Women’s Status in the United Nations Charter: Jessie Street – Clip 1

Jessie Street (1889–1970) was a leading Australian feminist campaigning for women’s rights from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was the only female Australian delegate to the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organisation (UNCIO) in 1945.  

In this recording, we hear a speech made by Street at the first meeting of the Women's International Radio League (WIRL) on 28 May 1945 at the St Francis Hotel, San Francisco. 

Listen to clip 2, in which Street describes the work of the Australian Women’s Charter Committee and their preparation for the conference. The committee was arguing for the insertion of the word 'sex' in the clause 'without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion' wherever it occurs in the Charter of the United Nations. They also wanted to enshrine in the charter the principle of equality of status between women and men.

It is unknown if this recording was ever broadcast in Australia; it was most probably associated with an American radio broadcast. 

Listen to the full speech and read more about Jessie Street and the UN conference.

Image of Jessie Street on Sounds of Australia page: nla.obj-231551090-1, courtesy National Library of Australia

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