Brasília,7/16/2004(Agência Brasil) – The First National Conference on Public Policy has begun talks on the "Challenge of equality for women." The conference has brought together 2,000 participants who will draw up the guidelines for the government's First National Plan for Policies for Women.

This is the first conference of its kind, with broad participation of women from all parts of the country. Preparations have extended over various months with representatives from thousands of municipals providing input and presenting proposals.

"We hope the government will in fact establish guidelines for a National Plan [for women]," says Natalia Mori, a congressional aide for the Feminist Center for Studies and Assistance (CFEMEA). She says that the conference will discuss relevant issues, such as sexual and reproductive rights, the legalization of abortion, and access for women to jobs and income.

Paula de Andrade, the secretary of another women's organization (Articulação de Mulheres Brasileiras) (AMB), praised the diversity present at the conference. She points out that participants are from all parts of the country, age and ethnic groups, educational levels, religions, sexual orientations and socio-cultural classes. Such diversity, she says, strengthens the conference and the influence it should have on the final plan for Pulbic Policy for Women.

"We want solutions that do not treat economic policy as something separate from social policy," added Paula de Andrade. "We seek policies that will involve the government as a whole. And we want policy that recognizes the importance of women, allows them to discuss the issues and participate actively in the decision-making process."

Repórter:Bianca Estrella
(Translator: Allen Bennett)