When government representatives meet for a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 2000 to review implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, Equality Now considers that the most minimum level of political commitment to the Beijing implementation process would require all governments to have eliminated laws that explicitly discriminate on the basis of sex.

Yet in an overwhelming number of countries such laws remain in force. Our campaign will call upon governments to repeal or amend these laws over the course of the upcoming year prior to the Beijing +5 Special Session. At the Special Session these reforms can then be highlighted as a show of genuine commitment to (rather than disregard for) the words and spirit of the Platform for Action.

Equality Now has recently published a report for the Beijing +5 review process which highlights a cross-section of laws in 45 countries which discriminate against women with regard to personal status, economic status, marital status and violence against women. This report is part of our Beijing +5 campaign which focuses on the importance of accountability for the commitments made by governments at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. Equality Now has distributed this report to members of UN treaty-based bodies, to members of the international media as well as to our Women's Action Network.

To request a copy of Equality Now's Report or to send your comments and ideas on our campaign, please contact us by email (info@equalitynow.org) or by fax (212-586-0906). Equality Now's report is now available on its web site at www.equalitynow.org

Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of women's rights. Issues of concern to Equality Now include trafficking in women, rape, domestic violence, denial of reproductive rights and other forms of discrimination and violence against women. Equality Now campaigns against these violations through its Women's Action Network, which consists of over 4000 groups and individuals in 100 countries around the world. The Women's Action Network adds an international overlay of support for national efforts to promote women's rights.