representative emphasized the fact that educational choices led to a clear occupational segregation and needed to be abolished. The educational sectors traditionally chosen by women should be reviewed. 31. Several representatives stressed that access to health services, including family planning, should be affordable and acceptable. They stated that the health patterns of women differed from those of men and that women’s health was deteriorating with the emergence of AIDS. The problem of traditional practices and the need to eliminate female genital mutilation was mentioned by the representative of one non-governmental organization. 32. Many representatives stated that the elimination of violence against women stood out as a particularly crucial issue and was one of the most extreme violations of women’s human rights. They welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. One representative stated that all efforts to promote equality and development would fail if a peaceful and violence-free environment could not be ensured for women. Economic empowerment plus legal protection of their rights could help women in resisting domestic victimization. 33. A representative speaking on behalf of a group of specialized agencies suggested analysing the historical, social and cultural origins of violence. The incidence of violence in the workplace needed to be studied. The particular vulnerability of stateless women such as refugees and displaced women who could no longer avail themselves of their Government’s legal protection was highlighted. One observer suggested facilitating the removal of refugee women from conflict areas. Several representatives stressed that trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of prostitution needed to be addressed. One representative suggested establishing a working group to analyse and revise the 1950 Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. 34. It was observed that war-related violence was increasing and that in some parts of the world women were deliberately and systematically subjected to physical abuse and atrocities. Appropriate strategies needed to be formulated to curb State-sponsored violence against women and to bring the perpetrators to justice. A few representatives also observed that terrorism and related atrocities have emerged as an impediment to the enjoyment of human rights, particularly by women, and appropriate strategies needed to be developed to meet that new threat. 35. Some representatives suggested that women’s involvement in creating and sustaining peaceful societies should be seen in a perspective broader than that of peace-keeping and should include reconciliation, peaceful resolution of conflicts and dialogue. 36. A few representatives welcomed the addition of a priority theme on women and the media and stressed the role of the mass media in raising gender awareness through education and public information. The effect of global information networks needed to be brought out more clearly. It was suggested that the role of the mass media in portraying women and greater participation of women in the mass media should be addressed. 37. A few representatives expressed their concern about the practicality of using the media to promote equality between women and men, since all media organizations in their countries were independent and Governments were not in a position to take action in that regard. -88-