STATUS OF WOMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 6

STATUS OF WOMEN

A WORLD COMMISSION ENDORSEMENT OF PROPOSAL (Official News Service) ' SAN FRANCISCO, (Rec. 10 p.m.) June J* , The committee which is drafting that part of the Charter dealing with economic and social matters gave most of its time at the meeting yesterday to a harmonious discussion of the suggestion that the proposed Economic and Social Council be recommended to set up s. special commission composed of women to study the economic, civil, and political status of women throughout the world. The suggestion was put forward by Brazil and was seconded by the Dominican Republic Winning the unanimous support of aU delegates, the resolution also inspired a succession of eloquent tributes to the part which women played in war, ana peace.

A Test of Progress f Among these tributes was that of Mr P. Fraser, who, in giving the proposal strong support, said so great was the influence of women in the progress of mankind probably the best test of the advancement of any country was the position occupied by its women. The only opposition the proposal had received was the suggestion by some delegates that if it was set up the commission should contain men as well as women, but Mr Fraser contended that qualified women, by the very fact of their sex and general experience, were well able to examine the status of women throughout the world. They could always call upon either men or women jurists and investigators to provide facts and legal opinions. “It is appropriate, too,” Mr Fraser said “that at least one of the bodies that’ is being set up within the new organisation should be composed entirely of women so that they may have the opportunity of proving that they are able to deal, with some of the problems which will come before the new world organisation as efficiently as commissions or committee* exclusively composed of men.”

Mr Fraser’s Wide Outlook

At the end of the discussion, the Brazilian delegate, Dr Bertha Lutz, after thanking the delegates. who had spoken in favour of it, expressed special gratitude to Mr Fraser, not onlv for his support, but also for the part he had played throughout the discussions of the conference. Dr Lutz said there had been moments during the meetings when she had felt depressed and dejected at what sometimes had seemed a retreat from high ideals, but in every moment of depression she had been encouraged and strengthened by Mr Fraser’s words and opinions, his optimistic outlook, and his conception of liberty. His influence at the meetings had been “like a great liberal wind,” she added amid applause. . A suggestion by the Mexican woman delegate, Mrs Amalia Ledon, that the proposed commission, if set up, should co-operate with other organisations doing similar work in other parts of the world, such as the Inter-American Commission of Women, , the official organ of the Pan-American Union, was agreed to.' It is understood that the results of a similar inquiry undertaken by the committee of jurists appointed by the League of Nations would also be made available to it.