ABSTRACT
Today 185 nations are joined together in an attempt to “develop” a fairer and more peaceful world. From the beginning, 50 years ago, when there were only 51 UN member-states, it was realized that women are crucial partners in this attempt. Allied with this has been the concern to demonstrate that what were formerly thought of as the rights of male citizens should be seen as the rights of all human beings. Women’s groups and political parties the world over have approached the cause of women’s rights in two chief ways. First, maintaining that civil and political rights apply to men and women equally. Secondly, securing the same access to the same opportunities as men and recognizing that economic, social and cultural rights as listed in the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be granted to women fully and unconditionally. Kurt Waldheim, UN Secretary-General in 1975, insisted that “unless we make a joint effort, we risk condemning half the human race to mark time in the march of humanity”.
