AG/RES. 1432 (XXVI-O/96)

STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE AMERICAS

(Resolution adopted at the eighth plenary session, held on June 7, 1996)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN:

The 1994 Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication
of Violence Against Women, "Convention of Belém do Pará";

The 1979 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

The 1995 Strategic Plan of Action of the Inter-American Commission of Women; and

The Plan of Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, in 1995; and

CONSIDERING:

That discrimination against women constitutes an obstacle to the social and economic development of our countries;

That member states are steadfastly committed to improving the status of women; and

That adoption of the Convention of Belém do Pará, the first inter-American legal instrument on women and violence, demonstrates member states' recognition of the importance of the problem and their determination to make progress in this sphere,

RESOLVES:

1. To urge member states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Convention of Belém do Pará.

2. To recommend to the member states that they strengthen and, where necessary, create mechanisms for the advancement of women and that they bear in mind the need to use gender analysis in devising and executing public policy.

3. To urge the Inter-American Council for Integral Development to consider the gender perspective when devising and executing development projects.

4. To reiterate the importance of full compliance with the Strategic Plan of Action of the Inter-American Commission of Women.