Educational issues were among the most controversial at Beijing, namely, access to education and education about sexuality. As had been the case at the 1994 UN population conference in Cairo, these were seen as contentious issues by the Vatican and those representing some Catholic and Muslim countries. Their contention was that these issues be addressed in the context of a country's culture and not under the general rubric of education. Representatives from Guatemala, for example, interpreted sex education as "a license for sexual promiscuity and the proliferation of abortions."⁸ In the final document, the importance of both access to education and sex education is confirmed, although in terms that are somewhat general (see box).

Conclusion

I came away from Beijing with a lot of optimism. So much work-especially in the area of organizing-has been done since : Nairobi. So many women and women's groups from allover the world are involved and committed to the goal of women's equality. There is consensus of opinion in many areas that will allow us to move ahead. Someone commented to me that the International Women's Movement is the strongest international social justice movement at the present time. I would credit this strength to the work that has been done in understanding differences and celebrating diversity among women. However, no matter how strong the movement is, progress is constantly threatened by extremely powerful opposing forces. The rise of conservatism of all types, the globalization of the economy, the search for cheap docile labour, wars and environmental destruction continue to create havoc and impose oppression on women's lives. In the face of such opposition, there is no doubt that our work is cut out.

Joan McFarland teaches Economics and Gender Studies at St. Thomas University. She participated in both Nairobi and Beijing as an independent researcher. She is a former New Brunswick Director for CCLOW and a former President of the organization, and she continues to be a committed member. She has two daughters, Tamara and Najat.

1. The 1995 film "The Vienna Tribunal" (Augusta Productions and the NFB) is very useful for understanding the strategy shift.
   
   
2. See statement in Making Human Rights and Democracy a Reality for Women, 4th World Conference on Women. Demands o/the Green Parliamentary Group, Bonn, Aug. 1995, p 5.
   
   
3. See, for example, Shelley Wright, "On Becoming 'Human'; Subjectivity and Identity in International Human Rights Law," First Inaugural Lecture on Human Rights, Atlantic Human Rights Centre, St. Thomas University and University of New Brunswick, Spring 1995, pp 36-41.
   
   
4. "UN women's conference agrees on declaration," The Globe and Mail, September 15, 1995, P A9.
   
   
5. This figure comes from the testimony of Nahid Toubia in the film, "The Vienna Tribunal."
   
   
6. Forum '95, August 31, 1995,p2.
   
   
7. Platform for Action, New York: United Nations, 1995, paragraph 70.
   
   
8. Fabiana Frayssinet. "The Road to Beijing leads to the Vatican," Forum '95, Sept. 3, 1995, P 13.