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IV. GENDER EQUALITY, EQUITY AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

This chapter contains three sections: empowerment and the status of women; the girl child; and male responsibilities and participation. Egypt, supported by Jordan, Tunisia and others wanted to amend paragraph 4.17 (value of the girl child) because the word "equitable" in the English text was different in the Arabic translation and Egypt also sought to delete "inheritance rights." The EU agreed to delete the brackets in paragraph 4.18, which states the goal of universal primary education by 2015.

Egypt and Iran proposed changes to unbracketed text. Egypt wanted to drop "in particular by providing alternatives to early marriage" in paragraph 4.21 (marriage) and the words "alternatives to early marriage, such as" were later dropped. Iran wanted to delete the words "forced prostitution" in paragraph 4.9 (elimination of exploitation) and it was replaced by "exploitation through prostitution." During the discussion, the Chair pointed out that unbracketed text could not be reopened and that the English version of the text would be the basis on which translation problems would be worked on. Several countries, including Zimbabwe and the British Virgin Islands supported the Chair's clarification. Algeria and Iran said that at some point it would be a choice whether to save the Conference or to save the rules of procedure.