This is why, in 1989, my Government fully supported the signing of the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination against Women. That Convention aims at promoting gender equality in all fields. The challenges ahead are numerous and while we are envisaging significant developments in Information Technology and Communication, we should avoid the digital divide and the gender divide. Information Technology is an excellent opportunity to engineer an integrated development for all our citizens. Equal opportunity will only be realised if the political will is there to end all forms of discrimination.
Education is a major agent of change and social justice.
By providing better education facilities, we are bridging the gap between social classes and between genders. My Government has taken a firm commitment to promote the empowerment of women. We will ensure that women's rights feature high in Government's agenda. May I remind you that never in the history of the Civil Service have we seen so many women occupying posts in the top hierarchy. We can only wish that more and more women gain access to the boardrooms and the higher levels of private firms.