26 May 1988

15th plenary meeting

Women and children under apartheid

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1986/22 of 23 May 1986 on women and children under apartheid,

Noting the global concern of women about the continuing degradation and abuse to which African women and children are subjected daily by the white minority regime of South Africa,

Recalling that that concern was expressed in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, which also contain proposals for various forms of assistance to be rendered to women and children inside South Africa and to those who have become refugees,

Recognizing that the inhuman exploitation and dispossession of the African people by the white minority regime are directly responsible for the appalling conditions in which African women and children live,

Further recognizing that the equality of women cannot be achieved without the success of the struggle for national liberation and self-determination of the people of South Africa against the racist regime of Pretoria,

Referring to the report of the Secretary-General on new developments concerning the situation of women under apartheid in South Africa and Namibia and measures of assistance to women from South Africa and Namibia who have become refugees as a result of the practice of apartheid,

1. Condemns unequivocally the South African regime for the imposition of the state of emergency, the forcible separation of black families, the detention and imprisonment of women and children and the banning of seventeen non-violent anti-apartheid democratic organizations, as well as individuals;

2. Urges the South African regime to accord the Sharpeville Six, one of whom is a woman, a fair trial based on international legal standards and to stop the execution of political prisoners;

3. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, who include an increasing number of women and children;

4. Commends the tenacity and bravery of those women inside and outside South Africa who have resisted oppression, who have been detained, tortured or killed, or whose husbands, children or other relatives have been detained, tortured or killed and who, despite this, have remained steadfast in their opposition to the racist regime;

5. Acknowledges the efforts of those Governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals who have campaigned for and applied sanctions against the racist regime;

6. Appeals to all countries to support educational, health and social welfare programmes for women and children under apartheid;

7. Further appeals to the international community for increased assistance to women and children refugees in southern Africa;

8. Calls upon Governments, in view of the deterioration of the situation in South Africa, to impose, as a matter of urgency, comprehensive sanctions in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council and the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women;

9. Urges Member States and organizations of the United Nations system to give effect forthwith, in consultation with the national liberation movements, to the Forward-looking Strategies that deal with women and children under apartheid, particular attention being given to education, health, vocational training, employment opportunities and the strengthening of the women's sections of the liberation movements;

10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies regarding women and children under apartheid to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-third session.