FOR EDIA9 JULY 1985
Australia's delegation to the World Conference marking the
end of the United Nations Decade for Women left for Nairobi today.
I wish the delegation well for this important conference being
held to review and appraise achievements for women since
1975 and to lay the foundations for strategies to raise
women's status during the rest of this century.
The delegation is lead by Senator Patricia Giles who
has been active in women's affairs for many years and has
played a prominent role in the preparatory meetings for
the Conference. Senator Giles is also Convenor of the
Caucus Status of Women Committee. The other members of
the delegation have been chosen to provide a range of
backgrounds and skills. I am confident they will make the
best possible contribution to the work of the Conference,
particularly in our aim of achieving consensus on the major
Conference document, " Forward Looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women". This document will form an
important basis to develop further our policies for the status
of women in Australia.
In addition to Senator Giles, the members of the delegation
are Dr Helen Ware, ( Deputy Leader) Acting Assistant Secretary
Office of the Status of Women, Department of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet;
Mrs Edith Hall, Convenor, National Women's Consultative
Council and Executive Director, Paraplegic and Quadriplegic
Association of Victoria;
Mr Geoff White, Australian High Commissioner, Nairobi,
Kenya; Mr Cavan Hogue, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent
Representative, Australian Mission to the United Nations,
New York;
Ms Gae Pincus, Assistant Secretary, Human Relations
Branch, Attorney-General' s Department;
Senator Rosemary Crowley, South Australia;
Senator Olive Zakharov, Victoria;
The Hon. Franca Arena, AM, MLC, New South Wales;
Ms Pat O'Shane, Secretary, NSW Ministry of Aboriginal
Affairs; Ms Tonia Shand, Assistant Secretary, Peace and Disarmament
Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs;
Dr Stefania Siedlecky, Adviser on Women's Health and
Family Planning, Commonwealth Department of Health;
Ms Helen King, Adviser on Women in Development,
Australian Development Assistance Bureau;
Ms Helen L'Orange, Director, Women's Co-ordination Unit,
NSW; Ms Jane Hamilton, Department of Foreign Affairs;
Ms Margo Bell, Office of the Status of Women, Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
Mr Kenneth Berry, Australian High Commission, Nairobi,
Kenya; Mr John Quinn, Australian Mission to the United Nations,
New York.
I wish Senator Giles and all the members of the delegation
every success. The Office of the Status of Women within
my Department will ensure that reports of the Conference are
widely distributed after the Conference is concluded.