Citation

Kissling F. Conscience 1996; 16(4): 16-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Catholics for a Free Choice)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12178864

Abstract

The Fourth World Conference on Women was the largest conference in the history of the UN, drawing 50,000 people to Beijing and surrounding areas during the late Summer. The final Platform for Action garnered broad support among women's health advocates and feminists. Indeed, for feminists, the document reflected far more progress than anticipated on controversial questions related to human rights, sexuality, and reproductive health and rights. The 345-paragraph Platform for Action is expected to serve as a blueprint for advocacy by nongovernmental organizations supporting women's rights and as a basis for policy change and resource commitment by most of the world's governments. Although approximately 40 nations had reservations on controversial aspects of the Platform, most of the approximately 180 countries participating associated themselves with all provisions of the document. The road to Beijing, the Platform for Action, the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, sexual rights, and the need to continue the struggle against religious conservatives and other related opposition are discussed.

Language: en