against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 32/ and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 33/ Noting the subsequent release by the Government of South Africa of the draft bill on the promotion of equal opportunities and concerned that it failed to deal with questions of substantive sexism that are integral to the problems of poverty, ignorance and disempowerment, Convinced that the present legal system requires structural changes to be relevant to a new and just South Africa and that the draft bill should represent the views and experiences of those mostly affected by it, Recognizing that the equality of women and men cannot be achieved without the success of the struggle towards a united, non-racist, non-sexist and democratic South Africa, Commending the role played by the United Nations, particularly the Centre against Apartheid and the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, in helping South African women to participate fully in the process of establishing a non-racist, non-sexist democracy in South Africa, 1. Commends those women both inside and outside South Africa who have resisted oppression and have remained steadfast in their opposition to apartheid; 2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of any political prisoners and detainees, among whom are women and children, in accordance with the undertaking of the South African authorities; 3. Urges those involved in the multi-party forum to place high on their agenda issues concerning women such as freedom, justice and equality, development and the environment; 4. Appeals to all countries and United Nations bodies, in conformity with General Assembly resolution 46/79 of 13 December 1991 and in consultation with liberation movements, to increase their support for educational, health, vocational training and employment opportunities for women and children living under apartheid; 5. Requests the Centre against Apartheid to widen and strengthen its cooperation with the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, with a view to creating specific programmes of assistance to South African women to enable them to participate fully in the process of transition of their country towards a non-racist democracy; 6. Appeals to the international community to give its full and concerted support to the vulnerable and critical process now under way in South Africa through a phased application of appropriate pressures on the South African authorities as warranted by developments and to provide assistance to the opponents of apartheid and the disadvantaged sectors of society in order to ensure the rapid and peaceful attainment of the objectives of the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa; 32/ General Assembly resolution 39/46, annex. 33/ General Assembly resolution 44/25, annex. -21-