I.W.Y. — aimed to stir world’s conscience

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 6

I.W.Y. — aimed to stir world’s conscience

“It’s a consciencestirrer fon the whole!, human race.” That is Mrs Miriam Dell’s assessment of Inter-j national Women's Year. | Mrs Dell, the chairman of the Committee on Women! and co-ordinator for I.W.Y. I in New Zealand, is very! busy waking up men and! women to what "the year”! really means to all people. Yesterday she' came to! Christchurch at the in-j vitation of the Mayoress! (Mrs Hay) to address a! meeting of representatives! of women’s and community! organisations, as well as ai few Christchurch City Coun-j cillors. Mrs Dell gave ,a detailed run-down on pro-1 grammes for I.W.Y. in New: Zealand at the national and! community levels. "The first major national, I.W.Y. event' will be the, National Council of! Women's two-day meeting in Wellington next week,” Mrs! Dell said in an interview

yesterday. “Representatives will attend from 31 nationally organised societies and >y delegates from 35 branches of the N.C.W. “Dr D. Noor, an In- 1 donesian and a member of the United Nations Status on Women Commission will take part in the meeting. (She fits into our plan to inform New Zealand women about women of other countries). The Prime Minister! (Mr Rowling) will speak at! a special function that will! be attended by Government members, as well as men and women representing a wide cross-section of national interests.” PROPOSALS About 2000 women are expected to attend the United Women’s Convention ’75 in Wellington in June, when the principal speaker will be the world-renowned anthropologist, Dr Margaret Mead. A report from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women is expected to be [released later in the year. I “From this report we expect concrete proposals for 'legislation and other public action on women’s rights,” Mrs Dell said. “We intend to promote discussion and apply pressure to get action.” Towards the end of the year it is hoped to hold a very high level conference jin New Zealand, after which ! issues that have emerged ! during I.W.Y. will be placed [before the nation’s leaders. “We also hope that a high-ranking official from .the United Nations will attend this conference,” she added.

i Mrs Dell is New Zealand’s [official correspondent to the 1 'United Nations for I.W.Y. But I.W.Y. must reach, into every corner of every j community throughout New! Zealand to be totally! effective. Mrs Dell and her com-! imittee expect a wide range jof community activities to! !be carried out to meet local [needs. These may be such, tangible projects as the es-i itablishment of centres for women in need of a refuge ■or for day care facilities. I And, of course, there must {be the promotion of the [aims of I.W.Y. through public meetings, seminars and .neighbourhood “Get-togeth-jers” to make women aware !of their own and others’ (needs. ENTHUSIASM 1 “Different things are al-1 ready going on in different places, making up the pattern for the year,” Mrs Dell said. “There is tremendous '[enthusiasm already.”

On the international scene,! | she said, a delegation of' New Zealand men and 1 ' I women would attend the! United Nations Inter-Govern-!mental Conference on 1.W.Y.! 'jin Mexico City in June. They would also be New Zealand representatives at 1 '[the non-governmental meet-; ing. which will be held bell fore the main United 'Nations conference in the • same city. ■ “We expect New Zealand ■ will also be represented at a. . major non-governmental ; conference in East Berlin ini • October and at a conference! ■ in Australia in November on I ! women and the news; • media,” she said. ; The Committee on Women I is sending out much infor-! mation on New Zealand and display material to many I [countries throughout the [ world, by request. “In addition, our comI mittee is supporting projects already started by estab-1 I lished organisations such as

i the Women’s Committee of 'the National Council of! Churches 'Water for 'Women,” Mrs Dell said. i The committe felt very I ' strongly that I.W.Y. was for | every woman — not just i organised women — and a! ! year for every man, she added. “By the promotion of j • understanding we can assure! a greater range of choice fori 'every member of the com-1 ( munity and a far better use 1 [of our human resources as ai whole,” said Miriam Dell. I When thanking Mrs Dell; | for her address at last even-! ! ing’s meeting, the president! iof Christchurch branch of 1 jthe National Council of 'Women (Dr Margaret Smith); ! said: “Mrs Deli has provided | us with the stimulation forj i I.W.Y. activities; now it is j up to us to provide the action.” . Mrs Hay presided at , meeting, assisted by the 'Mayor.