  
Statement of the Women from the South
The Conference in Beijing
We strongly feel that there should be proportional representation of women of the South, including the appropriate representation of grass-roots and indigenous women who are outside the formal system.
We demand the allocation of appropriate funding to enable all such women from the South to attend, and that such funds should not be directed to or channeled through our governments.
We are convinced of the necessity for the integration of the governmental and non-governmental processes and participation in Beijing.
Northern Aid Donors
We demand that aid from the North to the South (in partial compensation for our past exploitation and continuing economic subordination in the global system) go directly to the basic needs and empowerment of our populations, especially women.
We must criticize the ways in which most governmental and non-governmental organizations carry out their programs in our countries. Most aid remains in the donor countries, or serves the interests of the aid experts and their home organizations.
The aid donors must ensure that people, and especially women, benefit directly, and that aid does not go into the pockets, or serve the political purposes of, corrupt government officials who might intercept aid transfers.
Northern Creditors
We demand the immediate and unconditional cancellation of the external, bilateral, and multinational debts of the countries of the South.
We demand the total transformation of international financial institutions into representative, democratic, transparent, and accountable bodies serving our respective and self-defined needs.
North-South Relations
We totally reject the allegations that the so-called over-population of the South is the primary cause of economic and ecological crisis in our countries and in the world.
But rather we demand recognition that the cause of economic and ecological crisis is the pattern of production and over-consumption in the rich North. This causes the depletion of the world's resources, especially in the South, with all the accompanying negative ecological, social, economic and political effects.
South-South Relations
We deplore and reject competitions, conflicts, and wars between countries of the South caused by ambitious and corrupt governments, and actively promoted by Northern military and strategic interests.
We call for mutual-support amongst the peoples of the South. We women commit ourselves to build solidarity and cooperation amongst women and all people of the South, and likewise with the women and people of the North.
See also A Call to Action, Climate Change and Energy Use, Economic Alternatives, Population, Recommendations Related to Beijing, Trade and Debt.
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