leggen de bahá'í-geschriften uit, heeft het stadium van kleuterjaren, kinderjaren en woelige puberteit gepasseerd en nadert nu volwassenheid: een stadium dat getuige zal zijn van de reconstructie van de gehele beschaafde wereld; een wereld organisch verenigd in al de essentiële aspecten van het leven.

Saðlikli Býr Gezegen Ýçýn Kadin - Erkek Ortakliði

Saðlikli Býr Gezegen Ýçýn Kadin - Erkek Ortakliði

Bahai Uluslararasý Toplumu tarafýndan hazýrlanmýþtýr.

Miami, Florida—8 November 1991

"Ýnsanlýk aleminin refah, barýþ ve güvenliðine, insanlýðýn birliði kesin olarak kurulmadýkça ve kurulana kadar asla ulaþýlamaz." Ondokuzuncu yüzyýlýn son yýllarýnda Hz. Bahaullah tarafýndan söylenen bu kehanet içerikli sözler, dönemin liderleri tarafýndan gözardý edilmiþti. Ancak, yirminci yüzyýlýn son onyýlýnda olduðumuz þu günlerdeinsanlýk karþýlýklý baðýmlýlýðýný giderek daha çok farketmeye baþlamýþ ve sonunda, hiçbir birey, kurum ve ulusun bütünden tamamen yalýtýlmýþ bir þekilde yaþamasýnýn mümkün olmadýðýna inanmýþtýr. Çevre / kalkýnma krizi birçok insanýn dünya hakkýndaki görüþlerini yeniden gözden geçirmesine ve dünyayý tek bir organik, karþýlýklý baðýmlý ve birleþmiþ bir sistem olarak görmesine neden olmuþtur. Sonuç olarak, toplumun gereksinimleri ile doðal dünyanýn sýnýrlý kaynaklarý arasýndaki denge arayýþý, toplum içindeki denge, barýþ ve uyum arayýþýnýn daha geniþ kapsamý içinde yer almaya baþlamýþtýr.

Ýnsan ýrkýnýn birliði ile cinsiyetlerin eþitliði arasýndaki yakýn bað Bahai Eserlerinde þöyle açýklanmaktadýr: ". . . kadýn erkekle eþit eðitim alma ayrýcalýðýna ve erkeðin sahip olduðu tüm haklara sahip olmalýdýr. Baþka bir deyiþle, kadýn dünyasýnýn sosyal ve ekonomik eþitlikte erkekle ayný kapasite ve öneme sahip olabilmesi için, kadýnlarla erkeklerin eðitimi arasýnda hiçbir fark olmamalýdýr. O zaman dünya birliðe ve uyuma ulaþýr. Geçmiþ çaðlarda insanlýk hatalý ve yetersiz oldu, çünkü eksikti. Savaþ ve beraberinde getirdiði yýkýntýlar dünyayý mahvetti; kadýnýn eðitimi savaþýn terk edilmesine karþý çok güçlü bir adým olacaktýr, çünkü kadýn tüm gücüyle savaþa karþý çýkacaktýr. Kadýn çocuðu yetiþtirir ve genci olgun hale gelmesi için eðitir.

Toplumun gereksinimleri ile doðal dünyanýn sýnýrlý kaynaklarý arasýndaki denge arayýþý, toplum içindeki denge, barýþ ve uyum arayýþýnýn daha geniþ kapsamý içinde yer almaya baþlamýþtýr.

Kadýn oðullarýnýn savaþ alanýnda kurban edilmesine karþý çýkacaktýr. Gerçekten de, kadýn evrensel barýþýn ve uluslararasý kararlarýn oluþturulmasýndaki en büyük etken olacaktýr. Hiç þüphe yok ki, kadýn savaþý ortadan kaldýracaktýr."

Bugüne kadar, toplumsal kuruluþ sistemlerinin çoðu kadýný bir kenara býrakmýþ ve önemsememiþtir. Genelde modern kalkýnma stratejileri eþitsizlik koþullarýný güçlendirmeye ve hatta zaman zaman, kýzýþtýrmaya yönelmiþtir. Birleþmiþ Milletler cinsiyetler arasýndaki eþitsizliðe dikkat çekmek amacýyla, "Birleþmiþ Milletler Kadýn Onyýlý: Eþitlik, Kalkýnma ve Barýþ (1975 - 1985)" dönemi baþlatmýþtýr. Bu Onyýl sýrasýnda yapýlan bir araþtýrma, kadýnlarýn uluslarýnýn sosyal ve ekonomik yaþamýna yaptýklarý önemli katkýlarý ortaya çýkarmýþtýr. Bu yeni araþtýrma ayrýca, kadýnlar tarafýndan taþýnan gereksiz yükleri ve topluma tam olarak katýlmalarýný önleyen engelleri de öne çýkarmýþtýr. Daha da önemlisi, Onyýl kadýnlarý bir araya getirmiþ ve görüþlerini ve deneyimlerini paylaþmalarý için önceden tahmin edilemeyen fýrsatlar saðlamýþtýr. Kadýnlar, kendi gelecekleri ve insan ailesinin geleceði konusunda paylaþtýklarý kaygýlarýn, ulus, sýnýf ve din sýnýrlarýný aþmalarýna yardýmcý olduðunu farketmiþlerdir. Buna ek olarak, Onyýl geleneksel kadýn kuruluþlarýnýn yeniden canlandýrýlmasýný ve kadýnlarýn özel gereksinimlerini dile getiren yeni Sivil Toplum Kuruluþlarý'nýn (STKlar) yaratýlmasýný hýzlandýrmýþtýr. Bu STK'lar kadýnlar arasýnda yaygýn bir iletiþim aðý kurulmasýný ve böylece de, kadýnlarýn kendi gereksinimlerini dile getirmelerini, kendi programlarýný tasarlamalarýný ve bütün düzeylerdeki karar alma sistemlerini etkilemelerini kolaylaþtýrmýþtýr. Onyýl süresince sürdürülen çabalarýn bir sonucu olarak, kalkýnma planlamacýlarý kadýnlarýn eðitim, teknoloji ve kredi gibi kaynaklara ulaþamamasý olgusuna el atmaya baþlamýþlardýr. Birleþmiþ Milletler kuruluþlarý, ulusal hükümetler ve uluslararasý kalkýnma kurumlarý, kadýnlarýn gereksinimlerine ve kaygýlarýna el atacak birimler oluþturmuþlardýr.

Ýnsan ýrkýnýn birliði ile cinsiyetlerin eþitliði arasýndaki yakýn bað Bahai Eserlerinde açýklanmaktadýr.

Bunlar, büyük oranda güçlendirilmesi ve yaygýnlaþtýrýlmasý gereken çok önemli baþarýlardýr. Ancak, bazý geliþmelere raðmen, kadýnlar hâlâ politika üretme alanýnýn dýþýndadýr ve kadýný ezen geleneksel sistemler de büyük oranda el deðmemiþ durumdadýr. Bu sistemler, binlerce yýldýr toplumu tanýmlayan baský modeline baðlý durumdadýrlar; erkekler kadýnlara hükmetmektedir; herhangi bir ýrk veya etnik grup bir diðerine hükmetmektedir; bir ulus bir diðer ulusa hükmetmektedir.

Kadýn evrensel barýþýn ve uluslararasý kararlarýn oluþturulmasýndaki en büyük etken olacaktýr.

Ýnsanlýðýn deðiþme konusunda gösterdiði tereddüte raðmen, Bahai Eserlerine göre "denge þimdiden deðiþmekte ve güç önemini yitirmektedir; kadýnýn daha güçlü olduðu zihinsel uyanýklýk, sezgi ve sevgi ve hizmet gibi ruhani özellikler deðer kazanmaya baþlamýþtýr. Bu nedenle, yeni çað daha az erkeksi ve kadýnsý ideallerle daha çok yoðrulmuþ bir çað -veya daha açýk bir anlatýmla, uygarlýðýn erkeksi ve kadýnsý unsurlarýnýn daha eþit bir denge içinde olduðu bir çað olacaktýr."

Her ne kadar kadýnlar kapasitelerini geliþtirmek ve dünya sorunlarýnýn çözümünde aktif bir rol oynamak üzere öne çýkmak zorunda olsalar da, erkeklerin tam bir iþbirliði olmadýðý takdirde, kadýnlarýn eylemlerinin etkisi sýnýrlanacaktýr. Birlik ve uyum içinde bir arada çalýþan kadýnlar, kendilerine açýk olan alanlarda büyük baþarýlar kazanmýþ durumdadýrlar. Þimdi eþit ortaklar olarak erkeklerle bir aray gelmek zorundadýrlar. Erkekler bu sürece tam destek verdikleri, kadýnlarý insani çabanýn her alanýna kabul

Erkekler ve kadýnlar, barýþýn ortaya çýkabileceði ve çevre açýsýndan sürdürülebilir bir uygarlýðýn ilerleyip kök salabileceði ahlaki ve psikolojik iklimin yaratýlmasýna birlikte yardýmcý olacaklardýr.

ettikleri, katkýlarýna gerekli deðeri verdikleri ve katýlýmlarýný teþvik ettikleri zaman, erkekler ve kadýnlar, barýþýn ortaya çýkabileceði ve çevre açýsýndan sürdürülebilir bir uygarlýðýn ilerleyip kök salabileceði ahlaki ve psikolojik iklimin yaratýlmasýna birlikte yardýmcý olacaklardýr.

Gerçek eþitlik için gerekli deðiþim, hiç þüphesiz, hem erkekler, hem de kadýnlar için zor olacaktýr, çünkü iki taraf da neyin alýþýlmýþ, neyin rutin olduðunu yeniden deðerlendirmek zorundadýr. Suçlamalardan vazgeçilmelidir, çünkü hiçbir birey tarihi ve sosyolojik güçler tarafýndan þekillendirilmiþ olduðu için suçlanamaz. Suç, büyümenin getirdiði sorumluluk yararýna gözardý edilmelidir. Ýnsanlýðýn karþý karþýya olduðu muazzam sorunlar düþünüldüðünde, herkes eski modelin artýk iþe yaramadýðýný kabul etmek zorundadýr ve herkes insan uygarlýðý ve bu uygarlýðýn dünya olan iliþkisi konusundaki sorumluluklarý için gelecek kuþaklara hesap vermekle yükümlü olacaktýr.

Ancak, deðiþim sevgi dolu bir eðitim, kiþinin kendisine ve baþkalarýna karþý sabýrlý olmasýný ve zaman gerektiren evrimsel bir süreçtir. Erkekler kendi potansiyellerine, kadýnlar kendi potansiyellerine ulaþmaktan alýkonulduðu sürece tam olarak ulaþamayacaklarýný farkettiklerinde, geçiþ dönemi kolaylaþacaktýr. Gerçekten de, erkekler eþitlik ilkesini aktif olarak destekledikleri zaman, kadýnlarýn kendi haklarý için savaþmalarýna gerek kalmayacaktýr. Yavaþ yavaþ, hem kadýnlar, hem de erkekler, uzun süredir sürdükleri saðlýksýz tutumlarý bir yana atacaklar ve gerçek birliðe götüren deðerleri kendi yaþamlarýnda yansýtmaya baþlayacaklardýr.

Bahai Uluslararasý Toplumu'nun görüþüne göre, ortaya çýkmakta olan dünya uygarlýðý, yeni bir deðerler dizisine ortak bir baðlýlýk duyulmasý, haklar ve sorumluluklar arasýndaki dengenin herkes tarafýndan anlaþýlmasý ve her bireyin, bir bütün olarak insanlýðýn yararlarýna hizmet etmek için istekli olmasý sayesinde sürdürülecektir. Bahailer için, ne kadýnlarýn özgürlüðüne duyulan baðlýlýk yeni bir geliþmedir, ne de cinsiyetlerin eþitliði belirsiz bir idealdir. Biz, insan ýrkýnýn birleþmesinin, erkeklerle kadýnlar arasýnda eþitliðin kurulmasýna baðlý olduðuna inanýyoruz.

Yavaþ yavaþ, hem kadýnlar, hem de erkekler, uzun süredir sürdükleri saðlýksýz tutumlarý bir yana atacaklar ve gerçek birliðe götüren deðerleri kendi yaþamlarýnda yansýtmaya baþlayacaklardýr.

Ortaya çýkmakta olan dünya uygarlýðý, yeni bir deðerler dizisine ortak bir baðlýlýk duyulmasý, haklar ve sorumluluklar arasýndaki dengenin herkes tarafýndan anlaþýlmasý ve her bireyin, bir bütün olarak insanlýðýn yararlarýna hizmet etmek için istekli olmasý sayesinde sürdürülecektir.

Bahai Eserleri, insanlýðýn bebeklik, çocukluk ve çalkantýlý ergenlik dönemlerinden geçtikten sonra, þimdi olgunluk çaðýna yaklaþmakta olduðunu ve bu aþamanýn "tümüyle uygarlaþmýþ ve yaþamýnýn tüm gerekli alanlarýnda organik bir birliðe ulaþmýþ bir dünyanýn yeniden inþa edilmesine" tanýk olacaðýný açýklamaktadýr.

Women and Men: Partnership for a Healthy Planet

Women and Men: Partnership for a Healthy Planet

Statement presented to the World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet

Miami, Florida—8 November 1991

"The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established." These prophetic words, uttered by Bahá'u'lláh during the closing decades of the nineteenth century were all but ignored by the leaders of that day. However, in the closing decade of the twentieth century, humanity has become increasingly aware of its interdependence and is convinced at last that no individual, institution or nation can live in total isolation from the whole. The environment/development crisis has caused many to rethink their view of the world and begin to look at the earth as a single organic, interdependent and unified system. Consequently, the search for balance between the needs of society and the limited resources of the natural world is taking place within the larger context of the search for balance, peace, and harmony within society itself.

The intimate link between the unity of the human race and equality of the sexes is explained in the Baha'i­ Writings: ". . . woman must be given the privilege of equal education with man and full right to his prerogatives. That is to say, there must be no difference in the education of male and female in order that womankind may develop equal capacity and importance with man in the social and economic equation. Then the world will attain unity and harmony. In past ages humanity has been defective and inefficient because it has been incomplete. War and its ravages have blighted the world; the education of woman will be a mighty step toward its abolition and ending, for she will use her whole influence against war. Woman rears the child and educates the youth to maturity. She will refuse to give her sons for sacrifice upon the field of battle. In truth, she will be the greatest factor in establishing universal peace and international arbitration. Assuredly, woman will abolish warfare among mankind."

To date, most systems of social organization have marginalized women. Overall, modern development strategies have tended to reinforce and, at times, exacerbate conditions of inequality. To address inequality of the sexes, the United Nations launched the land-mark "United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace (1975-1985)."As a result of research undertaken during the Decade, the vital contributions of women to the social and economic life of their nations became more visible. The new research also highlighted the unnecessary burdens borne by women and the obstacles preventing their full participation in society. More significantly, the Decade brought women together and provided them with unprecedented opportunities to exchange views and experiences. Women found that their shared concerns for their own future and for that of the human family enabled them to transcend national, class, and racial boundaries. In addition, the Decade catalyzed the revitalization of traditional women's organizations and the creation of new grass-roots Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) addressing specific needs of women. These NGOs have facilitated an extensive networking among women, empowering them to articulate their needs, design their own programs, and begin affecting policy-making at all levels. As a result of efforts undertaken during the Decade, development planners have begun to address women's lack of access to resources such as education, technology, and credit. United Nations agencies, national governments, and international development agencies have established divisions to address the needs and concerns of women.

These are significant achievements which must be greatly strengthened and expanded. Despite some progress, however, women remain on the fringes of policy making, and the systems which have traditionally oppressed them remain largely intact. These systems adhere to the pattern of domination that has characterized society for thousands of years: men have dominated women; one racial or ethnic group has dominated another; and nation has dominated nation. Notwithstanding humanity's reluctance to change, "the balance is already shifting" - according to the Baha'i­ Writings, "force is losing its weight and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine, and more permeated with the feminine ideals-or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced."

While women must develop their capacities and step forward to play an active role in solving the world's problems, the impact of their actions will be limited without the full cooperation of men. Women working together in unity and harmony have already achieved a great deal within the spheres of influence open to them. Now women must come together with men as equal partners. When men lend their full support to this process, welcoming women into all fields of human endeavor, valuing their contributions, and encouraging their participation, men and women together will help create the moral and psychological climate in which peace can emerge and an environmentally sustainable civilization can advance and flourish. The transformation required for true equality will undoubtedly be difficult for both men and women because both must re-evaluate what is familiar, what is routine. Blame must be relinquished because no individual can be faulted for having been shaped by historical, sociological forces. Guilt must be shed in favor of responsibility for growth. In the face of the profound challenges facing humanity, all are accountable for recognizing that the old model no longer works, and all will be answerable to future generations for their stewardship of human civilization and its relationship to the earth.

Change, however, is an evolutionary process requiring patience with one's self and others, loving education, and the passage of time. The transition will be eased when men realize that they will be unable to achieve their full potential as long as women are prevented from attaining theirs. Indeed, when men actively promote the principle of equality, women will no longer have to struggle for their rights. Gradually, both women and men will discard long- held unhealthy attitudes and progressively incorporate into their lives the values conducive to true unity.

In the opinion of the Baha'i­ International Community, the emerging world civilization will be sustained by a common commitment to a new set of values, a shared understanding of the balance between rights and responsibilities, and the willingness on the part of each to serve the best interests of humanity as a whole. For Baha'i­s, the commitment to the emancipation of women is not a recent development nor is equality of the sexes a vague ideal. It is our conviction that the unification of the human race depends on the establishment of the equality of men and women. Humanity, the Baha'i­ Writings explain, having passed through the stages of infancy, childhood, and turbulent adolescence, is now approaching maturity, a stage that will witness "the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world - a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life."

La femme et l'homme: collaboration pour une planète saine

La femme et l'homme: collaboration pour une planète saine

Une déclaration présentée au "World Women's Congress for a Healthy"Planet"

Miami, Floride, États Unis—8 November 1991

"Le bien-être de L'humanité, sa paix et sa sécurité, ne seront assurés que lorsque son unité sera fermement établie". Ces paroles prophétiques prononcées par Bahá'u'lláh dans les dernières décennies du dix-neuvième siècle furent entièrement ignorées par les dirigeants de l'époque. Cependant, en cette décennie finale du vingtième siècle, l'humanité en est arrivée à prendre de plus en plus conscience de son interdépendance; elle est enfin convaincue qu'aucun individu, ni aucune institution ou nation ne peut vivre dans une isolation totale. La crise liée à l'environnement et au développement a conduit beaucoup de personnes à repenser leur vision du monde, les amenant à considérer la terre comme un système unique, dynamique, interdépendant et unifie. En conséquence, la recherche d'un équilibre entre les besoins de la société et les ressources limités de la nature s'est intégrée dans le contexte plus large de la recherche d'équilibre, de paix et d'harmonie au sein de la société elle-même.

L'étroite relation entre l'unité de la race humaine et l'égalité des sexes est rendue explicite par les écrits saints baha'is: "...il faut donner à la femme le privilège d'une éducation égale à celle de l'homme et un plein droit à ses prérogatives. C'est-à-dire qu'il ne doit pas y avoir de différences entre l'éducation du garçon et de la fille afin que la femme puisse développer un pouvoir et une importance égale à celle de l'homme dans l'équation sociale et économique. Alors, le monde obtiendra l'unité et l'harmonie. Dans les temps passés, l'humanité a été imparfaite et inefficace parce qu'elle était incomplète. La guerre et ses ravages ont flétri le monde; l'éducation de la femme sera un grand pas vers son abolition et sa disparition car la femme utilisera toute son influence contre la guerre. La femme élève l'enfant et éduque les jeunes jusqu'à leur maturité. Elle refusera de donner ses fils en sacrifice sur le champ de bataille. En vérité, elle sera le plus grand facteur de l'établissement de la paix universelle et de l'arbitrage international. La femme abolira certainement la guerre parmi le genre humain."

Jusqu'à présent, la plupart des systèmes d'organisation sociale n'ont accordé qu'une place marginale aux femmes. D'une façon générale, les stratégies modernes de développement ont eu tendance à consolider et, parfois, à accentuer les situations d'inégalité. La "Décennie des Nations Unies pour la femme: égalité, développement et paix (1975-1985) " a été lancée pour s'attaquer au problème de l'inégalité des sexes. Les travaux de recherche menés au cours de la Décennie ont rendu plus visible l'apport vital des femmes à la vie sociale et économique de leurs nations. Ces nouvelles recherches ont aussi mis en lumière les fardeaux inutiles portées par les femmes et les obstacles qui les empêchent de participer pleinement à la vie de la société. Bien plus, la Décennie a permis aux femmes de se rassembler et leur a donné des occasions sans précédent de partager opinions et expériences. Les femmes se sont rendu compte que du fait de leur préoccupation commune pour leur propre avenir et pour celui de la famille humaine, elles étaient capables de transcender les barrières nationales, raciales et de classe. La Décennie a aussi servi de catalyseur pour la réactivation d'organisations féminines traditionnelles, et la création de nouvelles Organisations Non-Gouvernementales (ONG) se consacrant aux besoins spécifiques des femmes. Ces ONG ont permis la création d'un vaste réseau de communication entre les femmes, leur donnant la possibilité de définir leurs besoins, de concevoir leurs propres programmes, et de commencer à influencer le processus de prise de décision à tous les niveaux. Grâce aux efforts entrepris pendant la Décennie, les programmes de développement ont commencé à s'attaquer à l'insuffisance des ressources disponibles pour les femmes, telles l'éducation, la technologie et le crédit. Les agences des Nations Unies, les gouvernements et les agences de développement international ont créé des départements chargés de répondre aux besoins et préoccupations des femmes.

Il s'agit aux réalisations majeures qui doivent être consolidées et élargies. Cependant, bien que des progrès aient été enregistrés, les femmes participent encore très peu dans les prises de décision, et les systèmes qui les ont toujours opprimées restent encore pratiquement intacts. Ces systèmes fonctionnent selon les modèles de domination qui ont caractérisé la société pendant des millénaires: les hommes ont dominé les femmes, un groupe racial ou ethnique en a dominé un autre, et des nations ont dominé d'autres nations. Les écrits saints baha'is affirment qu'en dépit de la résistance de l'humanité au changement, "l'équilibre se rétablit déjà". La force perd de son importance alors que la vivacité d'esprit, l'intuition et des qualités spirituelles d'amour et de dévouement, essentiellement féminines, prennent l'ascendant. En conséquence, les temps nouveaux seront moins masculins et plus imprégnés d'idéaux féminins, ou plus exactement, il arrivera un âge ou les aspects masculins et féminins de la civilisation seront plus équilibrés."

S'il est vrai que les femmes doivent développer leurs capacités, et jouer un rôle actif dans la recherche d'une solution aux problèmes du monde, leurs actions n'auront qu'un impact limité sans la pleine coopération des hommes. Les femmes, travaillant ensemble dans l'unité et l'harmonie, ont déjà enregistré beaucoup de succès dans les domaines d'influence qui leur étaient accessibles. Maintenant, elles doivent s'unir aux hommes en tant que partenaires égaux. Quand les hommes manifesteront un soutien sans réserve à ce processus, accueillant les femmes dans toutes les entreprises humaines, reconnaissant la valeur de leur apport et encourageant leur participation, les hommes et les femmes contribueront ensemble à là création d'un climat moral et psychologique favorable à l'émergence de la paix et a l'épanouissement d'une civilisation écologiquement viable.

La transformation nécessaire pour parvenir à une vraie égalité est certainement difficile pour les hommes comme pour les femmes, car tous doivent réexaminer les normes et les habitudes. II faut renoncer au blâme, car on ne peut reprocher à personne d'avoir été façonné par des forces historiques et sociales. Au sentiment de culpabilité il faut substituer la volonté de croissance. Face aux défis immenses se présentant a l'humanité, tous ont la responsabilité de reconnaître que les modèles anciens ne sont plus opérants, et tous devront répondre devant les générations futures des orientations données à la civilisation humaine, et de ses relations avec la planète.

Cependant, le changement est un processus graduel demandant de la patience envers soi-même et autrui, une éducation empreinte d'amour, et du temps. La transition sera plus facile quand les hommes se rendront compte qu'ils ne pourront réaliser leurs potentialités tant que les femmes se verront empêchées de se développer pleinement. En fait, quand les hommes militeront en faveur du principe de l'égalité, les femmes n'auront plus besoin de lutter pour leurs droits. Progressivement, les femmes aussi bien que les hommes abandonneront les attitudes négatives séculaires et adopteront graduellement les valeurs qui mènent à la vraie unité.

De l'avis de la Communauté internationale baha'ie , la nouvelle civilisation mondiale doit se bâtir sur l'engagement de tous envers un nouveau système de valeurs, sur une compréhension commune des droits et des responsabilités, et sur la volonté partagée de servir les intérêts de l'humanité dans son ensemble. Chez les baha'is, l'engagement envers l'émancipation des femmes n'est pas une chose nouvelle, et l'égalité des sexes n'est pas un concept flou. Nous sommes convaincus que l'unification de la race humaine dépend de la réalisation de l'égalité de l'homme et de la femme. Selon les écrits baha'is, l'humanité, ayant traversé les étapes de l'enfance et de l'adolescence tumultueuse, est maintenant au seuil de la maturité. Cette étape verra "la reconstruction et la démilitarisation de tout le monde civilisé, un monde organiquement unifié sous tous les aspects essentiels de sa vie."

The Girl Child

The Girl Child

Statement to the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Agenda item: Women in development

New York—17 April 1991

The Baha'i­ International Community welcomes UNICEF's efforts to focus attention on the plight of the girl child. Since deciding a year ago to give the girl child priority, UNICEF has contributed significantly to an increase in global awareness of the effects of gender discrimination on millions of girl children. By funding research, encouraging the disaggregation of data, disseminating information, and requiring that UNICEF programs be sensitive to the needs of girls, UNICEF has initiated a process that deserves ongoing, wholehearted support.

In the view of the Baha'i­ International Community, the advancement of civilization now requires the full participation of everyone, including women. For this to happen, girl children as well as boy children must be valued by their families and by society. We share UNICEF's distress at the blatant neglect of girl children, justified in many parts of the world as part of the culture. We concur with the recommendation, set forth in the Progress report on achievements made in the implementation of UNICEF policy on women in development (E/ICEF/1991/L.5), that UNICEF broaden its approach to maternal health to include an attempt to alter factors that affect girl's and women's health before maternity, including harmful traditional attitudes and practices.

Not only must girl children receive adequate food, health care, and education, they must be given every opportunity to develop their capacities. Girls will not only render service to humanity as mothers and first educators of the next generation, but, as women, they will make special contributions to the creation of a just world order -- an order characterized by vigor, cooperation, harmony, and a degree of compassion never before witnessed in history. Mothers can now be the primary agents for empowering individuals to transform society. They alone can inculcate in their children the self-esteem and respect for others essential for the advancement of civilization. It is clear, then, that the station of mothers, increasingly denigrated in many societies, is in reality of the greatest importance and highest merit.

Women and girls must be educated -- spiritually, emotionally and intellectually -- because a mother cannot pass on what she does not have. A child needs a nurturing environment and wise guidance in the first years of life in order to develop sound character and a well trained mind. If the mother is unable, because of her own deficiencies, to provide her children with experiences which will equip them for later, formal schooling, they will find themselves at a serious, often crippling, disadvantage. It must be stressed, however, that this dual responsibility of developing the child's character and stimulating his intellect also belongs to the family as a whole, including the father and grandparents, and to the community. As Dr. Aidoo pointed out in her statement to the 1991 Commission on the Status of Women, "The family context provides unique opportunities for boy children and men to become involved in changing the status of the girl child and women." NGO's can also contribute substantially by focusing attention on the girl child in their community-based activities.

As the sexes are equal in intellectual capacity and in potential to serve humanity, girls and boys should study the same curriculum. The way should be open for women and girls to enter all spheres of human endeavor, including the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce, industry and the affairs of state. There is no natural limit on women's ability.

Presently the world is caught in a cycle of miseducation wherein harmful character traits are passed from one generation to the next, retarding social progress. One source of this miseducation is the failure to respect women, even in the home. The denial of equality between the sexes perpetrates an injustice against one-half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the work place, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. The world can ill afford the consequences of such ignorance and injustice, especially at this critical moment when prospects for establishing peace on this planet are bright.

The cause of universal education deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens. Lack of resources limits the ability of many nations to fulfill this necessity, imposing a certain ordering of priorities. The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society.

The Baha'i­ International Community congratulates UNICEF for its initiatives and urges the UNICEF Executive Board to continue its important emphasis on the needs of the girl child.

Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women

Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women

Joint statement to the 35th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Agenda Item 4: Monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, Statement submitted by the following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Category I Organizations: International Alliance of Women, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Soroptimist International; Category II Organizations: Baha'i International Community, International Federation of University Women, World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations

Vienna, Austria—1 March 1991

The Baha'i­ International Community, convenor of the "Advocates for African Food Security: lessening the burden for women," welcomes the opportunity to once again address the 35th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The "Advocates" was formed following a UNIFEM-initiated symposium on African women farmers held concurrently with the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa. The Advocates' objective is to stimulate action to maintain a global focus on the critical role of women in all the activities that countries feel are necessary for achieving full food security. Membership in the Advocates has expanded from the fourteen founding organizations to over thirty. It is a unique group in that it includes NGOs (non-governmental organizations) working in cooperation with representatives of United Nations bodies, governments and intergovernmental organizations working together on an equal status basis. Activities focus on practical ways to lessen the burden of women in the areas of food, health, water, and energy in order to improve the quality of their lives generally and to free their potential to produce crops, not only for their families, but for national food security.

At the Commission's 34th session, the Advocates reported its involvement in the United Nations Conference on Popular Participation, February, 1990, at Arusha, Tanzania. We note that popular participation increasingly impacts on development in Africa. More and more people are demanding to be involved in solving their own problems. The Advocates are proud that women were active in building the momentum that started at the Conference in Arusha.

"Women's Initiatives in African Food Security: the Link between Micro Activities and Macro Policies" was the theme of the Fifth Annual Symposium of the Advocates held at UN Headquarters, 15 November, 1990. Keynote speaker, Dr. Gloria Nikoi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Akuapem Rural Bank and Vice President of the National Association of Rural Banks of Ghana, dramatized the reality that women's initiatives in African food security are affected by both the national and international economic environment. Over 200 persons attended the symposium, listened to challenging speakers, sought more information, made suggestions for future actions and agreed that the Advocates should make a strong contribution to the final review of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (UNPAAERD), by urging that the impact of the role of the African woman farmer should be assessed along with other issues.

We are pleased to report that over the past year, we have continued to strengthen networking with women and NGOs in Africa. The Advocates exchanged ideas with African participants in the Women's Alternative Economic Summit, which took place at the time of the Special Session of the General Assembly on Economic Matters. Further, through the financial assistance of the Advocates and the UNPAAERD Secretariat, two distinguished African women, Dr. Gloria Nikoi and Mrs. Bisi Ogunleye, played key roles at the Advocates 5th Symposium in New York. Mrs. Ogunleye, National Coordinator, Country Women's Association of Nigeria (COWAN), dramatized the African perspective of people's initiatives as a unifying force in development. Following her presentation, Dr. Nikoi claimed membership in the Advocates and committed her support to the work on behalf of farm women.

Further, we note very warmly the historic invitation received recently from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to participate in their symposium with the theme "African Women, Food Self-Sufficiency and Africa's Economic Recovery."

The Advocates take this opportunity to support the efforts of UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the Organization of African Unity, as well as other agencies pushing for a national and regional policy on food security. We urge the Commission on the Status of Women to promote the design of national food policies which will incorporate the contribution of African woman farmers in the various steps of the food chain. The objective, in the view of the Advocates, must be that ultimately sufficient food will be locally produced for the people of Africa.

In preparation for the End-Term Review of the UN Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (UNPAAERD) in September, 1991, the Advocates is surveying individuals and NGOs regarding progress made during UNPAAERD toward the achievement of sustainable food security for Africa. The results of the survey will be circulated to governments and NGOs to enrich the ongoing thinking on future policies for food in Africa.

The Advocates take the opportunity once again to urge the Commission:

  • to support African women's perspectives in dialogues among UN agencies, governments and NGOs in the search for improved methods of popular participation in African recovery and food security;
  • to ensure active participation of women in policy formulation and provide appropriate channels for information exchange in all aspects of food security, including land tenure, water, energy, environment and health;
  • to encourage men to recognize and support the valuable contribution of African women farmers to food security and impress upon them that food security is the business of everyone in the community;
  • to urge UN agencies, governments and NGOs to recognize and utilize grassroots knowledge and traditional methods when introducing appropriate and new technology;
  • to urge governments to include the actual work done by African women farmers in statistical reporting for the GNP;
  • to identify, advocate and urge the incorporation of environmentally sound policy strategies which promote sustainable development in Africa. In this respect, we take note of preparations for the second World Conference on the Environment in 1992 and urge the Commission to insure that the concerns of women farmers are taken into account;
  • to identify local African organizations working with and for women farmers and support their efforts; and
  • to press elected representatives and policymakers to favor those programmes that directly lessen the burdens of the African woman farmer.

Finally, we urge the Commission on the Status of Women to encourage the adoption by the United Nations of appropriate measures that will continue to address the African economic crisis beyond UNPAAERD (1986-1990).

Notes

The following organizations are founding members of the "Advocates for African Food Security: lessening the burden for women": African-American Institute; Baha'i­ International Community; Church Women United; CODEL, Inc.; Committee of NGOs on the UN Decade for Women; Institute of Cultural Affairs; International Women's Tribune Centre; Lutheran World Federation; Lutheran World Relief, Inc.; National Council of Women of the US; Oxfam-America; Save The Children Foundation; Trickle Up Program; World Council of Churches (CCIA).

Serving the Advocates in an advisory capacity are staff of the Non-Governmental Liaison Service of the United Nations; the United Nations Development Programme; the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; and the Organization of African Unity.

Peace and Refugees

Peace and Refugees

Joint statement to the 35th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Priority Theme: Peace: Refugee and displaced women and children

Vienna, Austria—28 February 1991

Statement presented by the following non-governmental organizations: International Alliance of Women, International Council of Social Welfare, International Federation of Aging, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, International Federation of University Women, Pan Pacific and South-East Asia Women's Association, Soroptimist International, World Union of Catholic Women Organizations, Zonta International

We are pleased that the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is giving special emphasis to refugee and displaced women and children at its 35th session. The Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies called attention to the sufferings of these vulnerable individuals and urged remedial action. It is important for international agencies and organizations concerned with women's issues to become strong advocates for this population.

We welcome the Report of the Experts Group convened by the CSW this past July in Vienna. Its recommendations provide a basic framework for actions to improve the situation of refugee and displaced women and children, and should be implemented by governments and international agencies.

Several issues deserve particular attention:

Protection

Because some members of these vulnerable groups have experienced persistent abuse, sexual harassment, violence, forced prostitution, and other assaults, it is essential that "protective" measures be taken at all stages of the refugees' route, from flight to refugee camp to resettlement to repatriation. "Protection" is as vital to the survival of refugee women and children as life-sustainable assistance.

Participation of Women

Refugee policies for women should be developed with the input and participation of refugee women themselves. To promote active and leadership roles by the women, formation of women's organizations should be encouraged.

Older Women

The special needs and contributions of older refugee women who may be "invisible" to relief agencies, should be identified. Because of the rapid aging of the world's population, in both developed and developing regions, there are growing numbers of elderly persons, particularly older women, within refugee populations. Specialists who understand their needs and can tap their abilities, should be included in projects by UNHCR, governments, and NGO's.

Disabled Women

Within the refugee women population, the special needs of the disabled must not be forgotten. They bear a double burden and require additional assistance. Programs and services must be equally accessible to women as well as to men. They need to be appropriate for the specific physiological and social requirements of women. Women who are caretakers of disabled family members should receive attention as well.

Data Collection

To plan appropriately for the refugee and displaced women, it is essential that demographic data be systematically collected.

UNHCR

As the lead UN agency charged with the humanitarian mission to provide life-sustainable assistance and protection to refugees, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees) should continue to develop strategies and strengthen policies to improve the situation of refugee women and children. Following are suggestions to further this goal.

Put more women in top management positions and place women in field and interviewing positions.

Set up specially targeted programs for women parallel to current "mainstreaming" efforts.

Institutionalize the Office of Women's Coordinator and provide for it through regular staffing procedures; elevate it to a top management post. Such action would send a powerful message to all working with refugees that UNHCR had translated a major commitment to women into effective action.

Make gender-impact training a permanent component for management and field staff of UNHCR, and implementing agencies.

UN Conventions, Resolutions and Protocols

All conventions and other UN-adopted declarations and instruments that are relevant to the human rights, well-being, and equality of women and children, should be utilized by UN and other agencies.

The Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is a logical vehicle to monitor the treatment of refugee and displaced women. Governments reporting to CEDAW should be required to account for the situation of refugee and displaced women in their countries.

Coordination and Cooperation Within the United Nations

With the increase in the number of refugees and the burgeoning population of non-refugee asylum seekers, it is essential that other UN agencies assist UNHCR carry out its mission. Some have already done so; more resources and cooperation are needed.

The recently-initiated CIREFCA PROCESS in Central America, carried out by a Joint UNHCR/UNDP unit, is an example of the kind of collaboration that would be particularly beneficial for refugee women who often are left out of development programs.

Repatriation

As the planning process for repatriation goes forward, hopefully for hundreds of thousands of Afghans, Cambodians, and others, it is urgent, since many repatriated women will have to provide for their families, that development strategies be built into programs from the beginning. The particular needs, interests, desires, and resources of refugee women must be taken into account.

Commitment of Donor Countries

The financial crunch caused by a shortfall of contributions from donor countries has been devastating to UNHCR which has had to cut back staff, services and field offices, at a time when the refugee population and large new groups of asylum seekers are growing exponentially.

It is essential that the more developed nations increase their contributions and share the burdens of the poorer nations who are hosting the majority of refugees. Since women and children suffer most when there are cuts of this magnitude, it is urged that donor nations earmark funds for specific targeted projects that suit women's interests and needs.

With the global increase in the number of displaced persons, many fleeing poverty and famine, more emphasis is needed on economic development. Not bona fide refugees, these people do not automatically receive the assistance of UNHCR. Their plight is another tragedy that calls for remedial actions by the international community.

Conclusion

We call upon the Commission on the Status of Women to use all the means at its disposal, both at the United Nations and with individual governments, to persuade agencies and governments to provide the resources and take actions needed to assist this population of women resume productive, dignified and self-sustaining lives.

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