Hanoi, 9 December - Delegates to the Asian Women for a Culture of Peace Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, (6-9 December) today unanimously adopted a programme for action to promote peace, disarmament and demilitarisation.

The Hanoi Declaration strongly advocates broad ranging strategies to usher in a "culture of peace". UNESCO, it was recommended, should be the lead agency to engage institutions to study different approaches to conflict resolution as a step in preparing these indicators, while a culture of peace and gender justice should be promoted through publications, community radio and websites. The Declaration further calls on UNESCO to develop Gendered Human Security Indicators (replacing Gendered Human Security Index discussed earlier) which would promote the concept of human, national and state security, indicate the number of women in politics and decision-making, and examine their influence on peace.

Expressing concern that women continue to be victims and targets of atrocities in war and conflict, that their human rights and dignity are violated, and that they remain largely excluded from decision-making in political, social and economic development, delegates reiterated that human security and a culture of peace required that the root causes of violence, of economic and social deprivation and intolerance and discrimination be confronted.

The Conference, organised by the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO with support from UNESCO and ESCAP, was held as an Asian commemoration of the International Year for the Culture of Peace, in preparation of the UN Decade on a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010), and in support of the Outcome Document of the Assessment Meeting of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing + 5) held in New York this year.

The Hanoi Programme of Action calls education the "key to development and peace" along with respect for cultural diversity and human rights, equal representation in decision-making by women and men, and a reorientation of social and economic policies and structures. The Declaration further stresses the impact and role of the media in shaping public perceptions, eliminating stereotyped images of women and men, deglamourising violent conflict and reflecting the increased engagement of women in a culture of peace. The strategies urge a promotion of women's role in poverty eradication, in stepping up the economic development of the family and community, women's empowerment through training for employment and livelihood programmes and through equitable participation in science and technology for sustainable development.

The Programme of Action calls for a follow-up mechanism to coordinate and monitor the Culture of Peace movement. In the sphere of education, it advocates a more proactive peace research, research in gender relations, legislation to outlaw violence in schools and homes, the boycotting of violent toys, games and comics as well as gender sensitive training for parents, educators, health workers, employers, police and military personnel.

In the field of the media, UNESCO and NGOs are urged to support the entry of women in journalism and new information technologies through scholarships and training; the introduction of gender analyses and human rights training as part of the core curriculum of media studies in universities and educational institutions; the development of a culture of peace and media literacy curriculum for primary and secondary schools; and a gender sensitive code of ethics within media institutions. Delegates called on UNESCO to organise international photography competitions for women photographers focusing on the changing roles of women and men.

Participants at the Conference also addressed strategies to improve economic opportunities for women, urging gender sensitive data collection, budgeting and policy making and the inclusion of women in international trade and economic negotiations; the strengthening of women's rights to property and mobility; the launching of regional and sub-regional alternative markets and greater protection of women in the informal sectors; it also referred to the violations with regard to trafficking in women, children, drugs and arms.

Women's "distinctive experiences, perspectives, skills and competence in conflict resolution and management, in opposing the use of force, in preventing violence, in healing and reconciliation and their potential for leadership," the Declaration states, "should be recognised and encouraged."

Reacting to the adoption of the Declaration and Programme for Action, Ms Kayoko Mizuta, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP said that in the past women's conferences had focused on economic and social issues and not so much on peace: "This is the new element here - giving peace issues a voice…the Conference is important because it highlights the role women can play in the peace agenda." Ms J. Moserova, President of UNESCO's General Conference, declared that women have "the power to break the vicious circle of prejudice, hatred and distrust, and that this was the best way to establish a culture of peace."

Mrs Hi Thi Khiet, President of the Vietnamese Women's Association and President of the present Conference, said that she hoped that the Programme of Action would be followed up and implemented. "This decade", she said, "would set the tone for the new century and the millennium."

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