WORLD AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 3

WORLD AFFAIRS

MR PETER FRASER SPEAKS WOMEN’S PRESENCE NEEDED (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) - LONDON, Feb. 13. Whole-hearted support for the call to the governments of the world to encourage women to take an active part in national and international affairs was given by Mr Peter Fraser in a speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Previously Mrs Roosevelt had read an open letter to the women of the world from women delegates and advisers at U.N.O. expressing the hope that participation by women delegates in U.N.O. would grow, and urging women to share in the work of peace and reconstruction in peace, as they did in war and resistance. Saying there was no need to stress the necessity for pushing on the practical work of those parts of the Charter which emphasised the equality of women, Mr Fraser declared that an intellectual battle had been won. If there were countries where women were not politically equal, then the sooner they were the better for the world and the United Nations. Solving the problems of the economic and social status of women also was an obligation of the United Nations, and he knew the attention of women delegates had been directed thereto at this session. “My experience at this Assembly with women has shown me that to talk about their equality would be patronising.” he stated. "It is a self-evident fact, at least to most of us. In their grip of problems, in their clarity of thought and diction—well, in equality they are equal to any.” Mr Fraser said the Economic and Social Council had proposed that a subcommission on the status of women would be established, indicating that Ihe problem was being dealt with in a practical way. There were many difficult problems. and patience and tolerance were required. Circumstances in various countries had to be taken into account, and the support of Governments and organisations secured. There were 17 women delegates and their advisers, representing 11 States, at U.N.O.’s first session.