MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SENATOR GARETH EVANS AND MINISTER ASSISTING THE PRIME MINISTER FOR THE STATUS OF WOMEN, DR CARMEN LAWRENCE

M63

26 June 1995

EXHIBITION PAYS TRIBUTE TO JESSIE STREET'S UN ACHIEVEMENTS

Marking the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations (UN) Charter, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women, Dr Carmen Lawrence, today launched an exhibition at the National Library of Australia which pays tribute to the international work, particularly at the UN, of Australia's great feminist pioneers, Jessie Street.

As part of the 50th Anniversary of the UN celebrations, the exhibition focuses on Mrs Street's important contribution to the founding conference of the UN in San Francisco in 1945. Mrs Street was the only woman among the 20 member Australian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister, Frank Forde and Minister for External Affairs, Dr Herbert Vere Evatt.

Despite the fact that women made up only one per cent of the total number of delegates to the conference, they were able to secure three major victories in their fight for the rights of women. These were:

  • a reference to the equal rights of men and women in the preamble to the UN Charter;

  • a provision guaranteeing the equality of employment for women within the UN and its agencies; and

  • the establishment of the Commission on the Status of Women, a special body which would deal with women's rights and status of women issues. Mrs Street was Australia's representative on the Commission in 1947 and 1948.

    "The battle for actual equality for women in employment within the UN and its agencies is still to be won," the Ministers said.

    "Fifty years on and gender balance within the UN Secretariat is far from being realised, particularly at the more senior levels. We look forward to the implementation of effective strategies to address the obstacles to women's advancement within the UN system," they said.

    From September 4 - 15 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women will take place in Beijing. Conferences such as this play a vital role in ensuring that women's issues continue to be firmly placed on the global agenda.

    For further information: Kate Wall, Senator Evans's Office 06 277 7500

    Brenda Conroy, Dr Lawrence's Office 06 277 7220