Reprinted with permission from - Vivant! - March 8, 2000
By Vivant! staff
NEW YORK - Unhappy over the unexpected presence of a substantial international contingent of
pro-family youth NGO representatives, radical-feminist lobbyists objected publicly yesterday
to the presence of the World Youth Alliance (WYA). In a one-page circular distributed in the
afternoon to Beijing+5 PrepCom participants, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) issued an
“alert” to European delegations “concerning the threat to the five-year review process
caused by a large presence” of what the EWL called “right-wing, ‘pro-life’ participants.”
According to the EWL, the “numerous right-wing fundamentalists are so far focusing on the
youth caucus, under an initiative which is called the World Youth Alliance.” The pro-
feminist EWL claimed that the “NGO community” is “deeply concerned” and “stand united in our
efforts to minimize their influence, so that the five-year review in support of the [Beijing
Platform for Action] can succeed.”
In a bid to counteract the powerful effect that it believes pro-family NGOs are exerting,
the European Women’s Lobby asked “the EU governments to take a firm stand opposing any
language changes and efforts to undermine the sexual and reproductive rights of women, and
to insist on this point during the negotiations.”
World Youth Alliance spokespersons reacted with a mixture of astonishment and amusement to
the charges circulated against them by radical-feminist NGOs. “That’s a nice compliment,”
said WYA representative Anna Halpine, referring to the complaint that the pro-family youth
coalition was having an immense influence on the Beijing+5 proceedings. “We’re happy to
receive this criticism.”
Halpine said that it was ironic that the European Women’s Lobby was trying so hard to
exclude pro-family viewpoints from the Beijing+5 negotiations. “In light of the fact that
the EWL announced last year across Europe that the EWL was not a special-interest group, and
that it represents all of the concerns of European women, this represents a completely
opposing statement. The EWL is excluding anyone who does not agree with their political
agenda.”
Sources reported that the EWL’s displeasure over the presence of the WYA was shared broadly
among Beijing+5 radical activists. At a meeting of the conference’s Youth Caucus yesterday,
one NGO representative complained, “the Youth Caucus is paralyzed because of the World Youth
Alliance. They are dominating. We can’t work for a while.”
Others discussed how many WYA members were in attendance, with an estimate of 270-300
members suggested by one speaker. Another described the WYA as “extremely well-organized and
highly effective.”
While WYA members say their actual numbers are considerably less than the Youth Caucus
estimate, they acknowledge that they have been a substantial presence at every gathering
they have attended. But that presence, Halpine said yesterday, accurately reflects the
widespread support among the world’s youth for the views they represent. “We have more
representatives here than they do,” she said, “and we have a bigger grassroots base around
the world [than the radical youth NGOs]. That’s what’s being represented at these meetings,
and that’s why they take issue with us.”
Adult feminists are also expressing displeasure at the WYA’s presence. At a meeting
yesterday of the Women and Health Caucus, one NGO representative declared angrily about the
WYA, “According to my feelings they are only trying to keep us from working.”
The reality is very different, WYA members insist. Time and again, they said in interviews
yesterday, meetings have been summarily adjourned after they try to introduce their
viewpoints into NGO discussions. For example, a meeting of Latin American youth participants
was summarily halted when a male WYA member tried to take part, and ordered reconvened at a
later time without his presence.
Another frequent charge against the WYA is that it is being lavishly financed by “the
Vatican” or other unnamed backers. At a March 6 Women’s Caucus meeting, a WYA member from
Eastern Europe responded passionately to that accusation. The young woman, a student, noted
that she was attending at great sacrifice to herself, as she was bearing all of her travel
costs herself.
As for being “disruptive,” she said that her paramount objective in attending Beijing+5 was
to dialogue with other youth about the legitimate concerns of women. And, she added, it was
the anti-World Youth Alliance NGOs who are preventing that dialogue from occurring, not WYA
members like herself.
Reprinted with permission from - Vivant! - March 8, 2000
RADICAL NGOS REACT ANGRILY TO PRESENCE OF PRO-FAMILY YOUTH
By Vivant! staff
NEW YORK - Unhappy over the unexpected presence of a substantial international contingent of
pro-family youth NGO representatives, radical-feminist lobbyists objected publicly yesterday
to the presence of the World Youth Alliance (WYA). In a one-page circular distributed in the
afternoon to Beijing+5 PrepCom participants, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) issued an
“alert” to European delegations “concerning the threat to the five-year review process
caused by a large presence” of what the EWL called “right-wing, ‘pro-life’ participants.”
According to the EWL, the “numerous right-wing fundamentalists are so far focusing on the
youth caucus, under an initiative which is called the World Youth Alliance.” The pro-
feminist EWL claimed that the “NGO community” is “deeply concerned” and “stand united in our
efforts to minimize their influence, so that the five-year review in support of the [Beijing
Platform for Action] can succeed.”
In a bid to counteract the powerful effect that it believes pro-family NGOs are exerting,
the European Women’s Lobby asked “the EU governments to take a firm stand opposing any
language changes and efforts to undermine the sexual and reproductive rights of women, and
to insist on this point during the negotiations.”
World Youth Alliance spokespersons reacted with a mixture of astonishment and amusement to
the charges circulated against them by radical-feminist NGOs. “That’s a nice compliment,”
said WYA representative Anna Halpine, referring to the complaint that the pro-family youth
coalition was having an immense influence on the Beijing+5 proceedings. “We’re happy to
receive this criticism.”
Halpine said that it was ironic that the European Women’s Lobby was trying so hard to
exclude pro-family viewpoints from the Beijing+5 negotiations. “In light of the fact that
the EWL announced last year across Europe that the EWL was not a special-interest group, and
that it represents all of the concerns of European women, this represents a completely
opposing statement. The EWL is excluding anyone who does not agree with their political
agenda.”
Sources reported that the EWL’s displeasure over the presence of the WYA was shared broadly
among Beijing+5 radical activists. At a meeting of the conference’s Youth Caucus yesterday,
one NGO representative complained, “the Youth Caucus is paralyzed because of the World Youth
Alliance. They are dominating. We can’t work for a while.”
Others discussed how many WYA members were in attendance, with an estimate of 270-300
members suggested by one speaker. Another described the WYA as “extremely well-organized and
highly effective.”
While WYA members say their actual numbers are considerably less than the Youth Caucus
estimate, they acknowledge that they have been a substantial presence at every gathering
they have attended. But that presence, Halpine said yesterday, accurately reflects the
widespread support among the world’s youth for the views they represent. “We have more
representatives here than they do,” she said, “and we have a bigger grassroots base around
the world [than the radical youth NGOs]. That’s what’s being represented at these meetings,
and that’s why they take issue with us.”
Adult feminists are also expressing displeasure at the WYA’s presence. At a meeting
yesterday of the Women and Health Caucus, one NGO representative declared angrily about the
WYA, “According to my feelings they are only trying to keep us from working.”
The reality is very different, WYA members insist. Time and again, they said in interviews
yesterday, meetings have been summarily adjourned after they try to introduce their
viewpoints into NGO discussions. For example, a meeting of Latin American youth participants
was summarily halted when a male WYA member tried to take part, and ordered reconvened at a
later time without his presence.
Another frequent charge against the WYA is that it is being lavishly financed by “the
Vatican” or other unnamed backers. At a March 6 Women’s Caucus meeting, a WYA member from
Eastern Europe responded passionately to that accusation. The young woman, a student, noted
that she was attending at great sacrifice to herself, as she was bearing all of her travel
costs herself.
As for being “disruptive,” she said that her paramount objective in attending Beijing+5 was
to dialogue with other youth about the legitimate concerns of women. And, she added, it was
the anti-World Youth Alliance NGOs who are preventing that dialogue from occurring, not WYA
members like herself.