Press Releases
Public forum to discuss future work direction of Women's Commission
The following is issued on behalf of the Women's Commission:
The Women's Commission will organise an Open Forum on Saturday (July 21) at the Hong Kong Science Museum to discuss its future direction of work with women's groups and all interested parties.
Response to participate at the event has been very enthusiastic. Many women's groups, Government officials and individuals have signed up for the forum which will start at 9 am. Members of the public who wish to attend the forum are welcome to register with the Secretariat of the Commission (Tel : 2189 2745 / Fax : 2501 0478) as soon as possible as only a limited number of seats are still available.
The Women's Commission met on July 10 to discuss the consultancy report on Family Welfare Services Review. It also reviewed employment related services and vocational training and retraining programs for women, and education programs related to women.
On the family services review, members of the Commission noted that the structure of families in Hong Kong had undergone significant changes and the problems they faced were becoming more complex. The Commission supported the consultant's recommendation of strengthening families through a child-centred, family focused and community based approach, but they stressed that women's perspectives should be taken into account in the planning and provision of services.
Noting that other welfare programs were becoming more family oriented, members suggested that the Social Welfare Department should enter into partnership with non-government organizations and other government departments in addressing family-related problems. There should be more interfacing among family related services and that formal and informal community support should be cultivated.
"We support the three principles of 'accessibility', 'partnership' and 'integration' in drawing up the new service delivery mode as recommended by the consultant," said Mrs Sophie Leung, Chairperson of the Women's Commission.
"The Commission supports better integration of family related services to enhance service accessibility and prevent stigmatization. Greater accessibility of such services would help empower women," she added.
Regarding existing vocational training and retraining programs, Commission members advised the Employees Retraining Board and Vocational Training Council that the programs could be improved to become more women-friendly. "In designing and offering such programs, possible differential impact on men and women should be looked into, and women's needs should be taken into account," Mrs Leung said. "With gender mainstreaming, that is, incorporating women's perspective in the policy making process, more women could benefit from these courses."
The Women's Commission was also briefed on the basic day school education programs as well as adult education services provided by the Education Department. Members supported a more flexible program delivery mode as proposed by the Department. It was noted that most adult programs were offered in the evening, which was the busiest time of the day for a homemaker, and less educated women were unable to attend those programs which required attainment of some formal educational standard.
Mrs Leung said, "The Commission suggested that the Government should make use of the additional sum of $72 million provided to it in the 2001/02 and 2002/03 financial years to enhance adult education opportunities, especially day time courses. We also suggested better coordination amongst departments and schools in the conduct of parental education to achieve more effective usage of resources.
"We have identified women empowerment as one of our priorities of work. We will secure for women the best possible access to skills and knowledge enhancement opportunities.
"Adult education has a critical role to play in equipping women for upward mobility, particularly those who did not have access to formal education opportunities earlier. It is essential to women empowerment. It is also an important part of life-long education which should be encouraged," said Mrs Leung.
End/Thursday, July 12, 2001
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