University women want U.N. convention ratified

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 11

University women want U.N. convention ratified

Advancement for women, particularly in educational areas, was the theme of the mid-term meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Federation of University Women, which met recently in Christchurch. Delegates from 17 branches met with the national executive, which is based in Christchurch for this threeyear period. Honor Bonisch, a New Zealand university arts graduate, is the national executive. The council unanimously approved the publicly ex-

pressed support by its national executive for New Zealand ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Concern was expressed about the relatively few Maori and Pacific Islands women in the professions. Plans are being made to establish two scholarships to encourage the entry of senior school pupils into tertiary education. “Branches are also being asked to give urgency to study and comment on the Core Curriculum proposals

which have just been released,” said Mrs Bonisch. Mrs Bonisch said that the New Zealand Federation has a particularly challenging time ahead. “We are planning our own national triennial conference to be held in Nelson in August 1985. “Following that, we will be hosting the twentysecond conference of the International Federation of University Women, which will be held in Christchurch during August, 1986. “Women from 54 countries are expected to attend.”