South Africa: Country Supports UN's Anti-Women Abuse Campaign

February 26, 2008 – (AllAfrica) The Minister for Public Service and Administration Geraldine Moleketi has come out in support of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's global campaign to end violence against women.

Leading the South African delegation at the Global Campaign on Violence against Women during the opening of the 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Ms Fraser-Moleketi said South Africa fully supported the campaign.

"In line with the overall theme, greater attention and resources must be devoted to women's empowerment and gender equality," she said.

The campaign will bring together the UN, governments and civil society to carry out the message against the abuse of women.

The minister emphasised that central to the mainstreaming of gender and financing of gender equality is the strategic development of gender advisers and gender focal points at senior management levels within the public service.

Mr Ban, on announcing the new campaign said: "Statistics indicate that at least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

"The campaign is for the women and girls who have the right to live free of violence, today and in the future, it is a campaign to stop the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on humankind," said Mr Ban.

He also called on the UN Members of State to revise or introduce new legislation criminalising violence against women.

The General-Secretary identified various interventions including the mobilisation of men and boys as partners to fight violence against women and further pledged to work hand in hand with women organisations to facilitate exchange of best practices as countries unite to end violence against women.

Ms Fraser-Moleketi said South Africa has taken specific steps for substantive economic empowerment of women.
This includes the creation of economic sector-specific charters which enable and facilitate meaningful economic participation of women in all spheres of the South African economy in sectors such as mining, energy, business and technology.

"South Africa has taken the lead in legislating for procurement processes that require quantifiable targets for the participation of women and the creation of sector specific women's associations that allows women to be players in the industries," said Ms Fraser-Moleketi.

The Commission of the Status of Women is the largest annual women gathering, where delegates around the world present and discuss concerns around women's issues.

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200802260641.html