PROGRESS FOR WOMEN IN ISR"L REQUIRES IMPROVEMENTS IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY

17 July 1997

Press Release
WOM/991

PROGRESS FOR WOMEN IN ISRAEL REQUIRES IMPROVEMENTS IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY

19970717 Reviewing Reports by Israel, Experts Ask about Measures To Integrate Israeli Palestinian Women Fully into Society

True progress for women in Israel could not be achieved without improvements in the rights of minority communities, members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said this afternoon, as they considered reports on Israel's compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

In considering Israel's initial and second periodic reports on its compliance with the Convention, expert members of the Committee wanted to know what steps were being taken to integrate Israeli Palestinian women fully into society. Also, what action was being taken to deal with such traditional practices such as "honour" killings, polygamy, and female circumcision carried out in certain communities?

It was stated that, according to reports by non-governmental organizations, more than 44 per cent of Palestinian girls left school after the primary level. It seemed that Israel's law on compulsory education did not apply to Arab, Palestinian and Bedouin women. Experts also sought information on how the allocation of funds for Palestinian schools compared to that for Jewish schools.

They also wanted to know who determined the content of State education and whether educational content was the same for the Jewish and Palestinian schools. Experts wondered if the Government had considered allocating a preferential budget for Palestinian schools in order to fill the gap between those schools and their Jewish counterparts.

The quality of education was as important as access to it, it was said. Experts noted that while Palestinian children had to study Jewish culture, Jewish children were not required to study Palestinian culture. That could be harmful for the sustainability of a multicultural society.

Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee - 2 - Press Release WOM/991 351st Meeting (PM) 17 July 1997

Experts also asked if there were any plans to create new job opportunities for Palestinian women. Attention was drawn to the situation of 120 Palestinian population centres in Israel which were not recognized by the Israeli Government and so were deprived of such essentials as water and health facilities. Was Israeli government inaction in that area designed to encourage the Palestinians to leave their communities? they asked.

Questions were also raised about the number of undocumented Palestinian women workers and on efforts to help them enter the regular job market. The Government was urged to consider expanding the coverage of its national health insurance law. Experts said the Government should not condone traditional practices, described as "cultural", which violated the rights of women. Attention was also drawn to the need for special measures to close the gap in health services available to women in northern and southern Israel.

Information was also requested on legal measures to implement the principle of equal pay for equal work between men and women. What was the extent of women's involvement in the informal sector, and the steps had the Government taken to bring that sector under scrutiny to check abuses? Was there any legislation on indirect discrimination in the workplace? Experts also sought information on disabled women, both in education and in the workplace.

Women's rights suffered in States where traditional, religious and customary laws were held supreme, experts said. One member had been struck by the biblical quotation at the end of the Israeli representative's speech this morning. In it, God tells Moses that where there are no male children, female children can inherit their father's property. In today's Israel, however, all children had an equal right to inheritance. In like manner, it was time to move on with respect to religious courts, which should give way to a civil regime.

Questions were also asked about dissemination of information on the Convention. Experts wanted to know how many languages it had been translated into and what they were. They also urged Israel to withdraw its reservations to articles 7 and 16 of the Convention. Article 7 states that women shall share on equal terms with men in the political and public life of the country. Article 16 spells out equality of women's rights in matters relating to marriage and family relations.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 18 July, to consider the third periodic report of Australia.

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