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ENB:06:13 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

NEW ZEALAND:

Heather Dowsett of New Zealand noted that preparations for the Conference have succeeded in increasing awareness of population issues and their linkages to development. She called the present structure of the document "a little unwieldy" and said that the final document should be more flexible, less repetitious and more action-oriented. For internal consistency, the document will need to get the linkages and balance right between principles, sectoral and cross-sectoral issues. Each of the principles needs to explicitly recognize women's concerns and gender considerations. She reiterated her government's support for a set of substantive, realistic goals linked to activities. She called for mainstreaming population in the work of the UN and establishing roles for implementing and monitoring the outcomes of Cairo. In the chapter on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women she wants to see activities that will involve women in decision-making and will tackle the issue of male responsibility. In the chapter on Reproductive Rights the treatment of abortion needs to be further developed. Indigenous issues need to be woven throughout the document.