23 May 1986

19th plenary meeting

Measures of assistance provided to South African, Namibian and refugee women

The Economic and Social Council,

Taking note of the report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, held at Nairobi from 15 to 26 July 1985,

Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on measures of assistance provided to women inside South Africa and Namibia and to women in South Africa and Namibia who have become refugees as a result of the practice of apartheid, prepared in pursuance of Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/17 of 24 May 1984,

Further taking note of the report of the International Conference on Women and Children under Apartheid, held at Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 7 to 10 May 1985 and the recommendations contained therein,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 34/93 K of 12 December 1979, 35/206 N of 16 December 1980 and 36/172 K of 17 December 1981 on women and children under apartheid,

Noting with regret that during the United Nations Decade for Women:

Equality, Development and Peace the status of women living under apartheid in South Africa and Namibia has deteriorated,

Concerned about the special needs of women and children forced to flee from South Africa and Namibia who have become refugees as a result of the practice of apartheid,

1. Calls upon all Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to intensify their support and solidarity with women and children inside and outside South Africa and Namibia and in front-line States, in particular:

(a) To provide for the widest possible dissemination of information about the situation of women and children;

(b) To provide legal, humanitarian and other assistance to women and children and their families who are victims of apartheid;

(c) To provide assistance to women in the national liberation movements to enable them to attend major international conferences and seminars and undertake speaking tours to further promote international solidarity with the oppressed women;

(d) To support the projects and activities of the southern African national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity, particularly those involving women, children and refugees;

2. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To ensure close co-ordination between United Nations bodies, in particular the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, the Centre against Apartheid, the Centre for Human Rights and the United Nations Council for Namibia, as well as the Department of Public Information, with a view to maximizing publicity on the situation of women and children under apartheid;

(b) To report to the Commission on the Status of Women at each of its sessions on new developments concerning the situation of women living under apartheid in South Africa and Namibia;

3. Recommends to the General Assembly that it request the Special Committee against Apartheid to include in its work programme for 1987 the organization of a seminar on the special needs and ways of increasing measures of assistance to South African, Namibian and refugee women, in close co-operation with the Advancement of Women Branch of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, the Centre for Human Rights, the United Nations Council for Namibia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Economic Commission for Africa, and to submit the report of the seminar to the Commission on the Status of Women at its 1988 session.