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Women Demand Greater Role in Stability Pact
OSCE Release 30 July 1999

 
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Text: OSCE Release - Women Demand Greater Role in Stability Pact

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe briefing

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- At a press conference organized by the OSCE July 29 in the context of the Stability Pact Summit, women lawmakers and representatives of women's groups called for an equal and active role for women in the development and implementation of the Southeastern Europe Stability Pact.

The OSCE Regional Coordinator for Southeastern Europe, Ambassador Robert Barry, endorsed the Appeal. "Without women's direct and active participation," he said, "we cannot hope to achieve the goals set out in the Stability Pact. This Appeal reminds us that the Stability Pact is not just about states and governments, but about people as well."

In a statement released on July 28, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mrs. Helle Degn, also came out in full support of the women's written Appeal, which was signed by more than 100 prominent women from 10 different countries across Southeastern Europe.

The Southeastern Europe Stability Pact is a cooperative enterprise between the nations of Southeast Europe and their partners throughout Europe, the United States and elsewhere aimed at advancing political and economic reforms in Southeast Europe; promoting "cooperation, tolerance and security"; and integrating the region politically and economically into the rest of Europe. It is to be launched at a summit of international leaders, including President Clinton, July 30 in Sarajevo, which follows the July 29 summit of Southeast Europe leaders.

Following is the text of an OSCE press release:

(Begin text)

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Press Release

WOMEN DEMAND GREATER ROLE IN STABILITY PACT PROCESS

SARAJEVO, July 29, 1999 - Women parliamentarians and representatives of women's groups from across Southeastern Europe called today for an equal and active role for women in the development and implementation of the Stability Pact. At a press conference organised by the OSCE in the context of this week's Stability Pact Summit in Sarajevo, participants demanded that women be treated as full and equal partners on all issues related to the Pact.

"We the undersigned no longer accept that women of this region are victims of predominantly male politics," states the women's written Appeal, which has been signed by more than 100 prominent women from 10 different countries across Southeastern Europe and distributed at the Summit. "We demand and accept, as a vital part of the civil society, the responsibility to work together with representatives of our governments and of the international community towards lasting peace, good neighbourly relations and stability for our individual countries as well as for Southeast Europe."

The women who participated in the press conference, including representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Romania, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Hungary, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, also called for women's active participation in the working tables of the Stability Pact, and in particular the Working Table for Democratisation and Human Rights.

Ambassador Robert Barry, who attended the press conference in his capacity as the OSCE regional coordinator for Southeastern Europe, offered his endorsement to the goals of the Appeal. "Without women's direct and active participation," he said, "we cannot hope to achieve the goals set out in the Stability Pact. This Appeal reminds us that the Stability Pact is not just about states and governments, but about people as well."

In a statement released on July 28, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly also came out in full support of the Appeal. In her statement, Mrs. Helle Degn welcomed the launch of the Stability Pact as a major step towards democracy, economic well-being and respect for human rights in Southeastern Europe. She also noted, however, that "in this endeavour it is necessary that we all fully realise not only that women have been among the main victims of the conflicts which have ravaged the region, but also that women can play an essential role in the reconstruction."

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