Women’s Health: Controversy and Construction of Consensus in the Conference of Beijing

This paper emphasizes the importance of the agreements reached at the Conference of Beijing in order to improve the condition of women in all the world, particularly in those aspects related to their health conditions. The author identifies the conversion of the goal of improving the condition of women into a state affair, a task of governments and a concern of the international community, as one of the main achievements of the Conference. He also describes and examines the process leading to the adoption of the Platform of Action and the identification of 12 spheres of special concern, although he focuses on the treatment of the subject concerning women and health, particularly on three of the most controversial matters. Finally, the author directs our attention to the reactions provoked in Mexico by the agreements reached al Beijing, in particular those of ultraconservative groups. The author emphasizes the importance of not distorting those important agreements and preventing ultraconservative groups from doing so since such attitudes offend the spirit of the Conference of Beijing and its main objective: the improvement of the condition of women.