WOMENS EMPOWERMENT AS A PUBLIC PROBLEM - A CASE-STUDY OF THE 1994 INTERNATIONAL-CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Using the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) as a case study, I examine how women's empowerment amassed publ ic attention. I investigate feminist preparations for the conference a nd suggest that by playing an active role in preparatory meetings and the conference, women gained recognition from governments throughout t he world and from the United Nations, and helped frame issues in a way that motivated the press to highlight women's empowerment. I argue 'e mpowering women' became a catch phrase for media coverage and that abo rtion surfaced as a symbol of this empowerment. UN publications and re ports of proceedings prior to, and during the 1994 ICPD, and articles from The New York Times illustrate use of this media package. The pape r raises questions about types of policies governments will use to imp rove the position of women and the political power women will have in decisions.