190. Telegram 36715 From the Embassy in France to the Department of State, December 10, 1976, 1902Z.1 2

TELEGRAM
Department of State
PARIS 36715

P R 101902Z DEC 76

FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7907
INFO USMISSION USUN
USMISSION GENEVA

PARIS 36715

NESCO

E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: UNESCO, OCON

SUBJECT: UNESCO 19TH GENERAL CONFERENCE: SUMMARY WRAP UP OF IMPORTANT PROGRAM ISSUES

SUMMARY: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CABLE IS TO PROVIDE A BALANCE SHEET OF THE NAIROBI CONFERENCE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, WHICH TOO OFTEN TEND TO BE OVERSHADOWED BY POLITICAL DEEDS AND RHETORIC THAT USUALLY CAPTURE PRESS HEADLINES. THE FACT IS THAT THE DELIBERATIONS IN THE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS (I.E., SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CULTURE) WENT RATHER SMOOTHLY, MOSTLY WITHOUT MUCH POLITICAL OVERTONES, THUS MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO (I) MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION IN THE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF UNESCO PROGRAM, (II) ADVANCE OUR POSITION OF INFLUENCE IN UNESCO PROGRAM SECTORS, AND (III) ACHIEVE MOST OF OUR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR THESE SOLID ACCOMPLISHMENTS GOES TO THE PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS (MOSTLY ADVISORS) OF US DELEGATION, ALL OF WHOM HAD PRIOR, FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH UNESCO AFFAIRS. END OF SUMMARY.

[Omitted here is information unrelated to women]

VI. UNESCO AND STATUS OF WOMEN

1. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY THE UNITED STATES, PHILIPPINES AND MEXICO CONCERNING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STATUS OF WOMEN, AND IN THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN ALL COUNTRIES. UNESCO WITH ITS SPECIAL COMPETENCE IN EDUCATION, SOCIAL SCIENCE, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS HAS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKE IN IMPROVING THE STATUS OF WOMEN, IN LESSENING INEQUALITIES OF TREATMENT WHICH WOMEN RECEIVE, AND IN INCREASING THE PARTICIPATION BY WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS -- BOTH AS CONTRIBUTORS AND BENEFICIARIES.

2. THE US TOOK THE LEAD IN THE 18TH GENERAL CONFERENCE IN GETTING A UNANIMOUS DECISION ADOPTED FOR A BROAD POLICY STATEMENT AND ON GUIDANCE FOR A PROGRAM OF ACTION BY UNESCO OVER THE COMING YEARS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS FACING WOMEN IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THE RESOLUTION ON WOMEN AT THE 19TH GENERAL CONFERENCE -- ALSO ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY -- GIVES IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP ATTENTION TO THE PRIOR RESOLUTION. IT CALLS ON UNESCO TO LAUNCH SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR WOMEN AND, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT CALLS FOR ALL PROJECTS TO ADDRESS HOW THE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT WOMEN AS BOTH PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES. THIS IS TO BE DONE THROUGH THE INCLUSION OF IMPACT STATEMENTS ON WOMEN FOR ALL PROJECT DOCUMENTS. THIS SHOULD DO MUCH TO SENSITIZE UNESCO TO ANALYZE THE EFFECT ITS ACTIONS HAVE ON WOMEN. IT IS IN LINE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF THE PERCY AMENDMENT TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION FOR BOTH THE U.S. BILATERAL PROGRAMS AND FOR MULTILATERAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS THE STATUS AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT. THE RESOLUTION ALSO CALLS FOR AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS TO BE USED TO ASSIST UNESCO IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF WOMEN.

[Omitted here is information unrelated to women]

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Unclassified. Repeated to USUN and the Mission to the U.N. in Geneva. Sections referring to topics other than women’s issues are not published.
  2. The Embassy recounted actions taken with regard to women’s issues at the 19th UNESCO General Conference.