U.N. convention on women

Press, 5 October 1984, Page 16

U.N. convention on women

Sir,—The main reason given for ratification of the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women is to put pressure on other countries to improve the lot of women. In the same way pressure can be put on us to interpret the 'convention as other signatory countries do. When I see how it is being interpreted and used elsewhere it fills me with apprehension. The Government says that the convention does not allow other nations or political interests to interfere in the government of New Zealand. This is either deception or naivety. Article 22 says that the committee may scrutinise our activities and report on them. This could cause the Government great embarrassment. Why open the country to such moral and political pressure, especially when the supervising committee is mainly composed of cultures and political systems alien to ours. — Yours, etc.,

M E. FOOKES October 1, 1984.