The Fourth World Conference on Women held recently in Beijing increased local delegates' determination to lessen the oppression, repression and discrimination against women.

Community and Cultural Affairs Minister the Hon. Yvette Swan stressed this yesterday at the Bermuda High School for Girls.

Sen. Swan -- who recently returned from the conference -- was the first of a series of female speakers invited to the school in an effort to boost student's awareness about women's issues.

Noting the speech of Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Sen. Swan said: "She continues to urge Governments present at the conference to `chart a course that can create a climate where the girl child is as welcomed and valued as a boy child: that the girl child is considered as worthy as a boy child'.'' "She was speaking of the customs in so many countries and families to suppress, and in some cases, kill the girl child at the time of her birth or before.'' Sen. Swan explained.

She also told the students that one of the largest tents at the conference was the "youth tent''.

"The youngest person registered was young Tandy, age four years from the USA,'' Sen. Swan said. "The youth forum and the conference on youth spread through ages four years to 25 years.'' She also noted that from that forum came a report entitled "Youth Vision'' and in it young people urged the United Nations to continue with "its commitment to youth by ensuring youth consultations at every stage of the preparatory process for all conferences''.

"The vision for the future will be one free of today's problems,'' Sen. Swan said. "The young people saw a future where every girl and young woman will have access and a right to education free of discrimination.'' BHS' dean of students Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes said the students enjoyed Sen.

Swan's speech and had "thoughtful'' discussion after it.

"As an all-girl school we think it is very important that the girls should be aware of major issues facing women in Bermuda and all over the world,'' she said.

The school has also invited Legislative and Women's Affairs Minister the Hon.

Lynda Milligan-Whyte and Government MP the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto to speak.

Mrs. Hayes said students have also set up a tree of aspirations in the a corridor. Leaves with each student's goal are pinned on it.

INSPIRING -- Cultural Affairs Minister The Hon. Yvette Swan (right) and 13-year-old BHS student Suelan Veale.