UNITED NATIONS Press Release 7 March 2003 Following is the message of High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello on the occasion of International Women's Day, 8 March 2003: Today we celebrate the strength and power of women worldwide. Today we celebrate their achievements and reflect on how all women everywhere enjoy all their human rights. Women's rights are human rights. For this rhetoric to be more than just that rhetoric we must redouble our efforts to confront the negative stereotypes and prejudice women face. We must strive for universal ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which, with the ratification of Afghanistan, is now accepted by 171 countries. We must continue to take strong measures against that global pandemic, violence against women. We must ensure that every girl and every woman enjoys the right to education, the right to equal participation, access to information, the media and modern communications technologies. This is what empowerment is about -- ensuring that women can fulfil their potential to contribute and enjoy their right to public and private life. I have learned from my experiences in societies ravaged by conflict that women are frequently the peacemakers. I have seen women encourage restraint, reason, reconciliation, stability and participation. Women have a right to full and equal participation. Without it, there will be no durable peace after conflict, and no sustainable development. Let us give this symbolic date of 8 March some real substance and recommit ourselves to striving for the day when all women enjoy all their human rights. The inherent dignity and equality of women require it. Our future demands it. * *** *
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