(March 9, 2010) The Holy See has criticized the approach of measuring women’s advancement
primarily in terms of sexual and reproductive rights rather than on political, economic
and social rights. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer
at the United Nations in New York, affirmed this on the 100th International
Women’s Day, Monday. He was addressing a special meeting reviewing progress made
during the 15 years since the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing in 1995.
The prelate decried how nearly every international conference document or resolution
links the achievement of women’s rights to "a notion of sexual and reproductive health
and rights which is violent to unborn human life and is detrimental to the integral
needs of women and men within society." "While at the same time," he added, "only
seldom are women’s political, economic and social rights mentioned as an inescapable
clause and commitment." Archbishop Migliore made clear that the true advancement
of women is a clear priority, noting how woes, discrimination and violence such as
female feticide, infanticide, malnutrition, illiteracy, trafficking and AIDS are taking
a heavy toll on women. He noted that 15 years ago in Beijing, women's human rights
were affirmed as "an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human
rights." This," he said, "is key not only to understanding the inherent dignity of
women and girls but also to making this a concrete reality around the world."