WOMENS RIGHTS

Women's equal dignity and human rights as full human beings are enshrined in the basic instruments of today's international community. From the Charter of the United Nations' endorsement of the equal rights of men and women, to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the subsequent international treaties and declarations. The rights of women are central to our vision of a democratic society.

But the Fine words of these documents and of the Vienna Declaration in 1993 and the declaration of Beijing in 1995 stand in sharp contrast to the daily reality of life for millions of women. Of the 1.3 billion people living in poverty, 70 percent are women; the majority of the world's refugees are women; female illiteracy is invariably higher than male illiteracy. Women and girl-children are treated as commodities in cross-border prostitution rackets and the pornography industry. Millions of girls are still subject to genital mutilation, while women in every country are regular victims of domestic violence. In many countries, women lack access to reproductive health care and every day women are targeted in armed conflicts. Women's economic, social and cultural rights continue to be neglected.

There can he no peace, security or sustainable economic development in societies which deny human rights, including the human rights of women. I believe this is gradually being understood by governments and I welcome their willingness to discuss with the United Nations the application of international instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Fighting for women's human rights is a positive struggle which recognizes the quality of a woman's contribution in every aspect of the community: in politics, industry, commerce, education, and academia, agriculture and the home. Women are also the true peacemakers and the peace-builders - at the negotiating table and in war-torn communities everywhere.

Practical and creative measures to realize the human rights of women - civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development are a priority for my Office and for every part of the United Nations sustain. As the High Commissioner for Human Rights, I am committed to work in partnership with all United Nations agencies and programmes, governments, regional organizations, academic institutions, individuals and the NGO community, but most specially with women throughout the world to promote and protect women's rights and to translate these rights into a better quality of life for all.

DR. RUBEL CHOWDHURY
SENIOR VICE CHAIRMAN OF WORLD PEACE AND ECONOMIC DEVLOPMENT ORGANIZATION (WPEDO)

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Do we the men treat women right? Do we the men of county give women equal opportunity? If it is true that in western world and developed countries women are getting equal opportunity, as men, and are given authorization to do what men are allowed to do. Women are also getting treated night at home and at the office.

Theoretically the western countries have been developed, one of the major reason behind this is due to having women getting treated equally, and are given the opportunity to work side by side with men. Hence the result of a successful developed country is huge, as it has twice the working force and diverse capability and capacity.

If we look, at third world countries, we will see that, the women is not treated equally find not been given full independent and freedom by men which actually holds back a countries development, and does no enhance the capability of workforce as a whole. There are less contribution from women on decision making, which in result country lack on diversifying economic activities and living standard, as men is running out of thought. It is a common sense to underhand that, "two stick are stronger than one".

Everyday women are getting treated like doormats. They are given a boundary and limits to how far they can achieve in life, and the limits of activities or employment they can get involved in. We the men of third world countries should understand that we are living in an era of competition, development, and equal rights. We have to forget thinking like all a medieval's time, we have to think modem, and we have to treat women right, and encourage them to hold our hand to go forward in life, and make a nation to succeed in every way.

: The men believes to be the main bread earner, but if at same time, women earn side by side, isn't it a common sense to understand that, the income of a household would be doubled? Resulting in living standard to be better, ultimately the country countries economic will be much healthier. It is all a circle of life. And it is time were we need to get women involved in the same circle. Women should be seen equal to men, should treat same as men, and should be given rights as men. There should be a law to put those men behind bars, which aggressive and violet to women. What right does he have to act cruel to women? Is a man creator of a woman that he has the right to do what he feels like to a woman?

Men are known to be stronger physically, then it is right to show strength to women, will it benefit anyway. However if men gives that physical support to women, and amalgamate their thoughts, surely a task would be much easier to do, and would be successful.

ALL WE NEED TO DO IS USE OUR COMMON SENSE, NOT OUR INSTINCT.