168. Memorandum From Aurelia Brazeal of the Department of State Secretariat Staff to the National Security Council Secretariat, Washington, November 9, 1973.1 2
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
November 9, 1973
Memorandum for: NSC Secretariat
The
White House
Subject: Progress Report on International Women’s Year - 1975
In reply to Mrs. Anne Armstrong’s verbal request for a progress report on the planning for international Women’s Year - 1975, we are forwarding the attached report.
[signed]
A. Brazeal
Secretariat Staff
Attachment:
Progress Report on international Women’s Year -
1975
PROGRESS REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S YEAR - 1975
1. The United Nations General Assembly Proclaims 1975 International Women’s Year (IWY)
Last year, the United Nations General Assembly, acting on a recommendation from the UN Commission on the Status of Women, proclaimed 1975 as International Women’s Year in order “to intensify the action required to advance the status of women.” The United Nations invited governments to cooperate in observing the year. (UN Resolution - Tab A)
2. United Nations Suggestions for International Women’s Year
Earlier this year the UN Secretariat drafted a suggested program for United Nations observance of International Women’s Year and United Nations members were asked to submit their comments on the draft. The United Nations program, together with the recommendations from member countries, will be considered by the UN Commission on the Status of Women when it meets in New York in January 1974. (United Nations - Suggestions Concerning Programmes for International Women’s Year - Tab B)
3. United States Proposal for the Observance of International Women’s Year
(a) Informal Working Group
An informal working group, on the initiative of the Department of State, was called together on February 22, 1973 to comment on the tentative program of the United Nations. (Informal Working Group - Tab C)
The Informal Working Group, under the direction of Dr. Ruth Bacon, after a series of meetings, prepared a draft United States response to the United Nations suggested program; henceforth called the Draft U.S. Proposal for the Observance of International Women’s Year.
(b) Formal Interdepartmental Committee
On August 14, 1973, Mr. John McDonald, Jr., (Coordinator for Multilateral Development Programs, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State) convened the United Nations Economic Committee (UNEC) meeting to approve the United States recommendations. (Call to UNEC meeting, with distribution list, members of formal body - Tab D)
After suggestions for strengthening the draft were made, the amended U.S. Proposal was approved by UNEC and submitted in September by the Department of State to the UN Secretary General. (U.S. Proposal for the Observance of International Women’s Year 1975 - Tab E)
4. The U.S. Center for International Women’s Year - 1975
(a) From Idea to Reality
In discussing the UN Resolution, the Informal Working Group developed the idea of a U.S. Center for International Women’s Year - 1975. Through the leadership of John Richardson, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Center became a reality. An initial Government grant of $36,000 was made to establish and operate the Center through August 31, 1974.
(b) Objectives of U.S. Center for International Women’s Year
The U.S. Center, a non-partisan and non-profit operation, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing information and of serving as a communications channel for the observance of international Women’s Year. Additional functions are to coordinate and stimulate activities across the United States in support of improving the status of women and to encourage organizations, governing bodies, and individuals to realize, as President Nixon has emphasized, that “full and equal participation of women is crucial to the strength of our country” especially in matters pertaining to national security and foreign affairs.
(c) Location of Center
The Center is located in Meridian House, off 16th Street above Florida Avenue. Meridian House is a beautiful old mansion which houses several organizations dealing principally with foreign visitors (COSERV, THIS, and IVIS). Volunteers from nongovernmental organizations frequent the House and the Center should thus both benefit from its surroundings and contribute to them.
(d) Staff of Center
The staff of the Center at present consists of the Director, Dr. Ruth Bacon, and Staff Assistant, Yvonne A. Lewis. The staff has been making contacts, assembling materials for distribution to organizations, talking to groups, and working on a questionnaire to determine priorities as to topics, themes and types of activities. A preliminary leaflet, describing the Center, has been prepared and is being distributed. (”Have you Heard? 1975 is international Women’s Year” - Tab F)
(e) Open House
On November 7, the Center will hold an Open House. Leaders of nongovernmental organizations and government personnel are being invited.
(f) Additional Funding
As a matter of principle and of good operating procedure, it would be desirable to obtain additional funds from the private sector. Moreover, informal understandings, common to grants of this type, virtually preclude the use of any of the money for entertainment. For these reasons, as well as to augment funds for publications and travel, efforts will be made to obtain financial assistance from foundations, nongovernmental organizations, special benefits, and government agencies.
(g) Enthusiastic Response
In its brief period of operation so far, the Center has found very considerable public interest in International Women’s Year as word of the Year spreads. It is believed that without question the Center fills a genuine need at this time.
5. “IWY 1975: Women in the World” Workshop
(a) An Innovation
As part of the annual National Foreign Policy Conference for Leaders of Nongovernmental Organizations convened by the Bureau of Public Affairs, Department of State, a workshop was held on September 18 from 2:45-4:30 p.m. on the topic “IWY 1975: Women in the World.” The workshop was an innovation. The other concurrent workshops included the five geographic areas and one on international trade and finance, following the type of presentation and subject matter similar to previous conferences. There never had been one on the international aspects of the status of women. Originally, there was doubt over how much interest there would be in this workshop as compared with the workshops on topics currently making the headlines. As things turned out, the workshop on women proved the most popular one, so popular in fact that it was assigned the main conference room. (General Information Leaflet and Registration Card - Tab G)
(b) The Briefing
The agenda covered recent international meetings on the status of women such as sessions of the Inter-American Commission of Women, the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Seminar in London on the “Family in a Changing Society,” as well as a discussion of the United States and UN plans for International Women’s Year. The agenda was not completely adhered to as questions from the audience were numerous and touched on many topics, including current policies of the Department of State. There was so much interest in the discussion that the workshop held a resumed session at 8:30 a.m. the next morning with a good attendance even at that hour.
The workshop is an indication of the degree of interest among nongovernmental organizations in the worldwide women’s movement. Indeed several persons reported that they decided to come to the conference as a whole solely because of the “Women in the World” workshop. (Agenda “IWY - 1975: Women in the World” Workshop and Resource People - Tab H)
6. Meetings of the United Nations Economic Committee (UNEC)
There have been two meetings of UNEC at which there have been significant exchanges of ideas in plans for International Women’s Year and other matters relating to the status of women. This Committee has a broad interdepartmental membership and its Charter was approved by the Department of State on January 11, 1973 “to develop Executive Branch policy positions on general economic, social, humanitarian and related policy questions arising in connection with the work of appropriate United Nations organizations.” (Charter of UNEC - Tab I)
Mrs. Jean Picker, U.S. Representative on the United Nations Social Commission, came down from New York to contribute her views.
One of the several suggestions resulting from these Meetings was the probable need for a formal advisory committee of informed persons of national stature to work with the concerned agencies of the Executive, Branch and the IWY Center with International Women’s Year - 1975. Such a committee would depend for its success on high level support within the Government as well as a substantial financial allocation. The idea will be explored by a working group, and a special request for an advisory committee may be initiated in the near future.
7. Commemorative Postage Stamp
We are hoping that the U.S. Postal Service will issue a commemorative postage stamp for International Women’s Year. Issuance would offer an unusual opportunity to honor both the UN and women. As requests for a special stamp require at least 8 months lead time, this project is underway. Even though on thousand requests are made and only twelve can be granted, it is significant to note that prestigious organizations have already endorsed the effort through letters to the Postmaster General and others are in the process of doing so. (President’s Citizens’ Advisory Council Endorsement and Letters from Several Nongovernmental Organizations - Tab J)
8. Proposed Presidential Proclamation
We are, of course, counting on the issuance by President Nixon of a proclamation declaring 1975 as International Women’s Year in the United States and asking for the cooperation of the Congress, state and local officials, organizations and private citizens in observing the Year. We understand that such a proclamation is normally issued no more than one year in advance. We are starting work on the preparation of a draft proclamation so that all will be in readiness for consideration and action by the President before the meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in January 1974.
9. Testimony before House Subcommittee on International Organizations and Movements
The Subcommittee on International Organizations and Movement 4 of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Donald M. Fraser, of Minnesota, Chairman, held a hearing on October 24, 1973 to discuss the international women’s movement. Shirley Hendsch, International Women’s Programs, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State, and Dr. Ruth Bacon, Director of the U.S. Center for International Women’s Year, testified. This hearing offered an excellent opportunity to acquaint the members of the Subcommittee with current plans and developments in connection with International Women’s Year and to bring about an awareness of the potential impact of U.S. foreign policy of the women’s movement.
Attachments:
Tab A - UNGA
Resolution
Tab B - United Nations - Suggestions Concerning
Programmes for International Women’s Year
Tab C - Informal Working
Group
Tab D - Call to UNEC Meeting, with Distribution List,
Members of Formal Body
Tab E - U.S. Proposal for the Observance of
International Women’s Year
Tab F - “Have You Heard? 1975 is
International Women’s Year”
Tab G - General Information Leaflet
and Registration Card
Tab H - Agenda “IWY - 1975: Women in the
World” Workshop and Resource People
Tab I - Charter of UN Economic
Committee (UNEC)
Tab J - President’s Citizens’ Advisory Council
Endorsement and Letters from Several Nongovernmental
Organizations
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–73, SOC 15. No classification marking. Drafted by Allan on November 5 and cleared in PA, CU, and IO/CMD. Tabs A–D and F–J are attached but not published. Tab E is published as Document 166.↩
- The Department responded to a request by Armstrong for a progress report on U.S. government preparations for the 1975 International Women’s Year.↩