’WPCo KĘz$gāł{ŲŖ%{ŪXżÓyÆĻ x\ žģˆ·H½ˆX‘Š}YprJī~żĻrÓķŠ=FĒtUóÄĖnNQ©«ži]Œö³E‰+ßŃZBV üÅßā‹Ź^5M<»° ļ=> އyK>zW(-Īd©//Ķ‘·+Ö£f¤”^•é–ņa{Pp×µ¬öījßFbę2ĘEvß ĖX&_10!uTÅāĄ:6P܁Y+ś:ø6g¶ Öæ'eiąofšZ 2±"-„O:%Æ6ÄĄ§’s8:—XzbÖ ¦ńč¶V†@hķ nZÖõąøĄg¤ö-ÓĮķžö={Ų™ļ'&*2“‚6ģ-£¹źI©ŪRm©ÄXZBžÜgÓØ=!L”āĘĪjü»:?‰ ?$)üp$!²…ŪnT‹E†Eō¾}Vp$vĘV§¬­GkĀĻĆzńƒQ,hŸĮ±Ś¾ų§Šp/ ÖĖį7š €ŌłĻ^5Š®é)­6T/ż‹£µI <žŁÅ(A`FI5Ö¾–Ÿ!i>łėqnsW °B #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNm˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardČŠššČŠ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō—- Dˆ”-ź:i¢Ų+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ cr/chesŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€¼X»XXŌņ ņÓ  ÓBELGIUMŠ ° ŠÓ_ÓÓ  ÓĢĢŌ€XUŚX»¼XŌCEDAW€€A/44/38€(1989)Š ųH ŠĢĢó ó266.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Belgium€(CEDAW/C/5/Add.53)€at€its€143ņņrdóó€andŠ Č  Š146ņņthóó€meetings,€on€28€February€and€1€March€1989€(CEDAW/C/SR.143€and€146).Š ø  ŠĢ267.€€In€her€introduction,€the€representative€of€Belgium€said€that€her€country€had€guaranteed€womenŠ ˜ č  Šand€men€equal€rights€in€all€fields€during€an€economically€difficult€period€even€before€the€ratificationŠ ˆŲ  Šof€the€Convention.€€The€most€important€measures€taken€to€promote€and€achieve€equality€were,Š xČ  Šbesides€its€enshrinement€in€the€Constitution,€the€setting€up€of€advisory€commissions€and€the€creationŠ hø  Šof€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation,€which€was€attached€to€the€Prime€MinisterššsŠ XØ  Šoffice.€€The€Secretariat€had€undertaken€several€studies,€launched€awareness€campaigns€and€organizedŠ H˜  Šcompetitions€€in€order€to€encourage€girls€to€study€non„traditional€subjects€and€to€practice€non„Š 8ˆ Štraditional€professions.€€The€concept€of€positive€action€had€existed€since€1978,€but€it€did€not€takeŠ (x Šlegal€shape€until€the€creation€of€the€Secretariat€of€State€and€a€positive€action€support€team€under€theŠ h ŠMinistry€of€Employment€and€Labour.€€Whereas€positive€actions€were€voluntary€in€the€privateŠ X Šsection,€they€were€imposed€by€law€in€the€public€sector.€In€order€to€promote€positive€action,Š ųH Šenterprises€had€been€given€a€practical€guide€and€many€of€them€had€concluded€agreements€with€theŠ č8 ŠSecretariat€of€State€under€which€they€committed€themselves€to€giving€women€equal€opportunities.Š Ų( ŠĢ268.€€The€representative€stated€that€women€were€very€poorly€represented€in€public€and€political€lifeŠ ø Šat€all€levels€and€that€a€campaign€had€been€organized€recently€to€raise€the€awareness€of€the€populationŠ Øų Što€the€important€role€that€women€should€play€in€politics.Š ˜č ŠĢ269.€€Although€education€was€free€for€all€persons,€it€did€not€preclude€ņņde€factoóó,€inequality,€andŠ xČ Šwomen€were€not€proportionally€represented€in€all€fields€of€employment.€€She€said,€however,€that€aŠ hø Šgradual€improvement€had€been€observed.€€A€change€in€the€discriminatory€position€of€the€spouses€ofŠ X Ø Šfarm€operators€was€imminent,€and€the€earning€of€spouses€were€treated€separately€for€tax€purposesŠ H!˜ Šsince€the€enactment€of€a€law€in€December€1988.Š 8"ˆ ŠĢ270.€€No€statutory€discrimination€existed€between€Belgian€and€foreign€women,€although€the€wivesŠ $h! Šof€immigrants€were€often€disadvantaged.Š %X " ŠĢ271.€€One€of€the€priorities€of€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€was€to€combat€violenceŠ č&8"$ Šagainst€women€and€children€through€scientific€research,€information€campaigns€and€co„ordinationŠ Ų'(#% Šefforts.€€The€objective€was€to€publicize€the€facts,€abolish€taboos,€prevent€further€occurrences,€receiveŠ Č($& Šand€assist€victims€and€create€a€link€between€all€the€bodies€concerned.€€Furthermore,€a€draft€law€onŠ ø)%' Šthe€crime€of€rape€was€under€consideration.€€In€order€to€decriminalize€abortion,€five€abortion€billsŠ Ø*ų%( Šwere€currently€under€discussion€in€Belgium.Š ˜+č&) ŠĢ272.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€appreciation€for€the€comprehensive€report€andŠ x-Č(+ Šthe€additional€information€given€in€the€oral€presentation€and€noted,€in€particular,€the€collectiveŠ ° Šagreements€in€the€private€sector,€the€many€legal€initiatives€that€had€been€taken€by€the€GovernmentŠ  š Što€implement€the€Convention€and€the€campaigns€to€promote€awareness.€€They€also€noted,€however,Š ą Šthe€lack€of€sufficient€statistical€data€in€the€report€and€hoped€that€such€data€could€be€given€in€theŠ €Š Šreplies€or€in€the€second€periodic€report.€€Some€members€said€that€it€would€have€been€preferable€forŠ pĄ Šthe€information€in€the€report€relating€to€the€different€articles€of€the€Convention€to€have€beenŠ ` ° Šseparated.Š P   ŠĢ273.€€With€regard€to€the€reservation€made€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€one€member€asked€aboutŠ 0 € Šthe€attitude€of€the€female€members€of€the€royal€family€and€the€extent€of€the€powers€of€royalty€inŠ  p  Šequality€matters.€€It€was€asked€whether€royal€ordinances€had€the€force€of€laws€and€whether€the€KingŠ `  Šwas€able€to€influence€royal€ordinances.€€Other€members€asked€whether€the€State€intended€toŠ P  Šwithdraw€its€reservations€regarding€article€15,€paragraphs€2€and€3.Š š@  ŠĢ274.€€It€was€asked€in€what€way€the€Government€used€the€Nairobi€Forward„looking€Strategies€for€theŠ Š  ŠAdvancement€of€Women€ņņ12óó/€to€put€into€practice€the€principles€of€equality€between€women€and€men.€Š Ą ŠFurther€information€was€requested€about€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation,€its€staff,Š ° Šits€budgetary€allocations,€its€organization€and€the€decisions€it€reached.€€Members€inquired€about€theŠ  š Šextent€to€which€the€many€laws€that€had€been€promulgated€recently€promoted€equality.€€AnŠ ą Šexplanation€of€the€hierarchy€of€legal€command€was€sought.€€It€was€asked€whether,€in€Belgium,€it€wasŠ €Š Šinternational€law,€the€Constitution€or€the€Convention€that€prevailed.Š pĄ ŠĢ275.€€As€regards€the€many€national€mechanisms€for€the€advancement€of€women,€it€was€askedŠ P  Šwhether€the€number€could€be€considered€as€positive€and€whether€it€would€be€reduced€in€future.€€ItŠ @ Šwas€also€asked€whether€the€many€commissions€were€non„governmental€organizations€in€an€advisoryŠ 0€ Šcapacity,€whether€their€responsibilities€overlapped,€whether€they€had€separate€budgets,€whether€theŠ  p Šcourts€asked€for€their€assistance,€whether€they€initiated€amendments€to€Belgian€legislation€and€whatŠ ` Štheir€relationship€to€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€was.€€Questions€were€raised€asŠ P Što€whether€the€Commission€on€the€Employment€of€Women€was€empowered€to€deal€with€mattersŠ š@ Šrelating€to€discriminatory€treatment€and€unequal€pay,€and€it€was€asked€what€impact€the€MinisterialŠ ą0 ŠCommission€on€the€Status€of€Women€had€made,€and€how€often€the€Prime€Minister€presided€over€itsŠ Š  Šmeetings.€€Information€was€requested€on€how€easy€it€was€to€set€up€advisory€commissions€concerningŠ Ą! Šmatters€of€equality.Š °"  ŠĢ276.€€Further€information€was€requested€on€the€indirect€discrimination€mentioned€in€the€report€andŠ $ą" Šon€action€planned€by€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€to€prevent€it.Š €%Š # ŠĢ277.€€It€was€asked€whether€discriminatory€advertising€was€banned,€what€was€being€done€about€theŠ `'°"% Šadvertising€of€toys€and€to€prevent€advertising€using€sex€stereotypes€in€the€media.Š P( #& ŠĢ278.€€One€member€of€the€Committee€inquired€about€the€impact€of€the€rulings€by€the€Supreme€Court€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ________________Š ,`'* Šą  ąņņ12óó/ą0 ` ąņņReport€of€the€World€Conference€to€Review€and€Appraise€the€Achievements€of€theŠ -P(+ ŠUnited€Nations€Decade€for€Women:€Equality,€Development€and€Peace,€Nairobi,€15„Š š-@), Š26€July€1985óó€(United€Nations€publication,€Sales€No.€E.85.IV.10),€chap.€I,€sect.€A.Š °` (#` (# Šof€the€Judiciary€and€the€highest€administrative€Court€that€the€provisions€contained€in€the€ConstitutionŠ ° Šprohibited€all€discrimination€based€on€sex.€€Another€member€asked€how€often€cases€of€violation€ofŠ  š Šthe€equality€of€both€parents€were€brought€before€the€Juvenile€Court€and€what€the€Courtššs€rulingsŠ ą Šwere.€€It€was€asked€whether€rape€between€spouses€was€considered€a€crime€under€the€new€draft€lawŠ €Š Šand€whether€proceedings€could€be€initiated€by€the€Public€Prosecutor.€€Considering€that€the€newŠ pĄ Šdefinition€of€rape€was€very€far„reaching,€a€member€asked€whether€there€was€public€opposition€to€theŠ ` ° Šdraft.Š P   ŠĢ279.€€Further€information€was€sought€on€the€influence€and€effects€of€the€measures€initiated€by€theŠ 0 € ŠMinistry€of€National€Education,€such€as€the€distribution€of€audio„visual€material€and€school€manualsŠ  p  Što€make€youth€aware€of€stereotyping€based€on€sex.€€Members€of€the€Committee€inquired€whetherŠ `  Šthe€major€religion€in€the€country€constituted€a€hindrance€to€the€efforts€of€the€Government€to€promoteŠ P  Šequality€between€women€and€men.Š š@  ŠĢ280.€€Regarding€the€affirmative€action€programmes,€it€was€asked€whether€a€quota€system€had€beenŠ Š  Šintroduced€and,€if€so,€why€the€number€of€women€in€political€life€was€still€low.€€A€member€of€theŠ Ą ŠCommittee€inquired€about€affirmative€action€programmes€regarding€the€equality€of€treatmentŠ ° Šbetween€women€and€men€in€economic€life.€€Concerning€affirmative€action€in€the€public€sector,€it€wasŠ  š Šasked€how€the€plans€were€drawn€up€and€what€the€sanctions€in€the€case€of€non„compliance€were.€Š ą ŠClarification€regarding€the€affirmative€action€measures€was€requested€and€it€was€asked€what€theŠ €Š Šeffects€of€their€introduction€in€the€civil€service€had€been.€€It€was€asked€whether€any€efforts€wereŠ pĄ Šbeing€made€to€increase€the€number€of€women€in€areas€such€as€the€armed€forces,€the€police€and€theŠ `° Šrailway€service.€€Information€on€the€role€women€played€in€the€army€was€requested.€€One€memberŠ P  Šasked€who€funded€the€experts€sent€by€the€Government€to€private€companies€to€monitor€theirŠ @ Šcompliance€with€affirmative€action€programmes,€and€what€the€sources€of€training€were.€€ClarificationŠ 0€ Šwas€sought€as€to€why€the€non„existence€of€a€law€prevented€the€implementation€of€temporary€specialŠ  p Šmeasures€in€Belgium.Š ` ŠĢ281.€€Members€requested€that,€in€subsequent€reports,€abbreviations€should€be€avoided€and€the€namesŠ š@ Šof€political€parties€spelled€out.€€Details€were€requested€of€the€membership€and€interests€of€the€250Š ą0 Šwomenššs€associations€referred€to€in€the€report,€and€it€was€asked€how€they€worked€together€and€howŠ Š  Šthe€co„operation€between€them€and€the€various€commissions€functioned.Š Ą! ŠĢ282.€€The€Committee€expressed€its€appreciation€for€the€information€provided€in€connection€withŠ  #š! Šviolence€against€women€and€the€measures€that€had€been€undertaken.€€It€was€asked€whether€anyŠ $ą" Šresearch€had€been€undertaken€to€find€out€the€causes€for€that€violence,€whether€anything€had€beenŠ €%Š # Šdone€to€assess€the€results€of€the€measures,€and€whether€female€victims€of€violence€received€supportŠ p&Ą!$ Šfrom€the€Government.Š `'°"% ŠĢ283.€€Members€of€the€Committee€suggested€that€measures€for€the€elimination€of€prostitution€mightŠ @)$' Šbe€undertaken.€€It€was€asked€whether€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emaciation€was€dealing€withŠ 0*€%( Šthe€problem€of€prostitution€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€undertaken€so€far,€especially€in€viewŠ  +p&) Šof€the€fact€that€Belgium€had€rarified€the€Convention€for€the€Suppression€of€the€Traffic€in€Persons€andŠ ,`'* Šof€the€Exploitation€of€the€Prostitution€of€Others,€adopted€by€the€General€Assembly€in€1949.€€It€wasŠ -P(+ Šalso€asked€whether€the€Belgian€Government€had€taken€a€stance€in€the€matter€of€prostitution,Š š-@), Šconsidering€the€prevailing€attitude€that€prostitution€contributed€to€the€spread€of€AIDS.Š ° ŠĢ284.€€Further€details€were€requested€on€the€seemingly€contradictory€statement€in€the€report€thatŠ ą Šwomen€achieved€good€results€in€the€parliamentary€elections€but€that€they€were€not€sufficiently€strongŠ €Š Šin€the€various€parties.€€Further€elaboration€was€requested€of€the€statement€in€the€report€that€womenššsŠ pĄ Šorganizations€must€organize€themselves€so€as€to€bring€pressure€to€bear€on€their€political€parties.Š ` ° ŠĢ285.€€Questions€were€asked€about€steps€to€remove€sex€stereotyping€from€school€textbooks€andŠ @  Šcurricula,€the€number€of€single„sex€schools,€and€it€was€asked€whether€the€curricula€of€those€schoolsŠ 0 € Šwere€similar€for€boys€and€for€girls€and€whether€there€was€a€tendency€to€maintain€single„sex€schoolsŠ  p  Šin€view€of€the€discussions€in€other€countries€about€the€negative€effects€of€co„education€on€some€ageŠ `  Šgroups.€€One€member€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€illiteracy€existed€in€Belgium.€AnotherŠ P  Šmember€inquired€whether€there€was€a€connection€between€the€number€of€girls€and€boys€registeredŠ š@  Šin€primary„,€secondary„€and€university„level€education,€disaggregated€by€gender€and€occupation,€andŠ ą0  Šthe€number€of€women€in€non„traditional€jobs.€€The€question€was€raised€whether€girls€should€beŠ Š  Šencourage€to€choose€feminine€or€masculine€careers€and€whether€the€choice€of€a€typically€masculineŠ Ą Šprofession€put€women€in€a€higher€wage€bracket.€€It€was€asked€whether€seminars€for€teachers€wereŠ ° Šheld€at€all€levels€of€education.€€Members€wanted€to€know€which€educational€institutions€the€membersŠ  š Šof€the€royal€family€attended,€and€whether€the€school€curricula€were€the€same€in€the€French€andŠ ą ŠFlemish€sectors€of€the€country.Š €Š ŠĢ286.€€Several€members€of€the€Committee€requested€statistical€data€on€unemployment,€disaggregatedŠ `° Šby€gender€and€age€group,€and€on€the€number€of€women€working€part€time.€€One€member€askedŠ P  Šwhether€any€action€programmes€ensured€that€a€minimum€number€of€women€were€employed.€€OthersŠ @ Šasked€whether€law€provided€for€the€establishment€of€gender„neutral€criteria€for€equal€pay.€€Data€onŠ 0€ Šthe€wage€discrepancies€between€women€and€men€were€requested,€as€well€as€on€studies€in€relatedŠ  p Šfields.€€It€was€asked€further€whether€any€remedies€had€been€recommended€to€remove€theŠ ` Šdiscrepancies.Š P ŠĢ287.€€Members€asked€whether€legislation€existed,€or€was€envisaged,€to€combat€sexual€harassmentŠ ą0 Šin€employment.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€the€question€of€a€uniform€age€of€retirement€for€womenŠ Š  Šand€men€had€been€settled.€€It€was€asked€whether€men€took€paternity€leave€and€whether€there€wereŠ Ą! Šsufficient€child„care€facilities.€€It€was€asked€whether€and€for€what€reasons€Belgium€still€maintainedŠ °"  Šthe€prohibition€of€night€work€for€women.€€Members€inquired€about€the€amount€of€remunerationŠ  #š! Šwomen€received€during€maternity€leave.Š $ą" ŠĢ288.€€Concerning€the€Civil€Code,€article€216,€paragraph€1,€under€which€it€was€possible€for€a€spouseŠ p&Ą!$ Što€prohibit€the€other€from€practicing€a€profession€in€certain€circumstances,€information€on€specificŠ `'°"% Šcases€was€requested.€€It€was€asked€whether€that€provision€did€not€constitute€an€obstacle€to€ensuringŠ P( #& Šequality€in€the€labour€market€and€what€the€reasons€for€it€were.Š @)$' ŠĢ289.€€Data€were€requested€on€the€number€of€illegal€abortions€in€the€country€and€aborad.€€InformationŠ  +p&) Šwas€sought€on€the€attitudes€of€the€womenššs€movement€towards€abortion.€€It€was€asked€what€theŠ ,`'* Šsanctions€for€women€who€had€abortions€were€and€under€which€conditions€abortion€was€permitted.Š -P(+ ŠMembers€wondered€how€it€was€possible€to€prohibit€abortion€and€yet€not€provide€easy€access€toŠ š-@), Šcontraceptives,€and€what€was€being€done€to€prevent€clandestine€abortion.€€It€was€asked€whether€anyŠ ° Šlaws€existed€in€connection€with€the€new€medical€techniques€in€human€reproduction,€and€whetherŠ  š Šmeasures€had€been€taken€to€protect€the€rights€of€women€who€had€contracted€infections€through€thoseŠ ą Štechniques.€Š €Š ŠĢ290.€€Details€were€requested€about€any€action€that€might€have€been€taken€to€improve€the€situationŠ ` ° Šof€farm€operatorsšš€wives,€who€had€no€professional€status.Š P   ŠĢ291.€€Members€of€the€Committee€inquired€about€the€minimum€age€of€marriage€for€women€and€men,Š 0 € Šthe€possibilities€of€obtaining€a€divorce€by€mutual€consent€and,€in€view€of€the€reference€to€concubinesŠ  p  Šin€the€report,€whether€polygamy€was€practised€in€Belgium.€€A€member€asked€whether€adultery€wasŠ `  Ša€criminal€offence€and€whether€it€would€be€abolished€as€a€ground€for€divorce.Š P  ŠĢ292.€€It€was€asked€whether€there€were€any€plans€to€remove€the€discriminatory€provisions€concerningŠ ą0  Šthe€family€name€of€married€mothers€and€of€children€born€out€of€wedlock.€€Information€was€soughtŠ Š  Šon€the€rights€of€children€born€out€of€wedlock.€€A€further€question€referred€to€any€possible€problemsŠ Ą Šthat€were€encountered€by€the€minority€group€of€migrant€women€when€submitting€applications€forŠ ° Šmarriage.Š  š ŠĢ293.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€and€comments€made€by€the€members€of€the€Committee,€theŠ €Š Šrepresentative€of€Belgium€noted€that€as€Belgium€was€a€democracy,€its€laws€were€voted€on€by€theŠ pĄ Šparliament€and€reflected€the€wishes€of€the€majority€of€its€population.€€The€Government€initiatedŠ `° Šchanges€by€persuasion€rather€than€force€and€for€that€reason,€it€emphasized€affirmative€actions.€€TheŠ P  Šrepresentative€said€that€her€countryššs€reservation€to€article€7€was€still€valid,€but€its€reservation€toŠ @ Šarticle€15€was€purely€theoretical,€as€it€had€been€based€on€transitional€measures€that€had€ceased€toŠ 0€ Šhave€any€effect.€€Despite€the€existence€of€a€law,€passed€1976,€giving€spouses€the€legal€capacity€toŠ  p Šmanage€their€properties€equally,€couples€who€wanted€to€adhere€to€the€former€has€had€to€state€soŠ ` Šbefore€a€notary€within€one€year.€€No€one,€however,€had€made€use€of€that€right.€Since€1977,€theŠ P Šequality€of€matrimonial€property€rights€had€been€established€for€both€spouses.Š š@ ŠĢ294.€€As€regards€the€hierarchy€of€legal€authority,€the€representative€explained€that,€in€Belgium,Š Š  Šinternational€legal€norms€were€enforced€by€the€State,€the€communities€or€the€regions€by€laws€orŠ Ą! Šdecrees.€€International€conventions€directly€affected€the€State€concerned€and€the€internal€legalŠ °"  Šsystem.Š  #š! ŠĢ295.€€The€representative€explained€that€the€Advisory€Commission€on€the€Status€of€Women€had€beenŠ €%Š # Šdissolved€in€December€1985.€€All€the€other€commissions€had€distinct€roles,€as€spelled€out€in€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šinstruments€that€had€established€them.€€They€could€give€advice€only€to€the€Minister€to€whom€theyŠ `'°"% Šwere€responsible.€€In€order€to€avoid€overlapping,€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€EmancipationŠ P( #& Šsummoned€regular€meetings€of€the€presidents€of€the€commissions,€and€all€activities€of€theŠ @)$' Šcommissions€were€monitored€by€representatives€of€the€Secretariat.€€The€annual€reports€of€theŠ 0*€%( Šactivities€of€the€commissions€showed€that€many€laws€were€initiated€on€the€basis€of€advice€given€byŠ  +p&) Šthe€consultative€commissions.€€The€competence€of€the€Ministerial€Commission€on€the€Status€ofŠ ,`'* ŠWomen€included€the€measures€that€had€to€be€taken€to€ensure€the€equal€treatment€of€women€and€men.€Š -P(+ ŠAs€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€currently€functioned€as€the€secretariat€of€thatŠ š-@), ŠCommission,€it€prepared€its€agenda,€the€groundwork€for€its€decisions€and€supervised€theirŠ ° Šimplementation.€€The€Prime€Minister€presided€over€almost€all€of€the€meetings€of€the€Commission.Š  š ŠĢ296.€€Since€its€inception,€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€had€had€its€own€budget€andŠ €Š Ša€separate€administration.€€Its€budget€had€grown€from€12.8€million€Belgian€francs€in€1986€to€65Š pĄ Šmillion€francs€in€1989.€€It€had€had€a€temporary€administrative€staff€of€10€persons€since€1987.Š ` ° ŠĢ297.€€With€reference€to€the€various€campaigns€that€had€been€carried€out€in€Belgium,€theŠ @  Šrepresentative€said€that€campaigns€were€not€sufficient€to€change€attitudes;€the€achievement€ofŠ 0 € Šequality€was€a€slow€process€and€required€repeated€actions.€€The€campaign€on€the€harassment€ofŠ  p  Šwomen€at€the€work€place€had€elicited€1,750€letters€and€telephone€calls€and€had€led€trade€unions€andŠ `  Šemployersšš€organizations€to€start€dealing€with€the€problem.€€As€a€result€of€the€campaign€onŠ P  Šunnecessary€violence,€the€gendarmerie€and€the€police€had€received€new€instructions€on€how€to€dealŠ š@  Šwith€the€victims.€€She€said€that€it€was€still€too€soon€to€evaluate€the€results€of€the€campaign€toŠ ą0  Šencourage€young€women€to€choose€their€studies€according€to€the€demand€on€the€labour€market.€€AŠ Š  Šcampaign€on€the€occasion€of€local€elections€in€1988€had€resulted€in€a€market€increase€in€the€numberŠ Ą Šof€women€elected.Š ° ŠĢ298.€€As€regards€the€effectiveness€of€affirmative€action€programmes,€to€which€Belgium€attachedŠ ą Šgreat€importance,€the€representative€said€that€it€was€necessary€to€provide€an€adequate€legalŠ €Š Šframework.€€The€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation€concluded€agreements€with€companiesŠ pĄ Šand€put€at€their€disposal€experts€who€were€funded€from€the€budget€of€the€Secretariat.€€Although€theŠ `° Šdegree€signed€recently€provided€for€obligatory€affirmative€actions€in€the€public€sector,€no€penaltiesŠ P  Šwere€stipulated.€€The€effectiveness€of€such€actions€was,€however,€closely€monitored.Š @ ŠĢ299.€€In€order€to€enhance€the€image€of€women€in€the€media,€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€SocialŠ  p ŠEmancipation€had€recently€signed€an€agreement€for€affirmative€actions€with€the€television€channels.Š ` ŠĢ300.€€The€representative€said€that€the€womenššs€organizations€to€which€most€women€belonged€wereŠ š@ Šeither€Catholic,€socialist€or€liberal€organizations.€€In€addition,€womenššs€groups€defended€womenššsŠ ą0 Šinterests€inside€each€political€party€and€other€groups€concentrated€on€special€target€groups.€€Most€ofŠ Š  Šthe€womenššs€organizations€suffered€from€financial€constraints;€they€played€the€role€of€pressureŠ Ą! Šgroups,€and€most€of€them€were€represented€on€the€Commission€for€Emancipation,€which€advised€theŠ °"  ŠSecretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation.Š  #š! ŠĢ301.€€Prostitution€was€regarded€as€a€private€activity€and€was€not€prohibited,€but€the€exploitation€ofŠ €%Š # Šprostitution€and€prostitution€involving€minors€were€offences€under€the€law.€€Among€the€measuresŠ p&Ą!$ Što€be€undertaken€by€the€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation,€priority€would€be€given€to€taxŠ `'°"% Šand€social€security€measures€for€prostitutes.Š P( #& ŠĢ302.€€In€order€to€increase€the€presence€of€women€in€political€life,€the€rule€that€the€maximumŠ 0*€%( Šrepresentation€of€one€gender€in€political€bodies€should€not€exceed€two€thirds€had€to€be€respected.Š  +p&) ŠĢ303.€€Private€and€public€schools€were€co„educational,€but€in€Belgium,€as€in€many€other€countries,Š -P(+ Šsome€persons€were€opposed€to€the€co„educational€system.€€The€representative€said€that€the€MinisterŠ š-@), Šof€Education€had€issued€instructions€to€avoid€sex€stereotyping€in€school€textbooks.Š ° ŠĢ304.€€Owing€to€traditional€prejudices,€some€employers€were€still€not€easily€inclined€to€hire€youngŠ ą Šwomen.€€The€Secretariat€of€State€for€Social€Emancipation,€however,€was€trying€to€eliminate€thoseŠ €Š Šprejudices€through€affirmative€action€programmes.€€The€percentage€of€women€in€the€labour€forceŠ pĄ Šhad€risen€from€33€per€cent€in€1970€to€40.7€per€cent€in€1987.€€Statistics€by€age€group€showed€that€theŠ ` ° Špercentage€of€women€who€had€remained€in€their€jobs€for€periods€of€between€25€and€29€years€and€30Š P   Šand€34€years€had€risen€markedly€since€1970.€€Women€constituted€57.6€per€cent€of€the€workers€in€theŠ @  Štertiary€sector.€€The€percentage€of€women€in€managerial€positions€in€both€the€private€and€publicŠ 0 € Šsectors€ranged€from€10€to€12€per€cent;€87€per€cent€of€the€part„time€workers€were€women.€€TheŠ  p  Šunemployment€rate€for€women€was€15€per€cent€and€for€men€7€per€cent.€€Average€wages€for€womenŠ `  Šwere€25.6€per€cent€lower€than€those€of€men.Š P  ŠĢ305.€€Women€were€entitled€to€a€maternity€leave€of€14€weeks,€during€which€they€had€the€same€netŠ ą0  Šearnings€as€during€periods€of€employment.€€Career€breaks€of€six€months€to€one€year€were€possible;Š Š  Šthe€maximum€period€for€such€breaks€was€five€years.€€Currently,€84.7€per€cent€of€the€personsŠ Ą Šbenefitting€from€career€breaks€were€women€aged€between€25€and€39€years.Š ° ŠĢ306.€€The€prohibition€of€night€work,€to€which€Belgium€was€bound€by€the€Convention€ConcerningŠ ą ŠNight€Work€of€Women€Employed€in€Industry€(No.€89),€adopted€by€the€International€LabourŠ €Š ŠOrganization€in€1948,€was€currently€under€discussion.€€The€tests€for€entrance€to€the€army,€theŠ pĄ Šgendarmerie€and€the€police€had€recently€been€adapted€so€that€they€did€not€discriminate€againstŠ `° Šwomen.€€According€to€the€most€recent€statistics,€3,500€women€were€in€the€army€where€they€didŠ P  Šmostly€office€work.Š @ ŠĢ307.€€Belgium€had€an€extensive€child„care€system€with€crches,€kindergartens€and€private€families,Š  p Šwho€received€subsidies.€€Up€to€80€per€cent€of€the€related€costs€could€be€deducted€from€tax.€€ThereŠ ` Šwere€still€some€problems€with€after„school€day€care€and€the€care€of€sick€children.Š P ŠĢ308.€€Regarding€the€subject€of€in„vitro€fertilization,€the€representative€said€that€the€Government€hadŠ ą0 Šset€up€a€scientific€council€to€study€the€fundamental€ethical€questions.€€Abortion€was€considered€anŠ Š  Šoffence,€but€the€Government€had€initiated€information€programmes,€taken€measures€to€assistŠ Ą! Špregnant€women€in€need€and€envisaged€providing€social€security€allowances€to€single€mothers.€€TheŠ °"  Šparliament€was€considering€a€possible€amendment€to€the€law€on€abortion.€€The€new€draft€lawŠ  #š! Šenvisaged€conditions€under€which€abortion€was€not€considered€an€offence.Š $ą" ŠĢ309.€€The€representative€said€that,€in€the€Criminal€Code,€provisions€were€included€that€made€rapeŠ p&Ą!$ Šan€offence.€€The€definition€of€rape€was,€however,€unduly€restrictive,€and€a€draft€law€was€underŠ `'°"% Šdiscussion€that€would€redefine€rape€and€facilitate€the€prosecution€of€it.€€The€new€draft€law€would€alsoŠ P( #& Šmake€rape€between€spouses€an€offence.Š @)$' ŠĢ310.€€The€representative€explained€that€the€law€on€parenthood€had€recently€undergone€changes,Š  +p&) Šwhich€had€ended€the€former€discrimination€against€children€born€out€of€wedlock.€€Children€bornŠ ,`'* Šwithin€and€outside€marriage€had€been€given€equal€rights;€with€regard€to€the€name€of€the€child,€a€childŠ -P(+ Šborn€within€marriage€would€bear€its€fatherššs€name.€€A€child€born€outside€of€marriage€would€bear€itsŠ š-@), Šmotherššs€name€if€it€was€natural€and€acknowledged€by€its€mother€and€if€it€was€adulterine€andŠ ° Šacknowledged€by€its€father.€€In€the€latter€two€cases,€however,€the€child€could€bear€the€name€of€itsŠ  š Šnatural€or€adulterine€father€after€acknowledgment€by€him€and€if€the€father€and€the€mother€declaredŠ ą Što€the€registrar€within€one€year€that€that€was€their€wish.Š €Š ŠĢ311.€€One€member€noted€the€considerable€difference€in€the€unemployment€rate€for€women€and€forŠ ` ° Šmen€and€asked€whether€the€reasons€for€it€were€the€practices€of€private€companies,€customs€andŠ P   Štraditions,€the€lack€of€technical€and€vocational€training€or€because€women€could€not€compete€withŠ @  Šmen€in€the€labour€market.Š 0 € ŠĢ312.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€all€the€measures€undertaken€by€the€Government€andŠ `  Šthanked€the€representative€for€the€extensive€replies€provided.Š  P  Šņ ņCEDAW€A/51/38€(1996)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ164.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Belgium€(CEDAW/C/BEL/2)€at€itsŠ €Š Š300ņņthóó€€and€301ņņstóó€meetings,€on€26€January€1996€(see€CEDAW/C/SR.300€and€301).€Š pĄ ŠĢ165.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€Permanent€Representative€of€Belgium€to€the€United€NationsŠ P   Šand€by€a€representative€from€the€Federal€Government€and€one€each€from€the€Flemish€and€FrenchŠ @  Šcommunities.€€They€underlined€that€the€report€under€review,€submitted€in€1992,€was€outdated€toŠ 0 € Šsome€extent€since€the€constitutional€reform€of€1994€had€introduced€a€federal€system,€givingŠ  p  Šcommunities€and€regions€the€same€standing€as€the€federal€authority.Š `  Š€Ģ166.€€The€Committee€was€informed€that€reservations€to€article€7€and€article€15€of€the€ConventionŠ š@  Šwould€be€withdrawn,€since€a€new€law€had€been€adopted€to€enable€women€to€exercise€royal€powersŠ ą0  Šand€changes€in€the€Constitution€had€rendered€void€the€reservation€relating€to€marriage€law.€€TheŠ Š  Šwithdrawal€of€these€reservations€would€be€undertaken,€while€reservations€to€all€human€rightsŠ Ą Šinstruments€were€being€revised€in€keeping€with€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action.€Š ° ŠĢ167.€€Equality€was€a€priority€for€the€federal€authority,€the€communities€and€the€regions.Š ą ŠCommitments€on€the€promotion€of€the€human€rights€of€women€made€at€an€international€andŠ €Š ŠEuropean€level€were€taken€seriously.€€To€that€end,€several€high-level€posts€had€been€established,Š pĄ Šincluding€that€of€a€Federal€Minister€for€Equality,€who€was€also€Minister€for€Employment€and€WorkŠ `° Šand€a€Minister€for€Equality€in€the€Flemish€Government.€€In€the€French€community,€this€matter€fallsŠ P  Šdirectly€under€the€competence€of€the€Minister€President,€as€the€head€of€Government.€€PriorityŠ @ Šconcerns€were€the€eradication€of€violence€against€women,€discrimination€in€employment,€low€levelsŠ 0€ Šof€women€in€government€decision-making,€women's€health,€attitudes€that€perpetuated€sexŠ  p Šdiscrimination€and€stereotypes€in€the€media.€Š ` ŠĢ168.€€To€enhance€participation€of€women€in€the€economy€and€in€decision-making,€numerousŠ š@ Šmeasures€of€affirmative€action€had€been€taken.€€To€increase€the€number€of€women€in€public€life,€aŠ ą0 Šlaw€had€been€adopted€in€1994€that€stipulated€that€the€number€of€candidates€of€the€same€sex€shouldŠ Š  Šnot€exceed€two€thirds€on€any€electoral€list.€€As€a€result,€the€percentage€of€women€had€risen€from€10Š Ą! Što€12€per€cent€in€the€communal€elections€and€from€6€to€8€women€(32€per€cent)€in€the€elections€forŠ °"  Šthe€European€Parliament.€€The€media€is€also€an€area€where€women's€participation€is€particularlyŠ  #š! Šencouraged.Š $ą" ŠĢ169.€€In€order€to€combat€violence€against€women,€the€Government€had€adopted€a€new€law€on€rape,Š p&Ą!$ Šthe€definition€of€which€included€rape€within€marriage€and€homosexual€relationships.€€A€number€ofŠ `'°"% Šmeasures€to€avoid€secondary€victimization€had€been€taken€which€included€a€sexual€assault€pack€toŠ P( #& Šbe€used€in€police€stations€and€a€campaign€in€the€medical€community€to€establish€confidential€medicalŠ @)$' Šcertificates€for€victims.€€A€landmark€law€had€been€adopted€in€1995€on€trafficking€in€human€beings,Š 0*€%( Šwhich€included€provision€for€acts€committed€extraterritorially.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ170.€€It€was€reported€that€voluntary€interruption€of€pregnancy€had€been€made€legally€possible€underŠ -P(+ Šcertain€conditions€for€women€in€a€state€of€distress€and€upon€the€confirmed€written€request€of€theŠ š-@), Šwoman.€€Counseling€and€information€are€also€provided€as€part€of€preventive€measures.Š ° ŠĢ171.€€Representatives€stated€that€women€had€access€to€credit€and€loans€and€could€participate€in€allŠ ą Šaspects€of€cultural€life.€Š €Š ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ ` ° ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ @  ŠĢ172.€€The€Committee€welcomed€with€satisfaction€Belgium's€detailed€and€exhaustive€presentation,Š  p  Šwhich€reflected€the€significance€the€country€attached€to€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€likewiseŠ `  Šnoted€the€updated€information€provided€by€the€oral€report,€which€complemented€the€written€report,Š P  Šaddressed€the€questions€raised€by€experts€and€helped€the€Committee€to€appreciate€fully€theŠ š@  Šimportance€of€more€recent€efforts€to€implement€the€Convention.Š ą0  ŠĢ173.€€The€Committee€noted€the€efforts€by€the€federal€Government€and€the€French€and€FlemishŠ Ą Šcommunities€to€share€fully€the€richness€and€diversity€of€their€experiences€in€promoting€women'sŠ ° Šequality€in€their€respective€communities€by€sending€representatives€from€all€three€to€present€theŠ  š Šreport.Š ą ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ pĄ ŠĢ174.€€The€Committee€welcomed€with€appreciation€Belgium's€intention€to€withdraw€its€reservationsŠ P  Što€article€7,€section€(b),€with€respect€to€royal€functions,€and€on€article€15,€with€respect€to€matrimonialŠ @ Šproperty€of€rural€women.Š 0€ ŠĢ175.€€The€Committee€viewed€positively€the€broad€representation€of€the€Council€of€EqualŠ ` ŠOpportunities€coming€from€various€sectors€such€as€non-governmental€organizations,€youth€and€otherŠ P Šsocial€partners.Š š@ ŠĢ176.€€The€Committee€lauded€the€Government€for€its€multicultural€orientation€in€its€programmes€onŠ Š  Šwomen,€which€respected€cultural€identities€under€the€umbrella€of€a€federal€system.Š Ą! ŠĢ177.€€The€Committee€expressed€its€satisfaction€at€the€Government's€clarification€of€the€definition€ofŠ  #š! Šrape€to€include€marital€rape€and€its€campaign€to€combat€violence€against€women€by€mobilizing€theŠ $ą" Šmedia€for€that€purpose.€It€also€appreciated€government€subsidies€to€shelters€for€victims€of€violenceŠ €%Š # Šand€the€training€programmes€to€sensitize€law€enforcement€agencies€in€dealing€with€violence€againstŠ p&Ą!$ Šwomen.Š `'°"% ŠĢ178.€€The€Committee€also€noted€the€adoption€of€a€landmark€law€against€trafficking€in€persons,Š @)$' Šprostitution€and€pornography€with€extraterritorial€applications,€which€was€a€decisive€step€by€theŠ 0*€%( ŠGovernment€of€Belgium€to€address€the€issue€of€sexual€exploitation€of€women.Š  +p&) ŠĢ179.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€Government's€efforts€to€adopt€affirmative€action€measures,Š -P(+ Šincluding€legislative€measures,€to€promote€women's€employment€in€senior€positions€in€the€publicŠ š-@), Šsector,€as€well€as€to€nominate€women€as€candidates€for€governmental€advisory€bodies.Š ° ŠĢ180.€€The€Committee€noted€with€interest€and€satisfaction€the€increasing€number€of€women€in€politicsŠ ą Šat€the€local€level.Š €Š ŠĢ181.€€The€Committee€noted€with€interest€the€decriminalization€of€voluntary€interruption€of€pregnancyŠ ` ° Šand€the€observance€of€confidentiality€in€counseling€women€who€may€or€may€not€opt€for€it,€andŠ P   Šwelcomed€the€information€that€there€had€not€been€an€increase€in€the€number€of€requests€for€voluntaryŠ @  Šinterruptions€of€pregnancy.Š 0 € ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ `  ŠĢ182.€€While€lauding€the€efforts€of€the€Government€to€promote€women's€equality,€the€CommitteeŠ š@  Šrecognized€the€relatively€low€presence€of€women€in€public€and€political€life,€in€high-levelŠ ą0  Šgovernment€positions,€the€diplomatic€service,€the€military,€political€parties€and€trade€unions.€Š Š  ŠĢ183.€€The€Committee€also€noted€the€continuing€wage€gap€and€workplace€segregation€between€menŠ ° Šand€women,€as€well€as€the€higher€unemployment€rates€among€women,€leading€to€the€phenomenonŠ  š Šof€the€feminization€of€poverty.Š ą ŠĢ184.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€interrelationships€of€the€numerous€national€machineries€forŠ pĄ Šwomen€at€the€federal€and€local€levels€might€create€problems€of€overlapping€and€coordination.Š `° ŠĢ185.€€The€written€report€lacked€statistics€and€analysis€of€the€articles€and€did€not€reflect€the€richnessŠ @ Šof€the€oral€presentation.Š 0€ ŠĢ186.€€Interest€and€concern€were€expressed€by€the€Committee€as€regards€efforts€to€address€the€needsŠ ` Šof€minority€groups€such€as€migrant€women.Š P ŠĢ187.€€The€issue€of€discrimination€of€women€in€social€security€and€taxation€is€likewise€of€concern€toŠ ą0 Šthe€members€of€the€Committee.€€The€Committee€was€also€concerned€about€the€high€number€ofŠ Š  Šwomen€working€part-time€as€compared€to€men€and€the€hidden€discrimination€this€represents.Š Ą! ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ  #š! ŠĢ188.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€national€machineries€for€women€and€other€mechanisms€ofŠ €%Š # Šequality€look€into€the€possibility€of€a€monitoring€system€to€ensure€effective€coordination€and€toŠ p&Ą!$ Šavoid€discrepancies€between€regions.Š `'°"% ŠĢ189.€€The€Committee€suggested€that€more€statistical€data€and€analysis€of€the€articles€of€theŠ @)$' ŠConvention€be€presented€rather€than€a€ņņde€jureóó€presentation.€Adequate€data€should€be€provided€onŠ 0*€%( Šrural€women,€time-use€analysis€of€women€in€households,€female-headed€households€and€attitudesŠ  +p&) Štowards€minority€women€of€the€Maghreb€and€African€communities.Š ,`'* ŠĢ190.€€Measures€should€be€taken€to€address€the€hidden€discrimination€in€social€security€and€Ō_ŌtaxationŠ š-@), Šbetween€different€groups€of€women€and€to€balance€the€number€of€women€and€men€workingŠ ° Špart-time.Š  š ŠĢ191.€€To€address€the€wage€gap,€job€re-evaluation€and€reclassification,€with€a€view€to€upgradingŠ €Š Šwomen's€job€categories,€should€be€explored.Š pĄ ŠĢ192.€€The€Committee€suggested€that€the€Government€promote€interest€in€women's€participation€inŠ P   Šsports€and€in€media€coverage€of€such€events.Š @  ŠĢ193.€€Ō_ŌProgrammesŌ_Ō€and€projects€to€address€the€needs€of€migrant€women€and€other€vulnerable€womenŠ  p  Šshould€be€made€available€in€the€next€report.Š `  ŠĢ194.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€in€the€next€report€more€factual€information€be€given€on€theŠ š@  Šimpact€of€the€affirmative€action€policies€of€the€Government€and€on€the€obstacles€encountered€duringŠ ą0  Šimplementation.Š Š  ŠĢ195.€€The€Committee€also€recommended€close€monitoring€of€the€impact€of€the€enforcement€of€theŠ ° Šlaw€against€trafficking€in€persons,€and€that€information€on€this€be€provided€in€the€next€report€to€beŠ  š Šsubmitted€to€the€Committee.Š ą ŠĢ196.€€The€Committee€recommended€to€the€Government€of€Belgium€that€it€take€measures€to€includeŠ pĄ Šthe€value€of€Ō_ŌunremuneratedŌ_Ō€work€into€the€national€accounting€system€in€accordance€with€the€BeijingŠ `° ŠPlatform€for€Action.Š P  ŠĢĢĢĢÓ—ÓŠ  P ŠŌUKUS.,ŌÓ  ÓĢņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/57/38€part€II€(2002)ó óŠ  š ŠĢĢ119.€The€Committee€considered€the€combined€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€of€BelgiumŠ pĄ Š(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/BEL/3-4)€at€its€559th€and€560th€meetings,€on€10€June€2002€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C.€SR.559Š ` ° Šand€560).Š P   ŠĢņņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyóóŠ 0 € ŠĢ120.€In€introducing€the€combined€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports,€the€representative€of€BelgiumŠ `  Šnoted€that,€for€a€federal€State,€responsibilities€and€competencies€existed€at€both€the€federal€andŠ P  Šfederated€levels€(consisting€of€the€communities€and€regions).€No€hierarchy€existed€between€federalŠ š@  Šand€federated€entities,€but€federated€entities€enjoyed€maximum€autonomy€in€policy-making€basedŠ ą0  Šon€the€specific€needs€of€their€regions€or€communities.€He€pointed€out€that€the€report€had€resultedŠ Š  Šfrom€collaboration€between€the€various€levels€of€power€within€the€State€party.Š Ą ŠĢ121.€Since€1989€Belgium€had€made€progress€towards€achieving€equality€between€women€and€men,Š  š Šand€each€ministry€had€designed€policies€to€ensure€the€advancement€of€women.€Specific€measuresŠ ą Šhad€been€taken€recently€to€ensure€gender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō€in€policies€at€both€the€federal€and€federatedŠ €Š Šlevels.Š pĄ ŠĢ122.€In€November€1998€Belgium€had€removed€its€reservation€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€and€theŠ P  Šprocedure€to€remove€the€reservation€to€article€15€of€the€Convention€had€been€initiated.€Belgium€hadŠ @ Šalso€begun€its€ratification€process€for€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Convention,€which€requiredŠ 0€ Šratification€of€the€Protocol€by€the€federal€State€and€the€communities€and€regions.€Belgium€had€alsoŠ  p Štaken€steps€to€support€the€amendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€pertaining€to€theŠ ` ŠCommitteeššs€meeting€time.Š P ŠĢ123.€Equality€between€women€and€men€was€implicitly€recognized€by€the€Constitution;€however,€inŠ ą0 ŠFebruary€2002,€an€explicit€guarantee€of€equality€had€been€incorporated€into€the€Constitution€in€orderŠ Š  Što€provide€for€redress€in€cases€of€discrimination€and€to€guarantee€both€women€and€men€their€rightsŠ Ą! Šand€freedoms,€particularly€in€respect€of€equal€access€to€elected€and€public€office.€Š °"  ŠĢ124.€Belgium€had€made€the€struggle€against€all€forms€of€discrimination€one€of€its€priorities.€DraftŠ $ą" Šlegislation€currently€under€consideration€in€the€Federal€Parliament€would€forbid€all€discriminationŠ €%Š # Šbased€on€sex,€race,€colour,€ethnicity,€sexual€orientation,€income,€age,€religion,€state€of€health€(eitherŠ p&Ą!$ Špresent€or€future),€handicap€or€physical€characteristic.€The€creation€of€a€national€womenššs€rightsŠ `'°"% Šinstitution,€which€would€conduct€research€and€coordinate€federal€policies€on€relevant€issues,€was€alsoŠ P( #& Šunder€consideration.Š @)$' ŠĢ125.€New€measures€to€coordinate€equal-opportunity€measures€had€recently€been€introduced€inŠ  +p&) ŠBelgiumššs€French-speaking€community.€To€ensure€consistency€and€coordination€of€action€by€federalŠ ,`'* Šand€federated€authorities,€a€conference€on€equal€opportunities€had€been€held€among€the€countryššsŠ -P(+ Švarious€governing€entities,€addressing€violence€against€women;€equal€access€of€women€and€men€toŠ š-@), Šnew€information€technologies;€participation€of€women€in€the€decision-making€process,€particularlyŠ ° Šgender-balanced€representation€on€advisory€bodies;€and€the€relationship€between€public€and€privateŠ  š Šlife,€specifically€in€relation€to€childcare.Š ą ŠĢ126.€Confronting€domestic€violence€and€trafficking€in€women€and€sexual€exploitation€had€beenŠ pĄ Šdeemed€of€the€highest€priority.€On€10€November€2001,€an€extensive€awareness-raising€campaign€hadŠ ` ° Šbeen€launched€with€regard€to€domestic€violence.€New€local€policies€on€physical€and€sexual€violenceŠ P   Šhad€been€initiated,€including€measures€to€gather€statistical€data€and€provide€assistance€to€victims.Š @  ŠThe€responsible€ministries€at€all€levels€of€government€were€reviewing€a€national€plan€to€combatŠ 0 € Šviolence€against€women.€Legislation€on€trafficking€in€persons,€particularly€women€and€children,€forŠ  p  Šthe€purpose€of€sexual€exploitation€had€been€introduced€on€13€April€1995;€it€accorded€greater€weightŠ `  Što€statements€of€victims€and€provided€increased€protection.€There€had€been€more€than€200€arrestsŠ P  Šand€judgements€in€1999€and€2000,€and€some€230€victims€had€been€treated€at€specialized€centres.Š š@  ŠĢ127.€Belgium€had€developed€a€coordinated€employment€policy€aimed€at€integrating€equality€betweenŠ Š  Šsexes.€The€2002€National€Plan€for€Employment€identified€and€Ō_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€attention€on€challenges€facingŠ Ą Šthree€groups€in€finding€employment:€seniors,€women€and€the€Ō_ŌunderskilledŌ_Ō.€Among€the€GovernmentššsŠ ° Šactions€to€increase€womenššs€access€to€employment€and€give€them€better€opportunities€was€theŠ  š Šintroduction€of€a€bonus€to€long-term€unemployed€single€parents€who€took€jobs;€compensatory€time;Š ą Špromotion€of€training;€and€development€of€services.Š €Š ŠĢ128.€In€order€to€take€advantage€of€new€information€and€communication€technologies,€federal€andŠ `° Šfederated€authorities€had€concluded€a€cooperative€agreement€on€women€and€new€technologies€inŠ P  ŠNovember€2001.€The€representative€noted€that€it€was€also€important€to€make€what€had€beenŠ @ Šperceived€as€male€spheres€of€employment€open€to€women,€particularly€in€the€new€technology€sectorsŠ 0€ Šor€in€sectors€that€utilized€modern€means€of€production€based€on€these€technologies.€In€order€toŠ  p Šensure€full€and€complete€participation€by€women€in€the€marketplace,€steps€were€also€being€taken€toŠ ` Špromote€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value,€with€a€particular€focus€on€the€development€ofŠ P Šgender-neutral€and€non-discriminatory€systems€of€valuation€and€classification.€Negotiations€wereŠ š@ Šunder€way€to€increase€the€participation€of€civil€society€in€those€efforts.Š ą0 ŠĢ129.€As€the€first€European€State€to€introduce€the€principle€of€gender-based€quotas€on€electoral€ballotsŠ Ą! Š(in€1994),€Belgium€had€continued€to€develop€proactive€policies€to€encourage€female€participationŠ °"  Šin€public€life.€By€1999€the€quota€system€had€increased€womenššs€participation€as€electoral€candidatesŠ  #š! Šwell€above€the€minimum€figure€required€by€law,€and€the€number€of€women€actually€elected€toŠ $ą" Šlegislative,€communal€and€regional€bodies€had€risen€to€one€quarter€of€the€total.€However,€women€didŠ €%Š # Šnot€yet€enjoy€equal€representation€with€men€within€decision-making€bodies,€and€Belgium€wasŠ p&Ą!$ Šdetermined€to€achieve€true€parity€between€the€sexes€in€positions€of€power.€To€this€end,€efforts€wereŠ `'°"% Šbeing€made€to€fight€stereotypes€and€change€the€political€culture€of€the€country.€Encouraging€womenŠ P( #& Što€be€politically€active€was€also€a€priority€in€the€Flemish€community,€which€had€developed€aŠ @)$' Šstrategic€plan€aimed€at€supporting€women€who€had€been€elected€and€recruiting€more€women€asŠ 0*€%( Šcandidates.Š  +p&) ŠĢ130.€The€French€community€had€been€paying€great€attention€to€encouraging€the€participation€ofŠ -P(+ Šwomen€in€sports€as€a€means€of€integration€and€development,€particularly€in€underprivileged€urbanŠ š-@), ŠŌ_Ōsettings€or€rural€areas.€Womenššs€health€had€also€been€of€great€concern,€with€the€federal€and€federatedŠ ° Šauthorities€having€recently€launched€a€massive€breast€cancer€detection€campaign.€All€womenŠ  š Šbetween€the€ages€of€50€and€69€were€entitled€to€free€testing€every€two€years.€Awareness-raisingŠ ą Šcampaigns€had€been€organized€at€the€communities€level,€in€which€each€woman€was€personallyŠ €Š Šinvited€for€a€cancer€screening€test.Š pĄ ŠĢ131.€In€concluding,€the€representative€assured€the€Committee€that€progress€on€implementation€ofŠ P   Šundertakings€made€by€Belgium€and€enshrined€in€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€was€the€subject€ofŠ @  Šannual€reports€by€the€federal€and€Flemish€governments€to€their€respective€Parliaments.€FutureŠ 0 € Šchallenges€for€Belgium€included€the€need€to€combat€indirect€discrimination,€the€need€for€moreŠ  p  Šcoordinated€gathering€of€gender-sensitive€statistical€data€and€indicators,€and€the€systematic€collectionŠ `  Šof€a€relevant€body€of€jurisprudence.€It€was€important€to€discourage€the€notion€that€all€barriers€toŠ P  Šgender€equality€had€already€been€removed€and€to€take€positive€actions€to€sensitize€the€populationŠ š@  Što€gender-equality€issues€in€order€to€address€stereotypes.Š ą0  ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ Ą ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ  š ŠĢ132.€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€its€combined€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports,Š €Š Šalthough€it€regrets€that€it€is€not€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€guidelines€for€the€preparationŠ pĄ Šof€periodic€reports.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€written€replies€to€the€questions€of€the€CommitteeššsŠ `° Špre-session€working€group.€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€written€responses€to€a€number€ofŠ P  Šadditional€questions€posed€during€the€constructive€dialogue,€which€were€provided€in€the€final€weekŠ @ Šof€the€session.Š 0€ ŠĢ133.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€large€delegation€but€regrets€that€no€high-level€representativesŠ ` Šwith€political€responsibilities€constituted€part€of€the€delegation,€as€this€would€have€enhanced€theŠ P Šdialogue€that€took€place€between€the€delegation€and€the€members€of€the€Committee.Š š@ ŠĢ134.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€fact€that€Belgium€removed€its€reservation€to€article€7€of€theŠ Š  ŠConvention,€that€it€is€considering€lifting€its€reservation€to€article€15€of€the€Convention€and€that€it€hasŠ Ą! Šstarted€the€ratification€process€of€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Convention.Š °"  ŠĢ135.€The€Committee€expresses€satisfaction€that€the€State€party€has€made€significant€efforts€toŠ $ą" Šimplement€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action.€Š €%Š # ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ `'°"% ŠĢ136.€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€on€its€employment€policy,€which€integrates€equalityŠ @)$' Šbetween€women€and€men.€It€notes€with€satisfaction€the€affirmative€action€measures€provided€for€byŠ 0*€%( ŠBelgian€legislation€since€the€late€1980s,€in€order€to€bring€about€de€facto€equality€between€womenŠ  +p&) Šand€men€in€the€public€and€private€sectors.€In€particular,€it€expresses€satisfaction€at€the€actions€takenŠ ,`'* Što€create€a€better€distribution€of€working€and€household€tasks€between€women€and€men.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š137.€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€its€measures€to€eliminate€traditional€andŠ ° Šstereotypical€attitudes€regarding€the€role€of€men€and€women€in€the€family,€in€employment€and€inŠ  š Šsociety.Š ą ŠĢ138.€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€introducing€the€rape€law€of€4€July€1989,€the€royalŠ pĄ Šordinances€for€the€protection€of€workers€against€sexual€harassment€of€19€September€1992€and€9Š ` ° ŠMarch€1995,€the€law€on€human€trafficking€of€13€April€1995€and€the€law€to€combat€violence€betweenŠ P   Špartners€of€24€November€1997.€It€also€commends€the€State€party€for€the€development€by€the€EthicsŠ @  ŠCommission,€pursuant€to€the€law€of€March€1995,€of€a€code€of€ethics€for€telecommunicationsŠ 0 € Šinformation€services€in€an€effort€to€protect€minors,€in€particular€the€girl€child,€by€monitoring€theŠ  p  Špresence€of€violence€and€sex€in€media€programmes.€Š `  ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ š@  ŠĢ139.€The€Committee,€while€recognizing€the€adoption€of€a€wide€range€of€gender-equality€policies,Š Š  Šis€concerned€that€a€certain€number€of€those€policies€have€yet€to€be€implemented€or€evaluated.Š Ą ŠĢ140.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€implement€all€policies€that€have€been€formulated€andŠ  š Što€make€an€assessment€of€the€measures€already€implemented€with€a€view€to€future€improvements.Š ą ŠĢ141.€While€noting€that€the€State€partyššs€gender€policy€appears€to€be€formulated€primarily€in€theŠ pĄ Šframework€of€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€and€European€Union€provisions,€the€Committee€isŠ `° Šconcerned€that€the€Convention€has€not€been€given€central€importance€as€a€binding€human€rightsŠ P  Šinstrument€and€basis€for€the€elimination€of€all€forms€of€discrimination€against€women€and€theŠ @ Šadvancement€of€women.Š 0€ ŠĢ142.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€place€emphasis€on€the€Convention€as€a€binding€humanŠ ` Šrights€instrument,€and€to€view€the€Platform€for€Action€as€a€complementary€policy€document€to€theŠ P ŠConvention€in€its€efforts€to€achieve€the€goals€of€equality.€It€furthermore€urges€the€State€party€to€takeŠ š@ Šproactive€measures€to€raise€awareness€about€the€Convention.Š ą0 ŠĢ143.€While€recognizing€that€the€existence€of€numerous€federal€and€local€structures€on€theŠ Ą! Šadvancement€of€women€ensures€that€adequate€attention€is€given€to€womenššs€issues€in€the€countryŠ °"  Šand€provides€enhanced€conditions€for€gender€mainstreaming,€the€Committee€notes€that€these€variousŠ  #š! Šstructures,€based€on€different€levels€of€autonomy€and€authority,€might€create€difficulties€as€regardsŠ $ą" Šimplementation€of€the€Convention,€as€well€as€regarding€coordination,€accountability,€responsibilityŠ €%Š # Šand€uniformity€of€results€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ144.€The€Committee€recommends€to€the€State€party€that€it€ensure,€through€effective€coordination€ofŠ P( #& Šall€efforts€at€all€levels€in€all€areas,€that€uniformity€of€results€in€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionŠ @)$' Šis€achieved.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ145.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€that,€in€defining€a€broad€concept€of€equality,€the€ConstitutionŠ ,`'* Šof€Belgium€does€not€specifically€address€discrimination€on€the€basis€of€sex.€While€noting€that€theŠ -P(+ Šreport€addresses€discrimination€against€men,€the€Committee€emphasizes€that€the€obligations€in€Ō_ŌtheŠ š-@), ŠConvention€are€directed€at€the€elimination€of€discrimination€against€women.Š ° ŠĢ146.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€make€the€necessary€legislative€changes€to€deal€withŠ ą Šdiscrimination€on€the€basis€of€sex.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€frame€its€gender€policy€in€both€theŠ €Š Šelimination€of€discrimination€and€the€promotion€of€equality,€which€are€two€different€but€equallyŠ pĄ Šimportant€goals€in€the€quest€for€womenššs€empowerment.€The€Committee€recommends€that,€whenŠ ` ° Šaddressing€discrimination€against€men,€the€State€party€should€retain€its€focus€on€the€Convention,€andŠ P   Šthe€need€to€achieve€gender€equality€by€eliminating€discrimination€against€women.Š @  ŠĢ147.€While€recognizing€the€impressive€gains€achieved€in€the€participation€of€women€in€public€lifeŠ  p  Šresulting€from€the€implementation€of€the€1994€law€to€promote€balanced€representation€of€men€andŠ `  Šwomen€in€electoral€candidate€lists,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that,€in€some€cases,€the€quotas€haveŠ P  Šnot€necessarily€led€to€the€expected€results.Š š@  ŠĢ148.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€analyse€the€challenges€that€it€has€encountered€inŠ Š  Šachieving€the€goals€set€in€the€1994€law€and€to€evaluate€achievements€on€the€basis€of€final€results.€ItŠ Ą Šcalls€on€the€State€party€to€ensure€that€women€and€men€are€able€to€participate€on€an€equal€footing€inŠ ° Šthe€political€sphere.Š  š ŠĢ149.€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€significant€decline,€in€recent€years,€in€womenššsŠ €Š Šparticipation€in€the€entrance€examinations€for€the€diplomatic€service.€Š pĄ ŠĢ150.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€accelerate€its€efforts€to€increase€the€female€presence€inŠ P  Šthe€diplomatic€service.Š @ ŠĢ151.€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€high€incidence€of€violence,€including€domestic€violence,Š  p Šagainst€women€and€children€in€the€State€party.€In€particular,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€theŠ ` Šmediation€procedure€established€to€facilitate€reconciliation€between€the€offender€and€the€victimŠ P Šmight€condone€violence€by€facilitating€disadvantageous€compromise.€The€Committee€also€expressesŠ š@ Šconcern€about€the€fact€that€Belgiumššs€law€does€not€define€sexual€crime€as€a€human€rights€violationŠ ą0 Šand€classifies€sexual€abuse€as€a€crime€of€morality€rather€than€as€a€violent€crime.Š Š  ŠĢ152.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€intensify€its€efforts€to€address€the€issue€of€violenceŠ °"  Šagainst€women,€including€domestic€violence,€as€an€infringement€of€human€rights.€In€particular,€theŠ  #š! ŠCommittee€urges€the€State€Party€to€formulate€appropriate€measures€and€laws€in€conformity€with€itsŠ $ą" Šgeneral€recommendation€19€to€prevent€violence,€punish€and€rehabilitate€offenders€and€provideŠ €%Š # Šservices€for€victims.Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ153.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€sanctions€under€the€1995€law€on€human€trafficking€may€notŠ P( #& Šbe€adequate€to€deter€trafficking.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€deletion€of€the€crime€ofŠ @)$' Šprocuring€to€avoid€sanctions€for€cohabitation€may€facilitate€the€exploitation€of€prostitutes.Š 0*€%( ŠĢ154.€The€Committee€recommends€the€formulation€of€a€comprehensive€strategy€to€combat€traffickingŠ ,`'* Šin€women€and€girls,€including€within€the€territory€of€the€State€party,€which€should€include€theŠ -P(+ Šprosecution€and€punishment€of€offenders,€and€increased€international,€regional€and€bilateralŠ š-@), Šcooperation€with€countries€of€origin,€transit€and€destination€of€trafficked€women€and€girls.€ItŠ ° Šencourages€the€State€party€to€increase€its€efforts€to€combat€the€root€causes€of€trafficking€and€assistŠ  š Šits€victims€through€efforts€of€counselling€and€reintegration.€It€calls€on€the€State€party€to€ensure€thatŠ ą Štrafficked€women€and€girls€have€the€support€that€they€need€so€that€they€can€provide€testimonyŠ €Š Šagainst€their€traffickers.€It€also€calls€on€the€State€party€to€review€the€change€in€the€Law€onŠ pĄ Šprocurement€to€ensure€that€the€exploitation€of€prostitutes€is€not€facilitated.Š ` ° ŠĢ155.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€report€provides€insufficient€information€about€the€situationŠ @  Šof€migrant€and€refugee€women.Š 0 € ŠĢ156.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€provide€comprehensive€information€on€these€groupsŠ `  Šof€women€in€its€next€periodic€report.Š P  ŠĢ157.€While€recognizing€the€achievements€in€ensuring€womenššs€health,€in€particular€the€State€partyššsŠ ą0  Šcomprehensive€policy€to€combat€HIV/AIDS,€the€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€disparities€withŠ Š  Šregard€to€the€health€of€women€throughout€the€country.€It€is€furthermore€concerned€about€theŠ Ą Šphenomenon€of€teenage€pregnancy€and€voluntary€termination€of€pregnancy€among€women€as€youngŠ ° Šas€14.Š  š ŠĢ158.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€effect€better€coordination€of€its€health€policy€inŠ €Š Šconformity€with€the€Convention€and€general€recommendation€24€on€women€and€health€in€all€regionsŠ pĄ Šof€the€country.€It€further€calls€on€the€State€party€to€formulate€policies,€strategies€and€programmes€toŠ `° Šprevent€early€pregnancies,€including€education€campaigns€addressed€to€young€men€as€well€as€youngŠ P  Šwomen.Š @ ŠĢ159.€While€noting€that€the€State€party€provided€comprehensive€annexes€to€the€report,€the€CommitteeŠ  p Šexpresses€concern€about€the€insufficient€sex-Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€statistical€data€in€the€report.Š ` ŠĢ160.€The€Committee€recommends€a€comprehensive€compilation€and€analysis€of€sex-Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_ŌŠ š@ Šdata€as€relevant€under€federal€and€regional€authorities.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€include€suchŠ ą0 Šstatistics€and€data€in€the€text€of€its€next€report€rather€than€as€annexes€to€the€report.Š Š  ŠĢ161.€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€continuing€high€level€of€unemployment€among€women,Š °"  Šthe€high€number€of€women€in€part-time€and€temporary€jobs€and€the€wage€discrimination€faced€byŠ  #š! Šwomen.Š $ą" ŠĢ162.€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€State€party€to€intensify€its€measures€to€increase€womenššsŠ p&Ą!$ Šemployment,€to€make€sure€that€women€have€access€to€full-time€and€permanent€jobs€if€they€wish,€andŠ `'°"% Što€promote€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value.Š P( #& ŠĢ163.€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€discrimination€women€face€concerning€issues€of€socialŠ 0*€%( Šsecurity€and€taxation.Š  +p&) ŠĢ164.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€analyse€the€various€forms€of€discrimination€on€issuesŠ -P(+ Šof€social€security€and€taxation€faced€by€women,€to€remedy€such€discrimination€and€to€provideŠ š-@), Šinformation€in€its€next€report€on€these€areas.Š ° ŠĢ165.€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€discriminatory€nature€of€Belgian€law€on€family€names,Š ą Šwhich€does€not€allow€a€child€to€be€given€the€name€of€his/her€mother€at€his/her€birth€when€his/herŠ €Š Šparents€are€married€or€cohabiting.€Š pĄ ŠĢ166.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€modify€the€legislation€on€family€names€to€permitŠ P   Šchoices€in€transmitting€family€names€to€children.Š @  ŠĢ167.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€ratify€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Convention€and€toŠ  p  Šdeposit,€as€soon€as€possible,€its€instrument€of€acceptance€of€the€amendment€to€article€20,€paragraphŠ `  Š1,€of€the€Convention,€on€the€Committeeššs€meeting€time.Š P  ŠĢ168.€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€respond€to€the€concerns€expressed€in€theseŠ ą0  Šconcluding€comments€in€its€next€periodic€report€under€article€18€of€the€Convention.Š Š  ŠĢ169.€Taking€account€of€the€gender€dimensions€of€declarations,€programmes€and€platforms€for€actionŠ ° Šadopted€by€relevant€United€Nations€conferences,€summits€and€special€sessions€(such€as€the€specialŠ  š Šsession€of€the€General€Assembly€to€review€and€appraise€the€implementation€of€the€Programme€ofŠ ą ŠAction€of€the€International€Conference€on€Population€and€Development€(the€twenty-first€specialŠ €Š Šsession),€the€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly€on€children€(the€twenty-seventh€specialŠ pĄ Šsession),€the€World€Conference€against€Racism,€Racial€Discrimination,€Xenophobia€and€RelatedŠ `° ŠIntolerance€and€the€Second€World€Assembly€on€Ageing),€the€Committee€requests€the€State€party€toŠ P  Šinclude€information€on€the€implementation€of€aspects€of€these€documents€relating€to€relevant€articlesŠ @ Šof€the€Convention€in€its€next€report.Š 0€ ŠĢ170.€The€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€Belgium€of€the€present€concludingŠ ` Šcomments€in€order€to€make€the€people€of€Belgium,€and€particularly€government€administrators€andŠ P Špoliticians,€aware€of€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€to€ensure€de€jure€and€de€facto€equality€for€womenŠ š@ Šand€the€future€steps€required€in€that€regard.€It€also€requests€the€Government€to€continue€toŠ ą0 Šdisseminate€widely,€in€particular€to€womenššs€and€human€rights€organizations,€the€Convention€andŠ Š  Šits€Optional€Protocol,€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendations,€the€Beijing€Declaration€andŠ Ą! ŠPlatform€for€Action,€and€the€results€of€the€twenty-third€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly,Š °"  Šentitled€š šWomen€2000:€gender€equality,€development€and€peace€in€the€twenty-first€centuryšš.ŌUS.,UK.,†„ŌŌUKUS.,ŌŠ  #š! ŠŌUS.,UK.,‹ ŌÓ˜„Ó