Accra, March 4, GNA- The Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) has saluted African women and women all over the world for their patience, resilience and determination to empower themselves in order to make the world better".
In a congratulatory message to mark this years' International Women's Day, OATUU therefore appealed to governments and lawmakers and peoples of Africa to speed up efforts in eliminating practices that make women vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
OATUU said women play an important role in the economy and their deaths through HIV/AIDS is a threat to many households and affects society in the long run.
The statement signed by Mr Hassan A. Sunmonu, Secretary-General of the Organization, said they must be empowered economically and socially to enable them to make informed decisions on their own sexual behaviour and how to prevent infection.
It said the task is a great one but unless nations start thinking seriously about how to deal with the gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS, the epidemic would continue to rage on.
OATUU said if that continued, "we will continue to lose the cream of our society with all the social and economic consequences". It said women in the world have suffered and continue to suffer discrimination, inequality, violence and denial of their fundamental rights in all forms due to cultural practice and other unjustifiable reasons. 4 March 04
