INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR

The year 1975 has been declared International Women's Year throughout the world. The American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO have been long committed to the principle of true equality for all people without regard to race, religion, color or sex.

The proclamation of International Women's Year by the President and the appointment of a United States Commission on International Women's Year provides a vehicle through which women and men in all walks of life can work together for full equality of the sexes.

We commend the United States Commission for International Women's Year for accepting the demand of the American Federation of Teachers to establish a special committee on working women. However, this committee has remained leaderless. We call upon the President and the Commission chairpersons to immediately appoint an AFL-CIO leader as chairperson of this committee and allocate funds to adequately finance its activities.

A World Conference on International Women's Year was held under the auspices of the United Nations in Mexico City, June 19 through July 2, 1975.

The American Federation of Teachers regrets that the objectives of International Women's Year were subverted at this conference and made more difficult to achieve by the same forces which were responsible for honoring the terrorist Palestine Liberation Organization and its leader at the last session of the General Assembly. By introducing divisive political and economic matters, they indicated that they were determined to delay rather than to hasten the implementation of the basic objective of International Women's Year--the promotion of equality of men and women. Especially divisive was the Declaration of Mexico, a document forced upon the conference by a coalition of developing nations, those countries which have traditionally oppressed women, and the Soviet Union and its satellites. The Declaration includes a condemnation of Zionism, the basis of self-determination and national liberation of the Jewish people, and the establishment of the State of Israel. It equated Zionism with imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism and apartheid. It was a not too subtle demand for the destruction of the State of Israel, a state which more than any other in the Middle East, had advanced the equality of women and men.

The American Federation of Teachers commends the U.S. delegation to the World Conference International Women's Year for its rejection of the "Declaration of Mexico."

The American Federation of Teachers reiterates its support of the State of Israel. We deplore and denounce those who use the needs of women for other political ends.

The American Federation of Teachers calls upon all AFT locals to participate in appropriate Interna­tional Women's Year activities and give leadership in the planning of these activities so that they will truthfully speak to the rights and welfare of women. AFT locals in states which have not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment are urged to make ratification a key part of their action programs.