’WPC„ P=ƾž¶/¼»į:†ŅYRÉeÓÆõåilš)¤ĒWżiy…$ėXL÷ZŹ·Õ*Ż įųlķQ&m÷š…ŌŹ©Æ³wNFĀų ½ÓžPø‹ąĶå×ė6^#$7ėŪ‡&;@›x÷“ÕŻē¶øM‰†hq2½[Ś1õ‡š’'[¬š;#%o<›€m^š”Mķ![lżxlåčÉ< i¢UÆņ32~äßVøęšJʼ:;óŽSwL©’³HĆcćĘnœ4¤Ļ0—I_ĘMG§{±­ģ3ÓP˜”y°ŽćDDbc%ן½3@†öŻ(ןn‰ł¹ę¾ŻćłĀĒ C~Ą)–Ó¶?7š’ĮIl o÷ŻĘÉ’Ż–²oѦ™`˜ŌUxę9¢O«Šn‘²(ų…ƒš“õ‘«ĪŃŽŻr|£¾AŠ—ł7æŌŪU,-¬W8tRŪ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:RQN£˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,ŌGƒa, ½ha+ź:i¢Ų+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ programmeLandtageprogrammescounsellingendeavourbehaviouralcentresmarginalized$underrepresentedfavourablelabourinformaticscentreŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓÓ  ÓAUSTRIAŠ ° ŠÓLÓĢĢŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/40/45€(1985)ó óŠ n¾ ŠĢĢ180.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Austria€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/5/Add.17)€at€its€51ņņstóó,€55ņņthóóŠ * z Šand€56ņņthóó€meetings,€on€24€and€28€January€1985€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.51,€55,€56€and€62).Š  c ŠĢ181.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€began€his€introduction€with€some€remarks€on€the€reportingŠ å 5  Šsystem€under€the€Convention,€which€placed€a€heavy€burden,€in€terms€of€budget€and€work,€onŠ Ī   ŠMember€States.€€Such€a€burden€weighed€all€the€heavier€in€the€case€of€countries€that€had€only€limitedŠ ·  Štechnical€and€administrative€resources€or€whose€official€language€was€not€one€of€the€officialŠ  š  Šworking€languages€of€the€United€Nations.Š ‰Ł  ŠĢ182.€€He€presented€additional€information€on€the€most€recent€events,€which€could€not€have€beenŠ [«  Šincorporated€in€the€report.Š D” ŠĢ183.€€He€mentioned€the€seminar€on€the€economic€role€of€women€in€the€Economic€Commission€forŠ f ŠEurope€region,€which€was€held€in€Austria€in€October€1984€at€the€invitation€of€the€AustrianŠ ’O ŠGovernment€by€saying€that€many€of€its€recommendations€provided€for€action€to€compliment€theŠ č8 Šprovisions€of€the€Convention.€€He€highlighted€the€main€constitutional€provisions€that€guaranteedŠ Ń! Šequality€between€the€sexes€in€Austria€and€spoke€about€the€extensive€case€law€that€was€consequentlyŠ ŗ  Šdeveloped€by€the€Constitutional€Court,€which€was€guided€by€the€principle€that€unequal€treatmentŠ £ó Šof€women€and€men€was€only€justified€where€objectively€justifiable€reasons€existed.€€ThoseŠ ŒÜ Šconstitutional€provisions€were€binding€on€lawmakers,€the€administration€and€the€judiciary,€and€uponŠ uÅ Šratification€of€the€Convention,€article€4€was€given€the€rank€of€constitutional€law.Š ^® ŠĢ184.€€He€then€reported€on€a€number€of€concrete€measures€and€initiatives€taken€by€his€GovernmentŠ 0€ Šon€behalf€of€women€in€recent€months.€€One€of€them€was€a€campaign€to€change€traditional€andŠ i Šstereotyped€attitudes€towards€jobs€and€raise€the€awareness€of€young€women€to€take€upŠ  R Šunconventional€work.€€Another€was€a€programme€for€the€promotion€of€women€in€the€civil€serviceŠ ė ; Šadopted€by€the€Government,€which€proved€successful.€€He€underlined€the€clearing€house€functionŠ Ō!$  Šof€the€Office€of€the€State€Secretary€for€General€Questions€relating€to€Women€in€the€FederalŠ ½" ! ŠChancellery.€€He€also€emphasized€that€the€Government€and€its€agencies€were€by€far€the€largestŠ ¦#ö" Šemployers€in€Austria€and€their€measures€had€an€immediate€impact€on€the€overall€situation€of€womenŠ $ß# Šin€the€country.€€Other€measures€referred€to€helping€abused€women,€women€released€from€prison€andŠ x%Č $ Šwomen€seeking€divorce,€sexual€violence€against€women€and€related€legislative€measures.€€BesidesŠ a&±!% Šthe€various€government€actions,€he€referred€to€private€initiatives€that€merited€full€governmentŠ J'š"& Šsupport.Š 3(ƒ#' ŠĢ185.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€presented€some€statistical€data€on€women€in€publicŠ *U%) Špolitical€life.€€He€said€that€1€out€of€15€ministers€and€2€out€of€6€state€secretaries€were€women;€20€outŠ ī*>&* Šof€183€Members€of€Parliament€and€10€out€63€members€of€the€second€chamber,€the€š šBundesratšš,Š ×+''+ Šwere€women.€€The€percentage€of€women€in€the€diets,€the€š šLandtagešš,€ranged€from€2.8€per€cent€toŠ Ą,(, Š18€per€cent.€€The€members€of€all€those€bodies€were€elected€by€equal€suffrage;€their€compositionŠ ©-ł(- ŠŌ_Ōreflected€the€conventional€attitudes€of€the€population,€which€the€Government€as€attempting€toŠ ° Šchange.€€In€addition€to€the€various€measures€undertaken€domestically,€Austria€was€also€activelyŠ ™é Šinvolved€in€promoting€equal€opportunities€for€women€at€international€forums.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ186.€€The€majority€of€members€of€the€Committee€congratulated€the€representative€of€Austria€on€hisŠ T¤ Šexcellent€introductory€statement,€which€complemented€the€information€supplied€in€the€writtenŠ =  Šreport.€€They€were€impressed€with€the€quality€and€quantity€of€programmes,€which€demonstrated€theŠ & v Šseriousness€attached€by€the€country€to€the€Convention€and€the€desire€to€change€the€stereotyped€rolesŠ  _ Šof€women€in€society.€€Some€commended€the€particular€attention€paid€by€the€country€to€women€inŠ ų H Šthe€work„force€and€the€various€equality€provisions€in€the€Austrian€codes.€€On€the€whole,€theŠ į 1  Šimpression€was€that€Austria€had€started€very€conscious€work€towards€ņņde€factoóó€equality€betweenŠ Ź   Šwomen€and€men.€€At€the€same€time,€most€experts€expressed€concern€about€the€lack€of€sufficientŠ ³  Šstatistical€information€and€deplored€the€fact€that€two€documents,€handed€out€during€the€meetingŠ œģ  Š(š šThe€economic€role€of€women€in€Austriašš€and€š šWomen€and€mass€media€in€Austriašš),€whichŠ …Õ  Šcontained€very€valuable€statistical€data,€had€not€been€available€earlier.€€A€few€experts€shared€theŠ n¾  Šconcerns€expressed€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€with€regard€to€translation€problems€inŠ W§  Šconnection€with€the€submission€of€national€reports.Š @ ŠĢ187.€€One€expert€sought€clarification€on€what€she€felt€were€two€contradictory€statements€in€theŠ b Šreport,€namely,€that€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€could€not€be€applied€directly€within€theŠ ūK Šframework€of€the€domestic€legal€order,€but€that€the€Convention€supplemented€Austrian€law,€and€itsŠ ä4 Šarticles€1€to€4€additions€to€the€Constitution.Š Ķ ŠĢ188.€€Some€experts€asked€for€more€information€on€the€procedure€to€be€followed€when€making€anŠ Ÿļ Šappeal€to€the€Constitutional€Court.€€They€wanted€to€know€whether€citizens€could€appeal€directly€orŠ ˆŲ Šindirectly€in€cases€of€violations€of€any€rights€or€only€of€constitutional€rights€and€whether€the€costsŠ qĮ Šof€appeal€were€borne€by€the€State.€€More€clarification€was€sought€on€the€Equal€Treatment€Act,€theŠ ZŖ Šfunctions€of€the€Equal€Treatment€Commission€and€on€what€was€meant€by€the€elimination€of€š šopenŠ C“ Šdiscriminationšš€under€the€Act€in€collective€agreements.€€Several€experts€asked€which€mechanismŠ ,| Šwas€applied€by€the€Equal€Treatment€Commission€to€control€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionŠ e Šand€other€legislative€measures,€what€procedure€had€to€be€followed€to€bring€a€case€before€thatŠ žN ŠCommission€and€who€was€entitled€to€appeal€to€the€Commission.€€Some€experts€asked€whether€theŠ ē 7 ŠCommission€operated€under€the€instructions€of€a€government€body,€and€several€experts€expressedŠ Š!   Šastonishment€at€the€small€number€of€cases€submitted€to€the€Commission.€€They€also€asked€whetherŠ ¹" ! Šany€other€cases€concerning€discrimination€against€women€had€been€dealt€with€and€whether€anyŠ ¢#ņ" Šdiscriminatory€measures€had€been€subsequently€declared€null€and€void.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ189.€€As€regards€the€special€administrative€bodies€in€Austria€dealing€with€womenššs€matters,Š ]&­!% Šquestions€were€asked€about€the€specific€functions€of€the€Office€of€the€State€Secretary€for€GeneralŠ F'–"& ŠQuestions€relating€to€Women€in€the€Federal€Chancellery€and€the€tasks€of€the€special€unit€forŠ /(#' Šwomenššs€problems€within€the€Federal€Ministry€of€Social€Affairs€which€was€created€in€1983.€Š )h$( ŠQuestions€were€also€asked€about€the€relationship€of€those€two€bodies€to€each€other€and€to€non„Š *Q%) Šgovernmental€organizations€and€their€powers€to€impose€sanctions.€€An€expert€asked€whether€the€unitŠ ź*:&* Šcreated€in€1983€continued€the€programmes€started€by€the€former€Office€of€the€State€Secretary€forŠ Ó+#'+ ŠMatters€relating€to€Working€Women€in€the€Federal€Ministry€of€Social€Affairs.Š ¼, (, ŠŌ_ŌŠ „-õ(- Š190.€€Several€experts€wanted€to€know€whether€any€assessment€of€the€activities€to€enhance€the€statusŠ ° Šof€women€had€been€made,€whether€as€a€result€of€media€campaigns€and€major€changes€in€schoolŠ ™é Štextbooks€and€television€programmes€peopleššs€attitudes€had€changed€and€whether€research€onŠ ‚Ņ Šassessing€those€changes€had€been€undertaken.€€One€expert€asked€whether€and€to€what€extent€menŠ k» Šwere€involved€in€attempts€to€change€traditional€attitudes€and€what€was€being€done€to€encourage€menŠ T¤ Što€change€their€attitudes.€€More€information€was€requested€on€the€responsible€authorities€in€the€fieldsŠ =  Šof€information€and€education.€€One€expert€wanted€to€know€whether€the€new€ways€of€presentingŠ & v Šwomen€and€men€in€textbooks€applied€also€to€pre„school€educational€materials.€€Another€expert€askedŠ  _ Šwhether€the€choice€of€television€programmes€depended€upon€the€good€will€of€the€media€or€whetherŠ ų H Šan€authority€was€responsible€for€imposing€certain€sanctions.Š į 1  ŠĢ191.€€More€information€was€sought€on€the€situation€with€regard€to€role€stereotyping€andŠ ³  Šdiscrimination€in€advertising.€€It€was€asked€whether€employers€advertising€vacancies€were€allowedŠ œģ  Što€specify€that€they€were€open€only€to€applicants€of€a€particular€sex.Š …Õ  ŠĢ192.€€More€statistical€information€was€sought€on€the€participation€of€women€in€politicalŠ W§  Šorganizations€and€political€parties€at€all€levels,€the€number€of€women€who€exercised€their€right€toŠ @ Švote€and€the€percentage€of€women€in€elected€bodies€at€lower€and€higher€levels.Š )y ŠĢ193.€€Several€experts€were€somewhat€surprised€that€Austria€had€made€a€reservation€with€regard€toŠ ūK Šarticle€7€(b)€of€the€Convention€and€asked€for€clarification.€€They€wondered€whether€the€reservationŠ ä4 Šreferred€to€the€participation€of€women€in€the€armed€forces€or€to€their€access€to€public€functions€atŠ Ķ Šcertain€levels.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€military€service€was€compulsory€in€Austria.€€FurtherŠ ¶ Šquestions€referred€to€the€percentage€of€women€in€the€judiciary,€in€senior€public€service,€in€theŠ Ÿļ Šdiplomatic€service€and€in€international€bodies.€€One€expert€inquired€about€the€fields€in€which€womenŠ ˆŲ Šministers€were€appointed€and€whether€the€20€women€Members€of€Parliament€had€been€the€onlyŠ qĮ Šfemale€candidates.Š ZŖ ŠĢ194.€€As€regards€education,€more€statistical€information€was€sought€on€education€at€all€levels€andŠ ,| Šespecially€on€female€student€enrolment,€the€proportion€of€women€who€had€completed€secondary€orŠ e Špost„secondary€education€as€compared€with€men€and€the€proportion€of€educated€women€comparedŠ žN Šwith€all€women.€€One€expert€wanted€to€know€in€what€types€of€careers€female€university€graduatesŠ ē 7 Šwere€engaged.€€Questions€were€asked€about€the€types€of€trades€women€were€entering€under€theŠ Š!   Šspecial€apprenticeship€programme,€about€th€role€played€by€the€Roman€Catholic€Church€and€aboutŠ ¹" ! Šthe€situation€of€immigrant€women.€€One€expert€asked€for€a€copy€of€the€book€published€in€NovemberŠ ¢#ņ" Š1981€as€a€result€of€a€story€competition€that€had€been€organized€under€the€motto€š šGirls€may€whistle€„Š ‹$Ū# Šboys€may€weepšš.€€Other€experts€asked€whether€education€was€compulsory€in€Austria€and€up€to€whatŠ t%Ä $ Šlevel€and€which€types€of€education€were€free.€€It€was€asked€whether€courses€in€handicrafts€andŠ ]&­!% Šdomestic€economy€were€taught€to€girls€and€boys€or€whether€they€had€been€abolished.Š F'–"& ŠĢ195.€€One€expert€asked€whether€the€new€educational€programmes€constituted€an€obligation€forŠ )h$( Šteachers€or€whether€they€had€the€character€of€suggestions€only.Š *Q%) ŠĢ196.€€More€statistical€information€was€requested€on€the€proportion€of€women€and€men€in€differentŠ Ó+#'+ Šoccupational€groups,€at€different€levels,€in€the€public€and€private€sector€and€on€the€total€number€ofŠ ¼, (, Šgainfully€employed€persons.€€It€was€asked€whether€female€unemployment€existed€and€whether€stepsŠ „-õ(- Šhad€been€taken€to€reduce€or€even€eliminate€piece€work.€€One€expert€asked€whether€a€woman€whoŠ ° Šhad€been€dismissed€on€discriminatory€grounds€or€had€been€refused€employment€on€the€ground€ofŠ ™é Šsex€could€take€recourse€action€and€to€which€relevant€authority.€€She€also€inquired€whether€men€asŠ ‚Ņ Šwell€as€women€with€dependants€had€the€right€to€contest€a€dismissal€as€being€socially€unjustified.€Š k» ŠOther€experts€asked€about€the€part„time€working€system,€about€the€protection€of€the€rights€of€unpaidŠ T¤ Šwomen€in€family€business€and€about€the€reasons€for€prohibiting€night€work€for€women.€€They€alsoŠ =  Šwanted€to€know€which€types€to€work€were€forbidden€for€women,€why€a€prospective€employer€wasŠ & v Šnot€forbidden€to€take€sex€into€account€in€the€selection€of€personnel,€whether€any€problems€had€arisenŠ  _ Šin€that€respect€and€what€were€the€criteria€for€the€š šbest€suitedšš€applicant€for€public€service.€€It€wasŠ ų H Šasked€whether€Austria€intended€to€withdraw€its€reservation€in€respect€of€article€11€of€theŠ į 1  ŠConvention.Š Ź   ŠĢ197.€€Some€experts€asked€about€concrete€examples€of€preferential€treatment,€whether€discriminationŠ œģ  Šin€respect€of€remuneration€for€work€of€equal€value€and€in€the€taxation€system€existed,€why€womenŠ …Õ  Šwere€still€earning€the€lowest€salaries€and€what€measures€the€Austrian€Government€envisaged€toŠ n¾  Šchange€the€situation.€€Another€expert€was€interested€in€the€results€contained€in€the€report€on€theŠ W§  Šspecial€programme€adopted€in€November€1981€to€assist€women€in€public€service.€€While€one€expertŠ @ Šinquired€whether€discrimination€was€Ō_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō€in€Austria€only€in€the€private€sector€or€also€in€regardŠ )y Što€government€posts,€another€expert€thought€that€the€Government,€being€the€most€importantŠ b Šemployer€in€Austria,€was€in€the€fortunate€position€of€being€able€to€give€a€good€example€to€privateŠ ūK Šemployers.€€Other€questions€referred€to€vocational€guidance€to€take€up€non„traditional€occupations,Š ä4 Što€professional€training€programmes,€to€the€situation€of€women€migrant€workers,€to€the€situation€ofŠ Ķ Šethnic€minorities€and€to€data€on€the€conditions€of€work€for€women€in€various€branches€of€industries.Š ¶ ŠĢ198.€€Several€experts€made€observations€in€connection€with€the€question€of€maternity€leave.€€SomeŠ ˆŲ Šasked€whether€paternity€leave€was€being€considered,€whether€women,€after€having€taken€suspendedŠ qĮ Šleave€for€child„care€did€not€risk€losing€their€jobs€and€whether€public€assistance€in€any€form€wasŠ ZŖ Šgiven€for€child„care€services.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€women€who€had€to€take€care€of€sickŠ C“ Šchildren€were€paid€an€allowance€and,€if€so,€whether€the€father€was€equally€entitled€to€it.€€One€expertŠ ,| Šwanted€to€know€the€percentage€of€women€who€took€maternity€leave€in€the€public€and€in€the€privateŠ e Šsectors.€€Another€expert€asked€whether€it€was€up€to€the€discretion€of€women€to€decide€on€the€typeŠ žN Šof€work€to€be€performed€during€pregnancy.€€One€expert€inquired€whether€the€maternity€allowanceŠ ē 7 Šwhich€had€been€raised€for€single€mothers€was€still€different€from€the€allowance€for€married€mothers.Š Š!   ŠĢ199.€€More€information€was€sought€on€the€legal€situation€regarding€abortion,€and€it€was€askedŠ ¢#ņ" Šwhether€health€services€in€Austria€were€private€or€paid€for€by€the€State.€€One€expert€asked€howŠ ‹$Ū# Šprostitution€was€dealt€with€in€Austria€and€whether€it€was€considered€an€offence.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ200.€€As€regards€rural€women,€more€information€was€requested€on€problems€faced€by€rural€women,Š F'–"& Štheir€educational€status€and€their€employment€possibilities.€€More€clarification€was€sought€on€theŠ /(#' Šhelpers€assigned€to€mothers€active€in€business,€farming€or€forestry,€during€the€pre„natal€and€post„Š )h$( Šnatal€periods€prescribed€by€law,€and€whether€costs€connected€with€such€helpers€were€covered€by€theŠ *Q%) ŠState€or€by€private€insurance.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ201.€€Another€question€referred€to€the€type€of€authorities€that€would€arbitrate€in€cases€ofŠ ¼, (, Šdisagreement€between€the€parents€about€the€receipt€of€family€allowances.€€An€expert€sought€moreŠ „-õ(- Šinformation€on€the€family€and€partner€counseling€services.€€More€information€was€sought€on€theŠ ° Šexercise€of€womenššs€rights€to€establish€a€domicile€following€a€divorce€and€on€the€extent€to€whichŠ ™é Šwomen€were€economically€independent,€could€administer€their€own€property€and€deal€with€financialŠ ‚Ņ Šinstitutions.Š k» ŠĢ202.€€Several€experts€requested€more€information€on€the€forthcoming€legislative€amendments€inŠ =  Šcriminal€procedures€in€cases€of€marital€violence€and€abused€women.€€Some€experts€asked€whetherŠ & v Šprogrammes€for€counselling€men€in€domestic€violence€existed,€whether€studies€on€the€magnitudeŠ  _ Šof€the€problem€had€been€made,€what€action€had€been€taken€to€combat€the€phenomenon€and€whatŠ ų H Šwere€the€seven€institutions€referred€to€in€the€report€for€the€protection€of€maltreated€women.€€It€wasŠ į 1  Šasked€whether,€apart€from€the€husband,€violence€was€also€exercised€by€other€male€members€of€theŠ Ź   Šfamily€and€whether€a€link€between€violence€and€alcoholism€existed.Š ³  ŠĢ203.€€A€few€experts€were€concerned€about€the€existing€distinction€between€legitimate€andŠ …Õ  Šillegitimate€children,€which€had€been€abolished€in€other€countries.€€Questions€were€asked€aboutŠ n¾  Šwhether€equality€between€the€sexes€existed€as€regards€maintenance€obligations,€custody€andŠ W§  Šguardianship€and€why€legal€guardians,€instead€of€the€mothers,€had€to€take€care€of€an€illegitimateŠ @ Šchild.€€More€information€was€sought€as€regards€the€right€of€and€the€procedure€for€adoption.€€Finally,Š )y Šit€was€asked€whether€women€who€lived€in€consensual€unions€had€the€same€rights€as€married€women.Š b ŠĢ204.€€The€representative€of€Austria€explained€that€the€rank€of€constitutional€law€for€articles€1€to€4Š ä4 Šof€the€Convention€meant€that€no€legislation€could€be€enacted€in€Austria€that€was€contrary€to€thoseŠ Ķ Šprovisions.€€They€were,€however,€non„self„executing,€that€is,€laws€and€other€provisions€had€to€beŠ ¶ Šenacted€before€those€articles€could€be€applied.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ205.€€If€the€principle€of€equality€had€been€violated,€each€person€was€entitled€to€file€a€complaint€withŠ qĮ Šthe€Constitutional€Court€within€six€weeks€after€the€passing€of€a€final€decision€in€the€last€instance€byŠ ZŖ Šan€administrative€authority€or€in€order€to€challenge€the€legality€of€an€ordinance€or€law.€€SuchŠ C“ Šdecisions€or€laws€may€be€declared€null€and€void.€€The€representative€enumerated€a€number€ofŠ ,| Šconcrete€examples€and€also€stated€that€everyone€in€Austria€was€entitled€to€seek€free€legal€aid.Š e ŠĢ206.€€As€to€the€composition€and€functioning€of€the€Equal€Rights€Commission€he€explained€whichŠ ē 7 Šmembers€of€the€Government,€autonomous€chambers€and€trade€unions€were€appointed€for€a€periodŠ Š!   Šof€four€years€by€the€Federal€Minister€for€Social€Affairs.€€Although€only€few€cases€had€been€dealtŠ ¹" ! Šwith€by€the€Commission,€they€had€far„reaching€impact€on€collective€and€other€labour€agreements.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠThe€Commission€dealt€with€cases€of€discrimination€in€the€para„judicial€field,€and€complaints€couldŠ ‹$Ū# Šbe€filed€with€that€body€and€the€Labour€Court€simultaneously.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ207.€€The€tasks€of€the€former€State€Secretary€for€Matters€relating€to€Working€Women€in€the€federalŠ F'–"& ŠMinistry€of€Social€Affairs€and€her€programmes€and€research€work€had€been€taken€over€by€a€wholeŠ /(#' Šunit€in€the€same€Ministry€without€any€budget€cuts.€€The€installation€of€the€State€Secretariat€forŠ )h$( ŠGeneral€Questions€relating€to€Women€in€the€Federal€Chancellery€made€womenššs€issues€aŠ *Q%) Šgovernment€function€and,€by€putting€them€in€the€centre€of€public€attention,€contributed€to€a€changeŠ ź*:&* Šof€attitude€in€the€society.€€The€office€also€held€interdisciplinary€negotiations€with€other€ministers.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ208.€€As€regards€women€in€the€media,€the€representative€of€Austria€mentioned€a€CommercialŠ „-õ(- ŠAdvertising€Committee€attached€to€a€ministry,€which€issued€specific€guidelines€to€advertisingŠ ° Šcompanies€and€dealt€with€pertinent€complaints.Š ™é ŠĢ209.€€After€having€explained€that€š šopen€discriminationšš€meant€any€discrimination€contained€in€theŠ k» Šexplicit€wording€of€a€provision€of€law,€he€said€that€such€š šopenšš€or€š špositivešš€discrimination€was€noŠ T¤ Šlonger€contained€in€collective€agreements€and€every€endeavour€was€made€to€eliminate€it€anywhereŠ =  Šelse.Š & v ŠĢ210.€€The€legislative€provisions€concerning€prostitution€did€not€differentiate€between€women€andŠ ų H Šmen.€€Prostitution€in€public€places€and€prostitution€involving€children€and€minors€were€forbidden;Š į 1  Šit€was€allowed,€however,€in€places€confined€by€the€authorities,€and€was€placed€under€medicalŠ Ź   Šcontrol.Š ³  ŠĢ211.€€There€were€no€restrictions€in€Austria€on€the€participation€of€women€in€political€parties€andŠ …Õ  Štrade€unions,€and€the€State€Secretary€for€General€Questions€relating€to€Women€was€trying€to€developŠ n¾  Šin€women€more€self„confidence€to€run€as€candidates€for€political€office€by€holding€seminars€andŠ W§  Štraining€programmes.€€Although€there€were€currently€only€20€women€in€Parliament,€there€were€manyŠ @ Šmore€women€candidates€for€the€last€elections.Š )y ŠĢ212.€€As€to€the€reservation€made€by€Austria€with€regard€to€article€7€(b)€of€the€Convention,€theŠ ūK Šrepresentative€explained€that€it€concerned€only€the€exemption€of€women€from€military€service.€Š ä4 ŠAustrian€lawyers€considered€that€there€were€š šobjectively€justifiablešš€reasons€for€such€an€exemption.€Š Ķ ŠWomen€were,€however,€included€in€the€administration€of€the€army.€€Military€service€wasŠ ¶ Šcompulsory€for€men.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ213.€€The€representative€gave€statistical€information€on€the€participation€of€women€in€the€diplomaticŠ qĮ Šservice.€€In€the€foreign€service€48€per€cent€of€the€staff€were€women;€10.8€per€cent€were€womenŠ ZŖ Šdiplomats.Š C“ ŠĢ214.€€An€association€subsidized€by€the€Government€had€been€conducting€information€campaigns€forŠ e Šparents€in€order€to€change€stereotyped€behavioural€patterns€for€pre„school€children.€€The€StateŠ žN ŠSecretariat€for€General€Questions€relating€to€Women€not€only€issued€general€guidelines€for€assuringŠ ē 7 Ša€more€realistic€picture€of€both€sexes€in€Austrian€schoolbooks,€it€also€carried€out€literacy€campaignsŠ Š!   Šfor€female€migrant€workers€and€programmes€geared€towards€social€fringe€groups€and€linguisticŠ ¹" ! Šminorities.€€The€representative€of€Austria€stated€that€in€his€country€education€was€compulsory€forŠ ¢#ņ" Šnine€years.€€School€attendance,€schoolbooks,€vocational€training,€education€in€universities€and€highŠ ‹$Ū# Šschools€and€transportation€to€and€from€schools€or€universities€by€public€transport€were€free€of€chargeŠ t%Ä $ Šfor€both€sexes€up€to€the€age€of€27.€€Students€from€low„income€families€could€apply€for€scholarships,Š ]&­!% Šwhich€covered€their€cost€of€living.€€The€medical€care€of€pupils€and€students€was€covered€by€theŠ F'–"& ŠAustrian€social€security€system.€€Women€constituted€41.7€per€cent€of€the€total€university€population;Š /(#' Šfrom€the€breakdown€by€field€of€study€it€appeared€that€the€majority€of€female€students,€i.e.€52.8€perŠ )h$( Šcent,€was€enrolled€in€philosophy€and€science.Š *Q%) ŠĢ215.€€He€explained€that€the€trend€towards€higher€education€had€continued€for€both€sexes.€€The€shareŠ Ó+#'+ Šof€women€with€completed€vocational€training€rose€from€13€per€cent€to€19€per€cent,€and€considerablyŠ ¼, (, Šmore€women€graduated€from€schools€of€higher€education.€€Yet€there€were€still€differences€inŠ „-õ(- Šprofessional€qualifications€between€the€sexes.€€Whereas€more€women€than€men€held€senior€posts€inŠ ° Šthe€public€service,€less€than€1€per€cent€of€female€graduates,€compared€with€16€per€cent€maleŠ ™é Šgraduates,€held€executive€positions€in€private€enterprises.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ216.€€The€representative€stated€that€the€advanced€training€programme€for€teachers€was€voluntary.Š T¤ ŠĢ217.€Concerning€the€special€apprenticeship€programmes€for€women,€the€representative€of€AustriaŠ & v Šexplained€that€monthly€subsidies€were€paid€to€enterprises€that€employed€girls€in€jobs€in€which€lessŠ  _ Šthan€30€per€cent€women€were€employed,€and€research€and€training€programmes€and€mediaŠ ų H Šcampaigns€were€carried€out€to€motivate€girls€to€take€on€non„traditional€jobs.€€A€special€programmeŠ į 1  Šwas€also€launched€for€the€promotion€of€women€in€the€civil€service€in€order€to€change€stereotypesŠ Ź   Šand€eliminate€prejudices.€€It€included€special€courses€for€women,€the€provision€of€day€care€sheltersŠ ³  Šand€better€working€conditions.€€Furthermore,€by€ministerial€decree€all€job€vacancies€had€toŠ œģ  Šannounced€without€reference€to€sex.€€The€sex€of€the€applicant€was€equally€irrelevant.€€SimilarŠ …Õ  Šmeasures€and€improvements€were€aimed€at€in€the€private€sector.Š n¾  ŠĢ218.€€Although€the€incomes€in€the€public€sector€were€regulated€by€legislation,€the€wage€differenceŠ @ Šbetween€women€and€men€in€the€public€sector€still€came€to€19€per€cent€„€about€40€per€cent€in€theŠ )y Šprivate€sector.€€A€study€carried€out€on€the€differentiating€regulations€for€work€performed€by€men€andŠ b Šwomen€under€Austrian€collective€agreements€had€a€strong€impact€on€the€Equal€Treatment€Act€ofŠ ūK Š1979.Š ä4 ŠĢ219.€€Generally,€part„time€employment€incorporated€no€legislative€disadvantages€for€employees,€andŠ ¶ Šthe€number€of€part„time€employees€was€on€the€increase.€€The€representative€of€the€State€partyŠ Ÿļ Šmentioned€the€special€legislative€provisions€covering€self„employed€housewives.€€An€additionalŠ ˆŲ Šmeasure€to€reduce€piece„work€was€that€the€agreement€of€shop€stewards€in€private€enterprises€mustŠ qĮ Šbe€obtained.Š ZŖ ŠĢ220.€€As€regards€job€restrictions€for€women,€it€was€stated€that€under€certain€legislative€provisionsŠ ,| Šthe€physical€abilities€of€women€had€to€be€taken€into€account€in€the€assignment€of€work€and,Š e Šconsequently,€a€number€of€activities€were€forbidden€to€women.€€Night€work€was€outlawed€forŠ žN Šwomen€on€the€grounds€of€ILO€Convention€No.€89€and€a€number€of€special€laws.€€Exceptions€wereŠ ē 7 Šonly€made€for€specific€types€of€occupation€and€further€exceptions€were€under€consideration.Š Š!   ŠĢ221.€€As€regards€the€special€provisions€for€the€promotion€and€protection€of€ethnic€minorities,€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šrepresentative€of€Austria€explained€that€no€distinction€was€made€between€women€and€men.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ222.€€The€representative€mentioned€special€measures€to€protect€women€against€dismissal€during€andŠ ]&­!% Šshortly€after€pregnancy.€€If€a€person€had€dependants,€the€law€courts€had€to€decide€whether€theŠ F'–"& Šdismissal€was€socially€justifiable€by€taking€into€account€the€alimony€responsibilities€of€the€personŠ /(#' Što€be€dismissed.Š )h$( ŠĢ223.€€As€regards€the€system€of€taxation,€he€explained€that€couples€were€taxed€separately€in€AustriaŠ ź*:&* Šand€that€a€number€of€expenses,€such€as€payment€of€alimony,€were€deductible€from€tax.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ224.€€The€representative€of€Austria€stated€that€every€employed€person€was€entitled€to€paid€leave€ofŠ „-õ(- Šup€to€one€week€for€looking€after€a€sick€close€relative.€€Birth€and€family€allowances€were€the€sameŠ ° Šfor€single€and€married€mothers.€€The€maternity€leave€allowance€for€single€mothers€was€one„thirdŠ ™é Šhigher€than€that€for€married€mothers.€€There€were€special€emergency€grants€for€single€mothers€upŠ ‚Ņ Što€the€childššs€third€year€and€a€special€child„care€allowance€for€single€mothers€up€to€the€childššs€sixthŠ k» Šyear.€€A€small€contribution€for€public€child„care€facilities€had€to€be€paid€by€the€parents€accordingŠ T¤ Što€their€income.€€Private€child„care€centres€were€run€on€a€commercial€basis,€and€most€of€themŠ =  Šreceived€government€subsidies.€€Although€paternity€leave€was€under€discussion,€it€was€not€likely€toŠ & v Šbe€introduced€in€the€near€future€because€of€the€reserved€attitude€of€employersšš€organizations.€€SinceŠ  _ Š1975,€abortion€was€allowed€to€be€performed€by€a€medical€doctor€up€to€the€third€month€of€pregnancy.Š ų H ŠĢ225.€€The€representative€mentioned€about€200€family€counseling€centres€in€the€country€run€by€theŠ Ź   ŠState€or€by€private€organizations,€which€were€available€to€everyone€free€of€charge€and€gave€adviceŠ ³  Šon€family€planning€and€social,€economic€and€psychological€problems€arising€out€of€a€partnership.Š œģ  ŠĢ226.€€Self„employed€women€were€entitled€to€the€service€of€a€helper€assigned€by€the€authorities€forŠ n¾  Šeight€weeks€before€and€after€confinement.€€Only€about€7€per€cent€of€women€in€Austria€worked€inŠ W§  Šagriculture.€€A€farmerššs€wife€enjoyed€medical€care€under€the€Austrian€social€security€system€and€hadŠ @ Šthe€status€of€a€self„employed€housewife.€€She€enjoyed€all€measures€relating€to€maternity€protectionŠ )y Šand€the€corresponding€allowances.€€Female€agricultural€workers€had€the€same€entitlements€as€otherŠ b Šworkers.Š ūK ŠĢ227.€€The€representative€gave€some€statistical€information€on€women€who€suffered€under€maritalŠ Ķ Šviolence€and€stated€that€more€women€were€reporting€cases€of€abuse€committed€by€men€to€the€police.€Š ¶ ŠMarital€violence€was€considered€a€justification€for€divorce€and€for€leaving€the€common€residence.€Š Ÿļ ŠVictims€of€sexual€violence€could€seek€refuge€in€self„administered€shelters€and€make€use€of€telephoneŠ ˆŲ Šhot€lines€or€group€therapy.€€The€representative€mentioned€legislative€and€ministerial€measures€thatŠ qĮ Šhad€been€initiated€or€were€foreseen€in€case€of€sexual€violence.Š ZŖ ŠĢ228.€€The€representative€of€Austria€stated€that€women€could€acquire€and€administer€movable€andŠ ,| Šimmovable€property€and€take€out€bank€loans€without€prior€consent€of€their€husbands.€€SeparationŠ e Šof€property€in€marriage€was€foreseen€under€Austrian€law€if€not€otherwise€decided€upon€by€theŠ žN Šspouses.€€In€case€of€divorce€the€common€savings€and€assets€were€split€up€according€to€rulings€of€theŠ ē 7 Šcourt.Š Š!   ŠĢ229.€€As€regards€housekeeping€and€housework,€surveys€revealed€that€the€pattern€changed€over€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šlast€15€years€and€more€men€took€part€in€the€tasks€of€housekeeping€and€child„care.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ230.€€The€representative€of€Austria€clarified€that€the€terms€š šlegitimatešš€and€š šillegitimatešš€childrenŠ ]&­!% Šwere€in€the€report€through€an€error€of€translation.€€The€correct€terms€were€children€born€in€and€outŠ F'–"& Šof€wedlock.€€For€children€born€in€wedlock,€the€parents€acted€as€legal€representatives;€for€childrenŠ /(#' Šborn€out€of€wedlock,€those€functions€were€fulfilled€by€the€public€youth€welfare€agency.€€Under€aŠ )h$( Šnew€law,€which€would€be€enacted€soon,€a€single€parent€of€either€sex€could€be€the€legal€guardian.€Š *Q%) ŠAfter€marriage€both€spouses€could€either€request€to€bear€the€name€of€the€husband€or€of€the€wife,€theŠ ź*:&* Šwife€could€also€add€her€maiden€name€to€her€husbandššs€name.€€Children€born€in€wedlock€had€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šcommon€family€name;€children€born€out€of€wedlock€bore€the€motherššs€maiden€name.€€ConcerningŠ ¼, (, Šthe€family€allowance,€the€representative€stated€that€parents€who€lived€together€were€free€to€chooseŠ „-õ(- Šwhich€of€the€spouses€received€the€allowance€for€which€child.€€In€cases€of€disagreements€theŠ ° Šauthorities€had€to€ensure€that€the€benefit€went€to€the€parent€who€assumed€the€main€responsibility€forŠ ™é Šthe€child.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ231.€€As€to€the€question€of€adoption,€it€was€stated€that€in€Austria€a€person€of€either€sex€beyond€aŠ T¤ Šcertain€age€was€allowed€to€adopt€a€child€under€court€authorization€if€the€adoption€served€the€well„Š =  Šbeing€of€the€child€and€the€prior€consent€of€the€childššs€close€relatives€had€been€obtained.Š & v ŠŠ   _ Šņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/46/38€Ō_Ō(1991)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ303.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Austria€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/13/Add.27)€atŠ l¼ Šits€184ņņthóó€meeting,€on€29€January€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.184).Š U„ ŠĢ304.€€The€representative€of€Austria,€in€introducing€the€report,€said€that€the€questions€put€by€membersŠ ' w Šnot€only€clarified€matters,€but€also€provided€an€impulse€for€a€more€precise€implementation€of€theŠ  ` ŠConvention€in€future.€€She€stated€that€Austria€had€been€trying€for€many€years€to€promote€theŠ ł I ŠCommitteeššs€work€and€to€create€better€conditions€under€which€the€Committee€could€carry€out€itsŠ ā 2  Šdifficult€task.Š Ė   ŠĢ305.€€The€representative€highlighted€the€most€important€events€that€had€taken€place€since€theŠ ķ  Šperiodic€report€was€completed€in€early€1989.€€One€development€was€the€1990€amendment€to€theŠ †Ö  ŠEqual€Treatment€Act,€which€gave€employed€women€an€increased€promotion,€as€well€as€protectionŠ oæ  Šagainst€discrimination.€€While€the€programme€for€the€advancement€of€female€civil€servants€hadŠ XØ  Šplayed€a€pioneering€role€in€identifying€qualified€work€for€women,€discussions€had€also€been€heldŠ A‘ Šwith€private€employers€during€the€preceding€two€years€in€order€to€develop€similar€promotion€forŠ *z Šwomen€in€the€private€sector.€€A€second€development€was€the€targeted€measures€in€the€fields€ofŠ c Šfamily€and€social€policy€in€order€to€strengthen€the€sharing€of€responsibilities€between€spouses.€€TheŠ üL Špackage€of€measures€concerning€the€family,€which€was€adopted€in€1990,€provided€women€and€menŠ å5 Šwith€the€choice€of€taking€paid€parental€leave€for€up€to€two€years,€including€the€possibility€of€takingŠ Ī Ša€third€year€of€paid€leave€if€part„time€work€had€been€undertaken€during€the€second€and€the€thirdŠ · Šyears.€€In€addition,€the€penal€law€had€been€reformed€to€include€a€provision€that€marital€rape€was€aŠ  š Šsexual€offence.€€A€provision€had€been€adopted€under€the€Youth€Welfare€Act€that€automatically€gaveŠ ‰Ł Šunmarried€mothers€custody€of€their€children.€€Legal€provisions€had€been€made€concerning€geneticŠ rĀ Šand€reproduction€technologies,€which€were€intended€to€prevent€the€exploitation€of€the€reproductiveŠ [« Šcapacities€of€women.Š D” ŠĢ306.€€She€said€that€women€were€more€visible€in€politics€than€they€had€been€in€the€past,€and€severalŠ f Špolitical€parties€had€set€quotas€for€the€representation€of€women.€€After€the€most€recent€elections,€theŠ ’O Špercentage€of€women€members€of€the€National€Assembly€was€21.3,€which€was€higher€than€theŠ č 8 ŠEuropean€and€global€average.€€Other€important€measures€against€discrimination€included€efforts€toŠ Ń!!  Šovercome€social€stereotypes€in€all€areas€and€awareness„raising€campaigns€for€girls€and€their€parents.€Š ŗ" ! ŠMost€recently,€the€position€of€State€Secretary€for€Womenššs€Affairs€had€been€upgraded€to€that€ofŠ £#ó" ŠFederal€Minister€for€Womenššs€Affairs.€€The€goals€of€a€progressive€policy€for€the€elimination€ofŠ Œ$Ü# Šdiscrimination€could€only€be€achieved,€she€said,€through€an€intensive€collaboration€with€all€theŠ u%Å $ Šministries.Š ^&®!% ŠĢ307.€€Responding€to€general€questions€posed€by€members,€the€representative€noted€that€a€numberŠ 0(€#' Šof€institutions€and€mechanisms€were€responsible€for€the€implementation€of€equality€polices,Š )i$( Šincluding€the€Equal€Treatment€Commission,€womenššs€units€at€the€governmental€and€non„Š *R%) Šgovernmental€level,€and€focal€points€for€women€at€the€municipal€level.€€The€Federal€Minister€forŠ ė*;&* ŠWomenššs€Affairs€had€the€central€coordinating€and€supervisory€role.Š Ō+$'+ ŠĢ308.€€Responding€to€additional€comments,€the€representative€said€that€the€Ministry€for€WomenššsŠ ¦-ö(- ŠAffairs€was€part€of€the€Federal€Chancellorššs€Office.€€Although€there€was€currently€more€politicalŠ ° Švisibility,€the€institutional€structure€had€to€be€built€up€and€financial€and€human€resources€secured.Š ™é ŠĢ309.€€Several€large€organizations€of€women,€political€parties€and€semi„official€organizations€hadŠ k» Šbeen€consulted€in€the€preparation€of€the€second€periodic€report.€€A€more€intensive€cooperation€withŠ T¤ Šwomenššs€organizations€had€not€been€possible€owing€to€logistical€constraints.€€She€said€that€theŠ =  ŠDivision€for€Basic€Womenššs€Issues€in€the€Federal€Ministry€of€Labour€and€Social€Affairs€had€a€keyŠ & v Šposition€within€that€Ministry.€€General€budget€cuts€had€been€imposed€on€all€ministries,€but€budgetsŠ  _ Šfor€womenššs€programmes€had€been€increased€in€the€years€1990€and€1991.€€Inter„ministerial€workingŠ ų H Šparties€on€womenššs€issues€met€regularly€in€the€Federal€Chancellery€at€least€twice€a€year,€chaired€byŠ į 1  Šthe€Federal€Minister€for€Womenššs€Affairs,€to€discuss€important€womenššs€issues€and€to€decide€onŠ Ź   Štheir€implementation.€€Some€of€the€working€parties€had€a€fixed€membership,€others€were€establishedŠ ³  Šon€an€ad€hoc€basis.€€All€ministries€were€regularly€informed€about€all€legislative€proposals.€€Since€allŠ œģ  Šthe€decisions€of€the€Council€of€Ministers€were€taken€by€consensus,€the€Federal€Minister€forŠ …Õ  ŠWomenššs€Affairs€could€prevent€any€measures€that€constituted€any€type€of€hidden€discrimination.Š n¾  ŠĢ310.€€Several€studies€and€surveys€were€periodically€carried€out€to€evaluate€government€policies€onŠ @ Šthe€status€of€women€in€all€areas€of€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€concern.€€A€large„scale€study€had€been€carriedŠ )y Šout€on€the€results€of€the€programme€for€the€promotion€of€women€in€the€civil€service.€€AnotherŠ b Šexample€was€a€study€on€the€results€of€measures€in€connection€with€medical€check„ups€duringŠ ūK Špregnancy€and€the€first€year€of€the€childššs€life.Š ä4 ŠĢ311.€€The€representative€said€that€the€issue€of€removing€Austriaššs€reservation€concerning€the€rightŠ ¶ Šof€women€to€do€military€service€had€not€been€seriously€discussed€at€the€ministerial€level,€whichŠ Ÿļ Šreflected€an€opinion€that€was€corroborated€by€the€current€political€situation€in€the€world.€€TheŠ ˆŲ ŠAustrian€Central€Statistical€Office,€trade€unions€and€non„governmental€organizations€had€beenŠ qĮ Špublishing,€since€the€beginning€of€the€United€Nations€Decade€for€Women:€Equality,€DevelopmentŠ ZŖ Šand€Peace€(1976„1985),€gender„Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€statistics€and€statistical€indicators€to€show€differencesŠ C“ Šin€the€status€of€women.Š ,| ŠĢ312.€€Under€article€2,€she€said€that€sexism€in€the€media,€in€business€and€in€industry€was€a€majorŠ žN Šconcern€of€the€Advisory€Council€on€Sexism€within€the€Federal€Chancellery.€€The€Council€assistedŠ ē 7 Šwomen€in€filing€complaints.€€As€its€decisions€were€not€legally€binding,€the€reactions€of€industry€andŠ Š!   Šthe€media€had€been€varied,€and€in€some€cases€the€Federal€Minister€for€Womenššs€Affairs€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€toŠ ¹" ! Šintervene€in€her€personal€capacity.€€Complaints€lodged€against€the€Austrian€Broadcasting€andŠ ¢#ņ" ŠTelevision€Corporation€were,€in€addition€to€the€other€mechanisms,€handled€by€a€special€arbitrationŠ ‹$Ū# Šcouncil.€€Currently,€a€bill€was€being€discussed€that€would€allow€women€to€bring€before€the€courtsŠ t%Ä $ Šcases€of€sexist€advertising.€€Concerning€sexual€offences,€the€most€important€new€provisions€of€theŠ ]&­!% Špenal€law€concerned€a€new€definition€of€rape€as€an€offence€if€it€was€perpetrated€within€marriage€orŠ F'–"& Ša€Ō_ŌcohabitalŌ_Ō€union€and€a€provision€to€prohibit€the€offending€spouse€from€entering€the€marital€homeŠ /(#' Šfor€up€to€three€months.€€The€representative€said€that€the€Convention€and€the€work€of€the€CommitteeŠ )h$( Šhad€been€disseminated€in€Austria€in€general,€and€was€being€included€in€the€education€curricula€andŠ *Q%) Šput€on€the€agenda€of€seminars€for€civil€servants.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ313.€€Referring€to€the€Advisory€Council€on€Sexism€and€the€question€as€to€how€sexual€bias€inŠ ¼, (, Šliterature€could€be€eliminated€without€interfering€with€the€freedom€of€the€press,€the€representativeŠ „-õ(- Šsaid€that€a€balance€had€to€be€found€between€the€freedom€of€the€arts€and€the€dignity€of€women,€andŠ ° Ša€bill€was€being€prepared€to€provide€for€collective€action.Š ™é ŠĢ314.€€Referring€to€article€3,€she€said€that€the€liaison€women€in€each€ministry€were€part€of€a€workingŠ k» Šparty,€which€had€an€advisory€function€and€could€make€proposals€as€to€how€equality€of€treatmentŠ T¤ Šcould€be€achieved.€€An€evaluation€of€the€entire€promotion€programme,€including€the€role€of€theŠ =  Šliaison€women€and€their€impact€on€women€in€civil€service,€had€been€carried€out.€€She€said€thatŠ & v Šimmigrant€and€refugee€women€in€Austria€enjoyed€the€same€fundamental€rights€and€freedoms€as€allŠ  _ Šover€citizens€and€she€highlighted€specific€labour€market€policies€to€assist€them.€€Preference€wasŠ ų H Šgiven€to€unmarried€immigrant€and€refugee€mothers€with€children€in€the€allocation€of€resources€andŠ į 1  Šshelter.Š Ź   ŠĢ315.€€Under€article€3,€in€reply€to€the€question€as€to€how€the€many€refugee€women€were€integratedŠ œģ  Šinto€the€employment€market,€she€said€that€the€living€conditions€of€migrant€women€were€not€the€mostŠ …Õ  Šfavourable€and€more€needed€to€be€done.Š n¾  ŠĢ316.€€In€relation€to€article€4,€she€noted€that,€in€spite€of€the€rather€long€period€for€which€ņņde€jureóóŠ @ Šequality€of€women€had€existed€in€Austria,€there€was€still€a€need€for€temporary€special€measures.€Š )y ŠAffirmative€action€programmes€had€been€set€up€at€the€federal€and€provincial€level€for€women€in€theŠ b Šcivil€service€and€in€some€private€companies.€€The€equal€treatment€law,€currently€being€drafted,Š ūK Šforesaw€quotas€for€women€in€public€service.€€All€ministers€were€obliged€to€report€at€periodicŠ ä4 Šintervals€on€promotion€measures.Š Ķ ŠĢ317.€€Referring€to€questions€under€article€5,€she€said€that€women€were€strongly€underrepresented€inŠ Ÿļ Šthe€electronic€media€and€their€image€was€not€positive.€€Womenššs€problems€were€marginalized,€andŠ ˆŲ Šstereotypes€and€traditional€role€models€still€prevailed€although€their€elimination€was€none€of€theŠ qĮ Štargets€of€the€education€policy.€€Private€and€public€employers€were€not€allowed€to€make€referenceŠ ZŖ Što€the€sex€of€the€applicant€in€their€job€announcements.€€However,€no€authority€could€imposeŠ C“ Šsanctions€on€the€media€regarding€the€choice€of€television€programmes.€€As€regards€theŠ ,| Šimplementation€of€the€proposals€made€by€the€Commission€on€School€Reform,€studies€had€beenŠ e Šcommissioned€in€the€fields€of€informatics€and€mathematics€to€identify€gender„specific€trends,€andŠ žN Šinitiatives€were€being€promoted€to€motivate€girls€to€move€into€non„traditional€fields.Š ē 7 ŠĢ318.€€Regarding€comments€under€article€5€referring€to€non„sexist€language,€the€representative€saidŠ ¹" ! Šthat,€in€1987,€a€study€had€been€made€on€the€linguistic€equal€treatment€of€women€in€public€service.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠIt€had€been€difficult€to€implement€its€recommendations€as€they€also€concerned€titles€in€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šadministrative€hierarchy€and€criticism€had€been€voiced.€€In€answer€to€comments€on€the€fact€that€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠVienna€Philharmonic€Orchestra€consisted€entirely€of€men,€she€said€that€the€Orchestra€was€part€ofŠ ]&­!% Šan€association€and,€as€such,€could€not€be€affected€by€the€provisions€of€the€federal€law€governingŠ F'–"& Šconditions€of€employment.Š /(#' ŠĢ319.€€The€new€law,€which€gave€spouses€the€choice€as€to€who€would€take€parental€leave,€made€aŠ *Q%) Švaluable€contribution€to€the€implementation€of€the€principles€of€equal€treatment€of€women€and€menŠ ź*:&* Šand€of€partnership€in€raising€children.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ320.€€On€article€6,€as€to€whether€nothing€could€be€done€to€include€prostitutes€as€well€in€the€socialŠ „-õ(- Šsecurity€coverage,€the€representative€said€that€prostitutes€had€to€be€registered€and€undergo€regularŠ ° Šphysical€check„ups€and€were€free€to€take€out€private€health€insurance.€€Her€goal,€however,€was€toŠ ™é Šprovide€mandatory€health€and€pension€insurance€coverage€for€prostitutes€as€they€were€obliged€to€payŠ ‚Ņ Štax.Š k» ŠĢ321.€€Regarding€article€7,€she€said€that€womenššs€groups€within€political€parties€were€not€subsidizedŠ =  Šby€the€Government,€but€by€the€parties€concerned.€€Governmental€departments€provided€subsidiesŠ & v Što€specific€programmes,€and€some€ministries€had€sizeable€special€budgets€to€subsidize€non„Š  _ Šgovernmental€womenššs€groups€and€womenššs€projects.€€Independent€associations€were€more€likelyŠ ų H Što€receive€funding€if€their€projects€were€relevant€to€societal€issues.€€The€representative€intended€toŠ į 1  Šincrease€cooperation€between€womenššs€organizations€and€also€to€make€more€funds€available.€€ItŠ Ź   Šcould€be€assumed€that€more€women€were€taking€part€in€political€life€as€a€result€of€their€higherŠ ³  Šparticipation€in€the€recent€elections.€€However,€womenššs€representation€in€the€higher€levels€ofŠ œģ  Špolitical€leadership€was€not€commensurate€with€the€percentage€of€their€participation€in€politicalŠ …Õ  Šparties.€€As€to€the€percentage€of€women€at€the€provincial€level,€she€said€that€on€the€municipal€councilŠ n¾  Šof€Vienna,€women€accounted€for€30€per€cent€of€the€membership,€but€in€other€provinces€of€AustriaŠ W§  Šthe€percentage€of€women€varied€between€only€6€and€10€per€cent.Š @ ŠĢ322.€€On€article€8,€the€representative€said€that€the€percentage€of€women€in€the€diplomatic€service€wasŠ b Šincreasing,€and€a€special€unit€had€been€set€up€to€deal€with€the€possible€problems€of€women€whenŠ ūK Šthey€were€transferred€abroad.Š ä4 ŠĢ323.€€Referring€to€questions€under€article€10,€the€representative€said€that€the€university€curriculaŠ ¶ Šwere€the€autonomous€responsibility€of€the€universities€€However,€some€influence€could€be€exercisedŠ Ÿļ Šthrough€other€institutions.€€Since€1988,€there€had€been€a€chair€for€womenššs€studies€at€the€UniversityŠ ˆŲ Šof€Innsbruck,€and€two€subjects€dealing€with€womenššs€studies€had€recently€been€introduced€at€twoŠ qĮ ŠAustrian€universities.€€For€several€years,€women€carrying€out€higher€studies€had€been€moving€intoŠ ZŖ Štraditionally€male€fields.€€In€law,€general€medicine€and€veterinary€medicine,€women€accounted€forŠ C“ Šabout€50€per€cent€or€more€of€the€students.€€But€that€tendency€was€not€yet€noticeable€in€the€technical„Š ,| Šmechanical€fields.€€In€primary€schools,€coeducational€handicraft€courses€were€taught€to€boys€andŠ e Šgirls;€and€efforts€were€being€made€to€educate€girls€in€informatics€and€mathematics.€€HomeŠ žN Šeconomics€were€mandatory€for€both€sexes.€€School€programmes€on€partnership€attitudes€and€equalityŠ ē 7 Šbetween€women€and€men€currently€had€only€the€character€of€suggestions.Š Š!   ŠĢ324.€€In€the€context€of€article€11,€she€said€that€recent€amendments€to€the€Unemployment€InsuranceŠ ¢#ņ" ŠAct€concerned€a€wider€coverage€of€the€minimum€guarantee€regarding€unemployment€benefit€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šemergency€assistance,€especially€for€groups€who€had€never€been€covered€by€such€benefits€in€theŠ t%Ä $ Špast.€€She€thought€that€the€reason€why€only€20€per€cent€of€employed€women€returned€to€their€jobsŠ ]&­!% Šafter€one€year€of€maternity€leave€seemed€to€be€the€scarcity€of€child„care€centres.€€The€percentageŠ F'–"& Šdiffered€between€urban€and€rural€areas.€€It€was€to€be€assumed€that€the€situation€would€change€withŠ /(#' Šthe€new€law€regarding€parental€leave.€€Any€person€who€was€professionally€discriminated€against€onŠ )h$( Šthe€grounds€of€sex€could€appeal€to€the€Equal€Treatment€Commission€or€file€a€complaint€in€court.€Š *Q%) ŠThe€sentences€of€the€Commission€or€court€judgements€had€to€be€published€in€the€official€gazette€ofŠ ź*:&* Šthe€Federal€Ministry€of€Labour€and€Social€Affairs.€€The€recent€amendment€to€the€Equal€TreatmentŠ Ó+#'+ ŠCode€had€introduced€a€shift€in€the€burden€of€proof.€€A€further€possibility€of€recourse€for€women€wasŠ ¼, (, Šthe€Equal€Opportunity€Ō_ŌOmbudŌ_Ō.Š „-õ(- Ї325.€€Members€presumed€that€the€prohibition€of€night€work€for€women€was€also€related€to€theŠ ° Šprotective€laws€for€women€workers.€€The€representative€stated€that€Austria€was€currently€notŠ ™é Šplanning€to€withdraw€its€reservation€regarding€the€prohibition€of€night€work€for€women,€especiallyŠ ‚Ņ Šas€there€were€already€a€number€of€exceptions€to€it.€€The€representative€said€further€that€Austria€tookŠ k» Šthe€view€that€night€work€should€be€forbidden€for€male€workers€also€because€it€was€detrimental€toŠ T¤ Šhealth.€€Exceptions€should€only€be€made€for€some€professions€in€certain€circumstances€where€it€wasŠ =  Šabsolutely€necessary€and€unavoidable.Š & v ŠĢ326.€€Referring€to€a€question€on€the€level€of€womenššs€wages€in€comparison€to€those€of€men,€theŠ ų H Šrepresentative€said€that€the€medium€net€wages€of€men€were€21€per€cent€higher€than€those€of€women.€Š į 1  ŠIn€the€civil€service,€men€earned€7€per€cent€more€than€women,€and€in€white„collar€jobs,€men€earnedŠ Ź   Š38€per€cent€more€than€women.€€Since€1982,€job€evaluation€studies€had€been€made€using€gender„Š ³  Šneutral€criteria.Š œģ  ŠĢ327.€€On€article€11,€members€noted€a€contradiction€in€the€report:€on€the€one€hand,€that€certainŠ n¾  Šmeasures€had€been€taken€š šin€respect€of€harmonizing€professional€and€family€responsibilitiesšš€and,Š W§  Šon€the€other,€that€only€one€fifth€of€employed€women€returned€to€their€jobs€after€one€year€of€maternityŠ @ Šleave.€€Positive€comments,€however,€were€made€by€members€on€the€programme€for€kindergartens.€Š )y ŠIn€reply€to€questions€regarding€the€type€of€action€that€was€intended€to€be€taken,€she€said€that€moreŠ b Šchild„care€facilities€existed€in€Vienna€than€elsewhere€in€Austria.€€Therefore,€she€thought€that€otherŠ ūK Šcommunal€authorities€should€also€make€available€and€earmark€resources€for€the€construction€ofŠ ä4 Šnurseries€and€kindergartens.Š Ķ ŠĢ328.€€Referring€to€questions€as€to€how€household€work,€which€normally€was€not€shown€in€nationalŠ Ÿļ Šstatistics,€was€evaluated,€she€said€that€discussions€were€being€held€concerning€a€bill€that€would€allowŠ ˆŲ Šthe€inclusion€of€the€years€spent€on€child€rearing€in€the€computation€for€retirement€age€and€retirementŠ qĮ Šbenefits.€€Regarding€the€question€as€to€what€was€being€done€to€make€the€new€law€concerningŠ ZŖ Šparental€leave€more€attractive€for€men€and€to€raise€their€awareness€of€it,€the€representative€said€thatŠ C“ Špublicity€campaigns€had€been€carried€out€and€press€conferences€organized,€at€which€fathers€who€hadŠ ,| Šalready€taken€parental€leave€were€invited€to€share€their€experiences€with€others.€€The€regulations€forŠ e Šmaternity€and€parental€leave€were€different€in€public€service€and€in€private€enterprises.€€As€theŠ žN Šdifference€in€wages€for€women€and€men€was€a€fact,€the€intention€was€to€involve€the€socialŠ ē 7 Špartnership€in€the€problem€and€to€extend€the€programmes€of€equality€to€the€local€authorities.Š Š!   ŠĢ329.€€Regarding€article€12,€she€said€that€the€perpetrators€of€violence€against€women€were€mostly€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šhusbands€of€the€victims,€and€sometimes€elder€sons.€€The€incidence€of€violence€was€increasing,€partlyŠ ‹$Ū# Šbecause€of€the€breakdown€of€existing€taboos€against€reporting€such€acts€and€partly€because€of€aŠ t%Ä $ Špossible€increase€in€the€number€of€offences.€€The€most€recent€figures€on€the€number€of€cases€ofŠ ]&­!% ŠAIDS€were€429€men€and€81€women.€€The€number€of€female€AIDS€patients€as€a€result€ofŠ F'–"& Šheterosexual€contacts€was€continuously€increasing.€€She€hoped€that€the€information€campaignŠ /(#' Šaddressed€to€the€entire€population€would€lead€to€a€change€in€Ō_ŌbehaviourŌ_Ō.€€Members€said€that€theyŠ )h$( Šwould€welcome€learning€of€the€results€of€the€study€that€had€been€commissioned€on€the€incidence€ofŠ *Q%) Šviolence€in€the€family.€€They€asked€whether€violence€against€minors€was€a€crime€or€an€offence€andŠ ź*:&* Šwhy€its€incidence€was€so€high.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ330.€€Turning€to€article€14,€she€said€that,€since€1990,€the€problems€of€rural€women€had€been€dealtŠ „-õ(- Šwith€by€an€advisory€council€for€rural€women.€€The€situation€of€women€in€rural€areas€variedŠ ° Šaccording€to€region.€€Generally€they€had€equal€access€to€health€care,€but€because€of€a€heavyŠ ™é Šworkload€and€a€consequent€shortage€of€time,€some€could€not€avail€themselves€of€medical€care€andŠ ‚Ņ Štreatment.Š k» ŠĢ331.€€As€regards€questions€under€article€16,€the€representative€said€that€family€allowances€were€paidŠ =  Šon€the€basis€of€family€allowance€cards.€€In€the€case€of€dispute,€the€spouse€who€took€principal€careŠ & v Šof€the€children€was€entitled€to€receive€the€allowance.€€The€family€and€partner€counselling€servicesŠ  _ Šwere€subsidized€from€public€funds€and€dealt€mainly€with€family€planning,€the€economic€and€socialŠ ų H Šproblems€of€pregnant€women,€general€family€matters€and€sexual€and€other€partnership€issues.€€In€all,Š į 1  Šthere€were€225€family€counselling€services€in€Austria.€€As€a€result€of€the€amendment€to€the€YouthŠ Ź   ŠWelfare€Act,€she€said€that€it€was€the€unmarried€mother€who€was€given€care€of€a€child€born€out€ofŠ ³  Šwedlock€rather€than€the€Youth€Office.€€Furthermore,€children€born€out€of€wedlock€were€given€theŠ œģ  Šsame€inheritance€rights€as€children€born€within€wedlock,€and€the€surviving€spouse€could€continueŠ …Õ  Šliving€in€the€shared€home.€€No€special€law€regulated€the€status€of€unmarried€women€living€inŠ n¾  Šconsensual€unions.€€However,€the€provisions€of€several€laws,€such€as€the€Rent€Act,€the€Penal€LawŠ W§  Šand€the€Penal€Procedural€Act,€gave€the€unmarried€partner€in€a€union€the€same€rights€as€a€marriedŠ @ Šone.Š )y ŠĢ332.€€Members€expressed€appreciation€for€the€report,€for€the€information€that€had€been€provided€onŠ ūK Šthe€most€recent€laws,€and€for€the€detailed€and€frank€answers.€€They€emphasized€the€systematic€andŠ ä4 Šdecentralized€work€of€Austria€for€the€advancement€of€women€and€the€positive€actions€that€had€beenŠ Ķ Štaken€to€enhance€the€position€of€women.€€They€noted€the€improvement€of€the€status€of€women€inŠ ¶ Šmany€areas€and€commended€the€efforts€taken€to€stop€sexism€in€advertising.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ333.€€Members€felt€that€the€progress€that€had€been€achieved€by€Austria€in€the€advancement€ofŠ qĮ Šwomen€demonstrated€the€countryššs€political€will€to€achieve€equality.€€Furthermore,€its€recognitionŠ ZŖ Šof€remaining€obstacles€was€an€important€step€towards€further€success.€€However,€changes€shouldŠ C“ Šbe€undertaken€with€great€care€in€order€to€avoid€the€danger€of€a€backlash,€especially€in€the€privateŠ ,| Šsector.€€As€Austria€was€a€host€country€for€sessions€of€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€ofŠ e ŠDiscrimination€against€Women,€it€was€suggested€that€Austria€should€not€only€publicize€theŠ žN ŠConvention,€but€also€become€a€centre€for€training€on€the€Convention€both€for€national€andŠ ē 7 Šinternational€participants€and,€in€addition,€that€it€should€promote€research€on€the€Convention€andŠ Š!   Šsensitize€public€opinion.Š ¹" ! ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢŠ „-õ(- Їņ ņŌUKUS.,ŌŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/55/38€Ō_Ō(2000)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ211.ą  ąThe€Committee€considered€the€combined€third€and€fourth€reports€and€the€fifth€periodicŠ l¼ Šreports€of€Austria€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/Ō_ŌAUTŌ_Ō/3„4€and€5)€at€its€470th€and€471st€meetings,€on€15€June€2000Š U„ Š(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.470€and€471).Š > Ž ŠĢņ ņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyó óŠ  ` ŠĢ212.ą  ąIn€introducing€the€reports,€the€representative€of€Austria€informed€the€Committee€that€as€aŠ ć 3  Šresult€of€restructuring€following€the€formation€of€Austriaššs€new€coalition€government€in€FebruaryŠ Ģ   Š2000,€the€Ministry€for€Social€Security€and€Generations€had€been€assigned€responsibility€for€theŠ µ  Šdevelopment€of€womenššs€policy,€which€had€been€previously€within€the€framework€of€the€FederalŠ žī  ŠChancellery.€The€new€Austrian€Federal€Government€emphasized€that€it€considered€womenššs€policyŠ ‡×  Što€be€an€integral€part€of€its€overall€policy€and€had€committed€itself€to€an€ambitious€womenššs€policyŠ pĄ  Šprogramme.€In€this€regard,€the€law€on€equal€treatment€applicable€to€the€public€sector€had€beenŠ Y©  Šamended,€inter€alia,€to€shift€the€burden€of€proof€in€sexual€harassment€cases€and€to€enhance€theŠ B’ ŠŌ_ŌenforceabilityŌ_Ō€and€monitoring€of€the€equal€treatment€obligation.€A€regional€office€of€theŠ +{ Šombudsmanššs€office€for€equal€treatment€had€been€established€(the€central€office€had€been€foundedŠ d Šin€Vienna€in€1991),€and€further€regional€offices€were€planned.€Beginning€on€1€January€2002€aŠ żM Šchildcare€allowance€would€be€paid€to€each€parent,€irrespective€of€whether€they€were€employed.Š ę6 ŠĢ213.ą  ąThe€representative€drew€attention€to€the€many€initiatives€introduced€to€address€violenceŠ ø Šagainst€women,€including€information€campaigns€and€the€federal€law€on€the€protection€againstŠ ”ń Šfamily€violence,€providing€for€exclusion€orders,€which€had€entered€into€force€on€1€May€1997.€SevenŠ ŠŚ Šintervention€centres€against€domestic€violence,€functioning€as€contact€centres€for€victims€andŠ sĆ Šcoordinating€bodies€with€regard€to€all€organizations€concerned€with€the€problem,€had€beenŠ \¬ Šestablished,€and€an€advisory€committee€on€the€prevention€of€violence€had€also€been€set€up€withinŠ E• Šthe€Federal€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€A€series€of€large„scale€training€courses€had€been€conductedŠ .~ Šduring€the€past€three€years€to€sensitize€all€those€concerned€with€domestic€violence,€and€measuresŠ g Šwere€being€introduced€to€support€sexually€abused€children€and€young€people€with€regard€to€courtŠ  P Šproceedings.Š é 9 ŠĢ214.ą  ąMeasures€had€also€been€introduced€with€regard€to€trafficking€in€women,€including€theŠ »" ! Šcreation€in€Vienna€in€1998€of€an€intervention€centre€for€women€victims€of€trafficking€and€theŠ ¤#ō" Šintroduction€of€a€š šhumanitarian€visašš€to€allow€them€to€remain€in€Austria.€Austria€supported€theŠ $Ż# Šongoing€negotiations€relating€to€the€revised€draft€Protocol€to€Prevent,€Suppress€and€PunishŠ v%Ę $ ŠTrafficking€in€Persons,€Especially€Women€and€Children,€supplementing€the€United€NationsŠ _&Æ!% ŠConvention€against€Transnational€Organized€Crime€(A/AC.254/4/Add.3/Rev.7).Š H'˜"& ŠĢ215.ą  ąThe€representative€indicated€that€an€inter„ministerial€working€group€for€genderŠ )j$( ŠŌ_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō€had€been€established,€comprising€representatives€of€all€ministries,€which€wouldŠ *S%) Šdevelop€and€monitor€the€implementation€of€strategies€for€gender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō.€She€also€noted€thatŠ ģ*<&* ŠAustria€had€introduced€several€initiatives€to€make€women€aware€of€the€opportunities€and€risksŠ Õ+%'+ Šrelated€to€new€technology.€These€included€a€project€to€encourage€women€to€take€up€non„traditionalŠ ¾,(, Štechnical€professions,€especially€in€regard€to€technology,€and€the€development€of€a€manual€providingŠ §-÷(- ŠŌ_Ōpractical€guidelines€for€the€implementation€of€measures€to€increase€the€participation€of€women€inŠ ° Štechnical€fields.Š ™é ŠĢ216.ą  ąIn€concluding,€the€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€Austria€had€signed€theŠ k» ŠOptional€Protocol€to€the€Convention€and€would€soon€be€in€a€position€to€ratify€the€instrument,€as€wellŠ T¤ Šas€to€accept€the€amendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention€relating€to€the€time€ofŠ =  Šmeetings€of€the€Committee.€Austria€would€also€shortly€remove€its€reservation€to€article€7,Š & v Šsubparagraph€(b),€of€the€Convention€in€the€light€of€the€introduction€of€the€1998€womenššs€educationŠ  _ Šact€providing€for€access€by€women€to€the€army.Š ų H ŠĢņ ņConcluding€comments€of€the€Committeeó óŠ Ź   ŠĢ217.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€of€Austria€for€the€high€quality€of€the€written€andŠ ķ  Šoral€presentation€of€the€combined€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€and€the€fifth€periodic€report.Š †Ö  ŠĢ218.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€gratified€that€the€Government€of€Austria€had€sent€a€large,€high„level€inter„Š XØ  Šministerial€delegation€headed€by€the€Federal€Minister€for€Social€Security€and€Generations,€whichŠ A‘ Šestablished€a€frank€and€highly€constructive€dialogue€with€the€members€of€the€Committee.Š *z ŠĢ219.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€announcing€its€intention€to€accept€theŠ üL Šamendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention€in€respect€of€the€time€of€meetings€of€theŠ å5 ŠCommittee.€It€also€welcomes€the€imminent€withdrawal€of€the€reservation€to€article€7€of€theŠ Ī ŠConvention€in€respect€of€women€and€the€military.€At€the€same€time,€it€appeals€to€the€GovernmentŠ · Što€make€efforts€also€to€withdraw€the€reservation€to€article€11€of€the€Convention€in€respect€of€nightŠ  š Šwork.Š ‰Ł ŠĢ220.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€the€central€role€played€by€Austria€in€theŠ [« Šelaboration€of€the€Optional€Protocol€and€for€having€expressed€its€intention€to€ratify€it€in€the€comingŠ D” Šmonths.Š -} ŠĢņ ņPositive€aspectsó óŠ ’O ŠĢ221.ą  ąThe€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€measures€undertaken€by€Austria€to€combatŠ Ņ!"  Šviolence€against€women.€The€Committee€commends€the€federal€law€on€the€protection€against€familyŠ »" ! Šviolence,€which€entered€into€force€on€1€May€1997,€and€created€a€legal€basis€for€the€speedy€andŠ ¤#ō" Šefficient€protection€of€victims€of€domestic€violence.€It€also€appreciates€in€particular€the€programmesŠ $Ż# Šrelating€to€sexual€violence€against€persons€with€disabilities.Š v%Ę $ ŠĢ222.ą  ąThe€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€various€measures€of€the€Government€to€combatŠ H'˜"& Štrafficking€in€women,€including€the€apprehension,€prosecution€and€punishment€of€perpetrators.€ItŠ 1(#' Šalso€appreciates€Austriaššs€efforts€to€increase€international€cooperation€in€order€to€address€thisŠ )j$( Štransnational€issue.Š *S%) ŠĢ223.ą  ąThe€Committee€welcomes€the€initiative€of€the€Government€to€promote€the€participation€ofŠ Õ+%'+ Šwomen€in€the€field€of€the€new€information€and€communication€technologies,€as€both€consumers€andŠ ¾,(, Šentrepreneurs.Š §-÷(- Їņ ņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€Conventionó óŠ ° ŠĢ224.ą  ąThe€Committee€considers€that€persisting€cultural€stereotypes€of€women€as€homemakers€andŠ ƒÓ Šchild„rearers€constitute€an€impediment€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.Š l¼ ŠĢņ ņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsó óŠ > Ž ŠĢ225.ą  ąThe€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€the€abolition€of€the€Ministry€of€Womenššs€Affairs.Š  a ŠWhile€acknowledging€that€the€new€Government€has€transferred€the€responsibility€for€womenššs€andŠ ś J Šgender€issues€from€the€Ministry€within€the€framework€of€the€Federal€Chancellery€to€the€MinistryŠ ć 3  Šof€Social€Security€and€Generations€and€that€it€has€set€up€an€inter„ministerial€coordinating€committeeŠ Ģ   Šon€gender€mainstreaming,€it€is€concerned€that€the€broad€scope€of€the€responsibilities€of€the€latterŠ µ  ŠMinistry€will€result€in€giving€lesser€priority€to€the€elimination€of€discrimination€against€women€andŠ žī  Šobstruct€the€visibility€of€government€policy€in€that€respect.Š ‡×  ŠĢ226.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€ensure,€on€a€regular€basis,€the€evaluation€andŠ Y©  Šassessment€of€the€gender€impact€of€the€federal€budget€as€well€as€governmental€policies€andŠ B’ Šprogrammes€affecting€women.€It€also€urges€the€national€machinery€for€women€to€increase€itsŠ +{ Šcooperation€with€non„governmental€organizations.Š d ŠĢ227.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€situation€of€migrant€women.€The€Committee€urgesŠ ę6 Šthe€Government€to€facilitate€the€attainment€of€work€permits€by€migrant€women€on€an€equal€basisŠ Ļ Šwith€migrant€men€and€to€establish€the€conditions€needed€for€their€integration€into€the€economic€andŠ ø Šsocial€life€of€Austrian€society.Š ”ń ŠĢ228.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€situation€of€trafficked€women.€The€CommitteeŠ sĆ Šrequests€the€Government€to€take€responsibility€in€caring€for€the€human€rights€of€all€trafficked€womenŠ \¬ Šand€girls.€It€also€urges€the€Government€to€increase€its€cooperation€with€countries€of€origin€and€otherŠ E• Šcountries€of€destination€so€as€to€prevent€trafficking€and€penalize€those€who€facilitate€trafficking.Š .~ ŠĢ229.ą  ąThe€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€women€seeking€asylum€in€Austria,€and€in€particularŠ  P Šabout€human€rights€violations€by€State€officials.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€GovernmentŠ é 9 Šadopt€policies€that€acknowledge€gender„specific€grounds€for€women€seeking€asylum€in€Austria,Š Ņ!"  Šincluding€gender€violence€and€persecution€and€female€genital€mutilation.Š »" ! ŠĢ230.ą  ąWith€respect€to€violence€against€women,€notwithstanding€the€extensive€measures€alreadyŠ $Ż# Šundertaken€by€the€Government,€the€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€ensure€ongoing€educationŠ v%Ę $ Šfor€law€enforcement€officials€and€the€judiciary,€including€their€sensitization€to€violence€againstŠ _&Æ!% Šwomen€in€migrant€communities,€and€to€extend€such€programmes€to€health€professionals.€It€alsoŠ H'˜"& Šrecommends€that€the€Government€pay€particular€attention€to€the€physical,€emotional€and€financialŠ 1(#' Šabuse€of€elderly€women.€It€suggests€further€that€programmes€of€therapy€for€male€offenders€beŠ )j$( Šinstituted.Š *S%) ŠĢ231.ą  ąThe€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€high€percentage€of€the€female€population€in€AustriaŠ Õ+%'+ Šwhich€has€no€education€beyond€the€compulsory€level.€It€is€also€concerned€with€the€continuingŠ ¾,(, Šgender€role€stereotyping€in€the€area€of€education€and€vocational€training€for€girls€and€boys.Š §-÷(- Ї232.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€take€measures€to€encourage€girls€to€continue€theirŠ ° Šeducation€beyond€compulsory€level€and€particularly€in€the€areas€of€science€and€technology.€TheŠ ™é ŠCommittee€also€calls€upon€the€Government€to€introduce€affirmative€action€to€increase€theŠ ‚Ņ Šappointment€of€women€to€academic€posts€at€all€levels€and€to€integrate€gender€studies€and€feministŠ k» Šresearch€in€university€curricula€and€research€programmes.Š T¤ ŠĢ233.ą  ąIn€the€area€of€womenššs€employment,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€women€continue€toŠ & v Šremain€segregated€in€low„paid€jobs€in€the€labour€market.Š  _ ŠĢ234.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€take€action€in€order€to€decrease€the€wageŠ į 1  Šdiscrepancy€between€female„dominated€jobs€and€male„dominated€jobs,€especially€in€the€privateŠ Ź   Šsector.€It€also€urges€the€Federal€Government€to€adopt€a€proactive€comprehensive€policy,€withŠ ³  Šappropriate€budgetary€allocations€as€incentives€to€provincial€and€local€authorities,€so€as€to€developŠ œģ  Šchildcare€facilities€that€enable€womenššs€equal€participation€in€the€labour€force.Š …Õ  ŠĢ235.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€strengthen€the€powers€of€the€Equal€TreatmentŠ W§  ŠCommission€in€order€to€allow€it€to€be€more€effective€in€its€efforts€to€combat€discriminatory€practicesŠ @ Šand€to€guarantee€equal€opportunity€and€treatment€for€women€in€the€workplace.Š )y ŠĢ236.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€situation€of€single€women€and,€in€particular,€theŠ ūK Šdisadvantages€suffered€by€never„married€and€divorced€elderly€women€in€terms€of€retirementŠ ä4 Špensions€and€social€security€benefits.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€take€intoŠ Ķ Šconsideration€current€social€trends€when€designing€policies€so€as€to€meet€the€needs€of€the€increasingŠ ¶ Šnumber€of€single€women€in€the€country.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ237.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€replicate,€at€the€federal€level,€the€ViennaŠ qĮ Šprogramme€on€womenššs€health€and€intensify€efforts€to€apply€a€gender€perspective€in€health€care€by,Š ZŖ Šinter€alia,€initiating€and€sponsoring€relevant€research,€taking€into€account€the€Committeeššs€GeneralŠ C“ ŠRecommendation€24€on€article€12,€relating€to€women€and€health.Š ,| ŠĢ238.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€decrease€in€womenššs€representation€in€the€legislature€inŠ žN Šthe€recent€elections.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€undertake€in€this€respectŠ ē 7 Štemporary€special€measures,€in€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€andŠ Š!   Šconsider,€inter€alia,€the€use€of€federal€funding€for€political€parties€as€an€incentive€for€the€increasedŠ ¹" ! Šrepresentation€of€women€in€Parliament,€as€well€as€the€application€of€quotas€and€numerical€goals€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šmeasurable€targets€aimed€at€increasing€womenššs€political€participation.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ239.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€data€disaggregated€by€sex€on€the€impact€ofŠ ]&­!% Špolicies€and€programmes.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government,€inter€alia,€to€improve€the€collectionŠ F'–"& Šof€data€on€criminal€proceedings€related€to€violence€against€women,€to€evaluate€policy€as€regardsŠ /(#' Švictims€of€trafficking,€to€assess€the€nature€and€outcome€of€equal€treatment€cases€in€the€labour€courtsŠ )h$( Šand€to€integrate€gender€perspectives€into€health€care,€taking€into€account€sex„disaggregated€data€onŠ *Q%) Šcauses€of€morbidity€and€mortality.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ240.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€governmental€initiatives€to€assess€gender€policies€through€pilotŠ ¼, (, Šprojects,€but€is€concerned€that€such€initiatives€do€not€go€beyond€the€pilot€stage.€The€CommitteeŠ „-õ(- Šurges€the€Government€to€apply€the€results€of€the€projects€in€ongoing€law,€policy€and€programming.Š ° ŠĢ241.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€introduce€human€rights€education,€and€inŠ ‚Ņ Šparticular€womenššs€human€rights€education€on€the€basis€of€the€Convention,€into€school€curricula.Š k» ŠĢ242.ą  ąThe€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€of€Austria€to€include€information€on€the€concernsŠ =  Šraised€in€these€concluding€comments€in€the€next€periodic€report.Š & v ŠĢ243.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€Austria€of€the€present€concludingŠ ų H Šcomments€so€that€the€people,€and,€in€particular€administrators€and€politicians,€are€made€aware€of€theŠ į 1  Šsteps€to€be€taken€to€ensure€de€jure€and€de€facto€equality€for€women,€and€the€further€steps€requiredŠ Ź   Šin€that€regard.€It€also€requests€the€Government€to€disseminate€widely,€in€particular€to€womenššs€andŠ ³  Šhuman€rights€organizations,€the€Convention€and€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendations,€theŠ œģ  ŠBeijing€Declaration€and€Platform€for€Action€and€the€further€actions€and€initiatives€adopted€by€theŠ …Õ  ŠGeneral€Assembly€at€its€twenty„third€special€session,€entitled€š šWomen€2000:€gender€equality,Š n¾  Šdevelopment€and€peace€for€the€twenty„first€centuryšš.ŌUS.,UK.,ZšŌŠ W§  ŠĢĢĢĢ