Timaru woman at world conference

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 6

Timaru woman at world conference

Women were the sole representatives of Libya and Nigeria at the recent conference of the World Federation of United Nations Associations at Luxemburg and many other countries were represented by women, said Miss D. M. Unwin, recently.

Miss Unwin, of Timaru, was New Zealand’s sole representative at the conference. She considers the conference reflected all the tensions of the United Nations.

from Finland, Hungary, and Jugoslavia. Miss Unwin found it "heartening” that the director (Mr W. Hensen) who has been with the United Nations since 1946, should express surprise at how much it had actually achieved. In spite of its apparent political failures, it provided an extremely efficient machinery for a “magnificent talking shop.” It was a permanent diplomatic conference, where Government representatives and Heads of State congregated as of right and by habit instead of by invitation. Edges gradually rubbed off and contacts were made over an infinite range of technical subject matter. Even political invective lost some of its sting in the rather clinical atmosphere of Geneva.

From the outset, geographic representation was raised. There were long political speeches, and eral delegates (who • were politicians) had to be reminded that they were not representing their respective governments.

A long, heated, and bitter debate on peace in the Middle East had taken place. “Yet, a small working group, representing all contending views, did produce an acceptable draft resolution. It was unique in that its sponsors included both the United Arab Republic and Israel, whose delegates had been sniping at each other throughout the conference,” said Miss Unwin. “This was probably the most significant achievement of the assembly," she said. CONFERENCE THEMES Miss Unwin expressed pride in having represented New Zealand at the conference. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said. The first of many messages from Heads of State congratulating the federation on its twenty-fifth anniversary was from the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Sir Keith Holyoake). The themes of the conference were peace-keeping,, the human environment, race, colonialism—as seen in the context of the United Nations —and the role of W.F.U.N.A. and member associations. Miss Unwin submitted a resolution in the education and youth commission which subsequently was adopted by the assembly. The resolution, based on a review of United Nations information policies and activities, suggested ways of improving these. Miss Unwin also visited Geneva, where she listened in to proceedings in the main salle d’assemblee, where representatives of F.A.O. and W.H.O. were engaged on the codex committee on food labelling. Australia’s case concerning the labelling of milk was men being presented. Only three women were present—