WPCH []ʊue:3FD'EF߹ Wa~uYs抬=[f]dd+{66 $YC Ry䖓"2SykHЊF2_ un8};ug]&AL ◸kwQvOGȡ3d E^lM rz{5K*&g<!>2R:D[N,#R~ݵ!bc416 tNJMP#IV?jZPL"KTʝ>QIl0cBdS_)֕0~z 'ʊ+W-> SK|/!4rq=~Iy,l:|߆\{wza`6[{{M*k:<쥓s7NZ}:8<GWR,GpI4Hw7)!9ȝ=(ɜ?%'#"UN %1 0:7 0q 0_ 0J 02 0 0 0 0 0 0c 0? 0 0 0 0 0^ 0( 0 0 0 0f 0; 0  0 0 0q 07N^ w4  / m1HP LaserJet 4000 Series PS0(hH  Z6Times New Roman RegularX($UKUS.,2G+J 0_level1  X /%4 4 <DL/23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2D+J 0_level2   ," <DL,23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2A+J 0_level3   ) <DL)23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2>+J 0_level4  ` &<<DL&23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2;+J 0_level5   #DL#23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  28+J 0_level6    DL 23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  25+J 0_level7  h DDL23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  22+J 0_level8   L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2/+J 0_level9    L23  ..  2( 4 <DL2  2GJ 0_levsl1  X /%4 4 <DL/23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2DJ 0_levsl2   ," <DL,23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2AJ 0_levsl3   ) <DL)23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2>J 0_levsl4  ` &<<DL&23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2;J 0_levsl5   #DL#23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  28J 0_levsl6    DL 23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  25J 0_levsl7  h DDL23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  22J 0_levsl8   L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2/J 0_levsl9    L23  Ԁ  2( 4 <DL2  2GJ 0_levnl1  X /%4 4 <DL/23   2( 4 <DL2  2DJ 0_levnl2   ," <DL,23   2( 4 <DL2  2AJ 0_levnl3   ) <DL)23   2( 4 <DL2  2>J 0_levnl4  ` &<<DL&23   2( 4 <DL2  2;J 0_levnl5   #DL#23   2( 4 <DL2  28J 0_levnl6    DL 23   2( 4 <DL2  25J 0_levnl7  h DDL23   2( 4 <DL2  22J 0_levnl8   L23   2( 4 <DL2  2/J 0_levnl9    L23   2( 4 <DL2  \, ha+3|xU !UKUS.,  _(XX    ANTIGUAANDBARBUDA #XfX(=#  h _CEDAW_ԀA/52/38/Rev.1_(1997) _  228.TheCommitteeconsideredthecombinedinitial,secondandthirdperiodicreportsofAntigua f  andBarbuda(_CEDAW_/C/ANT/13)atits340th,341stand348thmeetings,on10and16July1997 O  (see_CEDAW_/C/SR.340,341and348). 8  229.Inherintroductorystatement,therepresentativeoftheStatepartyindicatedthatAntiguaand  Z  BarbudahadbecomepartytotheConventionon31August1989,atwhichtimetheConventionhad  C  beenfullyincorporatedindomesticlaw.ShenotedthatthereportbeforetheCommitteehadbeen ,  submittedin1994andthatsignificantdevelopmentsinimplementationhadoccurredsincethen.   Accordingly,anaddendumhadbeensubmittedtotheCommitteetoupdatethereport.   230.TherepresentativeindicatedthattheWomensDeskhadbeenupgradedin1985toa   DirectorateofWomensAffairs,whichhadresponsibilityforpromotingthesocial,politicaland i economicinterestsofwomenandtheirdevelopment.PursuanttotheBeijingPlatformforAction, R theDirectoratehadidentifiedaspriorityareasofconcerntheeliminationofviolenceagainstwomen, ; educationandtraining,theeradicationofpoverty,theencouragementofmorewomentobecome $t involvedinthedecisionmakingprocessandtheexpansionofgeneralhealthandreproductivehealth  ] programmesmainlytargetedatyoungwomen.Tofulfilinternationalandregionalcommitments, F theDirectoratesplanstomainstreamgenderinallgovernmentdepartments/divisionsincludeda / trainingworkshopinvolvingheadsofministries,localgovernmentofficers,nongovernmental  organizationsandheadsofdepartment.IthadalsoreviseditsnationalPlanofActionforGender  Affairs.TheDirectoratehadrecentlyorganizedaforumtopublicizetheConventionandwas  planningtointroducecoursestoencouragewomentoenterpoliticsanddecisionmaking.  231.Therepresentativenotedthatseveralmajorlegalreformshadbeenintroducedorwere U currentlypendingorplanned.TheSexualOffencesAct1995andtheMaintenanceActwerenow > inforce.Thefamily(protectionagainstdomesticviolence)bill,whichwouldprovideforprotection ' w ordersandorderswithregardtotheoccupationofthematrimonialhome,wouldbedebatedduring !` 1997andanequalopportunityactwouldbeintroducedinthenearfuture. !I  232.TherepresentativeinformedtheCommitteethatsexrolestereotypingremainedaproblemin #" AntiguaandBarbuda.Withintheeducationsystem,theneedtoreducethestereotypingofroleswas $ # accepted.Forthatreason,bothsexeswereexposedtosimilardisciplinesandtrainingwithinthe % $ system.However,therewasarealizationthatsocializationwithinthehomeandwidersocietyalso &!% influencedboysandgirlstochoosetraditionalskillsevenwhenofferedawiderrangeofoptions. o'"& Withintheschoolsystem,boysweremoreexposedtotechnicalskillsandgirlstodomesticskills. X(#' TheMinistriesofEducation,HealthandLabourofferedfamilylifeeducationprogrammesto A)$( promoteattitudesofequalresponsibilityofwomenandmeninthecareandsocializationofchildren. **z%) Domesticviolence,sexualharassment,sexualabuse,batteryandrapewereprevalentandrarely +c&* reportedasmanymenconsideredsuchconductacceptable.Therepresentativenotedthata24hour +L'+ domesticviolencehotlinewasscheduledtobeintroducedinAugust1997bytheDirectorate,in ,5(, collaborationwithanumberofnongovernmentalorganizationsandtheprivatesector. -)- _ԇ233.TherepresentativeinformedtheCommitteethatplanscurrentlyinplacetoallowpregnant  teenagerstocontinuetheireducationincludedworkingwithfathersasappropriateandtheprovision  offunctionalliteracyskillsprogrammes,skillstraining,parentingclassesandfamilylifeeducation,  whichinvolvedfamilyplanningandHIV/AIDSeducation. k 234.TherepresentativeindicatedthatalthoughwomenconstitutedthemajorityofvotersinAntigua =  andBarbuda,thepoliticalparticipationofwomenremainedlowandstrategiesandplansofaction & v wouldbeintroducedtoreversethat.  _ 235.TherepresentativeinformedtheCommitteethattherewasahighrateofperinatalmortality  1  amongwomeninAntiguaandBarbuda.Shenotedthatabortionwasillegalinthecountry,although    terminationofpregnancyonmedicalgroundswaspermitted.   236.TheCommitteewastoldthatwomencomprisedasignificantpartoftheagriculturalpopulation   inAntiguaandBarbuda.Althoughtheywerenotsubjecttodirectdiscrimination,farmsoperated n  bywomenfarmerswereusuallylessthanhalfthesizeofthoseoftheirmalecounterpartsand W  womenfarmersveryoftenhadmultipleresponsibilities.TheDirectorateofWomensAffairs @ providedtrainingandsupporttowomenfarmers. )y 237.TherepresentativeindicatedthattheDivorceAct1997providedirretrievablebreakdownas K thesolegroundfordivorceandallowedfordivorcetobesoughtafteroneyearofmarriage.In 4 certaincircumstances,mencouldnowbeconvictedofsexualassaultagainsttheirwives.The  representativenoted,however,thatwomenindefactorelationshipssufferedlegaldisadvantages.  238.TherepresentativereiteratedthestrongcommitmentofAntiguaandBarbudatotheelimination  ofdiscriminationagainstwomenandtheimplementationoftheConventionandtheBeijingPlatform q forAction.Shestatedthatthatcommitmenthadbeenmanifestedinthepreparationsforand Z participationintheFourthWorldConferenceonWomen,aswellasinthepreparationsforthe C presentationofAntiguaandBarbudasreportbeforetheCommittee. ,| ConcludingcommentsoftheCommittee N Introduction !   239.TheCommitteewelcomedthefactthatAntiguaandBarbudahadratifiedtheConvention #" withoutreservations.TheCommitteecommendedtheStatepartyforitsreport,giventhatitwasa $# smallislandStatewithlimitedresources. t% $ 240.TheCommitteealsocommendedtheStatepartyonitsfrankandfullpresentationandthe F'"& submissionoftheaddendumtoitsreport,which,althoughpresentedlateintheday,togetherwith /(#' therepresentativesstatement,providedacompletepictureoftheimplementationoftheConvention )h$( inAntiguaandBarbuda.TheCommitteewasgratifiedwiththeobviouspoliticalwillinthecountry *Q%) withregardtotheadvancementofwomen. *:&* 241.However,theCommitteewasdisappointedthatthereportprovidednoinformationwithregard , (, totheimplementationofthePlatformforActionandthemeasuresthathadbeentakenbytheState -(- partytoaddressthegeneralrecommendationsoftheCommittee.  Positiveaspects  242.TheCommitteecommendedAntiguaandBarbudaontheearlyestablishmentoftheWomens T Desksoonafterattainingindependence,anditslaterupgradingandexpansiontotheDirectorateof =  WomensAffairs.TheCommitteealsocommendedtheGovernmentonitsintentiontoupgradethat & v officefurther,toaministry,whenawomanwaselectedtooffice.  _ 243.TheCommitteewelcomedtheintroductionofimportantlegislation,includingtheEqual  1  OpportunityAct,theDivorceActandtheSexualOffencesAct.Itlookedforwardtotheresultsof    theintroductionoftheequalpayanddomesticviolencebillsandnotedwithappreciationtheuseby   AntiguaandBarbudaofmodellegislationdevelopedbytheCaribbeanCommunity(CARICOM).   244.TheCommitteecomplimentedtheStatepartyonthesuccessfulmeasuresithadtakentoreduce n  thebirthrate. W  245.TheCommitteenotedwithsatisfactiontheintroductionofgendermanagementsystems. )y 246.TheCommitteeapplaudedtheassurancesmadebythePresidentthattheinequalitiesinpower K sharingatthehighestdecisionmakinglevelswouldberedressed. 4 247.TheCommitteecommendedtheintroductionofthedomesticviolencehotlineandrelated  supportservices.  248.TheCommitteewelcomedtheintroductionofmeasurestoaddressteenagepregnanciesand q thefocusonthesituationofthegirlchild. Z FactorsanddifficultiesaffectingtheimplementationoftheConvention ,| 249.TheCommitteenotedthatAntiguaandBarbuda,beingasmallislandState,seemedtobe N handicappedbyalackoffinancialandhumanresourcesinthecompilationofstatisticaldata,which  7 mightbeanobstacleinfullyimplementingtheConvention. !   Principalareasofconcern #" 250.TheCommitteewasconcernedaboutthefactthatfewmeasureshadbeentakentoincreasethe t% $ politicalparticipationofwomen.ItnotedtheabsenceofwomeninParliamentandthelackof ]&!% measurestoincreasetheparticipationofwomeninpubliclifegenerally. F'"& 251.TheCommitteewasconcernedaboutthelackofintegratedmeasurestoaddressviolence )h$( againstwomen. *Q%) 252.TheCommitteenotedthelackofdecisionmakingpoweroftheDirectorateforWomens +#'+ Affairs. , (,  -(- 253.TheCommitteewasconcernedaboutthelackofinformationinthereportonprostitutionand  traffickinginwomen.  254.TheCommitteewasalsoconcernedaboutthecontinuingselectionbyfemalestudentsof k stereotypicalsubjects.Itwasalsoconcernedaboutthegreaterexposureofgirlswithintheschool T systemtodomesticskillsandboystotechnicalskills. =  255.TheCommitteewasconcernedaboutthelowlevelofoccupationalachievementbyeducated  _ womenandmaledominanceintechnicalandprofessionalfields,ontheonehand,andthe  H concentrationofwomeninthelowerpaidservicesector,includingthetouristindustry,ontheother.  1  256.TheCommitteenotedthatwomensconcernshadnotyetbeenintegratedintothenationalfive   yearplan.   257.TheCommitteewasconcernedaboutthesituationofruralwomenandtheiraccesstocredit. n  258.TheCommitteewasalsoconcernedaboutthecontinuingillegalityofabortion,whichwould @ leadtounsafeabortions.Italsonotedwithconcernthelackoffamilyplanningeducation )y programmesandthefactthatcontraceptiveswerenotcoveredbymedicalbenefitsschemes. b 259.TheCommitteewasdeeplyconcernedaboutthehighlevelofteenagepregnancy. 4 260.TheCommitteeexpressedconcernaboutthehighrateofperinatalmortality.  261.TheCommitteenotedthelackofspecialmeasuresforwomenwithHIV/AIDS,aswellasthe  absenceofmeasurestoaddressdrugaddictionamongwomen.TheCommitteeexpressedthehope q thatmoreinformationwouldbegivenabouttheprobleminthenextreport. Z 262.TheCommitteeexpressedconcernaboutthepositionofwomenincommonlawrelationships. ,| Suggestionsandrecommendations N 263.TheCommitteerecommendedthattheDirectorateofWomensAffairsbeelevatedtoahigher !   rankandthusupgradedandstrengthened. " ! 264.TheCommitteesuggestedthatgenderissuesbeintegratedintothefiveyearplan. $# 265.TheCommitteesuggestedthattheGovernmentofAntiguaandBarbudautilizearticle4ofthe ]&!% Conventioninacceleratingdefactoequalityforwomen. F'"& 266.TheCommitteerecommendedthattheGovernmentofAntiguaandBarbudaencouragegreater )h$( participationofwomeninpoliticsbyintroducingtemporaryspecialmeasures. *Q%) 267.TheCommitteesuggestedthatAntiguaandBarbudaintroduceappropriatepoliciesand +#'+ programmesforsexeducationandfamilyplanningeducation. , (,  -(- 268.TheCommitteerecommendedthatAntiguaandBarbudaratifyInternationalLabour  Organization(ILO)ConventionNo.100concerningEqualRemunerationforMenandWomen  WorkersforWorkofEqualValueandtakethenecessarymeasuresforitsimplementation.  269.TheCommitteerecommendedtheintroductionofprogrammestoencouragementotake T accountoftheirfamilyresponsibilities. =  270.TheCommitteenotedthatcultureisapositivevehicleforinfluencingtheadvancementof  _ women,andsuggestedthatculturalartformsbeusedasavehicletopromoterespectforwomen.  H TheCommitteealsosuggestedthatthemediabeusedtopromotepositiveattitudestowardswomen.  1  271.TheCommitteeurgedtheGovernmentofAntiguaandBarbudatoincludeinitsnextreport   fullerinformationontheremainingobstaclestothefullenjoymentofwomenshumanrights,   particularlyinrelationtoarticle6oftheConventionandinregardtothelegalandeconomic   positionofwomenincommonlawrelationships. n  272.TheCommitteerequestedthewidedisseminationinAntiguaandBarbudaoftheseconcluding @ commentssoastomakeindividualsawareofthestepsthathavebeentakentoensuredefacto )y equalityforwomenandthefurtherstepsrequiredinthisregard. b