ÿWPCE &mgc[ÓÄ´Õ'N ˆ‹™1zÄïS@OIÚ[{ÉŸ¢o›Qà}Z®¯k+µwö¬ž`+<—“ãüh3ÓùË<›ÌVŤí€ùC\)üFîVë–ÑÜCÓã÷ ʺ›å &BÊÆËOÑÇK-¼ô®·„`þ)² /“v>´mäXÝÁmÜ)Ì™<¹^¤…_å±²ãwÎ=÷>ÎUnÿ›A™mᄱ:"žü¡@w^jßÝä _<ÞO~â¨S+uãåÉÖˆ/ðèzö¨+¢ÏgÂn5–0j–¿CÚN‡Xdê’SrÁ¤¿®‚×Ó;'c4nÃô,Ñšj²Þ¸øwš—'[)…düœ­W÷¿ ã/ƒìÅÕ]â¾DÁŒ·3|pŸ‰Žß|ò‹­jNÑÓO†ÇÌA–Ž2…z©0·"ýx±¤lÑVCþêðݼâŒÿ–%¼½¤ð1O$¼áÃÒNžàY ŒF»µ‹€ÙbU¥q`î,ÒSºÐȵU Ü\£eÙ)¦ ªè÷n 6aWkÀMY÷¥j?,þFaš d‡< jeLÿÙ„‹cæ&¸O%UåfXê^IzfjôÖ+l@[å4Ðk·VáÿXá·ÕÕÜá„0ä •°Ð|µÈ #Á¨UNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,NC˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô–˜\, ½ha+ø»žk2ÔÀ¢3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÔ‡¼:»XXÔÓ  ÓBELIZEó óÔ#†X3„X»¼:@#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÌÌò òÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô€A/54/38/Rev.1€Ô_Ô(1999)ó óÔ_ÔÐ “ã ÐÌÌ31.à  àThe€Committee€considered€the€combined€initial€and€second€periodic€reports€of€BelizeÐ O Ÿ Ð(Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔBLZÔ_Ô/1„2)€at€its€432nd,€433rd€and€438th€meetings,€on€14€and€18€June€1999.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌò ò(a)à0  àIntroduction€by€the€State€partyó óÐ Z (#(# ÐÌ32.à  àIn€introducing€the€combined€initial€and€second€periodic€reports,€the€representative€notedÐ Ý-  Ðthat€the€ratification€of€the€Convention€in€1990€had€been€a€catalyst€in€bringing€changes€to€achieveÐ Æ  Ðgender€equality€in€Belize.€Since€that€date,€small€but€consistent€steps€had€been€taken€to€complyÐ ¯ÿ  Ðwith€the€articles€of€the€Convention.€She€also€noted€that€the€report€reflected€the€combined€effortÐ ˜è  Ðof€the€Government€and€non„governmental€organizations.Ð Ñ  ÐÌ33.à  àThe€representative€placed€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€the€context€of€theÐ S£ ÐState€partyððs€ethnic€diversity,€noting€that€Belizeððs€multicultural€reality€impacted€significantly€onÐ <Œ Ðthe€development€and€implementation€of€laws€and€policies€to€end€discrimination€against€women.Ð %u ÐThe€majority€of€the€population€of€Belize€lived€in€urban€areas,€and€14€per€cent€of€the€populationÐ ^ Ðwere€estimated€to€be€immigrants.€The€countryððs€fertility€rate€was€4.6€births€per€woman,€makingÐ ÷G Ðit€one€of€the€highest€in€the€region,€with€approximately€19€per€cent€of€children€born€to€teenageÐ à0 Ðmothers.€Fifty„nine€per€cent€of€children€were€born€out€of€wedlock,€reflecting€a€wide€range€ofÐ É Ðaccepted€gender€relationships,€and€requiring€policies€and€laws€that€were€effective€in€theseÐ ² Ðcultural€settings.€The€countryððs€economic€growth€rate€had€been€declining€from€a€high€of€10.9€perÐ ›ë Ðcent€between€1987€and€1990€to€1.4€per€cent€in€1996.€She€noted€that€Belize€operated€a€Church„Ð „Ô ÐState€education€system,€and€that€the€Churchððs€role€in€influencing€gender€attitudes€was€important.Ð m½ ÐÌ34.à  àIn€presenting€the€status€of€implementation€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€notedÐ ? Ðthat€the€Constitution€provided€protection€against€discriminatory€treatment€and€required€StateÐ ( x Ðpolicies€to€eliminate€economic€and€social€privilege€and€disparity€among€citizens€on€grounds€thatÐ !a Ðincluded€sex.€She€underlined€that€the€current€Government€was€the€first€to€have€a€womenððsÐ ú!J  Ðagenda.€No€national€laws€or€policies€on€affirmative€action,€temporary€special€measures€or€quotasÐ ã"3! Ðexisted€in€the€country,€and€women€continued€to€experience€unequal€access€to€opportunities€andÐ Ì#" Ðresources.€The€Government€aimed€at€achieving€a€rate€of€at€least€30€per€cent€women€in€senior„Ð µ$ # Ðlevel€positions€in€the€public€service.€The€Political€Reform€Commission€was€expected€to€submitÐ ž%î $ Ðrecommendations€on€political€reform€in€Belize€by€the€end€of€the€year,€including€on€affirmativeÐ ‡&×!% Ðaction€and€special€temporary€measures.Ð p'À"& ÐÌ35.à  àThe€representative€drew€attention€to€the€National€Strategic€Plan€on€Gender€Equity€andÐ B)’$( ÐEquality,€which€had€been€developed€to€promote€implementation€of€the€GovernmentððsÐ +*{%) Ðcommitments€under€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€Platform€for€Action.€It€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€on€five€priorityÐ +d&* Ðareas:€family€violence;€employment;€health;€decision„making;€and€poverty.€Belize€would€soonÐ ý+M'+ Ðadopt€the€Commonwealth€gender€management€system,€as€a€major€component€of€the€Plan.€AÐ æ,6(, Ðdomestic€violence€task€force€had€been€established€and€was€developing€a€national€plan€to€addressÐ Ï-)- ÐÔ_Ôdomestic€violence€and€family€violence€in€an€integrated€and€coordinated€manner.€Legislation€onÐ ° Ðsexual€harassment€and€domestic€violence€existed€and€a€legislative€bill€on€marital€rape€was€beingÐ ™é Ðintroduced€in€the€House€of€Representatives.€A€plan€of€action€had€been€developed€for€institutingÐ ‚Ò Ðthe€gender€management€system€in€the€health€sector.€She€noted€that€there€was€growing€concernÐ k» Ðabout€the€level€of€prostitution€in€the€light€of€the€fact€that€Belize€had€the€highest€rate€ofÐ T¤ Ðtransmission€of€the€humanimmunodeficiency€virus€(HIV)€and€acquired€immunodeficiencyÐ =  Ðsyndrome€(AIDS)€in€Central€America.Ð & v ÐÌ36.à  àWhile€women€comprised€52€per€cent€of€registered€voters,€and€increasingly€wereÐ ø H Ðcandidates€for€public€office,€womenððs€representation€at€the€parliamentary€level€and€localÐ á 1  Ðgovernment€level€remained€low.€For€example,€out€of€29€elected€members€of€the€House€ofÐ Ê   ÐRepresentatives,€two€were€women,€and€out€of€58€municipal€representatives,€eight€were€women.Ð ³  ÐThe€number€of€women€in€appointed€positions€was€also€below€that€of€men.€The€NationalÐ œì  ÐWomenððs€Commission€had€conducted€a€study€on€opportunities€for€womenððs€politicalÐ …Õ  Ðparticipation,€and€recommendations€would€be€submitted€to€the€Cabinet€and€to€otherÐ n¾  Ðgovernmental€and€non„governmental€bodies.Ð W§  ÐÌ37.à  àEducation€in€Belize€was€mandatory€at€the€primary€level€for€children€between€the€ages€ofÐ )y Ð5€and€14.€While€children€under€14€showed€a€higher€male€enrolment€rate€(70.1€per€cent)€thanÐ b Ðfemale€(67.2€per€cent),€the€female€transition€rate€from€primary€to€secondary€school€was,€inÐ ûK Ðgeneral,€higher€(90€per€cent)€than€for€male€students€(78.8€per€cent).€This€pattern€was€reversed€inÐ ä4 Ðrural€areas,€and€regional€differences€were€noted.€More€female€students€enrolled€in€tertiaryÐ Í Ðeducation,€with€65€per€cent€of€the€students€at€the€University€College€of€Belize€being€women.€ItÐ ¶ Ðwas€noted€that€pregnancy€was€a€major€cause€of€girls€discontinuing€their€education.€WithÐ Ÿï Ðindividual€schools€under€the€Church„State€system€of€education€free€to€expel€girls€from€schoolÐ ˆØ Ðbecause€of€pregnancy,€the€Government€recognized€the€need€to€develop€a€national€policy€onÐ qÁ Ðteenage€pregnancy.Ð Zª ÐÌ38.à  àWhile€there€were€no€discriminatory€labour€laws,€discriminatory€attitudes€persisted,Ð ,| Ðresulting€in€a€female€workforce€that€was€better€educated€than€the€male€workforce€but€earned€lessÐ e Ðon€average.€Womenððs€participation€in€the€labour€force€was€lower€than€menððs,€and€women€wereÐ þN Ðconcentrated€in€lower„paying€jobs,€suffered€twice€the€unemployment€rate€of€men€and€were€moreÐ ç 7 Ðlikely€to€experience€long„term€unemployment.€Different€minimum€wage€regulations€applied€toÐ Ð!   Ðdifferent€types€of€jobs,€and€certain€types€of€female„dominated€work€were€not€covered€byÐ ¹" ! Ðminimum€wage€regulations.€Efforts€were€under€way€to€improve€the€employment€situation€ofÐ ¢#ò" Ðwomen,€including€through€training€in€non„traditional€jobs.€In€contravention€of€existing€labourÐ ‹$Û# Ðregulations,€schools€operating€under€the€Church„State€system€were€allowed€to€dismiss€unwedÐ t%Ä $ Ðpregnant€women€before€they€qualified€for€maternity€leave.€Ð ]&­!% ÐÌ39.à  àThe€representative€noted€that€teenage€pregnancy€was€high,€with€23€per€cent€of€birthsÐ /(#' Ðhaving€been€to€women€under€19€years€of€age.€Abortion€was€illegal€in€Belize,€and€while€the€useÐ )h$( Ðof€contraception€was€not€prohibited,€data€suggested€that€the€unmet€need€for€contraception€wasÐ *Q%) Ðhigh.€Womenððs€HIV/AIDS€infection€rate€was€higher€than€menððs,€and€women€affected€by€AIDSÐ ê*:&* Ðwere€a€major€target€group€of€the€awareness€and€prevention€programmes€of€the€GovernmentððsÐ Ó+#'+ ÐAIDS€task€force.Ð ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- Ð40.à  àBelize€had€a€high€number€of€consensual€and€common„€law€unions€as€opposed€to€maritalÐ ° Ðunions,€but€de€facto€spouses€could€not€claim€maintenance€after€the€breakup€of€a€relationship,€andÐ ™é Ðtheir€claims€to€family€property€were€limited,€including€on€the€death€of€the€de€facto€spouse.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ41.à  àThe€representative€noted€that€sexual€harassment,€access€to€continuing€education€forÐ T¤ Ðyoung€mothers,€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value,€gender„neutral€teaching€materials€and€healthÐ =  Ðservices€for€women€required€greater€effort.€Increased€compliance€with€existing€laws€and€policiesÐ & v Ðwas€also€required€in€a€number€of€areas,€including€domestic€violence€and€sexual€offences.€TheÐ  _ Ðvariety€of€family€types€and€structures€in€Belize€required€that€all€segments€of€society€takeÐ ø H Ðresponsibility€for€narrowing€the€gap€in€family€laws€and€practice.€Concluding€the€presentation,Ð á 1  Ðthe€representative€indicated€that€the€reporting€process€had€enabled€the€State€party€to€identifyÐ Ê   Ðareas€of€priority€action€to€eliminate€all€forms€of€discrimination€against€women.Ð ³  ÐÌò ò(b)à0  àConcluding€comments€of€the€Committeeó óÐ…Õ (#(# ÐÌò òIntroductionó óÐ X¨  ÐÌ42.à  àThe€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€Government€of€Belize€for€ratifying€theÐ +{ ÐConvention€in€1990€without€reservations,€and€for€submitting€its€initial€and€second€periodicÐ d Ðreports,€as€well€as€supplemental€information€updating€the€reports€to€1999.€It€commends€theÐ ýM ÐGovernment€for€its€oral€presentation,€and€for€the€comprehensive€replies€to€the€CommitteeððsÐ æ6 Ðquestions.€It€appreciates€the€open€manner€in€which€the€report€was€prepared€and€presented,€and€inÐ Ï Ðparticular€the€consultative€process€with€non„governmental€and€other€organizations€during€theÐ ¸ Ðpreparation€of€the€report.Ð ¡ñ ÐÌ43.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€of€Belize€for€having€sent€a€large€delegation,Ð sà Ðheaded€by€the€Minister€of€Human€Development,€Women€and€Youth,€and€including€the€FirstÐ \¬ ÐLady€as€President€of€the€National€Womenððs€Commission,€and€a€representative€of€the€WomenððsÐ E• ÐIssues€Network.€Their€participation€in€presenting€the€report€and€in€replying€to€the€CommitteeððsÐ .~ Ðquestions€enhanced€the€quality€of€the€constructive€dialogue€between€the€State€party€and€theÐ g ÐCommittee.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€report€refers€to€steps€taken€by€the€Government€toÐ  P Ðimplement€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action.Ð é 9 ÐÌò òPositive€aspectsó óÐ »" ! ÐÌ44.à  àThe€Committee€notes€that€the€Constitution€of€Belize€contains,€in€its€chapter€on€theÐ Ž$Þ# Ðprotection€of€the€fundamental€rights€and€freedoms,€protection€against€discriminatory€treatmentÐ w%Ç $ Ðon€the€basis€of€sex.€It€commends€the€Government€on€its€commitment€to€achieving€equality€forÐ `&°!% Ðwomen€and€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention,€as€reflected€in€its€Womenððs€Agenda€1998Ð I'™"& Ðon€the€legal,€socio„political€and€economic€status€of€women.€It€welcomes€the€Governmentððs€targetÐ 2(‚#' Ðof€realizing€at€least€30€per€cent€women€in€the€top€positions€of€the€civil€service.€Ð )k$( ÐÌ45.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€fact€that€responsibility€for€womenððs€equality€issues€restsÐ í*=&* Ðwith€a€Cabinet€Minister.€It€welcomes€the€appointment€of€the€National€Womenððs€Commission,€anÐ Ö+&'+ Ðadvisory€body€to€the€Government€Minister€responsible€for€women,€as€the€main€mechanism€forÐ ¿,(, Ðmonitoring€governmental€compliance€with€the€Convention.€It€also€commends€the€cooperationÐ ¨-ø(- Ðbetween€governmental€machinery€and€non„governmental€organizations€in€the€implementation€ofÐ ° Ðthe€Convention.Ð ™é ÐÌ46.à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€legislative€and€policy€measures€already€undertaken,€as€wellÐ k» Ðas€those€that€are€being€planned€to€translate€its€commitment€to€gender€equality€into€practice.€ItÐ T¤ Ðwelcomes€the€preparation€of€the€National€Strategic€Plan€on€Gender€Equity€and€Equality€toÐ =  Ðimplement€the€Governmentððs€commitments€under€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action.€It€alsoÐ & v Ðwelcomes€the€Domestic€Violence€Act€(1993),€the€Protection€from€Sexual€Harassment€Act€(1996)Ð  _ Ðand€the€Families€and€Childrenððs€Act€(1998).€It€notes€with€appreciation€the€establishment€of€aÐ ø H Ðdomestic€violence€task€force,€and€the€Governmentððs€ongoing€development€of€a€multisectoralÐ á 1  Ðnational€family€violence€plan.Ð Ê   ÐÌ47.à  àThe€Committee€congratulates€the€Government€on€the€high€level€of€educationalÐ œì  Ðachievement€by€girls€and€women,€as€reflected€in€the€female€transition€rate€from€primary€toÐ …Õ  Ðsecondary€school,€and€in€the€high€enrolment€rate€of€women€(65€per€cent)€at€the€UniversityÐ n¾  ÐCollege€of€Belize.Ð W§  ÐÌò òFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€Conventionó óÐ )y ÐÌ48.à  àThe€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€Church„State€system€of€education€perpetuates€anÐ üL Ðintermingling€of€the€secular€and€religious€spheres,€which€is€a€serious€impediment€to€the€fullÐ å5 Ðimplementation€of€the€Convention.€The€consequences€of€this€system€seriously€affect€girlsðð€andÐ Î Ðwomenððs€right€to€education€and€to€health,€including€reproductive€health,€protected€under€theÐ · ÐConvention.Ð  ð ÐÌ49.à  àThe€Committee€notes€that€the€multi„ethnic€and€multicultural€character€of€the€populationÐ r Ðof€Belize€and€the€influence€of€religion€in€public€affairs€represent€a€particular€challenge€to€theÐ [« ÐGovernment€in€the€adoption€and€implementation€of€legislation€for€the€achievement€of€equalityÐ D” Ðfor€all€women€in€Belize,€and€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.Ð -} ÐÌò òPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsó óÐ ÿO ÐÌ50.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€lack€of€legislation€implementing€the€constitutionalÐ Ò!"  Ðprovision€of€protection€against€discrimination€into€the€civil€code.€In€particular,€the€Committee€isÐ »" ! Ðconcerned€that€article€1€of€the€Convention,€providing€a€definition€of€discrimination,€coveringÐ ¤#ô" Ðboth€direct€and€indirect€discrimination€by€public€as€well€as€private€actors,€is€not€fully€reflected€inÐ $Ý# Ðlegislation.€Ð v%Æ $ ÐÌ51.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€ensure€that€the€Conventionððs€definition€ofÐ H'˜"& Ðdiscrimination€is€fully€incorporated€in€Belizeððs€legislation,€and€in€particular€to€ensure€thatÐ 1(#' Ðwomen€have€effective€remedies€against€indirect€discrimination€and€discrimination€by€non„StateÐ )j$( Ðactors.€Ð *S%) ÐÌ52.à  àThe€Committee€is€seriously€concerned€about€the€consequences€of€the€Church„StateÐ Õ+%'+ Ðsystem€of€education€on€girlsðð€and€young€womenððs€right€to€education.€In€this€regard,€theÐ ¾,(, ÐCommittee€is€concerned€that€schools€are€free€to€expel€girls€from€school€because€of€pregnancy,Ð §-÷(- Ðand€that€only€a€few€secondary€schools€allow€girls€to€continue€their€education€after€pregnancy.Ð ° ÐThe€Committee€notes€that€this€violates€not€only€the€Convention€but€also€the€Constitution€ofÐ ™é ÐBelize.€The€Committee€is€further€concerned€that€under€the€same€system,€schools€are€allowed€toÐ ‚Ò Ðdismiss€unwed€teachers€who€become€pregnant.€The€Committee€considers€this€also€to€be€inÐ k» Ðviolation€of€the€Convention.€While€noting€with€appreciation€the€Ministerððs€commitment,Ð T¤ Ðexpressed€during€the€dialogue,€to€work€for€change€in€this€regard,€the€Committee€notes€theÐ =  Ðabsence€of€any€kind€of€policy€or€legislative€initiative€to€reverse€this€situation.Ð & v ÐÌ53.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€place€the€highest€priority€on€eliminatingÐ ø H Ðdiscrimination€against€women€and€girls€in€education€because€of€pregnancy,€through€bothÐ á 1  Ðlegislative€provisions€and€adequate€policy€measures.€It€calls€on€the€Government€to€strengthen€theÐ Ê   Ðrole€of€the€National€Council€of€Education€in€protecting€girlsðð€and€teachersðð€rights€in€education.€ItÐ ³  Ðurges€the€Government€to€formulate€needed€policy€and€legislative€measures€to€ensure€de€factoÐ œì  Ðadherence€to€articles€10,€11€and€12€of€the€Convention.Ð …Õ  ÐÌ54.à  àWhile€welcoming€the€Governmentððs€commitment€to€establishing€a€single€minimumÐ W§  Ðwage,€the€Committee€expresses€its€concern€that€female„dominated€jobs€currently€have€aÐ @ Ðsubstantially€lower€minimum€wage€than€jobs€held€predominantly€by€men.€The€Committee€is€alsoÐ )y Ðconcerned€about€the€economic€situation€of€women€and,€especially,€their€low€and€falling€labourÐ b Ðforce€participation€rate,€which€is€indicative€of€the€denial€of€equal€opportunities€to€women€in€theÐ ûK Ðlabour€force.€Sixty€per€cent€of€women€are€not€in€the€labour€force,€and€the€unemployment€rate€ofÐ ä4 Ðwomen€is€double€that€of€men.€The€lack€of€childcare€increases€womenððs€disadvantage€in€theÐ Í Ðlabour€market.Ð ¶ ÐÌ55.à  àThe€Committee€encourages€the€Government€to€implement€a€single€minimum€wage.€ItÐ ˆØ Ðrecommends€that€a€national€childcare€policy€be€developed€to€support€working€mothers.€It€alsoÐ qÁ Ðurges€the€Government€to€assess€the€reasons€for€womenððs€lower€earnings,€and€for€their€voluntaryÐ Zª Ðdeparture€from€the€labour€market€with€a€view€to€adopting€adequate€measures€to€reverse€thisÐ C“ Ðtrend.€The€Committee€also€encourages€the€Government€to€intensify€its€programmes€for€womenÐ ,| Ðentrepreneurs,€including€access€to€loans,€credits€and€skill€development,€as€well€as€to€ensure€thatÐ e Ðeducational€and€vocational€training€opportunities€for€girls€include€non„traditional€and€emergingÐ þN Ðareas€of€the€economy,€such€as€the€information€and€communications€field.€The€Committee€alsoÐ ç 7 Ðinvites€the€Government€to€ensure€that€women€can€fully€exercise€their€right€to€unionize,€and€thatÐ Ð!   Ðall€applicable€legislation€in€this€regard€is€enforced,€including€in€special€economic€zones.€TheÐ ¹" ! ÐCommittee€urges€the€Ministry€of€Womenððs€Affairs€to€initiate€dialogue€with€the€Ministry€ofÐ ¢#ò" ÐLabour,€with€a€view€to€ensuring€proper€implementation€and€monitoring€of€existing€labour€laws,Ð ‹$Û# Ðto€enable€women€to€benefit€from€the€employment€protection€found€in€these€laws.Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌ56.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€high€incidence€of€teenage€pregnancy,€with€23€per€centÐ F'–"& Ðof€births€in€1998€being€to€women€under€19€years€of€age,€which,€in€combination€with€theÐ /(#' Ðprevention€of€teenage€mothers€from€pursuing€their€education,€is€predestined€to€reduce€womenððsÐ )h$( Ðeconomic€opportunities€and€thus€increase€their€level€of€poverty.€The€fact€that€60€per€cent€ofÐ *Q%) Ðbirths€to€young€women€are€unplanned€is€indicative€of€the€lack€of€adequate€family€planningÐ ê*:&* Ðinformation€and€contraceptive€use.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€restrictive€abortionÐ Ó+#'+ Ðlaws€in€place€in€the€State€party.€It€is€concerned€that,€in€1998,€so„called€ð ðunspecified€abortionsððÐ ¼, (, Ð(abortions€initiated€outside€the€formal€health€sector)€were€the€fifth€cause€of€hospitalization,€andÐ ¥-õ(- Ðhospitals€discriminate€against€these€women€in€the€provision€of€services€and€care.€In€this€regard,Ð ° Ðthe€Committee€notes€that€the€level€of€maternal€mortality€due€to€clandestine€abortions€mayÐ ™é Ðindicate€that€the€Government€does€not€fully€implement€its€obligations€to€respect€the€right€to€lifeÐ ‚Ò Ðof€its€women€citizens.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that,€while€there€are€no€legal€barriers,€theÐ k» Ðneed€for€contraception€remains€unmet.Ð T¤ ÐÌ57.à  àThe€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€revise€its€abortion€laws,€in€particular€sinceÐ & v Ðaccording€to€the€information,€existing€legislation€penalizing€abortion€is€not€strictly€enforced.€ItÐ  _ Ðalso€urges€the€Government€to€include€age„appropriate€sex€education€in€school€curricula€and€toÐ ø H Ðconduct€awareness€campaigns€so€as€to€reduce€teenage€pregnancy€rates€and€to€increase€girlsðð€andÐ á 1  Ðwomenððs€life€choices.€The€Committee€also€urges€the€Government€to€implement€programmes€andÐ Ê   Ðpolicies€aiming€to€increase€knowledge€about,€and€availability€of,€various€types€of€contraceptives,Ð ³  Ðwith€the€understanding€that€family€planning€is€a€joint€responsibility€of€both€partners.€Ð œì  ÐÌ58.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€high€incidence€of€HIV/AIDS€infection€in€the€country.€Ð n¾  ÐÌ59.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€implement€awareness„raisingÐ @ Ðprogrammes€and€policies€about€the€prevention€of€HIV/AIDS€and€encourage€the€use€of€condoms.Ð )y ÐÌ60.à  àThe€Committee€invites€the€Government€to€assess€the€mental€health€status€of€women€inÐ ûK ÐBelize,€and€to€include€information€thereon€in€its€next€report.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ61.à  àNoting€the€recent€revision€of€the€Criminal€Code€with€regard€to€repealing€the€need€forÐ ¶ Ðcorroborating€evidence€in€sexual€offence€cases,€including€rape,€the€Committee€remainsÐ Ÿï Ðconcerned€that€the€existing€provision€demands€higher€evidentiary€requirements€in€these€casesÐ ˆØ Ðthan€for€other€crimes.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€this€constitutes€a€serious€impediment€toÐ qÁ Ðwomen€seeking€justice€in€sexual€offence€cases,€and€thus€to€the€elimination€of€discrimination.Ð Zª ÐÌ62.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Criminal€Code€be€kept€under€review€with€a€view€toÐ ,| Ðplacing€sexual€offence€and€violence€on€a€par€with€other€criminal€offences.€It€also€urges€theÐ e ÐGovernment€to€ensure€that€investigation€and€prosecution€of€rape€and€sexual€offence€cases€areÐ þN Ðconducted€as€rigorously€as€in€other€criminal€cases.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€toÐ ç 7 Ðseek,€as€a€priority,€the€repeal€in€the€Criminal€Code€of€the€marital€immunity€relating€to€rape.Ð Ð!   ÐÌ63.à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€differential€treatment€of€married,€common„law,€andÐ ¢#ò" Ðð ðvisitingðð€spouses€under€common€law€with€regard€to€the€distribution€of€matrimonial€propertyÐ ‹$Û# Ðfollowing€the€break„up€of€the€relationship.Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌ64.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€a€revision€of€this€situation,€taking€into€account€the€examplesÐ F'–"& Ðof€civil€law€systems€and€community€of€matrimonial€property€approaches.€Ð /(#' ÐÌ65.à  àThe€Committee€notes€a€lack€of€data€disaggregated€by€sex€and€age,€including€a€breakdownÐ *Q%) Ðby€urban€and€rural€categories,€on€health€issues,€illiteracy€rates€and€the€situation€of€immigrantÐ ê*:&* Ðwomen.Ð Ó+#'+ ÐÌ66.à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€improve€data€collection€through€itsÐ ¥-õ(- Ðcensus€to€create€a€better€basis€for€gender„sensitive€policy„making,€and€to€that€end€that€it€seekÐ ° Ðtechnical€and€financial€support€from€international€agencies.Ð ™é ÐÌ67.à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€the€introduction€of€the€CommonwealthÐ k» Ðgender€management€system€to€ensure€that€a€gender€perspective€is€reflected€in€all€governmentalÐ T¤ Ðpolicies€and€programmes,€and€requests€that€an€assessment€of€progress€made€in€this€regard€beÐ =  Ðincluded€in€the€next€report.Ð & v ÐÌ68.à  àThe€Committee€requests€that€the€Government€respond€in€its€next€periodic€report€to€theÐ ø H Ðspecific€issues€raised€in€these€concluding€comments.Ð á 1  ÐÌ69.à  àThe€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€Belize€of€the€present€concludingÐ ³  Ðcomments,€in€order€to€make€the€people€of€Belize,€and€particularly€government€administrators€andÐ œì  Ðpoliticians,€aware€of€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€to€ensure€òòde€jureóó€and€de€facto€equality€forÐ …Õ  Ðwomen€and€the€further€steps€that€are€required€in€that€regard.€It€also€requests€the€Government€toÐ n¾  Ðcontinue€to€disseminate€widely,€and€in€particular,€to€womenððs€and€human€rights€organizations,Ð W§  Ðthe€Convention,€the€Committeeððs€general€recommendations€and€the€Beijing€Declaration€andÐ @ ÐPlatform€for€Action.Ð )y Ð