BuaNews (Tshwane)
28 February 2007
Discrimination and gender inequality remain high worldwide and much work still needs to be done to promote a positive impact on women's economic independence, said Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Asha-Rose Migiro.
Speaking at the opening of the 51st session of the UN's Women's Commission of Status of Women this week Ms Migiro expressed concern about the high level of violence against women and girls.
Violence, she said, remained pervasive and was perpetrated by family members, strangers and agents of the State in all regions of the world.
"Girls remained at high risk of being sexually abused, exploited and trafficked for commercial purposes. I encourage the commission to take bold steps to improve lives of girls everywhere," said Ms Migiro.
She said Commission on the Status of Women would be introducing a three-year strategic plan aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against girls.
Several girls have also been invited to share their experiences with the commission during its session at UN Headquarters.
According to a report by the Secretary-General the two international legal instruments most linked to the rights of girls, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) could not effectively address the problem.
She said this was because, it neither codifies laws that consistently address the plight of girls, while the failure of States to incorporate provisions from the two treaties has also led to the persistence of violence and discrimination.
"Ending this pandemic will require our individual and collective commitment," Ms Migiro said.
She added that some of the possible ways to solve the problem will include:
* Creating an environment where such violence is not tolerated;
* Working for the full implementation of existing legal norms and policies;
* Focusing on efforts to prosecute and punish perpetrators;
* Dedicating sufficient resources; and to
* Fully involving men and boys in changing stereotypical attitudes and behavior.
The two-week session of the commission will come to an end on March 9.-
Department of Labour investigates injury of workers
REP By Edwin Tshivhidzo, tel: (012) 314-2454
The Department of Labour is investigating an incident at the QK Meats in Johannesburg which left 11 people injured while on duty at the weekend.
The incident prompted the department to issue a prohibition notice to the Management of QK Meats, barring it from using its cold storage facility until it met the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other relevant regulations.
It was alleged that when the incident happened the workers were packing meat inside the cold storage.
Spokesperson for the department Zolisa Sigabi said preliminary investigations revealed that the employees were working in the dispatch chillers.
The racks on which the meat was packed, she said, dislodged and collapsed, seriously injuring the 11 employees.
Ms Sigabi said when the incident occurred about 200 tons of meat was on the shelves.
All 11 injured employees were rushed to hospital.
Ten of the injured workers were later released while the employee who was injured first and sustained fractures on his ribs remained in hospital.
The department had ordered the management of QK Meats seek a competent person to install stacking racks.
Last year, the department investigated an incident in which and employee of Highpoint Elevators sustained serious injuries while on duty.
According to the outcome of the investigation Highpoint Elevators flouted the OHSA regulations by using unsuitable lifting devices.
In that incident Oscar Maboyi sustaining multiple injuries when a lift he was helping to fix snapped and subsequently fell into a pit.
However, the department recommended that the company be prosecuted for non-compliance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
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