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Skriven 2006-03-05 12:30:58 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

DESIGN POLICIES TO FAVOR WOMEN

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday in New York, the Holy See
Delegation participated in the 50th session of the Commission on the Status of
Women of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), which
is meeting to consider themes arising from the Fourth World Conference on Women
and from the 23rd special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000:
gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century."

The delegation recalled how the purpose of the Commission "is to prepare
recommendations and reports to the ECOSOC on promoting women's rights," and
expressed the view that "policies should be designed that restore balance and
fairness to social and political structures in such a way that their very
success persuades all people to work towards the true advancement of women."

The Holy See delegation had words of praise for the recently-completed Year of
Microcredit which was particularly aimed at women entrepreneurs in developing
countries, pointing out that this phenomenon "has had the support of local
Catholic Churches for many years." On a different matter, the delegation again
drew attention to the dangers of human trafficking which "has a particularly
negative impact on women," and highlighted the fact that "in armed conflicts,
women and girls are also victims of systematic rape for political purposes."

The delegation issued a stern condemnation of "the sexual violence that
frequently has women and girls for its object," and encouraged "the passing of
laws that will effectively defend them from such violence." It also condemned
"the widespread culture which encourages the systematic exploitation of
sexuality and corrupts even very young girls into letting their bodies be used
for profit in a world-wide three billion dollar industry."
DELSS/PROMOTION WOMEN/ECOSOC VIS 060303 (300)

SUMMARY

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