Press Release # 11

San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 30, 2004. Women's Press Team in CEPAL/RIF-FIRE (Margarita Melgar) Translated by Claudia Anfossi

The US delegation was blackmailing various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, to vote against the 1994 Platform of Action of Cairo, according to widespread rumors at CEPAL, the 30th Session of the Economic Commission for Latin America of the United Nations held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The Bush Administration contends that the original 1994 Cairo agreements signed by governments worldwide contradict their ultra-conservative policies related to reproductive and sexual rights, as well as women´s rights in general.  Apparently members of the official US delegation at CEPAL threatened other countries with cutbacks in foreign aid if they did not comply with efforts to roll back the 1994 Cairo agreements.

US Rep. Carolyn Maloney, (Democrat from New York), whose district includes a high percentage of Puerto Rican voters, said that if the rumors were true, it would be a huge tactical error on the part of her country’s delegation. Maloney affirmed that she had met with the US delegates and that when the subject of the rumors was brought up, they denied such intervention. She then insisted they should make a public declaration to stop the rumors.

However, as of this date, no declaration had been made and the rumors persist.