IMPACT OF TRANSITION TO MARKET ECONOMY ON WOMEN AMONG ISSUES RAISED BY WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE IN DISCUSSION OF ARMENIA'S REPORT
Press Release
WOM/985
IMPACT OF TRANSITION TO MARKET ECONOMY ON WOMEN AMONG ISSUES RAISED BY WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE IN DISCUSSION OF ARMENIA'S REPORT
19970714 What proactive measures did the Armenian Government plan to take to reverse women's easing out from the market economy? That question was raised by experts in the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this afternoon as they continued consideration of the initial report of that country.The 23-member Committee, which is the monitoring body for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, noted that the transition to market economy seemed to have been disastrous for Armenian women.
Experts said that the number of women studying specialty areas had been consistently dropping. Further, an independent report suggested that women earned 75 per cent of men's salaries. What were the reasons for that discrepancy and what did the Government propose to do about it? they asked.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women reviews reports of States parties submitted in accordance with article 18 of the Convention, which requires States to submit reports within one year after accession and thereafter at least every four years. Reports focus on legislative, judicial and administrative measures adopted by States to give effect to the Convention provisions.
Commenting on other aspects of the report, experts expressed concern that up until now abortion had been the primary source of fertility control. They also sought information on the envisaged health reform in Armenia. They wondered if the visions of health reform were associated with privatization.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, 15 July, to hear the second and third periodic reports of Italy.
Committee Work Programme
The monitoring body for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Forms of Discrimination against Women met this afternoon to continue its review of the initial periodic report of Armenia on its implementation of the Convention it ratified in 1993. (For background on the report, see Press Release WOM/984 issued today.)
Comments and Questions by Experts
Resuming their discussion of the Armenia report, the experts again raised questions about the Government's handling of the situation of prostitutes spelled out in article 6 of the Convention. Noting that prostitutes faced fines, one expert asked what penalties were imposed on their clients and whether different standards were applied? Another asked what options were there to encourage prostitutes to enter the regular labour force and if measures were planned to protect them and children of prostitutes. Referring to the report's assertion that no cases of rape of prostitutes had been reported to the authorities in Armenia, one expert said she found it hard to believe, noting that prostitutes generally faced violence of all types around the world. She consequently sought more information on the situation. Still on the issue of prostitution, another expert suggested that the Armenian Government should undertake research on the situation of prostitutes in the country.
On article 7, dealing with women in political and public life, an expert asked what steps were being taken to help Armenian women who were highly educated achieve more decision-making positions. Another sought information on the criteria for recruitment into the foreign service and whether entry requirements were different for the sexes. Were foreign service officers educated on human rights issues? the experts asked.
On article 9, citizenship, one expert asked for clarification of the assertion in the report that the citizenship of a child, one of whose parents was an alien, was determined by the parents' written agreement. The expert said the provision was a violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
On article 10, covering education, an expert commented that despite their high educational standards, women still lagged behind men in upward mobility in employment. She wanted to know whether there were career guidance programmes for women.
Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee - 3 - Press Release WOM/985 345th Meeting (PM) 14 July 1997
Also on article 10, an expert wanted to know if there had been a decline in the number of young girls enrolling in schools following the general decline in women's position in the country. She noted that the number of women studying specialty areas had been consistently dropping and inquired about the reasons for that decline.
Another expert said she was happy to note that women were taking up studies in non-traditional areas. However, what were their prospects after education? she asked. In that regard, she focused on the lack of balance among men and women teachers in primary and secondary schools. While a majority of teachers in primary schools were women, a majority of teachers at the secondary level were men.
On article 11, which obliges States to eliminate discrimination against women in employment, and to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or maternity, an expert asked for information on the informal sector, including trade, which had become an area of employment for women.
Noting that 63 per cent of the women in Armenia were unemployed, an expert asked if there was a programme to offer unemployed women alternative employment? She added that an independent report mentioned that women earned 75 per cent of men's salaries. What was the reason for that discrepancy and what was the Government doing about it?
The transition to market economy seemed to have been disastrous for women, an expert said. What proactive measures was the Government planning to take so that women's easing out from the market economy could be reversed. Further, to what extent had the Government been able to implement its social security plans, especially those relating to maternity.
Another expert wanted to know if the paid maternity leave for 70 days guaranteed by the labour code was being implemented.
On article 12, which provides for measures to be taken to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care, an expert wanted to know more about the health reform that was envisaged in Armenia. Were the visions of health reform associated with privatization? The report mentioned that 13.5 per cent of the Government's budget was allocated to health care. However, it did not say what health services were available and to whom. The report also noted that a lack of family planning was a serious problem. Abortion up until now had been the primary source of fertility control and had in some cases led to infertility. In that context, were contraceptives and abortion available free of charge? She also stressed the importance of sex disaggregated data.
Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee - 4 - Press Release WOM/985 345th Meeting (PM) 14 July 1997
Still on the issue of economic and social benefits for women contained in article 13, one expert welcomed the information that contraceptives were available in drug stores, but urged that in the interest of women's reproductive health, it was important that they were properly informed about the appropriate choices available to them. Noting what she said were contradictions in the Government's policies towards women's health issues in general, the expert called for special measures to address the "unsatisfactory" situation. The expert said the problem of drug abuse and alcoholism should be addressed by the Government. The expert commented that the enormous problems faced by the country and Armenians as a whole could take a toll on their mental health and sought information on the condition of women in general in that respect. She also noted that the privatization of health services in Armenia could worsen the situation of its vulnerable groups.
On article 14, women in agriculture, an expert noted that the problems of rural women were far more serious and should be dealt with specifically and not in the context of "society's problems", as the Armenia report indicates. Rural women had problems in the area of health, employment and training, the expert said, and added that most of them needed support. The expert also sought information on land ownership rights of women, and if they could pass on such rights. What conditions were applicable to women who owned lands and whether those lands were subject to privatization? the expert further asked.
On article 16, dealing with marriage, one expert sought details on grounds for divorce and what the divorce rate was. She also asked whether women could obtain legal aid in pursuing divorce cases. Furthermore, she asked for information on the role of the country's law reform commission and the involvement of women in its work. Had legislative measures been taken to protect and advance the role of women within the family? she asked and requested examples of such acts.
Finally, one expert asked whether the incidence of HIV/AIDS was high among women and what steps were being taken to help them.
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