UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- An ongoing UN conference to review the world's progress toward women's equality was overshadowed by a row caused by the US demand to insert language restricting abortion right into a declaration to be issued at the end of the event.

    The two-week meeting, which started on Monday, is examining the implementation of the UN platform adopted by 189 nations at the 1995 Beijing women's conference. The document outlined women's reproductive rights.

    The US amendment stated that the landmark Beijing platform doesnot create any new human rights, including "the right to abortion." It was strongly opposed by European delegates and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, more than 150 NGOs participating at the meeting accused the United States of trying to move backward the status of women.

    "The purpose of this session of the Commission on the Status ofWomen -- the UN body charged specifically with advancing the status of women -- is to reaffirm the Beijing platform for Action,not to move backward or undermine it," the statement said.

    "We strongly applauded the statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the platform adopted in 1995 was 'a giant step forward and that gender equality is 'critical to the development and peaceof every nation,' and we affirm his call for specific targeted actions to realize women's rights in ALL areas," it added.

    "In this light, we urge government delegations to oppose unequivocally the amendment to the Draft Declaration proposed by the United States. Let's affirm the platform fully and move forward!"

    The draft declaration calls for redoubling of international efforts to carry out the Beijing platform and its text is expectedto be finalized on Friday.

    US Ambassador to the United Nations Ellen Sauerbrey, head of the US delegation to the conference, told reporters that Washington is concerned about NGOs' attempt to "assert that Beijing in some way creates, or contributes to the creation of an internationally recognized fundamental rights to abortion."

    She denied that Washington is rolling back on its support for the Beijing platform, which set goals toward women's equality in 12 critical areas from health, education to poverty and human rights.

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