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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 16 Nov 2008 Title: SA is providing more opportunities for the marginalised - UN report -------------------- By Bathandwa Mbola Pretoria - A United Nations draft report has revealed that South Africa has made strides creating opportunities for the marginalised in South Africans, including women and children. The draft Report on the Progress Made in the Implementation of the CEDAW report, released by the Minister in the Presidency Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in Pretoria on Friday, highlighted South Africa's strides in mainstreaming equal rights for men and women and its continued efforts in eliminating any gender-based discrimination. The draft report is to be submitted to the UN CEDAW Committee for comment. Some of the critical findings of the draft report indicate that South Africa has increasingly created opportunities for mainstreaming gender equality goals and that the attitude regarding the place of women in society has generally improved. It also showed that there was significant progress made in protecting the rights of women workers, in particular domestic workers. Ms Tshabalala-Msimang said although there were positive highlights in the report, two of the challenges which remained was ensuring women are truly empowered in this country and insuring that negative cultural practices are discouraged. Regarding the country's legislation, the report highlighted success stories in promoting and protecting the human rights of all women and towards ensuring that unfair discrimination is eliminated. This has been done through various integrated programmes by government and private partners which aim to eradicate violence against women, including the 365 Day National Plan of Action to End Gender Violence, the annual 16 Days Activism on No Violence against Women and Children which kicks off next week and the establishment of Equality Courts and dedicated Sexual Offences Courts. The draft report, further noted progress in terms of increasing opportunities of access by women to health care, education and political participation among others. However, the report identified eradication of poverty and unemployment among women and their congregation in the second and informal economy as some of the cross-cutting issues that still need to be addressed. Others include, decreasing violence against women and how vigilance and action can be improved. The country has been successfully implementing the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which it ratified thirteen years ago. The minister said: "This has ensured that government and society in general views violence against women as a gross violation of human, and therefore, women's rights. As government, we have therefore priotised the eradication of violence against women." Established in 1982, CEDAW committee tracks the status of women in countries, and it is often described as the International Bill of Rights for Women, consisting of a preamble and 30 articles. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. South Africa is required to submit a report to the UN on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which the country has adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention and on the progress made in this respect, at least every four years. Once the report is submitted, South African will be expected to answer concerns when they come face-to-face with the CEDAW committee where they will issue recommendations for each country. CEDAW currently has about 185 UN member states as signatories. - BuaNews |
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