ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

Issued by: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

PRESS STATEMENT

The first report surveying the measures taken by any Parliament to improve the quality of life and status of women is published today.

The Report was commissioned by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly last year, with the support of UNESCO. The Presiding Officers wished to establish a baseline from which future progress can be gauged, and it is intended to produce annual surveys.

The Presiding Officers are releasing the unedited report as the assessment of an independent group.

If the National Assembly and the Senate decide to set up a Joint Committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Report will be referred to that Committee.

The Report was prepared by:

• Ms Pethu Serote - Director : Gender Education and Training Network
• Ms Nozipho Bardill - Director : World University Service (South Africa)
• Ms Sandra Liebenberg - Senior Researcher : Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape
• Ms Jacqui Nolte - Lecturer : History of Art, University of Cape Town

Three independent reviews of the Report are also being released. The reviews were compiled by:

• Dr Cathi Albertyn - centre for Applied Legal Studies, University of the Witwatersrand
• Adv Mojanku Gumbi - Legal Advisor to Deputy President T M Mbeki
• Dr Dione Prinsloo - University of Pretoria.

Issued by: DR F N GINWALA MR H J COETSEE Speaker : National Assembly President of the Senate

12 March 1996