PDP 6- "Speech at the UN Conference on Women (1995)"

Author Bio:

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the 11th prime minister of Pakistan and a steadfast advocate of peace. She served two terms from 1988–1990 and 1993–1996. Her role in this conference is significant because she was the first woman to be democratically elected to lead any Muslim nation. As the leader of Pakistan, a largely Muslim nation, Bhutto cites elements of the Muslim faith in her argument for womens' rights by describing the fact that the fundamental principles of Islam promote women as equals and do not support or condone discrimination of any kind. Her position of political power and the faith that largely represents her country draws legitimacy to the argument posed in her speech at the conference. It is clear that she has some significant bias in the matter of womens' rights given that she is a woman. The argument would most likely have been presented differently if the speech was given by a male; however, the bias that she held translated into a display of true passion and belief in her cause, thus deeming her presentation significantly more effective at rallying support. Moreover, she has a unique perspective on the issue given that she is a woman from Pakistan. The problems that she addresses, while very pressing in Pakistan and its neighboring regions, do not hold such a glaring presence in places such as America. Her cultural bias on this matter contributes to her argument because she speaks from experience and is able to enlighten those who are generally removed from the problem. 

Date/Context:

This speech was presented in 1995, so the issues that it describes are very modern. The concerns about womens' rights that were discussed by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto are still present in societies all over the world today. The  speech was given at a conference just four years after the culmination of the Cold War in 1991. The speaker even denotes this war as a contributing factor in the discrimination and exploitation of women in modern society. 

Summary:

In September of 1995, a conference was held in Beijing as an effort to rally world leaders in the fight for womens' rights. As stated by the guest speaker, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the assembly proved that women had not been forgotten, and there is a resounding effort to increase true gender equality. Bhutto explains that some of the core issues that create and contribute to gender inequity are the facts that women all over the world tend to have little to no education and very limited job opportunities. Thus, women are unable to support themselves independently, resulting in maltreatment, exploitation, and often poverty. The Pakistan Prime Minister and advocate for womens' rights also denotes that Pakistan has been implementing numerous policies to increase the status of women, such as investment in the education of girls, increased employment opportunities, and organizations such as the Womens' Bank, which helps to build financial stability and independence for women all over the country. Furthermore, the speaker acknowledges the substantial but still insufficient progress that has been made throughout her lifetime. She explains that most women are now free to leave the house and have their choice in marriage; however, Bhutto repeatedly reminds the delegates that equality has not yet been reached. She concludes the speech with a final effort to rally support for her cause and urges her audience to commit to the improvement of womens' rights. She explains that women cannot fight this battle alone and that it will require a world of commitment for the final goal to be achieved. Finally, she adds that the equality that she seeks for women all over the world must reach beyond solely political and legal means, and must extend into all other aspects of society as well. 

Key Quotation:

"This conference needs to chart a course that can create a climate where the girl child is as welcomed and valued as the boy child, that the girl child is considered as worthy as a bot child."