Report of the Committee for the Study of the Status of Women in the United Nations

The nucleus of the subcommission on the status of women was formed by the Economic and Social Council under its resolutions passed on the sixteenth of February 1946, in order that it might submit proposals, recommendations, and reports concerning the status of women to the Commission on Human Rights, and submit proposals concerning matters within its competence and the manner of its composition to the Council by way of the Commission on Human Rights. This subcommission met in Gillett Hall at Hunter College in New York during the period between April 29 and the thirteenth of May 1946, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Bodil Begtrup. The discussions turned on the fundamental principles to be adopted, the breadth of the scope of the work to be undertaken, and the composition of the full subcommission.

A general feeling prevailed among the members of gratitude to the Economic and Social Council for its concern with the question of the status of women and for its creation of this subcommission to study the complicated questions, and in this way to carry out what is stated in the preamble to the United Nations Charter: "the equal rights of men and women."

It was officially affirmed that the subcommission was formed to give counsel to the Commission on Human Rights in matters concerning the status of women. Accordingly, the subcommission must work in harmony with the Commission. General agreement was reached that the subcommission must study the status of women from all sides and present to the Commission proposals as broad as possible concerning human rights and concerning the scope of the work the subcommission will undertake when it is constituted in final, permanent form. The members defined the ideals to be aimed at and the principles in whose light the work will proceed, and this stood as a preliminary step in their reasoned endeavor. The members considered that the work of the subcommission must continue until woman has reached a point at which she stands on an equal footing with man in all fields of human activity. Practical preference had to be given to political rights, since without them no great progress is possible. Nevertheless, improvements in the civil, educational, social, and economic fields were also considered of special importance, and all must therefore be treated together with political rights at one and the same time.

The question was discussed whether the Trusteeship Council, upon its formation, should be invited to consult the subcommission with regard to the status of women in the countries that have no independent governments and whose affairs are entrusted to that Trusteeship Council, on the basis of Article 76 (c) of the United Nations Charter. It was generally agreed that this is a question that can be left to another time, when the full subcommission holds its coming meetings.

In the course of discussing the question of constituting the subcommission in its final, permanent shape, the disadvantages and advantages of adopting a small membership were closely studied. It was found that a small body could be more capable of work, although the larger body could represent woman's activity and works more broadly; and it was decided to propose that the number of members be not fewer than 15, including three members who were formerly members of the Commission on Human Rights. As for the other members, they would be elected from the regions not fully represented in the first subcommission, and in particular from the countries in which the condition of woman has reached different stages. A difference of opinion arose over the question of outside representation: some members held that representation should be on a governmental basis, since the work of the subcommission cannot be effective without government backing. Others were of the view that members should be chosen on the basis of their personal competence, as was the case when the Economic and Social Council chose the members of the founding subcommission. The members reached the following conclusion: since in practice the Economic and Social Council does not appoint persons unwanted by their governments, the Council should therefore select on the basis of personal competence. As for the term of membership, the members held that continuity is necessary during the first years, in the course of which their program will be applied; after 1950 a system of rotation should be applied, conforming to the main lines laid down by the Economic and Social Council for the other committees.

In the course of their meeting the members of the subcommission expressed their faith that democracy is now the only social order in which women can enjoy their full rights as human creatures; that a great number of women have made many sacrifices for the sake of democracy and freedom, and have proved by deed that they are capable of carrying out all duties and tasks; and they affirm their resolve to work in the service of world peace with all the strength of heart, mind, and will that they have been given.

Accordingly, the subcommission recommends that the full subcommission should proceed in its coming work by the guidance of the following ideals:

1) Freedom and equality are necessities for the progress of the human race. And since woman is a human being as much as man is, she is therefore entitled to share in them with him.

2) The welfare and progress of society depend upon the extent to which both man and woman are able to develop their personalities to the furthest possible point and to feel their responsibilities toward themselves and toward one another.

3) Thus woman has a definite part to play in the building of a free, active, prosperous society adorned with good morals, and because she will not be able to carry out this duty unless she is a free and responsible individual.

To attain this goal, the subcommission must raise the standing of woman to equality with man in all fields of human activity.

First: Politics

The subcommission therefore recommends that its aims be as follows:

1 - Politics

Equality in the exercise of the burdens of government and the possibility of enjoying all the rights and carrying out all the responsibilities of the citizen, which include:

1 - The right of universal suffrage. 2 - Equality in the right to vote. 3 - Equality in the right to stand for election. 4 - Equality in the holding of public office.

B - Civil

1 - Marriage: the right of choice, the inviolability of the wife, no plurality of wives, and equality in the right to dissolve the marriage.

2 - Guardianship: equality in the right of guardianship over her own children and the children of others.

3 - Nationality: her right to retain her nationality, and the right of her children, on reaching the age of majority, to adopt their mother's nationality.

4 - Property: equality in the right to own land, to acquire it, to administer it, and to take it by inheritance.

C - Social and Economic

Full possibility of playing a part equal to man's in social life, which implies full opportunity to carry out her duties toward society:

1 - To prevent any discrimination against women in social and economic conditions and in customs.

2 - (a) To abolish prostitution by removing the legal regulations, and the regulations followed by convention and custom, relating to prostitution.

(b) To lay down strict measures to abolish the traffic in women and children.

(c) To abolish clandestine prostitution by securing the necessary conditions under which woman is no longer compelled to earn money in this way.

(d) To enable former prostitutes to return to ordinary life without discrimination, by securing work for them and securing a broad-minded educational system within the reach of all.

3 - Special consideration may be given to woman on grounds of health and of motherhood, while at the same time no weakness may be imputed to woman on the basis of sex with respect to her enjoyment of full equality, her exercise of her social rights and her rights of work, and her assumption of her social duties and her duties of work.

4 - There must be an effective project of health legislation and social security which secures preventive and curative means for women on an equal footing with men, and which includes special precautions for the care of motherhood and of children.

D - Education

Equality of opportunity for full compulsory and free education. And equality of opportunity in all fields of specialization and of training in the art of handling scientific discoveries as applied to the growth of man and the advancement of his constitution.

To attain these aims, the subcommission proposes:

That world public opinion be aroused to raise the standing of woman, as a means of spreading human rights and consolidating peace. The subcommission also recommends, in view of the fact that the governments of all the United Nations, by signing the Charter, have recognized that one of their principal aims, as set forth in the preamble, is "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the sanctity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small," that the subcommission for the study of the status of women awaits the assistance and support of all the governments of the United Nations, to the furthest extent, in its efforts and endeavors to raise the standing of woman in all parts of the world. At the same time, this subcommission sincerely wishes to render every possible aid to these governments in applying the principle of equal rights between men and women. And the subcommission will cooperate with the committees of the United Nations and their governments and with the competent agencies, special committees and general ones alike, and with the international and national women's organizations, and with any other technical experts whose presence and cooperation are considered necessary. Representatives of the organizations mentioned above should be invited to take part as associates or advisers. And the subcommission welcomes all reports and recommendations.

Second - The Program

In view of this broad summary of the aim, the subcommission proposes the following program of work:

1 - To carry out a broad, comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable study of all the laws and statutes relating to the status of women, of the manner of their application, and of the status of women as it actually is.

2 - To carry out polls in several regions to ascertain public opinion on the matters with which the subcommission is concerned.

3 - To organize a hearing in order to hear the points of view of the advisers.

4 - To call a women's conference of the United Nations to broaden the program and help in spreading it.

5 - To make the necessary preparation for the exchange of all classes of women workers in the two fields of manual and mental work, including women workers in the industrial, agricultural, and cultural fields.

6 - To collect the records of women's affairs and organize them in the form of volumes, pamphlets, maps, and the like (it is preferable that they form part of the records of the United Nations).

7 - To prepare the proposal providing for the creation of a general world opinion by way of the press, wireless broadcasts, lectures, motion pictures, etc. ...

8 - That the information section of the United Nations Organization prepare the materials about the United Nations, to be distributed on request.

9 - That a request be directed that all correspondence and information of importance to women's affairs received by the United Nations be referred to the subcommission.

10 - That women leaders be trained by taking up a special course of study on women's affairs, and that the spreading of scholastic aids be encouraged.

11 - That an executive bureau for women's affairs be founded, forming a part of the Secretariat, to handle all the work of the subcommission, under the direction of a lady of high competence, whose appointment shall be made after consulting the subcommission, assisted by a number of competent women officials.

12 - That an executive committee be formed of those members of the subcommission residing in the neighborhood of the seat of the United Nations Organization. The purpose of this committee shall be to watch over the general policy of the subcommission.

Second - Of What the Subcommission Is to Be Composed

On the basis of the terms of reference in the document numbered E/27, section B.4, providing that the first subcommission will make the recommendations concerning the final, permanent composition of the subcommission, the first subcommission recommends:

1 - That it be composed in the future of fifteen members, including three members from the Commission on Human Rights.

2 - That the appointment of members be made by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of their personal competence.

3 - That the choice of the other members be made from the regions of the Balkan states, Great Britain, Latin America, and the United States of America, so that the subcommission may be constituted in final, permanent form.

4 - That the choice be made from among women prominent in public affairs.

5 - That the president of the subcommission be consulted before the final appointment is made by the Economic and Social Council.

6 - The election of all the members must be renewed for a term of three years beginning the first of April 1947, so that they may render effective service during the founding period.

7 - That a sound system of rotation be followed after this period has elapsed.

8 - That the members attend regularly.

9 - In case any emergency arises, substitutes for the absent members shall be appointed under the rules of the Economic and Social Council.

10 - That the next meeting of the subcommission be held before the end of the year, and that the date be fixed by the president of the Economic and Social Council after consultation with the president of the subcommission and the vice-president.

The members of the subcommission wish to affirm that direct work can be done — indeed must be done — under the proposed rules, as follows:

1 - The executive bureau (paragraphs three and two).

2 - A general survey (paragraphs three and one).

3 - Education and instruction (paragraph one).

4 - The women's conference (paragraph two, 4).

5 - Political rights (paragraph one, A).

And the subcommission on women's affairs and status sincerely requests the Economic and Social Council to direct an appeal to those governments of the United Nations that have not granted woman her rights in elections, that they may do so at the earliest possible time, so that all the provisions of the United Nations Charter may be carried out.