WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE HEARS QUERIES ON SITUATION OF ROMANY WOMEN, AS IT CONSIDERS INITIAL REPORT OF SLOVAKIA
Press Release
WOM/1056
WOMEN'S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE HEARS QUERIES ON SITUATION OF ROMANY WOMEN, AS IT CONSIDERS INITIAL REPORT OF SLOVAKIA
19980623 There were persistent allegations that Romany women in Slovakia were being forced to submit to sterilization, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was told this afternoon, as it continued considering that country's compliance with the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.According to those reports, an expert of the 23-member body continued, coercion methods included threats to remove children from their families. Sometimes the women were offered money to undergo such an operation. It was ironic that Slovak women of other ethnic groups, who wanted to be sterilized, were often refused the operation, she said.
During the discussion this afternoon, which followed the introduction of Slovakia's initial report this morning, several experts expressed concern about the health of Romany children. According to a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) study, 50 per cent of those children were malnourished, with related impacts on health and mental development. Lack of action by the Government would constitute a serious human rights violation.
Also this afternoon, an expert expressed surprise over governmental statistics implying that prostitution in Slovakia was virtually non-existent when overall, trafficking in women was increasing in eastern Europe. She stressed the need for more objective statistical representation that would highlight incidents of prostitution, trafficking, and the extent of criminal syndicate activity.
The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow to begin its consideration of South Africa's initial report on implementing the Convention.
Committee Work Programme
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met this afternoon to continue its consideration of Slovakia's initial report on efforts to implement the Convention. The Committee's 23 members -- experts serving in their individual capacities -- monitor implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
(For details on Slovakia's report and presentation, see Press Release WOM/1055 of 23 June.)
Turning to article 5 on the social and cultural patterns that lead to discrimination and to stereotyped roles for men and women, participants said that the information given by the report on the work being done to transform traditional discriminatory values needed to be expanded. Was work being done by the mass media, in schools and in other social institutions to change deeply rooted prejudices? Participants noted that one of the fundamental principles of legislation on the family stated that motherhood was considered to be the most dignified expression of the status of women. Had any work been done to change traditional ideas on fatherhood and to address issues such as paternal responsibilities and male roles in the care and education of children? It was important to determine what measures were being adopted by the Slovak Government in that respect.
Addressing article 6 on the suppression of the traffic in and the exploitation of prostitution of women, participants noted that although the article was the shortest in the Convention, the Committee thought it was one of the major provisions due to its phenomenal historic record. New information technology had made it much easier to trade in women and children.
The Slovak report highlighted a legal regime that clearly penalized procurement and pimping. It also mentioned the nuances in Slovakia's penal code which provided varying degrees of punishment for organized prostitution, trafficking and pimping. Yet, surprisingly, statistical pictures suggested that either prostitution in Slovakia was non-existent or that laws were not effectively enforced. In the meanwhile, figures showed that trafficking in women was on the increase in eastern Europe. A more objective statistical representation, therefore, needed to be provided for a more realistic picture. Statistics should highlight incidents of prostitution, trafficking, and the extent of criminal syndicate activity. Future reports should inform the Committee of efforts by the Slovak Government to cooperate with the European Union which has condemned trafficking.
On the issue of Slovakian domestic violence, participants wanted to know how effective the present penal code was in addressing the issue. Cases were presently being punished by mere fines and many women were reluctant to report abuses. Also Slovakia had no shelters for battered women.
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An expert said there seemed to be an almost complete lack of attention to article 7 of the Convention, on eliminating discrimination against women in public and political life. She stressed the importance of participation in political life and in decision-making processes in a country like Slovakia, which had moved from a uniparty system towards consolidating democracy, which meant participation. How could democracy be consolidated if so few of the country's human resources participated in decision-making? she asked. The report did not address efforts made by Government or political parties to correct that deficit.
She also asked for details on the organizational structure of political parties and the electoral system. Had parties introduced temporary special measures, such as quotas, and what had been women's response to such efforts? she asked. She then asked about the efforts of women in Government to increase women's overall political participation and increase awareness of the Convention. Legislation was generally a first step towards eliminating obstacles for women, and female parliamentarians were often involved in the formulation of such laws, she noted. An expert asked about the effect of female judges and prosecutors on everyday life of women in Slovakia, and for information on the declining number of women lawyers over the past decade.
Turning then to article 10, on eliminating discrimination in the field of education, several experts asked for further information on the Government's intention to establish 65 specialized schools for girls, that would prepare their students for three fields. What were those three specialized fields? Were boys taught the same subjects at different schools? Noting that boys and girls tended to pursue technical and humanitarian studies, respectively, experts asked about measures to correct that imbalance, and asked whether different vocational guidance was given to girls and to boys, and, if so, to what kinds of careers were girls being directed.
Regarding university education, an expert asked whether women's studies courses would be introduced, as these had become a fairly standard method of increasing awareness. In addition to asking for statistical information on women studying at the university level, inquiries were made regarding career counselling for women, and whether there were scholarships to encourage women to pursue non-traditional careers. More detailed information was needed on article 11, relating to discrimination in employment, several experts said. There was need to distinguish the difference between attitudes and reality. They asked what efforts had been made to reduce inflation and unemployment rates, noting that unemployment rates were higher for women than for men, despite the high rate of female education. One expert noted that the unemployment rate was even higher for the Romany ethnic group, and asked whether that issue -- in particular, the plight of Romany women -- was being practically addressed. Other questions pertained to means to reduce the gap between wages for men and those for women, some 22.4 per cent difference.
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Regarding labour provisions for pregnant women and new mothers, an expert noted that such women could be transferred to other work, and, if there was a difference in pay, the women were paid at the original rate. Who paid that difference? she asked. If the cost was absorbed by the social security system, the plan might work, but if the employer was paying the difference, the overall effect might be negative for women. She asked why other types of work were needed in the months following pregnancy. Also, she wondered what efforts were being made to address the fact that women returning from maternity leave often confronted difficulties in obtaining promotions.
A number of questions were posed on the different ages at which women and men received pensions. Men were eligible to receive pensions in their sixties, while women became eligible at between 53 and 57 years, depending on the number of children raised. Experts asked for clarification on that last provision, whether there had been any movement towards equalizing pension rights, and whether a study had been done to compare the overall impact of the different ages of retirement.
Concerning employment of women, one expert noted the lack of statistical data on employment by gender. Another noted that 80 per cent of professionals in the health and education fields were women, and that those "feminine sectors" were underpaid. She asked the Government's view on the matter. Regarding the report's statement that women were entitled to greater protection in terms of employment, she asked what kinds of protection were involved.
An expert expressed interest in how women had fared in the transition from central to market economy. She asked whether any study had been conducted on the impact of the transition, looking, in particular, at the impact of privatization on women and their families, and to what extend poverty had been feminized as a result of the transition.
Also regarding the workplace, an expert asked whether there were mechanisms for complaints of discrimination and sexual harassment at work. Throughout the report, women's role in child rearing had been emphasized, she noted. To what extent did the State assist women in that regard? she asked. What social safety nets were available for women head of households? She also asked for data on women's participation in trade unions, noting that more and more persons were working part time and were thus not in a strong bargaining position regarding equal wages and treatment. An expert noted that too much emphasis had been placed on motherhood and hardly any mention of the parental role of men.
Turning to article 12, on the elimination of discrimination against women in the field of health, one of the experts noted that the report had only four paragraphs under that very important article. Since the years 1991- 1992, it was clear that the Slovak Government had been implementing a policy of privatization. How had that policy affected the social sector, especially the health sector? she asked -- in particular women's reproductive health?
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She said a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) study had noted that the health of children was suffering because of malnourishment in Slovakia. The UNICEF study noted that up to 50 per cent of children born to Romany women were malnourished. That factor had an impact on the health, in particular, on the mental development of the children. Was the Slovak Government aware of the UNICEF study? she asked. What was it doing to address that very important issue. If the problem were not addressed, the Romany ethnic group would be further marginalized and underrepresented -- a problem that would be exacerbated if there were mental impairment because of malnutrition. If the Government was doing nothing about the problem, that would constitute a serious violation of human rights.
A related topic was tuberculosis, the expert added. The disease was killing 2 million to 3 million people worldwide, and people suffering from malnourishment were particularly vulnerable. Women constituted another vulnerable group. What was being done about this disease in Slovakia?
There were also persistent reports about the forced sterilization of Romany women, said the expert. Various means were being used to force women to submit to sterilization, including threats to take away their existing children. Sometimes they were also offered money to undergo such an operation. The irony of the situation was that other women, who were not of Romany origin, who might want to be sterilized, were often refused the operation. Were there any comments on that situation?
She also asked what was being done about health education in Slovakia, and she asked for more information about abortion in the country. She was concerned about the placement in the report of information about abortion and contraception together in the same paragraph. Those two issues should not be confused. Abortion should never be a contraceptive method, and repeated abortions could have a detrimental effect on the health of women. She asked for more information on abortion, in general, in Slovakia and, in particular, for information on the number of women who died as a result of abortions. Was there any restriction on the number of abortions a woman could have within a year?
What was the prevalence of breast cancer in the country, and were there any programmes of early detection? she asked.
Another expert asked about the infant mortality rate among the Romany population. She also wanted to know about the incidence of AIDS among the Romany, and whether they had higher abortion rates than the rest of the population.
Also, the expert added, according to the Slovak Constitution, each needy citizen was entitled to assistance. How much were recipients entitled to? How many people were receiving such help, and what was the proportion of Romany
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recipients? The Romany population could certainly be described as in need of assistance, she said.
Turning to article 13 on the elimination of discrimination against women in other areas of economic and social life, participants said that the report had made no reference to financial grants, credits, mortgages or loans to women. More information on Slovakian initiatives in those areas was needed.
Addressing article 14 on problems faced by rural women, participants noted that the report had only given five paragraphs to the issue. The socio- economic environments of rural areas were less stable than those of urban areas and this contributed to more discrimination against women. Also, the problems of housing and employment were not addressed in the report's consideration of article 14. Did rural women have the right to own land if it was accessible? And if women were heads of their households, did the Government provide special measures for them to own land?
Other participants said unemployment had increased in rural areas and that salaries of women were lower than those of their male counterparts. Very few programmes were carried out to help the development of women. Also, compared to males, females received an inferior education.
Participants also wanted to know the consequences resulting from privatization in rural areas. What were the strategies devised by the Government to improve the rural situation? Did the Government offer retraining programmes for rural women? What were the new forms of employment, benefits and remuneration mentioned in the report? Another question asked was whether rural women were taking part in the rural development that was mentioned in the report. If they were, what proportion did they represent and what was the outcome of their involvement? In addition, a question was raised about the opportunities for participation by rural women in trade unions and agriculture.
Turning to article 16 on the elimination of discrimination against women within the marriage and the family, participants said that violence against women was clearly an area that needed urgent government attention. Given the high concentration of citizens in family settings, it was likely that violence there was a high level of violence, particularly sexual, against female adolescents and girl children. Legislation to protect females from that violence needed to be put in place. Also shelters, medical treatment, counselling and other social safety nets needed to be set up.
In addressing article 16, the report needed to elaborate on the rights of women to equality in the family, said an expert. Did co-ownership of family property imply equal ownership? In divorce situations, did women get an equal share or was settlement based on financial contributions, in which case women usually received less. If co-ownership policies were introduced,
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then emphasis should be put on the effect of the divorce judgement and not on settlement based on financial input since women were left to raise the family, which usually included children.
Participants noted that Slovakians felt a need to return to traditional values. That was due to the upheavals of financial and political transformations. The Government had given parents the choice to either look after children or to work. Could there be no reconciliation between the family and work? Did the Government compensate the work done by the spouse responsible for bringing up the family?
The representative of Slovakia said answers to all questions raised by experts would be made on Monday, 29 June.
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