UNITED NATIONS, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from several countries to the United Nations on Thursday highlighted the importance of gender equality legislation in providing social protections for all women and girls.

Speaking at the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63), Eitvydas Bingelis, the vice minister of social security and labour of the Republic of Lithuania, said that effective gender equality legislation is crucial in guaranteeing equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men in all areas, including social protection.

"Lithuania's laws prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sex in the social protection systems by identifying the opportunities to use and participate in it," said Bingelis, adding that there is still some work to do, and they are currently working on amendments of national legislation, aimed at reducing segregation in employment and education and at strengthening mechanisms of prevention and protection of victims of violence against women.

Rhodora Bucoy, chairperson of Philippine commission on women, said that a new law in her country was enacted to expand social protection for women this year. The Expanded Maternity Leave Act grants 105 days paid maternity leave for working women.

Bundith Prathoumvanh, the vice president of the Lao Women's Union, said that the Lao government also has implemented the law on civil servants which, among others, increases maternity leave period from three to five months, and they have also enacted the state budget law which indicates responsibilities of all sectors and local governments to have gender budgeting plan.

In addition, law on gender equality to provide legal frameworks for the developments of a national social protection floor and gender equality is being drafted, said Prathmoumvanh, adding that all these legal acts will pave the way for providing all the Lao people with a better life and increased social, economic and human development prospects.

Tekea Tesfamicael, the president of the national union of Eritrean women, said that women's empowerment remains a significant aspect of their economic policy. Soon after its independence from Ethiopia in 1991, the Colonial laws that "discriminate against women were repealed and amended," and "all subsequently issued laws were founded on the principle of equality before the law," she added.

According to UN Women, the CSW63 is the UN's largest gathering on gender equality and women's rights, and the single largest forum for UN member states, civil society organizations and other international actors to build consensus, renew commitment and agree on better policy solutions.

CSW63 kicked off on Monday and will close on March 22. Enditem

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