ENG-2009 — Page 265

Social Welfare 205

Continuous efforts were made to raise public awareness of women-related issues and reduce gender stereotyping. The WOC attaches great importance to the promotion of gender awareness in school education to reduce gender stereotyping of students in their early stages of life and to make a sustainable impact. In 2009, the WOC organised a short video filming competition on gender awareness for secondary students to enhance contestants' gender awareness and sense of gender equality, as well as to arouse the community's concern over these topics and inflection on how gender prejudice and gender stereotyping impact society nowadays.

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In August 2009, the WOC held a conference entitled 'Beyond Limits Women in the 21st Century'. The conference was the third of its kind hosted by the WoC since its inception in 2001. It aimed to review Hong Kong's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and provide a platform for participants to discuss issues related to the development and well-being of women as well as to exchange views on future directions and strategies to further promote gender equality and the status of women in Hong Kong. The conference attracted some 500 participants.

Rehabilitation Advisory Committee

The Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) was set up in 1977. It serves as the principal advisory body to the Government on matters pertaining to the well- being of persons with disabilities and the development and implementation of rehabilitation policies and services in Hong Kong. Sub-committees were set up to look into specific areas of concern, such as access, employment and public education.

The RAC and its sub-committees are chaired by non-officials, and all their members are appointed in their personal capacities by the Chief Executive. To ensure that the interests of persons with disabilities are represented, the membership of the RAC includes persons with different disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, representatives of self-help organisations for persons with disabilities and NGOs providing rehabilitation services, as well as academics, community and business. leaders, professionals and other persons who have a keen interest in the well-being of persons with disabilities. Representatives of relevant government bureaux and departments also serve as ex-officio members to provide the necessary support to the RAC and follow up on issues it raises.

Through its sub-committee on public education, the RAC co-ordinates the implementation of various public education programmes on rehabilitation. In 2009, 34 public education programmes were organised by various government and non- governmental organisations under the theme 'All-round promotion of the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and cross sectoral collaboration towards building an equal and inclusive society'. Territory-wide publicity activities were also launched to support World Mental Health Day and the International Day of Disabled Persons.