"We argue generally that gender equality is a prerequisite and a precondition for social development....

"Unless we can really deal with all their concepts and show them where it's wrong to emphasize demographics and population control issues without regard to women's empowerment, without regard to reproductive rights, without regard to reproductive health, without regard to sexual rights and sexual health, without regard to raising the status of women, then we will have failed in educating to make a whole new turn-around in the social policy affecting population and development."

Notes

1. Quote from Bella Abzug, "Proposed Text to be Printed in Colloquy Highlights Women's Empowerment: the United Nation's Role, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia Education Fund," in Abzug file at WEDO, 6 May 1995.