COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Press Release
WOM/980
COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
19970710 The Government of Antigua and Barbuda introduced a number of legal reforms to eliminate discrimination against women and to ensure their advancement in society, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was told this morning. The Executive Director of the Directorate of Women's Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda said the Government had also confirmed that an Equal Opportunity Act would be introduced to give practical expression to constitutional provisions and to express in clear language the areas of non-discrimination in the workplace along with a system of redress. She said that in reassessing its work following the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women, the Directorate had decided to focus on: eliminating violence against women; education and training; eradicating poverty; encouraging more women in the decision-making process; and expansion of general health and reproductive health programmes mainly targeted at young women. The Directorate was also involved in plans for mainstreaming of gender in the development process. A unit within the Ministry of Finance would work with the Directorate to integrate gender issues in all public sector workplaces. The 23-member Committee, which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, is examining the combined initial, second and third periodic reports of Antigua and Barbuda, on the measures the Government has taken to implement the treaty. At this morning's meeting, the experts spoke on violence against women, their sex roles and stereotyping, prostitution, laws against discrimination and women in public life. An expert asked whether Antigua and Barbuda was implementing "unsexist" education and gender training on sex roles. The mass media could be used to help change the cultural patterns and to counter portrayals of women as sex symbols and other stereotypical images, it was stated. The importance of education to combat violence against women was also stressed. While praising the Government for acting to stop prostitution, another expert was alarmed about the effect tourism, a mainstay of the country's economy, could have on the practice. She said the Government should deal with the problem. The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its consideration of the reports of Antigua and Barbuda.Committee Work Programme
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met this morning to consider the initial, second and third periodic reports of Antigua and Barbuda (document CEDAW/C/ANT/1-3).
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was signed and ratified by Antigua and Barbuda on 3 May 1989, the report says. The country, which was a British colony until 1981 when it achieved independence, has a bicameral legislature. To date, no woman has ever been elected to parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. However, in 1958 the first woman was nominated as a senator and at present there are four women senators.
The Constitution of the country is the law, it states, and the labour code specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. While there is no legislation which specifically addresses the issue of domestic violence, the law enforcement officers have been accused of treating lightly many women's complaints. However, a woman whose husband has been guilty of persistent cruelty or has been convicted or indicted of an assault on her may apply to a magistrate for a non-cohabitation order.
The upgrading of a Women's Desk to a directorate of women's affairs in 1985 was the most visible effort by the Government to introduce a machinery responsible for addressing the concerns of women, the report says. That entity fell within the portfolio of the Ministry of the Prime Minister with a parliamentary secretary responsible for women's affairs. On the subject of domestic violence the directorate of women's affairs will be embarking on a programme of research and financial assistance for support services for abused women and their children. Efforts would also be made to sensitize all persons involved in the health, law enforcement and counselling sectors of the society.
The report states that according to 1993 statistics, the number of women in public service continues to increase. In 1980, women and men were nearly equal in terms of employment but by 1989 women outnumbered men two to one. Women have been entering the legal profession in the country in increasing numbers. If the trend continues, it was likely that by the end of the century, women would dominate the legal profession. However, women's percentage involvement in the police tends to be low. The teaching profession is dominated by women and there are more female teachers at all levels. Gender disaggregated data in management and key posts in business organizations is available only up to 1989. In that year, at the level of general manager men outnumbered women five to one and at the managerial level, there was a ratio of 19 men to one woman.
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The report goes on to say that there are no barriers to women's participation in politics. However, few women come forward to contest elective offices. Dating back to 1967, the two political parties in the country have been fielding women candidates. However, none of them has ever been elected. The report notes that women in Antigua and Barbuda seem more inclined to give their allegiance to male candidates by actively campaigning, attending political meetings and voting.
On the issue of nationality, there is no discrimination against women, says the report. Moreover, the Status of Children Act provides that the status, rights and privileges of a child born out of wedlock are identical in all respects to those born in wedlock. The Birth and Death Amendment Act makes provision for the name of the father of a child born outside wedlock to be stated on the birth certificate either at the joint request of mother and father or at the request of the mother, supported by statutory declarations as to paternity by both parents.
There is equal access to education in the country, the report says. The percentage of female enrolment increases in the higher levels of the education system . However, in the commercial department, an area of study traditionally considered female, there are more women. Similarly, 90 per cent of the students in the engineering class are male. So far as employment is concerned, women have always formed a significant part of the workforce in Antigua and Barbuda. According to the 1991 census 45.5 per cent of persons employed were women. In the category of service workers, women outnumber men, whereas in the professional ranks men outnumber women. In occupations traditionally considered male, men outnumber women by seven to one. Women account for 60 per cent of the civil service and are found at all levels of the service.
Men prefer the private sector to public service due to the difference in remuneration, according to report. The teaching profession too is no longer attractive to men for the same reason. However, when men remain in public service, they climb the ladder of success much more quickly than women. Many women are self-employed in areas such as catering, dressmaking, crafts and food preservation. In that direction, the Directorate of Women's Affairs has done much to promote income-generation activities for women through training and lectures.
So far as health care facilities are concerned, a married woman has access to family planning services without the husband's authorization, the report says. However, such authorization is required in practice before she can have tubal ligation or sterilization. Abortion is not legal in the country but abortions are performed in doctors' offices. In 1990, the single major cause of death among women were malignant neoplasms followed by heart
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disease and diseases of the digestive tract. The maternal mortality rate per 1,000 live births was zero in 1992.
The report adds that there are no legal restrictions preventing women from equal access to bank loans, mortgages or any form of financial credit. Further, there are no legal barriers to females owning land. A census conducted in 1984 found that the proportion of female ownership of land under cultivation was low, a ratio of 4 to 1 in favour of males. A survey conducted in 1991 found that more females owned houses than males but a larger number of males owned the more costly concrete structures.
Both married and unmarried women have access to and can claim family benefits, it says. The registration of all marriages is compulsory and child marriages contracted under the age of 15 are not legal. Married women can keep their maiden name and unmarried couples who have lived together for more than five years can bring proceedings to court in respect of their title and rights to property. Also, married women have equal rights and responsibilities with men in the guardianship, trusteeship and adoption of children. Among the grounds under which divorce can be applied for, a wife might apply for divorce on the grounds that her husband has been guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality.
Also before the Committee is an addenda to the combined initial, second and third periodic report of Antigua and Barbuda. The document was circulated informally prior to the Committee's consideration of the report. It contains additional information on the following: the country's constitution and laws; the national machinery for women; sex roles and stereotypes; prostitution; women in public and political life; nationality and citizenship; education; employment; health; social and economic benefits; rural women; equality before law in civil matters; and equality in marriage and family law.
Introduction of Report
SHEILA ROSEAU, Executive Director, Directorate of Women's Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, introducing the combined initial, second and third periodic report of her country, said she wanted to apologize to a neighbouring country for references to it included in connection with article 6 of the Convention. The addendum was the accepted version of the Government and she hoped that the earlier version would be expunged.
She said that as part of the process of promoting the advancement of women, a Women's Desk had been established in 1981. That desk had been upgraded in 1985 to a Directorate of Women's Affairs with responsibility for promoting the social, political and economic interests of women. In reassessing its work following the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, the Directorate had decided to focus on the following: eliminating violence
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against women; education and training; eradicating poverty; encouraging more women in the decision-making process; and expansion of general health and reproductive health programmes mainly targeted at young women.
The Directorate was also involved in plans for mainstreaming of gender in the development process, she said. A unit within the Ministry of Finance would be working with the Directorate to integrate gender in all public sector workplaces to ensure that women played an equal role in the development process. The Government had also introduced several legal reforms including the Sexual Offenses Act of 1995, the presentation of the Domestic Violence Bill, the improved Maintenance Act and the promotion and appointment of more women to public and statutory boards. The Constitution provided protection from discrimination on the grounds of sex, among other measures.
The Government had also confirmed that an Equal Opportunity Act would be introduced to give practical expression to the constitutional provision and to express in clear language the areas of non-discrimination in the workplace along with a system of redress, she said. Statements in Parliament had indicated the Government's intention to introduce an "employment of women- maternity act" to set out conditions which would apply to women of child- bearing age. In the first quarter of this year, a new divorce act had been passed which had removed some of the difficulties in obtaining a decree and allowed for divorce on grounds of irretrievable breakdown. So far as stereotyping of women was concerned, family life education programmes were offered with the Ministries of Education, Health and Labour. Within those programmes, efforts were made to encourage equal responsibility between males and females for the care and socialization of children.
Violence in society had been increasingly directed at women in the form of sexual harassment and abuse, battery and rape, she said. Very little reporting of domestic violence had taken place, as until recently it was considered "normal" for men to use it to keep women "in line". In that regard, a 24-hour domestic violence hot-line was scheduled to be introduced next month. Full adult suffrage had existed in Antigua and Barbuda since 1951; however, no women had been elected to the legislature thus far. Plans of action had been initiated to ensure the election of at least one woman in the next general elections. There were no legal restrictions preventing women from representing the country at the international level.
A system of compulsory education existed for children under 16 years of age, she said. Parents could be held accountable for non-observance of mandatory education for children. Opportunities existed for girls and women who had to interrupt their education. The programmes allowed them to finish high school level education and provided training for particular skills. The health care services in Antigua and Barbuda provided maternal and child care, including advice on family planning, breast feeding and pre- and post-natal
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care. The life expectancy for women was 73 years. Despite the numerous services, available free of cost to pregnant women, high level of perinatal mortality had been recorded in the country in the period 1987-1992. A national AIDS programme was in place to deal with the increasing number of AIDS cases.
The Office of AIDS worked closely with the Planned Parenthood Association, she said. Information about AIDS was being disseminated in schools and communities through drama, radio and other medium. "Health for All by the Year 2000" was the motto of the Government as it worked at increasing the number of satellite health care centres. By the Offenses against Persons Act, any person and any female who administered to herself any noxious substance or instrument with the intent to procure a miscarriage was considered guilty of an offense and liable for imprisonment for 10 years. However, under certain circumstances, such as threat to life or abnormalities, a medical abortion might be allowed.
The banking sector employed more females than males but there were no female managers of banks, she said. Moreover, there was no discrimination in the availability of credit to females. Fifty-three per cent of all full time farmers in Antigua were women. They took care of children and performed household chores as well. No female was denied the right of access in a court of law to bring action or to travel once of age and capacity. In marriage they were capable of holding property and disposing it off. Unmarried persons living together still suffered disabilities under the law in respect of property rights. Parties in both marriage and common law relationship had responsibility for children. A new divorce act adopted this year had done away with three years waiting period in case of desertion before the marriage could be declared void. Further, divorce was now available in the case of irretrievable breakdown.
General Comments
An expert welcomed the Government's intention to introduce legislation to deal with violence against women which, she said, was prevalent in the country and the region. The expert commended the Government in presenting the reports, including the third periodic one -- which was not due -- and in clarifying issues not dealt with in detail previously.
Another expert also said the Government should be congratulated for ratifying the Convention without any reservation. She observed that the experts had not had much time to examine the supplementary report which had been circulated only yesterday. The expert was encouraged by the commitment of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to fully implement the Convention's provisions and thus improve conditions of women.
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One expert said the Directorate of Women's Affairs was an important body in the implementation of measures against all forms of discrimination against women. The expert would be interested to know the extent to which the activities of the Directorate had been expanded, the resources it had and how it related to other government ministries and departments. The expert would be interested to know how the Directorate promoted its ideas and functions and its relations with non-governmental organizations.
Another expert said it was important to have an independent ministry in charge of women's affairs instead of a department, which the Directorate was. Such a ministry would have legislative powers. She stressed the importance of networks and technical bodies to deal with women's issues across all sectors. The expert said advantage should be taken of the Government's political will to improve the situation of women in society. Every opportunity should be seized to advance the progress of women, the expert added.
Comments on Specific Articles
Commenting on article 2, under which States parties undertake to combat discrimination against women, an expert asked how the country's legislative and judiciary machinery were structured and their procedures. The expert noted the importance of political will in the eradication of discrimination against women. The Government should seriously examine why women did not hold elective political office despite having the right to vote. The expert would also like to know the number of non-governmental organizations, observing that their presence could help in the education of women about their rights. The expert also sought information on civil society groups, and the position of churches on such issues as abortion. She also asked whether the existence of a large number of churches had any influence on the advancement or otherwise of women.
Speaking on article 3, an expert said it was important to have a national machinery for women, such as the Directorate. But, its priorities, personnel, budget and functions should be examined. The functions, composition and work methods of the Advisory Council should be elaborated. She asked whether the Beijing Conference's Platform for Action had been approved by the Government.
Regarding article 4, an expert endorsed the need to send a consolidated report to cover gaps existing in relation to the period between 1991 and 1995. She welcomed the establishment of a Women's Desk to promote the development of members of the female gender. The decision showed that the Government was committed to promoting the advancement of women. She asked for clarification on the responsibility of the national machinery for women.
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Talking on article 5, an expert asked whether Antigua and Barbuda was preparing or implementing "unsexist" education and gender training on sex roles and stereotyping for those who would be responsible for changing behaviour towards women. The mass media could help change the cultural patterns in a country. Were there programmes at local levels to promote women's interests? she asked.
Still on the same article, another expert said the perception that battery against women was "normal" could only be combated through systematic education. The method of work of the 24-hour hot-line for victims should be explained, with information as to how it was funded. She asked whether the Sexual Offenses Act of 1995 was in force and how it had helped women victims of violence.
Regarding the use of women as sex symbols and other stereotype, she asked how the media were used to counter such ills and to change negative portrayals of women and the attendant attitudes towards them. As for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, she asked whether developed nations had been asked to help Antigua and Barbuda promote policies and measures in favour of women.
Another expert said that the increase in violence against women should be taken into account. Similarly, the perception that they be limited to reproductive roles had limited their participation in the political process. Saying that the problem of violence against women was a cause of concern, she asked for data on physical and psychological violence against them. Since more than 58 per cent of households were headed by women, she asked whether they were still abused by men.
One expert commended the plans of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to deal with violence against women and the problem of incest. Research was required to determine the extent of the prevalence of those problems, their root causes and the means to address them. In what way was culture being looked at to reinforce positive images of women, one expert asked, adding that the media was one of the most important areas which could be tapped positively. The expert wondered whether the Internet had been used to promote negative images of women in Antigua.
With reference to article 6, which deals with prostitution, an expert asked whether an international network was involved in trafficking of women for prostitution in the country. The expert also wanted information about the extent of the problem of prostitution in the country. One expert, while praising the Government for acting to stop the practice, was alarmed about the effect tourism, a mainstay of the country's economy, could have on prostitution. The Government should make every concerted and sustained effort to deal with the problem.
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Dealing with article 7, on women in public and political office, an expert said it was time the problem of the lack of women in political office was dealt with. The expert sought information on efforts to encourage election of women to public office and in decision-making positions in public life. Another expert said women should be mobilized about the problem, and the media used to ensure their advancement in that area. What was the level of women's presence in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? one expert asked.
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