The role of women in society : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

  • Author: UN General Assembly (39th sess. : 1984-1985)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    14 December 1984
 

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The role of women in society

  The General Assembly, Reaffirming the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, as well as the importance of the Declaration of Mexico on the Equality of Women and their Contribution to Development and Peace, 1975, the World Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Women's Year and the Programme of Action for the Second Half of the United Nations Decade for Women, Noting that just and lasting peace and social progress as well as the establishment of a new international economic order, require the active participation of women in promoting international peace and co-operation and in the process of development, Bearing in mind that economic inequality, colonialism, racism, racial discrimination, apartheid, acts of aggression and interference in the internal affairs of others and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms constitute an impediment to the achievement of real and genuine equality and to the integration of women in society, Convinced of the necessity to secure for all women full realization of the rights embodied in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in the International Covenants on Human Rights and in other relevant instruments in this field, Recognizing that the achievement of equal and full participation of women in all spheres of activity constitutes an inseparable part of the political, economic, social and cultural development of all countries, Aware that efforts to promote the status of women in all its aspects and their complete integration in society go beyond the problem of legal equality and that deeper structural transformations of society and changes in present-day economic relations, as well as elimination of traditional prejudices through education and dissemination of information, are required so as to create conditions for women to develop fully their intellectual and physical capacities and to participate actively in the decision-making process in political, economic, social and cultural development, Mindful of the necessity to enlarge the possibilities for both men and women to combine parental duties and household work with paid employment and social activities, Aware that child-bearing should not be the cause of inequality and discrimination against women, and that child-rearing demands shared responsibilities among women, men and society as a whole, Deeply appreciating the increasing participation of women in political, economic, social and cultural life and their contribution thereto,

1. Appeals to all Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to recognize in their activities the importance of all interrelated aspects of the role of women in society - as mothers, as participants in economic development and as participants in public life - without underestimating any one of them;

2. Encourages such social and economic development that would secure the participation of women in all spheres of work, equal pay for work of equal value and equal opportunities for education and professional and vocational training, taking into consideration the necessity of combining all aspects of the role of women in society;

3. Appeals to Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to promote the creation of conditions that would enable women to participate as equal partners with men in public and political life, in the decision-making process at all levels and in the management of different spheres of life in society;

4. Appeals to Governments to recognize the special status and social importance of motherhood and to take, in the context of their special abilities and conditions, all necessary measures to promote the protection of motherhood, including maternity leave with pay, and to provide security for their jobs as long as necessary, so as to allow women, if they so wish, to fulfil their role as mothers without prejudice to their professional and public activities;

5. Also appeals to Governments to promote the establishment of appropriate facilities for child-care and education of children as a means of combining motherhood with economic, political, social, cultural and other activities of women and thus to provide assistance to women in integrating fully into their societies;

6. Recommends to the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women that it take duly into account, in reviewing and appraising the achievements of the Decade and in formulating future policies in this field, all aspects of the role of women in society.

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