Age-Old Debate Given Fresh Impetus at UN

Tomorrow will be International Women's Day in this International Women's Year. Women have come a long way since the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. But they still have a long way to go before achieving full equality with men. Discrimination against them exists in some manner or form, by law or by tradition, everywhere in the world. And women themselves, for psychological or social reasons, are often unwilling to exercise the rights that have been won for them. To celebrate this International Women's Day, a group of writers, lawyers, scientists, scholars and politicians – mostly women – met today in their personal capacities at UN Headquarters and exchanged ideas, in morning and afternoon sessions, on what the future holds for both sexes. Meanwhile in another part of the building, preparations were continuing for the World Conference of government and non-government representatives that will be held in Mexico City in June. The conference is expected to approve a World Plan of Action on ways to implement the aims of International Women's Year – equality, development and peace – over the next 10 years.
Princess Ashraf Pahlavi (left) of Iran, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for IWY, conversing with Germaine Greer (centre) of Australia, Author, and Elizabeth Reid of Australia, Personal Adviser to the Prime Minister on Women's Issues, during a reception given by Princess Pahlavi today.