Women working for better international accord

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 12

Women working for better international accord

A strong feeling of hope for better international understanding in the future emerged at the recent International Council of Women’s conference in Vancouver, Canada.

To Mrs Grace Hollander . of Christchurch, the president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, it was .the most satisfying jI.C.W. meeting of the three she has attended.

•‘At all times there was an (indefinable feeling of tolerance and willingness to compromise in debate to maintain harmony and purpose,” she said. "We worked together; there was no pulling j against each other.” Delegates from more than 40 countries were determined that political dissention would not mar another international (Conference. “They spoke honestly and frankly and were willing to expose, if necessary', the shortcomings of their own countries’ administrations in any particular field, in order to share experiences and to exchange ideas,” she said. Closer together It came out clearly in discussions that women had now come closer together in working for common needs as a result of International Women’s Year, she said. “The consolidation of I.W.Y. has been a turning point in the history of mankind.” she said. “All the women said, at some stage, that they had benefited from the year’s activities and publicity, even though the life styles of women from so many different countries were shown to be in sharp contrast. There is no doubt that I.W.Y. was of inestimable I value, in spite of so much criticism and varying attitudes.” Quite apart from working to improve their own status, women were now willing to assume responsibility for society’s problems as a whole, she added. Mrs Hollander quoted a Canadian delegate (a Member of Parliament for British Columbia) who said: “Social problems of the world are far too important to be left only to politicians. We may not ail love one another but we can learn respect and tolerance for other ways of life.” Voluntary organisations, such as National Councils of Women, would play a very important role in improving conditions for all people in the future. Grace Hollander said. N.C.W.s worked through 1.C.W., which has consulative status with the United Nations.

International Women’s Year had put a more important emphasis on non-Govern-mental organisations and had made women realise and accept their responsibilities. “But women can no longer afford to remain outside Government planning, decisionmaking and the implementation of legislation,” she said. One of the important themes of the conference was: “Today’s Child: Tomorrow’s Future.” It was taken up by all the standing committees, which will deal with it in their terms of reference, she said. All the work from these committees will be put forward for consid-

eration for the United Nations Year of the Child in 1979. The New Zealand delegates made substantial contributions to the conference with knowledge, practical and logical approaches to matters discussed. And they showed their experience in organisational work. Mrs Hollander, who led the delegation of nine, said she was very proud of them. They had done their homework in keeping up with the latest developments in international affairs. All the New Zealand women who were nominated for office on the International Council of Women were elected at the conference. Mrs Miriam Dell of Wellington became vicepresident of the board of management; Mrs Mavis Tiller (Wellington) convener of the Standing Committee on

International Relations andl Peace; Mrs Dawn Ibbotson (Dunedin), vice-convener of I the Standing Committee on Home and Economics; Mrs Pat Aitken (Christchurch) vice-convener of the Standing Committee on Environment and Housing, and Mrs Betty Holt (Auckland), viceconvener of the Standing Committee on Mass Media. Grace Hollander said all the delegates were very grateful to Government departments for their co-oper-ation in giving them background information on many topics that would be discussed at the conference. Today, Mrs Hollander, some of the conference delegates and members of the N.C.W. board of management will advise the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) and his department of the results of resolutions passed at the conference.

They will discuss with him whether or not they apply to New Zealand conditions.