The Government will organise education programmes to enhance public awareness of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says.

Opening the campaign today, Mr Cheung said the Government works closely with the Women's Commission, women's groups, social welfare organisations and other sectors to promote women's well-being and interests.

Women's participation rate in the labour force was close to 50% in 2008, while their participation in courses sponsored by the University Grants Committee have exceeded 53%, he added.

Continuous efforts

So far more than 30 policy or programme areas closely related to women have adopted the checklist specially devised by the commission to help government officials adopt gender perspectives in a more systematic way in the formulation of policies and work plans.

"The Government has done much in policies related to women in promoting gender equality. We will continue to work with various sectors in the community in this direction and strive for improvement," he said.

In the coming six months, the Labour & Welfare Bureau will organise roving exhibitions, interactive educational dramas and a series of promotional materials to promote the convention.

The Federation of Women, the Island Women's Association, the Women Development Association, the Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities, and the Kowloon Women's Organisations Federation will also arrange district educational activities.