26 May 1988

15th plenary meeting

Women and children in Namibia

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1986/23 of 23 May 1986, concerning women and children under South African occupation in Namibia,

Recalling also the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph 259 calling for the speedy and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978) of 29 September 1978, concerning the independence of Namibia,

Gravely concerned about the delay in the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978) regarding the withdrawal of South Africa's illegal administration from Namibia and the holding of elections under the supervision of the United Nations,

Deeply concerned about the perpetual suffering of Namibian women under the illegal occupation of the racist South African regime, and further concerned about the use of Namibian territory as a springboard for attacking and destabilizing neighbouring States,

Having considered 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, in no uncertain terms, the racist regime of South Africa for its installation of a so-called interim Government at Windhoek;

2. Denounces the forcible conscription of Namibian men and women between the ages of 17 and 55 years into the racist army and the detention of children, which consolidate and facilitate widespread repression throughout the country;

3. Rejects South Africa's insistence on linking the independence of Namibia to the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola;

4. Demands the release of all political prisoners, who include women and children, and the lifting of the state of emergency imposed by South Africa for more than twelve years;

5. Demands that South Africa refrain from using Namibia as a base from which to infiltrate Angola and other independent neighbouring countries;

6. Calls upon all women of the world to support and assist all bodies struggling to put an end to colonialism in Namibia;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women regarding women and children in Namibia to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-third session.