November 15, 2000 HEMISPHERIC ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN OPENS AT OAS Luigi Einaudi, the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, said Wednesday that despite the remarkable advances seen in the twentieth century, women are still not afforded full and equal participation in decision-making. Ambassador Einaudi went on to note that the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) "has a very important duty to pursue all the actions and responsibilities it was mandated by the governments of the Hemisphere," through the Inter-American Program on the Promotion Women's Human Rights and Gender Equity and Equality. Inaugurating CIM's Thirtieth Assembly of Delegates, Einaudi pointed to the need for gender equality to be incorporated into the agenda for the April 2001 Summit of the Americas, to be held in Quebec City, Canada. He stressed the promotion of women's human rights and gender equity and equality as crucial to achieving full, equal and more active participation by women in public affairs. Welcoming the delegates, OAS Permanent Council Chairman, Canada's Ambassador to the OAS Peter Boehm, observed that the Inter-American Program would boost efforts by CIM, the OAS and member states to include gender perspective into their programs and activities. CIM Interim President Indranie Chandarpal, Guyana's Minister of Human Services and Social Security, reviewed the agency's achievements over the last few years, underscoring the need for new strategies and mechanisms to apply gender perspective throughout the OAS. She said CIM will have an important role in the future and should continue in its role as the hemisphere's highest inter-governmental forum on this issue. During their three days of deliberations, the CIM Delegates will consider among other major issues an inter-American program on the promotion of women's human rights and gender equity and equality, follow-up on the Belém do Pará convention on violence against women, and the findings of investigations on trafficking in women and children. The Assembly will also elect a new President and Vice President for the Commission, as well as the 2000-2002 executive committee. ********