HC Deb 23 March 1998 vol 309 cc5-6
5. Jane Griffiths

If she will make a statement on the recent meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. [34046]

Ms Ruddock

In my role within the presidency of the European Union, I was delighted to represent the views of the European Union at the meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations earlier this month.

The issues addressed were women and violence; women and armed conflict; human rights of women; and the girl child. A copy of the statement I delivered at the UN has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Jane Griffiths

Is my hon. Friend aware of the importance attached by women's organisations to the previous UN meeting in Beijing in 1995 and the criticism levelled at the previous Government for having taken no action following that meeting? In view of that, have this Government taken action, in particular to protect the girl child against all forms of exploitation?

Ms Ruddock

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. The United Kingdom's participation in the CSW this year has been very successful. Throughout, our delegation has led on the need fully to implement the aims of the global platform for action. On the human rights of women, we argued for an end to customary and traditional practices that are harmful to women and girls such as female genital mutilation. On women and armed conflict, we proposed the creation of an international criminal court that would integrate a gender perspective in its statute. On violence against women, we called for national plans such as those that are in train in this country. On the girl child—a matter specifically mentioned by my hon. Friend—we were able, against very tough opposition, to get agreement on the provision of information and counselling services, to be carried out on a confidential basis, for both adolescent boys and girls, especially on the subject of personal relationships.