Pretoria - Access and the participation of women and girls in the field of science and technology will be the focus of this year's United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
During the CSW, which will kick off in New York on Tuesday, countries around the world, including South Africa, will need to answer a question on whether there has been any improvement in increasing the number of girls and women in the field of science and technology.
The CSW will focus on access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including the promotion of women's equal access to full employment and decent work.
Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana, supported by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, will lead a South African delegation to the annual meeting.
At the plenary session, Xingwana will present a statement outlining progress and challenges in increasing access and participation of women in the field of natural sciences, engineering, mathematics and information technology in South Africa.
South Africa will also on Wednesday hold a special session to present the country's initiative aimed at providing girls with access to the world of work to enable them to take up scarce careers required by the economy.
The initiative termed Techno Girls is supported by UNICEF and currently implemented in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Western Cape. The programme, which maintains an exclusive focus on careers in the fields of Maths, Science and Technology, recruits about 4 000 girls currently studying Mathematics and Science at Grades 9 to12.
In addition to the main theme of science and technology, the CSW will also attend to the global challenge of violence against women and children, where South Africa will showcase its Thuthuzela programme, which provides integrated services to survivors of sexual violence under the leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority.
Progress made in establishing Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units within the Police Service will also be presented.
At the invitation of the UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, Xingwana will on Thursday participate in a high-level consultation on measures to be taken to reduce vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and promote sexual and reproductive health rights.
Due to gender inequality, women continue to be disproportionately infected and affected by HIV and Aids. South Africa will showcase the progress it is making in reducing the spread of HIV infection and in implementing the biggest Aids treatment programme in the world.
