extend the time allocated to the Committee. On communications, she stressed the need for more extensive use by the Commission of the non-confidential list in order to identify policy trends. She noted that, in the light of rapidly changing political developments, the reports on women and children under apartheid and on Palestinian women were tentative. Finally, she made an oral report on the implementation of resolution 36/4 of the Commission on the Status of Women concerning the integration of elderly women into development. Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women 4. While regretting the shortcomings of the note prepared by the Division for the Advancement of Women on the subject (E/CN.6/1994/6), a few representatives referred to the difficult living conditions of Palestinian women and children in the occupied territories still under military occupation. One representative urged the international community not to allow such living conditions to continue, whereas another representative expressed concern about the difficult new phase that Palestinian women and children might enter if the issue of continuous occupation was not properly addressed. 5. One representative of a specialized agency reported on its activities, including a multidisciplinary mission to the occupied Palestinian territories, entitled "Capacity-building for social development: a programme of action for transition in the occupied Palestinian territories", and a forthcoming workshop in the occupied Palestinian territories on the question of employment and equality of women in the process of transition towards autonomy. Women and children under apartheid 6. While commending the positive decision of the African National Congress to have one third of women on the list of candidates for the forthcoming election, one representative expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress towards the effective elimination of violence against women. 7. One representative of a specialized agency addressed the effects of the migrant labour system on women. They included the high proportion of womenheaded households in both rural and urban areas. She further noted the sharp increase in unemployment of young black South African women and the severe discrimination against them, which should be addressed through practical measures. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 8. Many representatives noted the important role of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and called for universal adherence to the Convention. They further requested the removal of those reservations that were incompatible with the objective and purpose of the Convention and for a precise and narrow formulation of the others. Concern was expressed that those reservations that were contrary to the objective and purpose of the Convention gave grounds to question the entry into force of the Convention by those countries whose commitment to the human rights of women was limited. 9. A few representatives indicated that, although national reports to the Committee could be effective tools for making national administrations, the judiciary, the legal profession and human rights non-governmental organizations more gender-sensitive in their work, their preparation had not always been used as an opportunity for improving the situation of women in the reporting country. -61-