’WPCZ  yE\ cł“—x9)½Ł”ÆFŖĢ“p@tł¶ó¹X[_8‘[ŻU•JB¬Pņ©ŽgVf`WkhO:‡Õڊz€ēAPxfs_±†Āןƒ­‰”L8<’’ĶŚĻ+ūt3EĪZU¬cō?gõLĘżŌŋDå#üń8ådRdKÆÓļŁŁšŌē“H"ŠŒC, ¹[`’Ė1ųhēThļ0 Jųb`ŃaW4A²MQ½+Aäq„®4Q*Š"?W3“‡ bļ§oĻķ’®7½ž%†’z„±g:³¾õūø½ęĖ­†?%½N ”°t3m&*i؁1[>ˆ÷)‹<ŹjcOt8 ą0ēéʗw½’årA•łćĖ劐‰n{Ļ ” w“Ä`źĘ­0B–Ļįj…PÉpK¤ķZ÷Ź&@ œīi¦“īN».“V0ż„~P½˜<6Uj0Ĉ”ŌįÜ›!ÄŌ“É"n’r1:LĢŚŹŽ>ąŽāp gmy~BÄ9#¶ūlų9p*@Yv”—āYQ”Ą@lāĒF’€·“öŅģ`Ō¬Ŗ’ü µdø“K’žą ⇆’“”› ·PīHņIū;I£Ģ½„†ģ”S:mņPŠœ˜’¶ Ė™żģ¢>`.#Į„UNE %“ 0:™^ Ówß4ć÷ m 0¼ 0Ū˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$””ŌCEUS.,Ō‰ Ō. !½¾.W_A_Šł”3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ2R8’’0_ H_2/3Ō‡ōōōŌŌ#iiŌņ ņŌ#ffŌÓÓÓ Č Óó óŌ#iiŌÓÓŌ‡ōōōŌ<‘² ’’:__Single TxtÓ €dÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓD:  Ø ?ĢXļ|“ņ}“©DÓÓÓÓ Č ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÓqgć!Xćnł„ š % °;ĘQÜgņ}“©4!æ"qÓÓÓÓ €dÓŻ ƒö\!ŻŌCEUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓCONGOŠ ° ŠÓ@ÓĢĢŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō,€A/58/38€part€I€(2003)ó óŠ €Š ŠĢÓ  Ó142.€€The€Committee€considered€the€combined€initial,€second,€third,€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€reportŠ ` ° Šof€the€Congo€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/COG/1„5€and€Add.1)€at€its€606th€and€607th€meetings,€on€27€and€29Š P   ŠJanuary€2003€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.606€and€607).Š @  ŠĢņņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyóóŠ  p  ŠĢ143.€€In€introducing€the€report,€the€representative€of€the€Congo€stated€that,€since€the€ratification€ofŠ P  Šthe€Convention€in€1982,€much€had€been€accomplished€in€respect€of€the€advancement€of€women,Š š@  Šalthough€economic€constraints€and€the€social€and€political€conflicts€that€had€been€affecting€theŠ ą0  Šcountry€since€1993€had€placed€women€in€a€vulnerable€situation.€The€present€Governmentššs€policyŠ Š  Šhad€made€it€possible€to€re„establish€confidence€and€trust€in€the€minds€of€Congolese€women.Š Ą ŠĢ144.€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€officials€in€the€Department€for€theŠ  š ŠAdvancement€of€Women,€representatives€of€the€administration,€non„governmental€organizations,Š ą Šassociations€and€individuals€had€been€involved€in€the€drafting€of€the€report,€which€had€beenŠ €Š Špresented€to€the€public€and€adopted€by€the€Government.€The€Government€adhered€to€the€principlesŠ pĄ Šof€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€and€the€Dakar€Plan€of€Action€to€ensure€the€effective€advancementŠ `° Šof€women€and€girls.€Womenššs€rights,€violence€against€women,€poverty€eradication,€health€andŠ P  Šenvironment€were€identified€as€priority€areas€in€the€Governmentššs€policy€for€the€advancement€ofŠ @ Šwomen€and€its€action€plan€adopted€in€1999.Š 0€ ŠĢ145.€€The€legal€system€remained€dualistic.€Customary€law€existed€alongside€modern€law€and,€thanksŠ ` Što€the€efforts€of€the€Government,€provisions€were€in€place€to€ensure€the€effective€application€of€theŠ P Šlatter.€The€country€had€known€various€political€regimes€and€now€had€a€multiparty€system.€The€newŠ š@ ŠConstitution€of€20€January€2002€upheld€the€tradition€of€the€countryššs€earlier€constitutions€in€clearlyŠ ą0 Šrecognizing€equality€between€men€and€women€in€all€areas€of€life.€All€citizens€were€equal€before€theŠ Š  Šlaw€and€any€discrimination€based€on€origin,€social€or€material€circumstances,€racial,€ethnic€orŠ Ą! Šdepartmental€affiliation,€gender,€education,€language,€religion,€philosophy€or€place€of€residence€wasŠ °"  Šprohibited.€Furthermore,€the€law€provided€for€womenššs€representation€in€all€political,€elective€andŠ  #š! Šadministrative€functions.€Š $ą" ŠĢ146.€€The€Congo€had€ratified€several€international€human€rights€treaties€and€recognized€the€primacyŠ p&Ą!$ Šof€international€public€law.€Although,€in€principle,€gender€equality€was€ensured,€some€de€jure€andŠ `'°"% Šde€facto€discrimination€still€existed.€For€example,€under€the€Family€Code,€men€were€heads€of€theŠ P( #& Šfamily€and€decided€on€the€choice€of€the€conjugal€domicile€in€case€of€disagreement€between€theŠ @)$' Šspouses.€Furthermore,€husbands€could€prohibit€their€wives€from€performing€certain€jobs€in€theŠ 0*€%( Šinterest€of€the€family.€There€had€been€progress,€but€inequality€persisted€in€matters€of€retrogradeŠ  +p&) Štaboos€and€customs,€such€as€widow€rites€and€Ō_ŌlevirateŌ_Ō.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ147.€€The€representative€indicated€that€there€had€been€an€evolution€in€the€national€machinery€for€theŠ š-@), Šadvancement€of€women.€The€Secretariat€of€State€within€the€Ministry€of€Agriculture,€Rearing,Š ° ŠFisheries€and€the€Advancement€of€Women€was€responsible€for€the€advancement€of€women€and€theŠ  š Šintegration€of€women€into€development.€Focal€points€had€been€set€up€within€various€departmentalŠ ą Šoffices,€adding€a€gender€dimension€to€the€public€administration.€The€ministerial€departmentŠ €Š Šresponsible€for€womenššs€issues,€set€up€in€1992,€had€worked€very€closely€with€some€450€non„Š pĄ Šgovernmental€organizations€and€associations.€A€number€of€activities€had€been€carried€out,€includingŠ ` ° Šthe€holding€of€a€general€conference€on€women€in€2001,€which€enabled€some€1,000€CongoleseŠ P   Šwomen€of€all€political€affiliations€and€from€all€regions€to€examine€their€commonalities€and€theirŠ @  Špolitical,€economic€and€Ō_ŌsocioculturalŌ_Ō€concerns.€Another€achievement€was€the€creation€of€a€centreŠ 0 € Šfor€research,€information€and€documentation€on€women,€called€š šThe€House€of€Womenšš.Š  p  ŠĢ148.€€Stereotyping€was€a€source€of€concern€to€both€the€Government€and€non„governmentalŠ P  Šorganizations€which€endeavoured€to€empower€women€and€make€them€aware€of€their€rights.€SexistŠ š@  Šstereotypes€existed€within€the€family,€in€the€media€and€in€the€workplace.€Certain€stereotyping€couldŠ ą0  Šalso€be€seen€in€school€textbooks€that€tended€to€reproduce€the€sexual€division€of€work.€The€femaleŠ Š  Šilliteracy€rate€was€very€high.€Women€often€fell€victim€to€sexual€harassment,€and€the€media,€whichŠ Ą Šwas€male„dominated,€sometimes€broadcast€negative€images€of€women.Š ° ŠĢ149.€€Women€were€assured€equal€access€to€high„level€posts€under€the€Constitution€and€electoral€law.Š ą ŠThe€representative€indicated€that€there€had€been€an€increasing€number€of€women€candidates€inŠ €Š Švarious€elections€as€a€result€of€awareness„raising€campaigns.€Of€the€1,205€women€participating€inŠ pĄ Šlegislative,€senatorial€and€local€elections,€89€women€had€been€elected.€Women€made€up€9.3€per€centŠ `° Šof€the€National€Assembly€and€15€per€cent€of€the€Senate€and€their€percentage€at€the€local€level€stoodŠ P  Šat€8.55€per€cent.€There€were€no€women€ambassadors.€However,€there€were€five€women€in€the€newŠ @ ŠGovernment€team.€While€equality€between€women€and€men€was€provided€for€in€legislation€in€theŠ 0€ Šareas€of€access€to€employment,€promotion€and€pay,€women€generally€held€middle„level€jobs€becauseŠ  p Šof€the€inadequacy€of€their€qualifications.€Womenššs€share€in€agricultural€labour,€such€as€foodŠ ` Šproduction,€traditional€processing€of€agricultural€products€and€marketing€of€products,€was€high.Š P ŠĢ150.€€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€that,€according€to€Congolese€legislation,€womenŠ ą0 Šhad€the€right€to€keep€their€nationality€upon€marriage€and€in€cases€where€their€husbands€changedŠ Š  Šnationality.€Legislation€gave€girls€and€boys€equal€access€to€education,€and€public€schooling€was€freeŠ Ą! Šand€mandatory€until€the€age€of€16.€The€proportion€of€girls€in€primary€schools€was€almost€equal€toŠ °"  Šthat€of€boys.€The€attendance€of€girls€in€secondary€schools€was€low€because€of€poverty€and€earlyŠ  #š! Špregnancies.€Girls€generally€did€not€enrol€in€technical€institutions.€At€the€level€of€higher€education,Š $ą" Šgirls€represented€18.6€per€cent€of€students€at€Ō_ŌMarienŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌNgouabiŌ_Ō€University.€Their€share€in€scientificŠ €%Š # Šcourses€was€low,€with€11€per€cent€enrolled€in€natural€sciences,€18€per€cent€in€economics€and€21€perŠ p&Ą!$ Šcent€in€medicine.Š `'°"% ŠĢ151.€The€representative€said€that€an€awareness„raising€campaign€had€been€launched€coveringŠ @)$' Šreproductive€health,€including€sexual€health,€family€planning,€HIV/AIDS€and€sexually€transmittedŠ 0*€%( Šinfections.€The€National€Health€Development€Plan,€Act€No.€14„92€of€29€April€1992,€served€as€theŠ  +p&) Šframework€for€the€national€policy€in€the€field€of€health,€with€women€and€children€occupying€aŠ ,`'* Šprivileged€place.€The€maternal€mortality€came€to€890€per€100,000€live€births€and€the€fertility€indexŠ -P(+ Šstood€at€6.3€children€per€woman.€The€prevalence€of€contraception€was€about€3€per€cent.€LegislationŠ š-@), Šdating€from€1920€prohibited€abortion€and€propaganda€relating€to€contraception.€Therefore,€deathsŠ ° Šwere€caused€by€clandestine€abortions.€A€bill€was€being€discussed€in€Parliament€to€repeal€thatŠ  š Šlegislation€on€abortion.Š ą ŠĢ152.€€Women€suffered€from€various€forms€of€violence,€including€domestic€violence,€but€they€did€notŠ pĄ Šdare€to€complain.€The€Government,€non„governmental€associations€and€institutions,€such€as€theŠ ` ° ŠInternational€Relief€Committee,€the€Red€Cross,€the€Congolese€Association€for€Family€Well„being,Š P   Šthe€Association€of€Women€Lawyers€of€Congo,€and€Women€of€Hope,€had€carried€out€awareness„Š @  Šraising€campaigns€and€assisted€in€providing€material,€legal,€medical€and€psychological€services.€TheŠ 0 € ŠGovernment€had€also€set€up€six€health€centres€run€by€psychologists,€sociologists,€doctors€andŠ  p  Šmidwives€for€victims€of€sexual€violence.Š `  ŠĢ153.€€In€concluding,€the€representative€stated€that€the€situation€of€women€in€the€Congo€had€improvedŠ š@  Šmarkedly.€The€activities€of€the€Department€for€the€Advancement€of€Women,€carried€out€inŠ ą0  Špartnership€with€various€civil€society€groups,€including€non„governmental€organizations,€wereŠ Š  Šcontinuing€to€bear€fruit.€Women€in€the€country€were€becoming€increasingly€mobilized€and€aware.Š Ą ŠNonetheless,€much€still€remained€to€be€done.Š ° ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ ą ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ pĄ ŠĢ154.€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€its€combined€initial,€second,€third,€fourth€andŠ P  Šfifth€periodic€report,€which,€although€long€overdue,€was€in€accordance€with€the€CommitteeššsŠ @ Šguidelines€for€the€preparation€of€reports.€It€also€commends€the€State€party€for€the€oral€presentationŠ 0€ Šmade€by€the€delegation€and€its€written€replies€to€questions€posed€by€the€Committee€that€sought€toŠ  p Šclarify€the€current€situation€of€women€in€the€Congo,€and€provided€additional€information€on€theŠ ` Šimplementation€of€the€Convention.Š P ŠĢ155.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€frank€responses€provided€by€the€delegation€to€its€questions€andŠ ą0 Šthe€constructive€dialogue€that€took€place€between€the€delegation€and€the€members€of€the€Committee.Š Š  ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ °"  ŠĢ156.€€The€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€having€initiated€a€three„year€plan€of€action€forŠ $ą" Šthe€advancement€of€women€and€for€initiating€the€review€and€reform€of€domestic€legislation€that€isŠ €%Š # Šdiscriminatory€to€women.Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ157.€€The€Committee€is€also€pleased€to€note€the€involvement€of€non„governmental€organizations€andŠ P( #& Šcivil€society€in€the€preparation€of€the€combined€initial,€second,€third,€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€report.Š @)$' ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ  +p&) ŠĢ158.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€that,€while€article€8€of€the€Constitution€guarantees€equalityŠ -P(+ Šbetween€women€and€men,€no€specific€definition€of€discrimination€has€been€incorporated€intoŠ š-@), Šdomestic€legislation.Š ° Š159.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€a€definition€of€discrimination€against€women€in€line€with€thatŠ  š Šset€out€in€article€1€of€the€Convention€be€incorporated€into€the€domestic€legislation€of€the€Congo.Š ą ŠĢ160.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€continued€existence€of€legal€pluralism€withŠ pĄ Šdiscriminatory€components€and€obsolete€provisions€in€customary€law€and€statutory€law,€the€latterŠ ` ° Šincluding€criminal€law€regarding€adultery;€the€labour€and€taxation€laws;€and€family€law,€particularlyŠ P   Šwith€regard€to€the€difference€in€ages€at€which€women€and€men€may€enter€into€marriage.Š @  ŠĢ161.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€accelerate€the€process€of€law€reform€in€order€to€bringŠ  p  Šits€laws€into€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€and€with€the€principle€of€equalityŠ `  Šbetween€women€and€men€enshrined€in€its€Constitution.Š P  ŠĢ162.€While€noting€the€various€programmes€and€policies€being€initiated€by€the€institutional€machineryŠ ą0  Šfor€the€advancement€of€women,€the€Committee€expresses€concern€that€no€information€has€beenŠ Š  Šprovided€on€the€impact€of€these€measures€on€women€in€the€Congo.Š Ą ŠĢ163.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€provide€detailed€information€regarding€the€impactŠ  š Šon€women€in€the€Congo€of€measures€taken€for€the€advancement€of€women€in€its€next€periodic€reportŠ ą Što€be€submitted€under€article€18€of€the€Convention.Š €Š ŠĢ164.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€continued€persistence€of€stereotypical€attitudes€inŠ `° Šrespect€of€the€role€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€men€that€undermine€womenššs€human€rights.Š P  ŠĢ165.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€increase€its€efforts€to€address€stereotypical€attitudesŠ 0€ Šabout€the€roles€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€men€that€perpetuate€direct€and€indirectŠ  p Šdiscrimination€against€women€and€girls.€These€should€include€educational€measures€at€all€levels,Š ` Šbeginning€at€an€early€age;€the€revision€of€school€textbooks€and€curricula;€and€awareness„raisingŠ P Šcampaigns€directed€at€both€women€and€men€š"š€designed,€where€relevant,€with€the€involvement€ofŠ š@ Šthe€media€and€civil€society,€including€non„governmental€organizations€š"š€to€address€stereotypesŠ ą0 Šregarding€the€role€of€women€and€men€with€a€view€to€combating€discrimination€against€women.€TheŠ Š  ŠCommittee€also€calls€upon€the€State€party€to€periodically€review€the€measures€taken€in€order€toŠ Ą! Šidentify€shortcomings€and€to€adjust€and€improve€those€measures€accordingly,€and€to€report€thereonŠ °"  Što€the€Committee€in€its€next€report.Š  #š! ŠĢ166.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€high€incidence€of€violence€against€women€and€theŠ €%Š # Šapparent€lack€of€clear€policies€and€programmes€to€address€this€violation€of€womenššs€human€rights.Š p&Ą!$ ŠIt€is€particularly€concerned€about€domestic€violence,€rape,€including€marital€rape;€sexual€harassmentŠ `'°"% Šin€the€workplace€and€in€institutions€of€learning;€and€other€forms€of€sexual€abuse€of€women.Š P( #& ŠĢ167.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€accord€priority€attention€to€the€adoption€ofŠ 0*€%( Šcomprehensive€measures€to€address€violence€against€women€and€girls€in€accordance€with€its€generalŠ  +p&) Šrecommendation€19€on€violence€against€women.€The€Committee€calls€on€the€State€party€to€enact€orŠ ,`'* Šreview,€as€appropriate,€legislation€on€domestic€violence,€including€marital€rape,€and€legislationŠ -P(+ Šconcerning€all€forms€of€sexual€harassment€as€soon€as€possible€in€order€to€ensure€that€violence€againstŠ š-@), Šwomen€and€girls€constitutes€a€criminal€offence,€that€women€and€girls€who€are€victims€of€violenceŠ ° Šor€sexual€harassment€have€access€to€immediate€means€of€redress€and€protection€and€that€perpetratorsŠ  š Šare€prosecuted€and€punished.€The€Committee€recommends€gender„sensitive€training€forŠ ą Šparliamentarians,€the€judiciary€and€public€officials,€particularly€law€enforcement€personnel,€andŠ €Š Šhealth€service€providers.€It€also€recommends€the€establishment€of€counselling€services€for€victimsŠ pĄ Šof€violence€and€sexual€harassment;€the€implementation€of€public€awareness€campaigns€through€theŠ ` ° Šmedia€and€public€education€programmes;€and€the€adoption€of€a€zero„tolerance€policy€on€all€formsŠ P   Šof€violence€against€women.Š @  ŠĢ168.€€While€noting€a€slight€increase€in€the€number€of€women€elected€to€parliament,€the€CommitteeŠ  p  Šexpresses€concern€that€the€number€of€women€in€decision„making€positions€remains€low€in€politics,Š `  Šthe€judiciary€and€the€civil€service.€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€at€the€absence€of€womenŠ P  Šin€decision„making€positions€in€the€foreign€service.Š š@  ŠĢ169.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€measures€to€increase€the€number€ofŠ Š  Šwomen€in€decision„making€positions€in€all€spheres.€It€also€recommends€that€the€State€party€introduceŠ Ą Štemporary€special€measures,€in€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€toŠ ° Šstrengthen€and€accelerate€its€efforts€to€promote€and€elect€women€to€positions€of€power,€supportedŠ  š Šby€special€training€programmes€and€awareness„raising€campaigns€aimed€at€underlining€theŠ ą Šimportance€of€womenššs€participation€in€decision„making€at€all€levels.Š €Š ŠĢ170.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€low€rate€of€female€literacy,€the€low€number€of€girls€whoŠ `° Šcomplete€primary€education€in€both€the€urban€and€rural€areas,€and€the€high€drop„out€rate€of€girls€dueŠ P  Što,€inter€alia,€pregnancies€and€early€marriage.Š @ ŠĢ171.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€strengthen€its€efforts€to€improve€the€literacy€level€ofŠ  p Šgirls€and€women€to€ensure€equal€access€of€girls€and€women€to€all€levels€of€education€and€to€take€allŠ ` Šappropriate€measures€to€prevent€girls€from€dropping€out€of€school.€The€Committee€further€urges€theŠ P ŠState€party€to€encourage€an€increase€in€the€enrolment€of€girls€at€all€levels€and€recommends€that€suchŠ š@ Šefforts€include€further€use€of€temporary€special€measures,€in€accordance€with€article€4,€paragraph€1,Š ą0 Šof€the€Convention.Š Š  ŠĢ172.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€there€is€unequal€access€to€the€labour€market€and€that€womenŠ °"  Šare€confined€to€work€in€agriculture€and€the€informal€sectors,€which€are€related€to€low€incomes€andŠ  #š! Šwages.€The€Committee€is€further€concerned€at€the€lack€of€social€benefits€and€a€regulatory€frameworkŠ $ą" Što€protect€womenššs€human€rights€within€these€sectors.Š €%Š # ŠĢ173.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€all€possible€measures€to€ensure€that€women€haveŠ `'°"% Šaccess€to€the€labour€market€on€an€equal€basis€with€men.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€StateŠ P( #& Šparty€take€measures€to€provide€a€regulatory€framework€for€the€informal€sector.Š @)$' ŠĢ174.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€existence€of€very€high€maternal€and€infant€mortalityŠ  +p&) Šrates€in€the€Congo.€The€Committee€is€further€concerned€at€the€low€contraceptive€prevalence€rateŠ ,`'* Šamong€women€and€men€and€the€lack€of€access€of€women€to€adequate€pre„natal€and€post„natal€careŠ -P(+ Šand€family€planning€information,€particularly€in€rural€areas.Š š-@), Ї175.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€make€every€effort€to€raise€awareness€of€andŠ ° Šincrease€access€to€health„care€facilities€and€medical€assistance€by€trained€personnel,€particularly€inŠ  š Šrural€areas€and€particularly€in€Ō#iiddŌthe€areas€of€post„natal€care.€The€Committee€further€recommendsŠ ą Šthe€speedy€review€and€amendment€of€the€Act€of€31€July€1920,€which€prohibits€the€advertisingŠ €Š Šof€contraceptives,€thereby€limiting€womenššs€access€to€family€planning.Š pĄ ŠĢ176.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€that€the€State€party€has€not€developed€a€strategic€planŠ P   Što€address€the€issue€of€HIV/AIDS€as€it€affects€women,€nor€has€it€taken€measures€for€the€care€ofŠ @  Šwomen€and€girls€infected€with€and€affected€by€HIV/AIDS.Š 0 € ŠĢ177.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€comprehensive€measures€to€combat€theŠ `  ŠHIV/AIDS€pandemic,€to€take€strong€preventive€measures€and€to€ensure€that€women€and€girlsŠ P  Šinfected€with€HIV/AIDS€are€not€discriminated€against€and€are€given€appropriate€assistance.Š š@  ŠĢ178.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€situation€of€rural€women,€particularly€in€viewŠ Š  Šof€their€extreme€poverty€and€lack€of€access€to€health,€education,€credit€facilities€and€communityŠ Ą Šservices.€Š ° ŠĢ179.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€pay€special€attention€to€the€needs€of€rural€women,Š ą Šensuring€that€they€participate€in€decision„making€and€have€full€access€to€education,€healthŠ €Š Šservices€and€credit€facilities.€The€Committee€also€urges€the€State€party€to€take€appropriateŠ pĄ Šmeasures,€including€review€of€legislation,€in€order€to€eliminate€all€forms€of€discrimination€withŠ `° Šrespect€to€ownership,€co„sharing€and€inheritance€of€land.Š P  ŠĢ180.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€continued€existence€of€the€practice€of€polygamyŠ 0€ Šin€the€Congo,€which€is€discriminatory€to€women.€The€Committee€wishes€to€draw€the€StateŠ  p Špartyššs€attention€to€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendation€number€21,€paragraph€14,€whichŠ ` Šstates:Š P ŠÓ XÓÓ XÓĢš šš8š€polygamous€marriage€contravenes€a€womanššs€right€to€equality€with€men,€andŠ ą0 Šcan€have€such€serious€emotional€and€financial€consequences€for€her€and€herŠ Š  Šdependants€that€such€marriages€ought€to€be€discouraged€and€prohibited.€TheŠ Ą! ŠCommittee€notes€with€concern€that€some€States€parties,€whose€constitutionsŠ °"  Šguarantee€equal€rights,€permit€polygamous€marriage€in€accordance€with€personalŠ  #š! Šor€customary€law.€This€violates€the€constitutional€rights€of€women,€and€breachesŠ $ą" Šthe€provisions€of€article€5€(a)€of€the€Convention.ššŠ €%Š # ŠÓ XõXÓÓ XēXÓĢ181.€€The€Committee€recommends€action€without€delay€by€the€State€party€to€bring€marriageŠ `'°"% Šlaws,€particularly€as€they€relate€to€polygamy,€into€compliance€with€the€Constitution€and€theŠ P( #& ŠConvention.Š @)$' ŠĢ182.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€continued€existence€of€discriminatory€familyŠ  +p&) Šlaws€and€traditional€practices,€including€those€related€to€dowries€and€adultery.€The€CommitteeŠ ,`'* Šis€particularly€concerned€about€the€practice€of€pre„marriage€in€view€of€the€fact€that€CongoleseŠ -P(+ Šlaw,€while€recognizing€the€practice,€does€not€stipulate€a€minimum€age€for€pre„marriage€partners.€Š š-@), Ї183.€While€noting€the€State€partyššs€willingness€to€abolish€pre„marriage,€the€CommitteeŠ ° Šrecommends,€as€an€interim€measure,€that€the€minimum€age€for€pre„marriage€be€brought€in€lineŠ  š Šwith€the€legal€age€for€marriage€and€that€all€measures€be€taken€to€ensure€that€women€in€both€pre„Š ą Šmarriage€and€marriage€enjoy€equal€rights€within€and€upon€dissolution€of€the€union.€It€also€urgesŠ €Š Šthe€introduction€without€delay€of€measures€to€eliminate€negative€customs€and€traditionalŠ pĄ Špractices€which€affect€womenššs€full€enjoyment€of€their€human€rights.€The€CommitteeŠ ` ° Šrecommends€that€discriminatory€family€laws€be€phased€out€and€that€a€clear€time€frame€beŠ P   Šestablished€for€achieving€this.Š @  ŠĢ184.€€Noting€the€State€partyššs€commitment€to€adhering€to€the€periodicity€of€submission€ofŠ  p  Šperiodic€reports,€and€taking€into€consideration€the€fact€that€the€sixth€periodic€report€of€the€CongoŠ `  Šwill€be€due€in€July€2003,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€combine€its€sixth€andŠ P  Šseventh€periodic€reports€for€submission€in€2007.€This€would€allow€the€State€party€to€adhere€toŠ š@  Šthe€periodicity€of€reports€thereafter.Š ą0  ŠĢ185.€€The€Committee€requests€that€specific€information€be€included€in€the€next€periodic€reportŠ Ą Šon€measures€taken€to€implement€the€decisions€of€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women€and,Š ° Šin€particular,€the€twenty„third€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly,€especially€with€regardŠ  š Što€the€2005€target€for€the€elimination€of€all€laws€that€are€discriminatory€to€women.Š ą ŠĢ186.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€accelerate€its€efforts€to€ratify€the€Optional€ProtocolŠ pĄ Što€the€Convention€and€to€accept€the€amendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention.Š `° ŠĢ187.€€Taking€account€of€the€gender€dimensions€of€declarations,€programmes€and€platforms€forŠ @ Šaction€adopted€by€relevant€United€Nations€conferences,€summits€and€special€sessions€(such€asŠ 0€ Šthe€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly€to€review€and€appraise€the€implementation€of€theŠ  p ŠProgramme€of€Action€of€the€International€Conference€on€Population€and€Development€(theŠ ` Štwenty„first€special€session),€the€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly€on€children€(theŠ P Štwenty„seventh€special€session),€the€World€Conference€against€Racism,€Racial€Discrimination,Š š@ ŠXenophobia€and€Related€Intolerance€and€the€Second€World€Assembly€on€Ageing),€theŠ ą0 ŠCommittee€requests€the€State€party€to€include€information€on€the€implementation€of€aspects€ofŠ Š  Šthese€documents€relating€to€relevant€articles€of€the€Convention€in€its€next€periodic€report.Š Ą! ŠĢ188.€€The€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€respond€to€the€concerns€and€recommendationsŠ  #š! Šexpressed€in€the€present€concluding€comments€in€its€next€periodic€report€to€be€submitted€underŠ $ą" Šarticle€18€of€the€Convention€and€to€take€into€account€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendationsŠ €%Š # Šin€legislation,€policies€and€programmes.Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ189.€€The€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€the€Congo€of€the€present€concludingŠ P( #& Šcomments€in€order€to€make€the€people€of€the€Congo,€in€particular€government€administratorsŠ @)$' Šand€politicians,€aware€of€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€or€are€intended€to€be€taken€to€ensure€theŠ 0*€%( Šde€jure€and€de€facto€equality€of€women.€It€also€requests€the€State€party€to€continue€toŠ  +p&) Šdisseminate€widely,€in€particular€to€womenššs€and€human€rights€organizations,€the€Convention,Š ,`'* Šits€Optional€Protocol,€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendations€and€the€Beijing€DeclarationŠ -P(+ Šand€Platform€for€Action,€as€well€as€the€results€of€the€twenty„third€special€session€of€the€GeneralŠ š-@), ŠAssembly,€entitled€š šWomen€2000:€gender€equality,€development€and€peace€for€the€twenty„firstŠ ° Šcenturyšš.Š  š Š