’WPCc 0M–$w”Żņ3kÜņ"kņ5ī*+ŠĆmCę·ń×L6Wż2 «Ä_!é©ÖõGš7É=+rK¶C rāN×(bt˓֕@ƼceĀ?ɟųŃԜ+i­¹ŗlÅ3‚§ža9š{ńbƒw|ė:ŸŒ”ęŽÕ< ÖåīrKŗó°³[1*$ī:ˆg 7f,E‚įŗI¤†ŁĶÜköīfnÅTdF±ÆŹ®š¹ +-Ū Īō¾8l(Z£€§³ļ+cńŖc$č¦ōv@ŽĻ_Š/x7lPB’:7;:ćM¶ŽóŽĮGÆ'4ö{ALgžūZżģōßǤ“f‹#Ö$Śś0^Ņ<;7ŻP9qÖg±@8ļā;Č$m­—ö)}FÄ„\ńøŽMf W¾9‰@y“QÓ‘^ö=Ķnx¢atœ#ŅĄŗß±Įv9tš§‰ē&) aćäZŗ4Ö±]¾ĪłUōŸB’K!é]Ź’]Žö` ¶ 0˜’ Są °Ax[OF ”z~ķÅ÷‘£ŽÜš%£Ŗ^©įyĪŪt8)"÷Āō–—±š ‰Ń<¼x¢Å··øĆ,7ŽuA®a vg‡&}'!N(²Źˆ¬ō£¦q46Żr-?%Ø) #ɶUN %Ķ 0:Ó^ w41@ mBYNa˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnŅV,,,,ŅV0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō\i/— £f/µŽ 3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€¼˜»XXŌņ ņECUADORŠ ° ŠĢĢÓ  ÓŌ‡X>ĪX»¼˜ŌCEDAW€A/41/45€(1986)Š ć3 ŠĢĢó ó226.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Ecuador€(CEDAW/C/5/Add.23)€at€its€72ņņndóó€,€73ņņrdóóŠ ” ń Šand€78ņņthóó€meetings,€on€14€and€19€March€1986€(CEDAW/C/SR.72,€73€and€78).Š Š Ś ŠĢ227.€€The€representative€of€Ecuador,€in€his€introduction€of€the€report,€informed€the€Committee€thatŠ \ ¬  ŠEcuadorššs€Constitution€guaranteed€equal€rights€for€everyone€and€that€the€Government€promoted€theŠ E•  Šapplication€of€all€legal€provisions€to€ensure€those€rights.€€He€stated€that€the€provisions€of€theŠ .~  ŠConvention€were€reflected€in€the€national€legal€system.ņ ņó óŠ g  ŠĢ228.€€He€stated€that,€within€Ecuadorššs€national€development€plan,€the€subprogramme€for€women€andŠ é9  Šyoung€people€reflected€the€Governmentššs€official€recognition€of€the€important€role€that€could€beŠ Ņ" Šplayed€by€women€in€the€development€of€the€country,€a€recognition€that€had€been€further€reinforcedŠ »  Šby€the€establishment€of€the€National€Womenššs€Office€to€monitor,€plan,€evaluate€and€undertakeŠ ¤ō Šactivities€relating€to€the€status€of€women.Š Ż ŠĢ229.€€His€Government€had€stressed€the€importance€of€education€and€had€provided€equal€access€toŠ _Æ Šeducation€for€all,€with€priority€attention€being€given€to€the€rural€population.€€The€full€participationŠ H˜ Šof€women€in€human€resource€development€was€recognized€as€an€important€aspect€of€economic€andŠ 1 Šsocial€development.Š j ŠĢ230.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€the€majority€of€voters€in€the€last€election€had€been€women€and€there€wasŠ ģ< Šan€increasing€number€of€women€in€public€office.Š Õ% ŠĢ231.€€The€right€to€work,€the€representative€continued,€was€guaranteed€by€the€Constitution€and€theŠ §÷ ŠLabour€Code€provided€for€equal€pay.€€Several€institutes€were€collaborating€with€the€United€Nations,Š ą Šparticularly€the€International€Research€and€Training€Institute€for€the€Advancement€of€WomenŠ y É Š(INSTRAW),€to€enhance€the€integration€of€women€in€the€development€process.Š b!² ŠĢ232.€€He€pointed€out€that€many€steps€had€been€taken€to€implement€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Š 4#„! ŠHowever,€despite€all€the€achievements€made€in€the€various€sectors,€there€was€still€a€need€forŠ $m" Šimprovement€and€strengthening€of€the€legislation€to€eliminate€discriminatory€practices.€€It€was€hopedŠ %V # Šthat€the€draft€Act€on€the€Legal€Equality€of€the€Sexes,€when€adopted,€would€be€another€step€towardsŠ ļ%?!$ Šimproving€the€status€of€women.Š Ų&("% ŠĢ233.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€appreciation€for€the€representativeššs€introduction,Š Ŗ(ś#' Šwhich€complemented€the€information€contained€in€the€written€report,€and€expressed€regret€that€someŠ “)ć$( Šof€the€statistical€information€referred€to€in€that€report€had€not€been€made€available.€€It€was€clear,€theyŠ |*Ģ%) Šfelt,€that€the€report€reflected€the€good€will€and€intentions€of€the€Government,€but€many€membersŠ e+µ&* Šexpressed€concern€about€the€persistence€of€prejudices€and€traditional€views€with€regard€to€the€roleŠ N,ž'+ Šof€Ō_Ōwomen.Š 7-‡(, Ї234.€€Some€members€requested€more€information€on€the€National€Womenššs€Office€in€terms€of€itsŠ ° Šmembership€and€its€authority€to€introduce€policies€to€the€Government.€€One€expert€referred€to€theŠ ™é ŠOfficeššs€recourse€to€the€mass€media€for€changing€the€traditional€image€of€women€and€asked€how€thatŠ ‚Ņ Šwas€done.€€Some€experts€inquired€about€the€placement€of€the€Office€within€the€Ministry€of€SocialŠ k» ŠWelfare.Š T¤ ŠĢ235.€€One€member€expressed€concern€about€article€525€of€the€criminal€law€on€rape€and€requestedŠ & v Šclarification.€€Another€requested€clarification€on€the€term€š šwhite€slaveryšš.€€Questions€were€alsoŠ  _ Šraised€on€prostitution€and€whether€steps€were€being€taken€to€abolish€it.Š ų H ŠĢ236.€€Some€members€questioned€whether€women€were€well€enough€informed€to€take€advantage€ofŠ Ź   Šthe€application€of€the€Convention,€whether€legal€advice€was€provided€to€them€on€their€rights€andŠ ³  Šwhether€legal€remedies€had€been€used€for€violation€of€those€rights.€€One€expert€asked€if€women€hadŠ œģ  Šaccess€to€legal€aid€and€if€such€legal€aid€was€free.Š …Õ  ŠĢ237.€€With€regard€to€education,€many€members€expressed€concern€that€certain€activities€for€girlsŠ W§  Šperpetuated€the€traditional€view€of€the€role€of€women,€which,€in€turn,€had€grave€implications€forŠ @ Šfuture€employment€opportunities.€€Some€members€requested€more€data€on€the€literacy€rate,€the€levelŠ )y Šof€compulsory€education,€co„educational€facilities€and€vocational€training.€€It€was€also€noted€fromŠ b Šthe€report€that€female€teachers€were€expected€to€deal€mainly€with€young€children.€€In€this€context,Š ūK Šone€expert€objected€to€the€words€used€to€describe€female€teachers.€€Some€experts€asked€if€there€wereŠ ä4 Šspecial€educational€programmes€for€indigenous€women.Š Ķ ŠĢ238.€€More€statistics€and€data€were€requested€regarding€the€labour€force,€representation€of€womenŠ Ÿļ Šin€the€unskilled€and€skilled€labour€force€and€in€the€professions,€income€and€wages,€taxation€andŠ ˆŲ Šunemployment€rates,€as€well€as€the€restrictions€on€access€to€certain€jobs.€€It€was€noted€that€many€ofŠ qĮ Šthe€provisions€of€the€Labour€Code€and€pension€rights€were€discriminatory.Š ZŖ ŠĢ239.€€Questions€were€also€asked€regarding€the€importance€and€character€of€the€rural€sector€of€theŠ ,| Šeconomy€and€the€situation€of€rural€women€with€regard€to€ownership€of€land,€access€to€bank€loans,Š e Šetc.Š žN ŠĢ240.€€One€member€pointed€out€that€the€provisions€of€the€social€insurance€pension€reflected€the€viewŠ Š!   Šthat€men€were€the€bread„winners€and€€asked€whether€there€was€any€difference€in€entitlement€for€aŠ ¹" ! Šcommon„law€wife.€€Some€members€asked€if€social€insurance€was€compulsory,€if€it€was€deductedŠ ¢#ņ" Šfrom€the€income€or€if€the€employer€paid€for€it,€and€how€many€women€were€involved.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ241.€€With€regard€to€maternity€leave,€many€members€asked€if€employers€did€in€fact€comply€with€theŠ ]&­!% ŠLabour€Code,€particularly€in€terms€of€providing€child„care€facilities€for€workers.€€One€member€notedŠ F'–"& Šthat€maternity€leave€was€not€granted€to€domestic€servants.Š /(#' ŠĢ242.€€One€expert€requested€more€information€on€the€report€being€prepared€by€the€Ministry€of€PublicŠ *Q%) ŠHealth,€as€mentioned€in€the€initial€report.€€Some€members€noted€the€high€fertility€rate€and€requestedŠ ź*:&* Šinformation€on€family„planning€programmes€and€access€to€contraceptives,€as€well€as€statistics€onŠ Ó+#'+ Šthe€infant€mortality€and€date€on€childbirth€at€home€and€in€the€hospital.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- ŠŌ_Ō243.€€Some€experts€noted€that€the€Civil€Code€had€many€discriminatory€features€and€many€expertsŠ ° Šasked€if€the€proposed€Act€on€the€Legal€Equality€of€the€Sexes€would€ensure€the€elimination€of€suchŠ ™é Šdiscriminatory€practices.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ244.€€Some€experts€requested€more€information€on€marriage€and€divorce€rates,€the€legal€status€ofŠ T¤ Šchildren€(including€those€born€out€of€wedlock)€and€property€rights€upon€dissolution€of€marriage.€Š =  ŠOne€expert€asked€if€judicially€separated€women€could€remarry€and€what€was€the€difference€betweenŠ & v Ša€š šdivorcedšš€and€a€š šjudicially€separatedšš€women.Š  _ ŠĢ245.€€More€information€was€also€requested€on€the€participation€of€women€in€promoting€peace,€theŠ į 1  Šrole€of€the€informal€sector€of€the€economy€and€the€role€of€women€in€that€sector,€and€the€sharing€ofŠ Ź   Šhousehold€duties.€€One€member€raised€the€question€of€the€role€of€the€Catholic€Church.Š ³  ŠĢ246.€€In€view€of€the€many€areas€requiring€urgent€attention€and€to€the€extent€that€resources€may€beŠ …Õ  Šlimited,€one€expert€asked€if€the€Government€of€Ecuador€had€set€any€priorities€for€dealing€with€theŠ n¾  Šelimination€of€discrimination€against€women.Š W§  ŠĢ247.€€The€representative€of€Ecuador,€in€responding€to€the€question€raised,€explained€that€women€inŠ )y Šhis€country€had€free€access€to€legal€advice€and€that€rural€women€were€provided€free€of€charge€withŠ b Šlegal€defence€and€interpretation.€€He€said€that€in€his€country€the€bodies€dealing€with€theŠ ūK Šadvancement€of€women€were€the€National€Womenššs€Office,€established€in€1980,€which€had€alsoŠ ä4 Šregional€offices€and€training€centres€around€the€country,€and€various€other€institutes€and€departmentsŠ Ķ Šconcerned€with€women€and€children.Š ¶ ŠĢ248.€€Referring€to€a€question€about€the€number€of€indigenous€inhabitants,€the€representative€repliedŠ ˆŲ Šthat€it€was€offensive€to€make€such€a€categorization€that€did€not€exist€under€the€law.€€Ecuador€wasŠ qĮ Ša€melting€pot€of€various€indigenous€groups.€€It€was€a€party€to€all€international€instruments€on€humanŠ ZŖ Šrights€and€did€not€tolerate€racial€discrimination.€€The€majority€of€the€population€was€bilingual,€usingŠ C“ ŠSpanish€as€the€main€language€of€education€and€Quechua€as€the€language€for€inter„culturalŠ ,| Šrelationships.Š e ŠĢ249.€€He€said€that€prostitution€was€of€minor€importance€in€the€country€and€that€trading€in€prostitutes,Š ē 7 Šthe€š šwhite€slave€tradešš,€was€severely€punishable.Š Š!   ŠĢ250.€€Concerning€the€political€participation€of€women,€he€said€that€women€were€active€in€politicalŠ ¢#ņ" Šparties;€they€were€found€in€the€leading€professions€and€also€in€the€legislature.€€Voting€was€obligatoryŠ ‹$Ū# Šfor€both€sexes.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ251.€€Children€of€Ecuadorian€mothers€or€fathers€born€abroad€could€acquire€Ecuadorian€nationality.€Š F'–"& ŠBy€acquiring€another€nationality€women€lost€their€Ecuadorian€nationality.Š /(#' ŠĢ252.€€The€representative€was€pleased€to€state€that€the€struggle€against€illiteracy€had€been€a€majorŠ *Q%) Šachievement€of€his€country.€€The€national€literacy€campaign€had€started€in€1944,€and€presently€onlyŠ ź*:&* Š5€to€8€per€cent€of€the€population€were€illiterate.€€Education€was€administered€without€discrimination;Š Ó+#'+ Šit€was€free€of€charge€at€the€primary,€secondary€and€higher€educational€levels,€and€parents€and€girlsŠ ¼, (, Šwere€completely€free€in€their€choice€of€education.€€Education€in€fields€traditionally€considered€to€Ō_ŌbeŠ „-õ(- Šwomenššs€fields€was€also€administered€to€boys.€€The€State€allocated€30€per€cent€of€its€funds€toŠ ° Šeducation.€€Colleges€were€mixed€or€unisex€and€the€general€policy€fostered€co„education.Š ™é ŠĢ253.€€There€was€no€discrimination€in€labour€legislation;€the€representative€then€enumerated€variousŠ k» Štypes€of€work€that€were€considered€as€dangerous€and€prohibited€for€women€and€minors.€€AnŠ T¤ Šadditional€question€was€asked€about€the€reasons€for€certain€categories€of€work€being€consideredŠ =  Šdangerous€for€women€and€not€for€men€and€whether€such€a€measure€was€not€meant€to€keep€womenŠ & v Šaway€from€certain€highly€competitive€industries.€€The€expert€said€she€would€welcome€a€revision€ofŠ  _ Šsuch€protective€legislation.Š ų H ŠĢ254.€€The€representative€stated€that€both€sexes€took€part€in€household€work€and€that€women€wereŠ Ź   Šalso€engaged€in€technical€professions.€€In€his€country,€20€per€cent€of€the€economically€activeŠ ³  Špopulation€were€women,€but€as€Ecuador€was€mainly€an€agricultural€country,€more€than€half€of€theŠ œģ  Šwomen€lived€in€rural€areas,€where€they€performed€domestic€tasks€without€remuneration€in€their€ownŠ …Õ  Šhomes,€took€care€of€livestock€and€family€plots€and€were€thus€chiefly€responsible€for€the€countryššsŠ n¾  Šeconomic€progress.€€More€and€more€women€could€be€seen€in€small„scale€industry€in€the€agro„Š W§  Šindustrial€field,€but€they€held€senior€positions€in€professional€and€technical€trades.Š @ ŠĢ255.€€For€nursing€mothers,€day„care€centres€and€low„cost€food€was€provided.€€Under€the€ConstitutionŠ b Šand€the€Labour€Law€women€received€equal€pay€with€men€and€were€covered€by€equal€social€security.€Š ūK ŠEcuador€experienced€unemployment€and€a€high€rate€of€underemployment€among€women.Š ä4 ŠĢ256.€€As€Ecuador€was€a€democratic,€free€and€pluralistic€society€with€90€per€cent€of€the€populationŠ ¶ ŠCatholic,€no€demographic€measures€could€be€imposed€upon€the€population.€€But€progress€inŠ Ÿļ Špromoting€š šconsciousšš€parenthood€was€being€made,€not€through€authoritarian€measures,€but€byŠ ˆŲ Šgenuine€development€activities.€€Family€planning€programmes€were€carried€out€with€full€respect€forŠ qĮ Šindividual€concerns.€€Abortion€was€prŌ_ŌohibitedŌ_Ō€except€in€case€of€rape€and€for€therapeutical€reasons.€Š ZŖ ŠIn€1977€the€State€had€launched€a€š šmother€and€child€food€assistance€programmešš.Š C“ ŠĢ257.€€Both€women€and€men€could€be€landowners.€€In€matrimonial€relationships€both€partners€wereŠ e Šjoint€owners€of€property.€€With€the€authorization€of€their€parents,€girls€could€contract€marriage€atŠ žN Š12€and€boys€at€14.€€Women€could€adopt€the€surname€of€the€spouse€or€retain€their€maiden€names.€€AsŠ ē 7 Šboth€divorce€and€separation€existed,€one€expert€asked€whether€a€couple€could€get€a€divorce€withoutŠ Š!   Šgoing€through€legal€separation.€€The€representative€explained€that€divorce€by€mutual€consent€couldŠ ¹" ! Šbe€obtained€immediately;€legal€separation€existed€only€in€cases€where€divorce€was€not€wantedŠ ¢#ņ" Šbecause€of€economic€reasons€or€the€children.€€Specific€causes€for€divorce€were€provided€by€law.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ258.€€Efforts€were€being€made€to€modernize€agriculture;€however,€currently,€rural€women€hadŠ ]&­!% Šinsufficient€access€to€technical€resources.Š F'–"& ŠĢ259.€€In€reply€to€one€request€made€to€make€the€annexes€referred€to€in€the€country€report€availableŠ )h$( Što€the€Committee,€the€representative€said€that€the€annexes€could€be€consulted€in€the€secretariat.€Š *Q%) ŠThey€had€been€attached€to€the€report,€but€they€were€too€voluminous€to€be€translated€and€distributed.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ260.€€The€representative€mentioned€round€tables€and€seminars€held€in€the€country€in€observance€ofŠ ¼, (, Šthe€International€Year€of€Peace.Š „-õ(- Ї261.€€The€representative€said€that€all€further€concerns€of€the€Committee€would€be€considered€in€theŠ ° Šcountryššs€subsequent€report€and€further€data€would€be€supplied.Š ™é ŠĢ262.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€the€State€party€for€the€repliesŠ k» Šprovided€and€asked€for€additional€information€on€the€situation€of€rural€women,€the€incidence€ofŠ T¤ Šprostitution,€divorce€and€legislation€regulating€womenššs€work.Š =  ŠĢ263.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€replied€that€trafficking€in€prostitution€had€occurred€in€theŠ  _ Špast,€and€informed€the€Committee€that€Ecuador€had€become€party€to€the€United€Nations€ConventionŠ ų H Šfor€the€Suppression€of€the€Traffic€in€Person€and€of€the€Exploitation€of€the€Prostitution€of€OthersŠ į 1  Š(General€Assembly€resolution€317€(IV)€of€2€December€1949).€€He€added€that€Ecuador€was€anŠ Ź   Šagricultural€country.€€Extensive€developmental€efforts€had€to€be€carried€out€in€order€to€modernizeŠ ³  Šagriculture.€€There€were€rural€schools€which€taught€modern€skills€and€work€methods.€€Rural€women,Š œģ  Šhowever,€worked€with€traditional,€simple€tools,€and€he€informed€the€Committee€that€in€general€thereŠ …Õ  Šwas€no€electricity€in€the€rural€areas.€€Divorce€could€be€obtained€by€mutual€consent€or€through€theŠ n¾  Šcourt.€€Regarding€protective€labour€legislation,€he€stated€that€women€and€minors€were€not€employedŠ W§  Šin€certain€dangerous€work€such€as€the€manufacture€of€explosives,€glass€and€paint.Š @ ŠŠ  )y Šņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/49/38€(1994)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢŌUSUK.,Ō499.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€and€third€periodic€reports€of€EcuadorŠ l¼ Š(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/13/Add.31€and€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/ECU/3)€at€its€244ņņthóó€meeting,€on€25€January€(seeŠ U„ ŠŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.244).Š > Ž ŠĢ500.€€In€her€introductory€statement,€the€representative€of€Ecuador€said€that€discrimination€againstŠ  ` Šwomen€was€deeply€rooted€in€the€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō-economic€problems€of€her€country,€which€had€been€facingŠ ł I Ša€most€serious€recession€in€the€last€10€years.€She€explained€that€the€second€periodic€report€was€ofŠ ā 2  Ša€more€descriptive€nature,€whereas€the€third€periodic€report€contained€the€drafts€of€legalŠ Ė   Šamendments.€Š “  ŠĢ501.€€Having€confronted€a€serious€recession€since€1980,€the€Government€had€taken€macroeconomicŠ †Ö  Šadjustment€measures€which€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€an€unfortunate€impact€on€the€weaker€members€of€society,€inŠ oæ  Šparticular€on€women€and€children.€A€growing€decrease€in€Ō_ŌGDPŌ_Ō€per€capita€and€in€the€volume€ofŠ XØ  Šimports,€together€with€an€increase€in€external€debts,€had€brought€with€it€a€drastic€reduction€in€socialŠ A‘ Šsecurity€spending.€The€budget€of€the€Ministry€of€Social€Welfare€had€been€cut€by€47€per€cent.€SheŠ *z Šexplained€that€only€26€per€cent€of€the€population€had€access€to€social€security,€76€per€cent€of€womenŠ c Šthrough€formal€employment€and€9€per€cent€of€women€through€informal€employment,€and€thatŠ üL Šindigenous€women€had€no€access€to€social€security€at€all.€The€representative€explained€thatŠ å5 Šaccording€to€a€UNICEF€survey,€66€per€cent€of€families€lived€below€the€poverty€line.€While€higherŠ Ī Šand€middle€class€income€levels€had€increased€50€per€cent,€the€income€of€the€overall€population€hadŠ · Šdecreased€constantly.€Social€movements€were€losing€strength€and€momentum.€Unemployment€wasŠ  š Šreported€to€have€reached€12€per€cent;€of€the€economically€active€population,€underemployment€hadŠ ‰Ł Šreached€56€per€cent;€48€per€cent€worked€in€the€informal€sector.€Š rĀ ŠĢ502.€€In€1988,€the€"Social€Front"€was€established,€combining€the€ministries€of€Social€Welfare,Š D” ŠŌ_ŌLabourŌ_Ō,€Health€and€Education,€and€presided€over€by€the€Ministry€of€Social€Welfare.€Its€goal€was€toŠ -} Šeliminate€the€recurrent€problems€of€bureaucracy€and€to€avoid€the€dŌ_ŌuplicationŌ_Ō€of€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō.€TheŠ f ŠNational€Committee€for€Planning€and€Social€Development€took€office€in€1989.€The€representativeŠ ’O Šalso€reported€on€the€Fund€for€Social€Investment€which€directed€funds€to€rural€development,€youthŠ č 8 Šand€women.€Š Ń!!  ŠĢ503.€€The€representative€reported€on€the€critical€living€conditions€of€children€in€her€country.€In€manyŠ £#ó" Šfamilies,€children€contributed€19€per€cent€of€an€average€household€income.€Some€children€aged€8Š Œ$Ü# Što€11€years€were€working€40€hours€a€week.€School€attendance€suffered€as€a€consequence,€with€onlyŠ u%Å $ Š30€per€cent€of€children€finishing€elementary€school.€To€combat€the€high€rate€of€illiteracy,€theŠ ^&®!% Šprevious€Government€had€launched€a€campaign€entitled€"Ecuador€Ō_ŌestudiaŌ_Ō",€which€had€decreased€theŠ G'—"& Šilliteracy€rate€considerably.€Š 0(€#' ŠĢ504.€€Although€no€exact€data€existed€on€the€incidence€of€disability,€numbers€were€expected€to€beŠ *R%) Švery€high,€with€an€estimated€18€per€cent€of€the€population€having€disability€problems€and€frequentlyŠ ė*;&* Šliving€in€substandard€conditions.€However,€there€existed€no€specific€projects€for€women€withŠ Ō+$'+ Šdisabilities.€Malnutrition€was€one€major€cause€of€disability,€as€was€the€lack€of€adequate€health€care,Š ½, (, Šin€particular€prenatal,€delivery€and€postnatal€care,€as€well€as€the€lack€of€immunization€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_ŌŠ ¦-ö(- Šfor€women€and€children.€In€1982,€a€law€had€been€adopted€concerning€disability.€A€nationalŠ ° ŠŌ_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€for€the€disabled€had€been€launched€which€included€tax€exemptions€as€well€as€large-scaleŠ ™é Špublic€campaigns€to€provide€facilities€for€disabled€people€in€urban€structures.€The€Government€hadŠ ‚Ņ Šset€up€eight€rehabilitation€Ō_ŌcentresŌ_Ō€which€were€concentrated€in€the€cities.€Š k» ŠĢ505.€€Concerning€the€situation€of€rural€women,€the€representative€reported€on€the€existing€gapŠ =  Šbetween€urban€and€rural€areas.€Many€development€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€focused€on€the€cities,€while€the€ruralŠ & v Šareas€were€abandoned€and€neglected.€With€the€migration€of€the€male€population€from€rural€to€urbanŠ  _ Šareas,€women€and€children€who€were€left€behind€took€over€the€agricultural€activities.€The€MinistryŠ ų H Šof€Agriculture€and€Livestock€carried€out€projects€on€appropriate€agricultural€technology€for€women.€Š į 1  ŠĢ506.€€The€representative€described€the€environmental€sanitation€situation€both€in€urban€and€ruralŠ ³  Šareas,€which€was€very€poor;€there€was€a€lack€of€safe€drinking€water.€As€a€consequence,€infantŠ œģ  Šmortality€was€one€of€the€highest€in€Latin€America.€€Half€of€the€children€below€five€years€of€ageŠ …Õ  Šsuffered€from€malnutrition.€Š n¾  ŠĢ507.€€Concerning€legal€reform,€the€representative€indicated€that€considerable€legislation€aimed€atŠ @ Šenhancing€women's€status€had€been€introduced€but€some€measures€had€faced€opposition€in€theŠ )y ŠCongress.€Congress€had€given€serious€consideration€to€the€discussion€of€the€draft€amendment€of€theŠ b ŠCode€of€Criminal€Procedure.€A€draft€of€the€first€Code€of€Family€Law€was€submitted€to€the€CongressŠ ūK Šin€January€1994€by€the€Parliamentary€Committee€for€Women,€Children€and€the€Family.€€FollowingŠ ä4 Šthe€ratification€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€in€1992,€a€new€Code€for€Minors€hadŠ Ķ Šbeen€elaborated.€Š ¶ ŠĢņņGeneral€observationsóóŠ ˆŲ ŠĢ508.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€Ecuador€for€providing€a€frank€reportŠ ZŖ Šcommitted€to€the€advancement€of€women€and€expressed€their€concern€about€the€alarming€livingŠ C“ Šconditions€of€the€majority€of€women.€They€noted€that€the€economic€situation€and€the€structuralŠ ,| Šadjustment€measures€had€affected€her€country€more€than€others.€Women€and€small€children€wereŠ e Šthe€major€victims.€While€recognizing€the€progress€made€in€legal€reform€and€in€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō-economicŠ žN ŠŌ_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō,€in€particular€in€combating€illiteracy€in€the€female€population€and€in€the€elimination€ofŠ ē 7 Šstereotypes€in€education,€members€were€concerned€about€the€number€of€remaining€obstacles€toŠ Š!   Šequality.€While€Ecuador€had€already€given€women€the€right€to€vote€in€1929,€and€was€in€fact€one€ofŠ ¹" ! Šthe€first€countries€in€the€region€to€do€so,€women€still€faced€discrimination€in€1994.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ509.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€the€need€for€the€Government€to€define€modern,€up-to-dateŠ t%Ä $ Šcriteria€for€development€and€to€improve€what€was€deemed€to€be€a€kind€of€medieval€situation€forŠ ]&­!% Šwomen,€which€was€the€result€of€a€patriarchal€structure€in€which€women€were€denied€basic€rights.Š F'–"& ŠBefore€enjoying€legal€rights,€women€needed€to€be€given€basic€human€rights,€such€as€safe€drinkingŠ /(#' Šwater€and€better€nutrition.€Half€of€the€population€of€the€country€could€not€participate€with€pride€inŠ )h$( Šthe€life€of€the€country.€Members€emphasized€that,€despite€the€economic€problems,€manyŠ *Q%) ŠŌ_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€related€to€women's€equality€could€be€carried€out€with€few€resources.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ510.€€The€Committee€expressed€the€feeling€that€the€prevailing€attitude€in€Ecuador€was€that€theŠ ¼, (, ŠGovernment€was€not€giving€serious€consideration€to€the€advancement€of€women.€There€was€a€ņņde€jureóóŠ „-õ(- Šand€de€facto€gap€in€the€attainment€of€women's€equality.€Moreover,€members€asked€whether€theŠ ° Šwomen€in€Ecuador€themselves€wanted€to€change€their€current€situation.€€If€such€was€not€the€case,Š ™é Šwomen's€consciousness€about€their€situation€and€their€rights€needed€to€be€raised.€Solidarity€amongŠ ‚Ņ Šall€women€was€a€prerequisite€for€leading€a€successful€struggle€for€women's€equal€rights.€Š k» ŠĢņņGeneral€questionsóóŠ =  ŠĢ511.€€In€reply€to€a€question€on€the€National€Institute€for€Women,€the€representative€said€that€theŠ  _ Šinstitute€had€not€yet€been€established.€The€National€Directorate€for€Women€was€still€part€of€theŠ ų H ŠMinistry€of€Social€Welfare.€There€was€strong€opposition€to€the€setting€up€of€an€independent€nationalŠ į 1  Šmachinery€for€the€advancement€of€women,€in€order€not€to€weaken€the€Ministry.€The€representativeŠ Ź   Šinformed€the€Committee€about€a€hot€line€pilot€project€for€women€that€had€been€warmly€welcomedŠ ³  Šby€women€in€Ecuador.€Many€women€called€and€reported€on€cases€of€sexual€abuse€and€violence.Š œģ  ŠAlthough€there€was€no€political€support€from€the€National€Directorate€for€Women,€that€project,Š …Õ  Šwhich€could€only€function€with€outside€assistance,€was€very€successful.€Š n¾  ŠĢ512.€€Regarding€the€National€Development€Plan€for€1988-1992,€which€devoted€a€whole€chapter€toŠ @ Šwomen,€there€had€been€no€assessment€of€its€implementation.€No€statistical€data€and€consequentŠ )y Ševaluation€had€been€provided.Š b ŠĢ513.€€Asked€whether€more€information€could€be€given€on€the€areas€of€competence€and€the€activitiesŠ ä4 Šof€the€Parliamentary€Committee€for€Women,€Children€and€the€Family,€the€representative€stated€thatŠ Ķ Šthe€Committee,€which€was€not€permanent,€had€introduced€all€of€the€legal€amendments€that€hadŠ ¶ Šreceived€support€from€the€Government,€in€particular,€the€Code€of€Family€Law,€since€no€definitionŠ Ÿļ Šof€the€family€had€existed€prior€to€the€introduction€of€the€Code.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢņņQuestions€related€to€specific€articlesóóŠ ZŖ ŠĢņņArticle€2óóŠ ,| ŠĢ514.€€With€reference€to€the€status€of€approved€legislative€changes€and€draft€laws,€the€representativeŠ žN Šreplied€that€there€had€indeed€been€more€proposals€for€legal€changes€than€rŌ_ŌeformsŌ_Ō€accomplished.€TheŠ ē 7 Šdelay€in€promulgating€the€laws€could€be€attributed€to€the€mandatory€respect€for€the€agenda€of€theŠ Š!   ŠCongress,€where€discussions€in€recent€years€had€focused€on€political€and€economic€issues.€Š ¹" ! ŠĢ515.€€She€mentioned€the€legal€reforms€contained€in€the€reform€of€the€Civil€Code,€which€had€beenŠ ‹$Ū# Šput€into€force€within€law€€43€in€1989.€Those€reforms€contained€important€improvements:€recognitionŠ t%Ä $ Šof€the€juridical€equality€of€women€and€men€in€marriage;€administration€of€joint€estates;€responsibleŠ ]&­!% Šand€joint€parenthood€of€the€spouses;€marital€obligations€and€the€termination€of€marriage.€TheŠ F'–"& Šchanges€in€the€articles€related€to€marriage€had€encountered€considerable€resistance,€includingŠ /(#' Šopposition€from€women.€Š )h$( ŠĢ516.€€The€representative€reported€on€a€number€of€other€legal€amendments,€including€the€introductionŠ ź*:&* Šof€the€Code€of€Family€Law.€Another€proposal€was€for€the€establishment€of€family€judges€and€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šaccelerated€oral€and€summary€proceedings.€The€Electoral€Law€was€still€under€debate,€since€noŠ ¼, (, Šagreement€could€be€reached€on€the€suggested€quota€of€25€per€cent€of€women€to€be€included€on€theŠ „-õ(- Šelectoral€lists€of€political€parties.€That€amendment€was€contested€in€the€sense€that€it€contradictedŠ ° Šdemocratic€procedures.€Further€resistance€was€expressed€to€the€idea€that€10€per€cent€of€State€fundsŠ ™é Šallotted€to€political€parties€should€be€used€for€the€political€training€of€women.€The€law€onŠ ‚Ņ Šcomplimentary€nutrition€was€meant€to€give€rights€to€abandoned€women€who€could€not€provide€forŠ k» Štheir€children€without€their€husband's€support.€According€to€the€proposed€law,€fathers€who€did€notŠ T¤ Špay€support€for€their€children€for€two€months€would€be€imprisoned€for€eight€months.€That€proposal,Š =  Šwhich€was€not€included€in€the€Code€of€Family€Law,€had€been€rejected.€The€law€on€the€reform€of€theŠ & v ŠCode€of€Civil€Procedure€dealing€with€the€special€retirement€benefits€for€women€passed€but,€owingŠ  _ Što€the€lack€of€liquidity€in€the€social€security€fund,€payments€were€not€assured.€A€draft€law€on€givingŠ ų H Šspecial€retirement€benefits€to€women€who€had€been€in€formal€employment€for€25€years€and€wereŠ į 1  Šmothers€of€five€children€was€not€adopted.€A€law€on€the€registration€of€a€child€born€out€of€wedlockŠ Ź   Šunder€its€father's€name€was€unanimously€rejected.€That€reform€would€have€given€legal€recognitionŠ ³  Što€children€born€out€of€wedlock€without€entitling€them€to€support€by€the€father€or€inheritance€rights.Š œģ  ŠIt€would€have€devolved€upon€the€father€to€prove€that€he€was€not€the€father.€Public€reaction€to€theŠ …Õ  Šproposal€had€been€fierce;€women€were€accused€of€being€prostitutes€searching€for€fathers€for€theirŠ n¾  Šillegal€children.€Another€draft€law€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€an€obligatory€yearly€examination€for€uterine€cervicalŠ W§  Šcancer,€to€be€undertaken€by€the€employers,€was€rejected€because€of€the€costs€involved.€Š @ ŠĢ517.€€The€representative€stated€that€under€another€draft€legal€provision,€concerning€domesticŠ b Šviolence,€women€would€be€enabled€to€take€legal€action€against€their€relatives.€In€criminal€law,€theŠ ūK Šprovision€that€women€be€more€severely€treated€than€men€for€the€offence€of€adultery€had€beenŠ ä4 Šabolished,€although€adultery€remained€a€cause€for€divorce€in€the€civil€code.€If€a€spouse€was€foundŠ Ķ Šin€ņņflagrante€delictoóó,€no€charges€were€brought€against€a€person€inflicting€harm€on€the€spouse.€Š ¶ ŠĢ518.€€The€Committee€questioned€the€importance€attached€to€the€father's€name,€which€had€nothingŠ ˆŲ Što€do€with€paternity.€Š qĮ ŠĢ519.€€Members€reminded€the€representative€that€in€ratifying€the€Convention€without€reservationŠ C“ ŠEcuador€had€made€a€commitment€to€make€its€national€laws€comply€with€the€Convention.€€ParliamentŠ ,| Šand€Congress€had€the€responsibility€for€achieving€compliance€and€were€obliged€to€implement€theŠ e ŠConvention.€The€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€WomenŠ žN Šshould€not€be€considered€a€second€class€convention€requiring€less€persistence.€Members€expressedŠ ē 7 Štheir€concern€that€a€third€periodic€report€of€a€State€party€still€contained€only€drafts€of€legislativeŠ Š!   Šreforms.€Š ¹" ! ŠĢ520.€€The€representative€was€asked€to€transmit€the€concerns€of€the€Committee€to€the€Government,Š ‹$Ū# Šwhich€was€responsible€for€protecting€the€rights€of€all€women€in€the€country.€Members€expressed€theŠ t%Ä $ Šhope€that€the€country€would€immediately€conduct€a€systematic€review€of€national€law€and€make€itŠ ]&­!% Šconform€to€the€Convention.€The€Committee€said€that€it€might€ask€for€a€specific€report€on€legislativeŠ F'–"& Šchanges,€which€should€be€presented€at€a€set€time.€The€Committee€expressed€its€full€support€for€theŠ /(#' ŠŌ_ŌendeavoursŌ_Ō€undertaken€to€introduce€legal€amendments.€If€the€country€required€advisory€services€andŠ )h$( Štechnical€assistance€for€that€purpose,€as€others€had€done€before€and€as€suggested€in€the€plan€ofŠ *Q%) Šactivities€of€the€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō€for€Human€Rights€for€the€implementation€of€the€Vienna€Declaration€andŠ ź*:&* ŠŌ_ŌProgrammeŌ_Ō€of€Action,€the€Committee€would€seriously€consider€that€request.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢŠ „-õ(- ŠŌ_ŌņņArticle€4óóŠ ° ŠĢ521.€€The€representative€regretted€to€report€that€no€laws€or€measures€"of€positive€discrimination€inŠ ‚Ņ Šfavour€of€women"€had€been€taken€by€the€State€aside€from€the€one€mentioned€on€the€protection€ofŠ k» Špregnant€female€workers.€Š T¤ ŠĢ522.€€In€additional€comments,€members€expressed€concern€that€the€Constitution€of€the€country€didŠ & v Šnot€allow€temporary€specific€measures€as€provided€in€the€Convention.€Š  _ Šą  ąĢņņArticle€5óóŠ į 1  ŠĢ523.€€In€reply€to€a€question€on€the€success€of€programmes€aimed€at€promoting€change€of€attitudesŠ ³  Šof€men€and€women,€the€representative€referred€to€Ecuadorian€law,€which€was€based€on€Roman€lawŠ œģ  Šand€gave€the€ņņpatria€potestadóó€the€leading€role€in€law€and€in€reality.€Discrimination€against€andŠ …Õ  Šsubordination€of€women€formed€part€of€the€patriarchy,€which€rested€on€the€principle€of€a€divisionŠ n¾  Šof€labour.€Greater€awareness€of€stereotyped€gender€roles€and€cultural€obstacles€to€the€eliminationŠ W§  Šof€discrimination€against€women€was€needed.€As€long€as€stereotyped€roles€persisted€in€educationŠ @ Šand€mothers€encouraged€their€sons€to€adopt€macho€attitudes€whereas€girls€were€brought€up€to€beŠ )y Šdocile€and€obedient,€no€change€was€imminent.€Š b ŠĢ524.€€In€additional€comments,€the€Committee€noted€the€prevailing€attitude€of€machismo€in€theŠ ä4 Šcountry,€which€affected€women€in€all€walks€of€life€and€expressed€itself€also€in€violence€againstŠ Ķ Šwomen,€which€was€largely€accepted.€Members€emphasized€that€attitudes€and€behaviour€could€beŠ ¶ Šchanged€if€there€was€political€will€and€broad€support.€It€was€hoped€that€the€subsequent€report€wouldŠ Ÿļ Šcontain€information€on€this€issue.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢņņArticle€6óóŠ ZŖ ŠĢ525.€€In€reply€to€a€question€related€to€the€problems€of€prostitutes€and€whether€the€interest€of€theŠ ,| ŠNational€Directorate€for€Women€and€its€social€rehabilitation€programmes€had€resulted€in€anyŠ e Šspecific€measures€or€studies,€the€representative€replied€that€two€associations€of€prostitutes€had€beenŠ žN Šformed€which€called€themselves€"associations€of€free€working€women".€Their€first€congress€hadŠ ē 7 Šbeen€held€in€November€1993€and€had€brought€together€women€of€all€ages€and€from€different€regionsŠ Š!   Šof€the€country€in€an€atmosphere€of€solidarity.€The€representative€pointed€out€that€prostitution€inŠ ¹" ! ŠEcuador€was€not€an€offence.€Owing€to€double€standards,€prostitution€in€a€brothel€was€allowed,€butŠ ¢#ņ" Šnot€prostitution€in€the€streets.€Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ526.€€Concerning€the€HIV/AIDS€pandemic,€she€stated€that€prostitutes€were€regularly€screened€forŠ ]&­!% Šinfection.€Prostitutes€that€had€contracted€the€HIV/AIDS€virus€were€badly€treated€by€the€authoritiesŠ F'–"& Šand€there€had€been€many€negative€articles€in€the€media€on€street€prostitutes€discovered€to€beŠ /(#' ŠHIV-positive.€Š )h$( ŠĢ527.€€In€additional€comments,€experts€noted€that€prostitutes€with€HIV/AIDS€infection€were€the€firstŠ ź*:&* Špatients€to€require€compulsory€medical€care,€regardless€of€how€and€where€they€had€been€infected.€Š Ó+#'+ Šą  ąĢŌ_ŌŠ „-õ(- ЇņņArticle€7óóŠ ° ŠĢ528.€€Asked€whether€there€had€been€any€law€or€measure€designed€to€increase€the€number€of€womenŠ ‚Ņ Šin€the€Parliament€and€in€the€Executive€branch,€the€representative€replied€that€no€such€measure€hadŠ k» Šbeen€taken.€No€political€party€had€encouraged€female€participation€through€a€quota€system€or€by€anyŠ T¤ Šother€means.€Š =  ŠĢ529.€€However,€a€number€of€women€had€been€assigned€to€high-level€positions.€The€president€of€theŠ  _ ŠMonetary€Association€and€the€Minister€for€Education€were€women.€There€were€three€womenŠ ų H Šsecretaries€of€state€and€five€women€deputies€in€Parliament.€Š į 1  ŠĢ530.€€In€an€additional€comment,€the€Committee€noted€that€the€example€of€Ecuador€showed€howŠ ³  Šimportant€it€was€to€have€more€women€at€the€decision-making€level€to€achieve€qualitative€andŠ œģ  Šquantitative€change.€Resistance€in€the€Government€to€legal€reform€had€increased€because€there€hadŠ …Õ  Šbeen€little€support€for€the€reform€within€the€legislative€bodies.€Endorsement€of€the€legal€reformŠ n¾  Šprocess€also€had€to€come€from€the€highest€executive€level.€Š W§  ŠĢņņArticle€10óóŠ )y ŠĢ531.€€Concerning€the€illiteracy€rate,€the€representative€stated€that€the€figures€were€still€high€althoughŠ ūK Ša€governmental€literacy€campaign,€carried€out€four€to€five€years€earlier,€had€been€very€successfulŠ ä4 Šand€had€decreased€female€illiteracy€from€60€per€cent€to€38€per€cent.€That€campaign€had€beenŠ Ķ Šundertaken€with€the€direct€collaboration€of€secondary€educational€establishments€in€particular,€asŠ ¶ Šwell€as€the€National€Directorate€for€Women.€No€measures€had€been€taken€to€reduce€the€schoolŠ Ÿļ Šdrop-out€rate€for€girls,€particularly€in€the€rural€areas.€With€regard€to€modifying€the€sexist€content€ofŠ ˆŲ Šcurricula€and€textbooks,€the€representative€reported€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€reform€was€being€carried€out.€A€teacherŠ qĮ Štraining€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€also€existed€along€those€lines.€No€statistics€broken€down€by€sex€were€availableŠ ZŖ Šon€the€receipt€by€women€of€educational€awards€or€on€their€integration€in€the€ranks€of€administrationŠ C“ Šin€higher€education.€One€positive€development,€however,€was€that€a€women€had€recently€beenŠ ,| Šappointed€Minister€for€Education.€Š e ŠĢņņArticle€11óóŠ ē 7 ŠĢ532.€€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€men€and€women€had€equality€of€access€to€allŠ ¹" ! Šoccupational€training€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō.€Asked€whether€women€had€recourse€to€the€courts€or€any€otherŠ ¢#ņ" Štribunal€when€they€suffered€discrimination€in€their€work,€the€representative€replied€that€very€fewŠ ‹$Ū# Šcases€of€discrimination€were€taken€to€court.€Male€and€female€workers€could€have€recourse€to€theŠ t%Ä $ Šcourts,€but€there€were€no€legal€provisions€on€discrimination.€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ533.€€The€legal€minimum€age€to€enter€the€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€market€was€12€years;€no€distinction€was€madeŠ /(#' Šbetween€girls€and€boys.€The€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€law€prevented€the€exploitation€of€minors.€The€Code€for€MinorsŠ )h$( Šdid€not€allow€children€to€work€in€jobs€that€deprived€them€of€their€normal€development.€€In€general,Š *Q%) Šhowever,€child€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€was€not€prohibited€and€hundreds€of€children€could€be€seen€working€in€theŠ ź*:&* Šstreet€and€thus€contributing€to€family€income.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢŠ „-õ(- ŠņņArticle€12óóŠ ° ŠĢ534.€€On€the€question€whether€measures€had€been€developed€that€would€improve€the€situation€ofŠ ‚Ņ Šrural€women€in€particular,€the€representative€replied€that€only€the€Ministry€of€Agriculture€wasŠ k» Šmanaging€a€project€for€women€in€rural€areas,€which€unfortunately€could€not€be€implemented€becauseŠ T¤ Šof€flooding.€There€were€no€projects€to€improve€the€rural€hygiene€situation,€which€was€very€bad.€€InŠ =  Šparticular,€access€to€safe€drinking€water€was€unavailable€in€many€areas.Š & v ŠĢņņArticle€14óóŠ ų H ŠĢ535.€€The€representative€was€asked€about€the€participation€of€women€in€the€preparation€andŠ Ź   Šimplementation€of€development€plans€generally,€and€in€agriculture€in€particular.€In€general,€womenŠ ³  Šin€Ecuador€took€part€in€the€elaboration€of€development€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€and€policies,€but€their€presenceŠ œģ  Šin€public€life€was€still€very€small€and€insignificant.€However,€women€did€not€really€shape€the€futureŠ …Õ  Šof€the€country€and€their€contributions€were€not€always€recognized€by€the€changing€Governments.Š n¾  ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ @ ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ b ŠĢ536.€€The€Committee€congratulated€the€representative€of€the€Government€of€Ecuador€on€the€timelyŠ ä4 Šsubmission€of€the€reports,€which€gave€a€clear€and€frank€description€of€the€current€difficult€situationŠ Ķ Šin€the€country,€particularly€for€women.Š ¶ ŠĢ537.€€While€congratulating€Ecuador€on€having€ratified€the€Convention€on€9€November€1981€withoutŠ ˆŲ Šany€reservation,€the€experts€of€the€Committee€noted€that€not€all€legislation€had€been€brought€into€lineŠ qĮ Šwith€the€Convention.Š ZŖ ŠĢ538.€€They€congratulated€the€Government€of€Ecuador€on€its€successful€literacy€campaign€and€theŠ ,| Šdevelopment€of€legislation€which€had€made€it€possible€to€overcome€some€forms€of€discrimination.Š e ŠĢņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ ē 7 ŠĢ539.€€They€expressed€deep€concern€at€the€serious€discriminatory€conditions€affecting€EcuadorianŠ ¹" ! Šwomen€and€regret€at€the€steady€reduction€in€the€capacities€of€the€agency€concerned,€the€NationalŠ ¢#ņ" ŠDirectorate€for€Women€of€the€Ministry€of€Social€Welfare,€as€demonstrated€by€the€fact€that,€over€theŠ ‹$Ū# Špast€three€years,€officials€had€held€only€provisional€appointments€and€had€lacked€any€support.€TheŠ t%Ä $ ŠDirectorate€was€short€of€economic€resources,€enjoyed€little€political€support€and€had€only€veryŠ ]&­!% Šlimited€capacity€in€terms€of€coordinating€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€with€other€bodies.€The€fact€that€the€fewŠ F'–"& ŠŌ_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€it€operated€were€dependent€on€international€cooperation€resources€was€a€cause€forŠ /(#' Šconcern.Š )h$( ŠĢ540.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€emphasized€the€fact€that,€despite€the€country's€currentŠ ź*:&* Šeconomic€problems,€initiatives€could€be€developed€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€equality€at€minimal€expense,€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šindeed€must€be€developed.€An€analysis€of€the€report€€submitted€showed€that€legislation€was€stillŠ ¼, (, Šmarked€by€serious€discriminatory€features;€customs€tended€to€stereotype€gender€roles€in€a€way€thatŠ „-õ(- Šwas€detrimental€to€the€advancement€of€Ecuadorian€women;€and€State€initiatives,€far€from€expanding,Š ° Šhad€undergone€a€serious€decline.€Those€factors€combined€to€create€an€extremely€serious€situationŠ ™é Šwith€regard€to€the€human€rights€violations€addressed€in€the€Convention.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ T¤ ŠĢ541.€€The€Committee€called€for€the€implementation€of€fundamental€legal€reforms€to€eliminateŠ & v Šlegislation€discriminating€against€women€and€to€promote€their€advancement.€It€therefore€requestedŠ  _ Šthat€the€Government€take€the€appropriate€measures€and€report€on€progress€made€in€that€regard€in€theŠ ų H Šnext€periodic€report.Š į 1  ŠĢ542.€€It€recommended€that€the€Government€strengthen€the€national€agency€for€women€in€political,Š ³  Šadministrative€and€financial€terms,€upgrade€its€status€and€give€it€the€capacity€to€coordinate€initiativesŠ œģ  Šfor€the€advancement€of€women.Š …Õ  ŠĢ543.€€Every€effort€should€be€made€to€guarantee€the€basic€services€required€to€ensure€the€survival€ofŠ W§  Šwomen€in€the€most€vulnerable€categories.€Ō_ŌProgrammesŌ_Ō€should€be€developed€to€promote€awarenessŠ @ Šamong€Ecuadorian€men€and€women€of€the€need€to€modify€cultural€values€which€perpetuateŠ )y Šdiscrimination€in€any€form.Š b ŠĢ544.€€The€Government€should€pay€particular€attention€to€preventing€and€punishing€violence€againstŠ ä4 Šwomen.Š Ķ ŠĢ545.€€The€Government€should€consider€the€possibility€of€bringing€together€women€active€inŠ Ÿļ Šnon-governmental€organizations,€political€parties€and€grass-roots€movements,€academic€women€andŠ ˆŲ Šwhomever€else€it€might€deem€appropriate.€They€could€then€join€in€a€coherent€national€effort€to€dealŠ qĮ Šwith€this€critical€situation,€the€solution€of€which€would,€to€a€great€extent,€depend€on€women'sŠ ZŖ Šsolidarity€and€determination€to€bring€about€changes.Š C“ Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ŌUK.,US.,÷DŌŌ#†¼˜»XX>Ī•#ŌŌ‡X>ĪX»¼˜ŌŠ ,| ŠĢĢŌ#†¼˜»XX>Ī©½#ŌŌ€X>ĪX»¼˜ŌĢŠ  Š!   ŠŌCEUK.,ŌŌUK.,CE.,7¾ŌŌCEUK.,ŌĢņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/58/38€(2003)ó óŠ ™é ŠĢ282.ą  ąThe€Committee€considered€the€combined€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€report€of€EcuadorŠ l¼ Š(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/ECU/4„5)€at€its€622nd€and€623rd€meetings,€on€11€July€2003€(see€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.622Š U„ Šand€623).Š > Ž ŠĢņņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyóóŠ  ` ŠĢ283.ą  ąIn€introducing€the€combined€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€report,€the€representative€noted€that€theŠ ā 2  Šnational€machinery€for€the€advancement€of€women€had€been€strengthened€through€the€creation,€inŠ Ė   Š1997,€of€the€National€Council€for€Women,€attached€to€the€Office€of€the€President.€A€PermanentŠ “  ŠCommission€on€Women,€Children€and€the€Family€had€been€created€in€1998.€The€Ō_ŌDefensoriaŌ_Ō€delŠ ķ  ŠPueblo€had€been€established,€together€with€the€Ō_ŌDefensoriaŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAdjuntaŌ_Ō€de€la€Ō_ŌMujerŌ_Ō.€The€NationalŠ †Ö  ŠCouncil€for€Women€had€a€certain€financial€and€political€autonomy,€and€benefited€from€theŠ oæ  Šparticipation€of€the€womenššs€movement€in€its€structures€and€implementation€of€public€policies.Š XØ  ŠPreparation€of€the€combined€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€report€had€been€a€collaborative€effort€betweenŠ A‘ Šthe€National€Council€for€Women€and€the€Ministries€of€Labour,€Social€Welfare€and€ExternalŠ *z ŠRelations.Š c ŠĢ284.ą  ąDespite€profound€economic€and€political€crises€during€the€1990s,€significant€legislativeŠ å5 Šreforms€had€been€undertaken€towards€the€elimination€of€discrimination€against€women.€TheŠ Ī ŠConstitution€of€1998€incorporated€the€principle€of€equality€and€non„discrimination€on€the€basis€ofŠ · Šsex,€and€a€series€of€legislative€measures€to€eradicate€discrimination€and€to€create€equal€opportunitiesŠ  š Šhad€been€introduced,€such€as€a€law€on€violence€against€women€and€the€family€(law€103)€adopted€inŠ ‰Ł Š1995,€and€a€law€on€love€and€sexuality,€as€well€as€revision€of€the€electoral€code,€and€reforms€of€theŠ rĀ Šcivil€and€penal€code.Š [« ŠĢ285.ą  ąSince€1996,€the€collection€of€sex„Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€data€had€been€improved,€and€a€national€EqualŠ -} ŠOpportunity€Plan€had€been€formulated€by€the€National€Council€for€Women€with€the€participationŠ f Šof€national€womenššs€movements.€The€plan€incorporated€Ecuadorššs€commitments€emerging€from€theŠ ’O ŠFourth€World€Conference€on€Women,€Beijing€1995.€Despite€the€significant€progress€women€hadŠ č 8 Šachieved€in€different€areas,€cultural€perceptions€and€practices€remained€discriminatory€to€women.Š Ń!!  ŠĢ286.ą  ąTurning€to€developments€in€relation€to€the€articles€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€drewŠ £#ó" Šattention€to€various€measures€that€had€been€adopted€in€support€of€the€implementation€of€the€law€onŠ Œ$Ü# Šviolence€against€women€and€the€family€(law€103).€Public€officials€had€been€trained,€32€WomenššsŠ u%Å $ ŠCommissariats€had€been€established,€and€the€Ō_ŌOficinaŌ_Ō€de€la€Ō_ŌDefensaŌ_Ō€de€los€Ō_ŌDerechosŌ_Ō€de€la€Ō_ŌMujerŌ_ŌŠ ^&®!% Šwithin€the€National€Police€had€been€established€in€1995.€Such€offices€now€existed€in€six€provinces.Š G'—"& ŠAwareness„raising€campaigns€had€been€undertaken,€and€the€number€of€complaints€regardingŠ 0(€#' Šviolence€against€women€had€increased€by€30€per€cent€between€1992€and€2002.€Violence€againstŠ )i$( Šwomen€was€now€recognized€as€both€a€social€and€public€health€problem.€However,€the€representativeŠ *R%) Šnoted€that€corrupt€practices€in€the€judicial€system€and€sexist€cultural€attitudes€continued€to€impedeŠ ė*;&* Šthe€full€implementation€of€the€law.Š Ō+$'+ ŠĢ287.ą  ąOther€legislative€advances€included€the€Labour€Code€and€Social€Security€Law€whichŠ ¦-ö(- Šguaranteed€the€rights€of€pregnant€women€to€work€and€to€enjoy€maternity€benefits.€The€Ley€deŠ ° ŠŌ_ŌMaternidadŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌGratuitaŌ_Ō€aimed€at€enhancing€womenššs€sexual€and€reproductive€health.€The€revised€LeyŠ ™é Šde€Ō_ŌAmparoŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌLaboralŌ_Ō€established€a€minimum€quota€of€20€per€cent€representation€of€women€in€theŠ ‚Ņ Šadministration€of€justice.€A€š šSolidarity€Bonusšš€had€been€established€in€1998€for€poor€women€withŠ k» Šminor€children,€persons€with€disabilities€and€the€elderly€living€below€the€poverty€line,€with€someŠ T¤ Š85€per€cent€of€beneficiaries€being€women.€However,€those€social€protection€programmes€had€notŠ =  Šsignificantly€ameliorated€their€situation.Š & v ŠĢ288.ą  ąConstitutional€and€legislative€provisions€were€also€in€place€to€protect€children€andŠ ų H Šadolescents€against€exploitation,€including€prostitution€and€sexual€exploitation.€Those€measures€hadŠ į 1  Šbeen€reinforced€by€the€creation,€in€1997,€of€the€National€Police€Directorate€specializing€in€boys,€girlsŠ Ź   Šand€adolescents,€and€in€2000,€the€Observatory€of€the€Rights€of€Children.€However,€police€andŠ ³  Šjudicial€corruption€continued€to€hinder€the€imposition€of€sanctions€for€the€exploitation€of€minors.Š œģ  ŠWith€regard€to€prostitution,€the€representative€noted€that€some€15€per€cent€of€sex€workers€registeredŠ …Õ  Šwith€the€Ministry€of€Health€were€organized€in€associations.€An€HIV/AIDS€prevention€programmeŠ n¾  Štargeted€at€sex€workers€had€been€implemented€since€1998.Š W§  ŠĢ289.ą  ąThe€reform€of€the€electoral€law€in€2000€provided€for€a€minimum€quota€of€30€per€centŠ )y Šrepresentation€of€women€on€electoral€lists,€which€led€to€a€significant€increase€in€womenššs€access€toŠ b Šelected€public€office.€Nevertheless,€such€representation,€while€increasing,€remained€low€at€national,Š ūK Šprovincial€and€local€levels.€Similarly,€the€number€of€women€in€the€higher€levels€of€the€judiciary€wasŠ ä4 Šlow,€and€there€was€only€one€woman€among€the€39€Supreme€Court€judges.€In€1999,€26.1€per€cent€ofŠ Ķ Šcabinet€ministers€were€women.€While€there€was€no€de€jure€discrimination€with€regard€to€entry€intoŠ ¶ Šthe€foreign€service,€women€still€faced€resistance€and€difficulties€in€securing€equal€opportunity€in€thatŠ Ÿļ Šarea.€In€1998,€there€were€3€women€ambassadors€out€of€a€total€of€61,€but€by€2003,€that€number€hadŠ ˆŲ Šincreased€to€5.Š qĮ ŠĢ290.ą  ąThe€1998€Constitution€incorporated€provisions€guaranteeing€equality€between€women€andŠ C“ Šmen€in€access€to€education,€ensuring€a€gender€focus€in€curricula€and€textbooks€and€participation€ofŠ ,| Šparents€in€the€education€process.€The€National€Council€for€Women€supported€programmes€toŠ e Šmainstream€gender€perspectives€in€educational€curricula,€textbooks€and€in€entrance€examinationsŠ žN Što€institutions€of€higher€education.€Steps€had€also€been€taken€to€introduce€sex€education€programmesŠ ē 7 Šinto€the€education€system.€Major€emphasis€was€placed€on€enhancing€education€in€rural€areas.€WhileŠ Š!   Šthose€and€related€efforts€led€to€a€reduction€in€womenššs€illiteracy€and€an€improvement€of€womenššsŠ ¹" ! Šeducational€indicators,€gender„specific€stereotypes€remained€prevalent€in€the€education€system.€TheŠ ¢#ņ" Šhigh€teenage€pregnancy€rate,€especially€in€rural€areas,€continued€to€lead€to€the€expulsion€or€droppingŠ ‹$Ū# Šout€of€young€women€from€schools.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ291.ą  ąThe€Constitution€guaranteed€women€equality€of€opportunity€in€access€to€the€labour€marketŠ F'–"& Šas€well€as€equal€pay€for€equal€work,€recognized€domestic€work€as€productive€work,€and€prohibitedŠ /(#' Šdiscrimination€in€the€labour€market€for€reasons€of€maternity.€The€Labour€Code€provided€forŠ )h$( Šmaternity€leave,€measures€to€provide€for€childcare€had€been€realized,€and€public€employees€wereŠ *Q%) Šcovered€by€social€security.€However,€the€political€and€economic€crises€of€the€1990s€had€resulted€inŠ ź*:&* Šan€increase€in€the€number€of€economic€migrants,€of€whom€an€estimated€38€per€cent€were€women.Š Ó+#'+ ŠForeign€remittances€had€become€the€countryššs€second€largest€source€of€income.€WomenššsŠ ¼, (, Šunemployment€and€underemployment€rates€were€significantly€higher€than€those€of€men.Š „-õ(- Ї292.ą  ąThe€representative€drew€attention€to€certain€improved€health€indicators,€however,€some€80Š ° Šper€cent€of€women€remained€without€health€insurance.€Some€17.5€per€cent€of€15€to€19„year„oldŠ ™é Šwomen€were€already€mothers.€Care€for€pregnant€women€had€not€improved€during€the€last€decade,Š ‚Ņ Šand€that€situation€remained€a€particular€concern€among€indigenous€women.€Since€1999,€the€MinistryŠ k» Šof€Public€Health€had€been€implementing€a€plan€to€improve€maternal€health€and€the€health€of€childrenŠ T¤ Šunder€five€years€of€age€by€Ō_ŌfocusingŌ_Ō€on€improved€access,€quality€of€service€and€social€participation.Š =  ŠThe€Ley€de€Ō_ŌMaternidadŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌGratuitaŌ_Ō€aimed€at€providing€women€with€the€necessary€care€duringŠ & v Špregnancy,€delivery€and€post„partum.€That€law€was€complemented€by€a€series€of€importantŠ  _ Šinstitutional€reforms.Š ų H ŠĢ293.ą  ąThe€representative€noted€that,€according€to€all€social€indicators,€the€situation€of€indigenousŠ Ź   Šwomen€was€worse€among€all€groups€of€disadvantaged€groups€of€women,€for€example€with€regardŠ ³  Što€literacy€rates,€income,€or€access€to€health€care.€The€Agrarian€Development€Law€of€1994Š œģ  Šstrengthened€capacity„building€efforts€in€rural€areas,€and€encouraged€local€organization€forŠ …Õ  Šproductive€purposes.€The€law€also€guaranteed€land€ownership€and€promoted€access€to€credit.€StepsŠ n¾  Šsuch€as€the€1997€Plan€to€fight€rural€poverty,€the€national€programme€for€rural€development,€and€theŠ W§  Šestablishment€of€a€National€Division€for€Ō_ŌCampesinoŌ_Ō€Women,€Youth€and€Family€within€the€MinistryŠ @ Šof€Agriculture€and€Livestock€aimed€at€improving€the€situation€of€rural€women,€and€provided€themŠ )y Šwith€direct€services,€such€as€in€regards€to€land€ownership,€and€access€to€credit.€NotwithstandingŠ b Šthose€efforts,€lack€of€rural€development€and€services€led€to€a€significant€degree€of€rural„to„urbanŠ ūK Šmigration.Š ä4 ŠĢ294.ą  ąIn€conclusion,€the€representative€noted€that€legal€reforms€had€ensured€for€women€the€sameŠ ¶ Šlegal€status,€rights€and€obligations€as€men€in€the€context€of€marriage€and€family.€At€the€same€time,Š Ÿļ Šthe€national€culture€continued€to€assign€family€responsibilities€almost€exclusively€to€women,€aŠ ˆŲ Šsituation€that€was€reinforced€by€public€support€programmes€that€Ō_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€on€family€welfare.Š qĮ ŠEcuadorian€women€had€shouldered€the€costs€of€economic€adjustment,€which€had€led€to€budgetaryŠ ZŖ Šcuts€in€the€social,€education€and€welfare€sectors.Š C“ ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ e ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ ē 7 ŠĢ295.ą  ąThe€Committee€welcomes€the€delegation€of€Ecuador,€headed€by€the€Technical€Director€ofŠ ¹" ! Šthe€National€Council€for€Women,€who€provided€a€comprehensive€picture€of€the€progress€achievedŠ ¢#ņ" Šand€obstacles€that€remained€in€the€realization€of€gender€equality€in€the€country.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ296.ą  ąThe€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€State€party€for€the€extensive€informationŠ ]&­!% Šcontained€in€its€combined€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€report,€as€well€as€its€replies€to€the€questionsŠ F'–"& Šraised€by€the€pre„session€working€group,€which€contain€additional€information€on€the€situation€ofŠ /(#' ŠEcuadorian€women.€The€Committee€also€appreciates€the€detailed€oral€replies€from€the€delegationŠ )h$( Šwhich€made€possible€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€Committee.Š *Q%) ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ Ó+#'+ ŠĢ297.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€proclamation€of€the€State€Constitution€inŠ „-õ(- Š1998€which€enshrines€the€fundamental€principles€of€protection€and€promotion€of€the€human€rightsŠ ° Šof€women,€and€for€the€adoption€of€a€series€of€important€laws€and€new€laws€aimed€at€achievingŠ ™é Šequality.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ298.ą  ąThe€Committee€congratulates€the€State€party€for€the€establishment€of€the€National€CouncilŠ T¤ Šfor€Women€in€1997€as€the€lead€agency€for€public€policy€aimed€at€the€inclusion€of€a€genderŠ =  Šperspective€in€public€sector€agencies,€whose€Board€of€Directors€includes€representatives€of€civilŠ & v Šsociety.Š  _ ŠĢ299.ą  ąThe€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€the€implementation€of€the€Equal€OpportunitiesŠ į 1  ŠPlan€1996„2000,€whose€results€led€to€progress€in€the€advancement€of€women.Š Ź   ŠĢ300.ą  ąThe€Committee€congratulates€the€State€party€for€its€ratification€of€the€Optional€Protocol€toŠ œģ  Šthe€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€on€5€FebruaryŠ …Õ  Š2002.Š n¾  ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ @ ŠĢ301.ą  ąAlthough€the€Committee€welcomes€with€satisfaction€the€laws€recently€adopted€and€theŠ b Šlegislative€reforms€and€bills€submitted€to€the€National€Congress,€it€is€concerned€that€discriminatoryŠ ūK Šprovisions€still€remain€in€criminal€and€civil€law,€family€law€in€particular.€Furthermore,€theŠ ä4 ŠCommittee€is€concerned€at€the€disparity€between€the€de€jure€and€de€facto€situation€regarding€legalŠ Ķ Šprotection€for€women.€It€is€also€concerned€at€the€lack€of€an€integrated€policy€to€institutionalize€aŠ ¶ Šgender€perspective€among€the€major€elements€of€the€State€partyššs€strategic€priorities.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ302.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€repeal€the€remaining€discriminatory€provisions€inŠ qĮ Šits€criminal,€civil€and€family€law€to€ensure€the€enforcement€of€laws€prohibiting€discriminationŠ ZŖ Šagainst€women,€and€to€streamline€procedures€for€review€of€the€compatibility€of€those€laws€with€theŠ C“ ŠConvention,€thereby€strengthening€its€political€will€to€incorporate€a€gender€perspective€in€theŠ ,| Šformulation€and€enforcement€of€laws.€The€Committee€also€urges€the€State€party€to€consider€theŠ e Šincorporation€of€a€gender€perspective€in€its€normative€framework€as€a€main€focus€among€its€strategicŠ žN Špriorities€and€to€consider€the€possibility€of€designing€and€implementing€an€integrated€policy€toŠ ē 7 Šinstitutionalize€a€gender€perspective.Š Š!   ŠĢ303.ą  ąAlthough€the€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€the€National€Council€for€WomenŠ ¢#ņ" Šby€executive€decree€in€1997,€it€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€a€law€institutionalizing€the€Council€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šregulating€its€normative€capability,€operations€and€financing.€It€is€also€concerned€that€this€body€doesŠ t%Ä $ Šnot€have€an€explicit€mandate€allowing€it€to€guarantee,€and€require€from€the€different€sectors€ofŠ ]&­!% Šgovernment,€the€enforcement€of€laws,€plans€and€programmes€for€gender€equality,€and€that€a€DirectorŠ F'–"& Šstill€has€not€been€appointed.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€the€participation€of€civil€societyŠ /(#' Šorganizations€in€the€Council€could€be€weakened€and€that€movements€of€indigenous€women€andŠ )h$( Šwomen€of€African€descent€are€still€not€represented.Š *Q%) ŠĢ304.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€strengthen€the€regulatory€and€normative€role€of€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠNational€Council€for€Women€by€adopting€a€law€institutionalizing€and€regulating€its€activities€andŠ ¼, (, Šgiving€it€a€more€active€role€in€monitoring€the€enforcement€of€standards€to€promote€gender€equality,Š „-õ(- Šand€to€allocate€to€it€the€financial€resources€necessary€for€its€operation€and€the€exercise€of€itsŠ ° Šfunctions.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€appoint€a€director€to€head€theŠ ™é ŠNational€Council€for€Women.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€ensure€the€participationŠ ‚Ņ Šof€civil€society€in€the€Council€and€to€promote€the€participation€of€movements€of€indigenous€womenŠ k» Šand€women€of€African€descent.Š T¤ ŠĢ305.ą  ąWhile€the€Committee€welcomes€the€elaboration€of€the€Equal€Opportunities€Plan€1996„2000Š & v Šas€a€technical€instrument€guaranteeing€the€inclusion€of€a€gender€perspective€in€public€policies€andŠ  _ Špromoting€the€development€of€programmes€and€projects€to€benefit€women€and€girls,€it€is€concernedŠ ų H Šat€the€delay€in€the€discussion€and€consultation€on€the€adoption€of€the€Equal€Opportunities€Plan€2002„Š į 1  Š2007.Š Ź   ŠĢ306.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€accelerate€the€review€and€consultation€process€forŠ œģ  Šthe€adoption€of€a€new€plan,€with€the€participation€of€civil€society€and€particularly€womenššs€groups,Š …Õ  Šwith€a€view€to€its€rapid€adoption.Š n¾  ŠĢ307.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€high€levels€of€poverty€and€extreme€poverty€amongŠ @ Šwomen,€and€notes€in€particular€the€situation€of€rural€and€indigenous€women.€Despite€the€existenceŠ )y Šof€isolated€anti„poverty€plans,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€a€general€andŠ b Šcomprehensive€poverty€eradication€policy€specifically€targeting€rural€and€indigenous€women.Š ūK ŠĢ308.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€develop€a€general€poverty€eradication€policyŠ Ķ Šincorporating€a€gender€perspective€and€Ō_ŌfocusingŌ_Ō€particularly€on€rural€and€indigenous€women.Š ¶ ŠĢ309.ą  ąGiven€the€increasing€numbers€of€Ecuadorian€women€taking€refuge€in€foreign€countries€toŠ ˆŲ Šescape€from€poverty€and€extreme€poverty,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€fact€that€this€situationŠ qĮ Šmakes€it€likely€that€emigrant€women€will€be€victims€of€various€forms€of€violence,€exploitation€andŠ ZŖ Štrafficking.€The€Committee€is€likewise€concerned€at€the€vulnerability€of€women€whose€spousesŠ C“ Šemigrate€to€other€countries.€It€is€also€concerned€at€the€situation€of€Ecuadorian€women€living€on€theŠ ,| ŠEcuador„Colombia€border€and€that€of€Colombian€women€who€flee€Colombia€and€take€refuge€inŠ e ŠEcuador,€since€they€are€also€victims€of€violence€of€all€kinds€owing€to€the€militarization€of€the€borderŠ žN Šarea€and€the€application€of€š šPlan€Colombiašš.Š ē 7 ŠĢ310.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€focus€on€the€causes€of€this€phenomenon€and€adoptŠ ¹" ! Šmeasures€to€alleviate€poverty€and€extreme€poverty,€and€to€protect€migrant€women€and€those€whoŠ ¢#ņ" Šremain€in€Ecuador€when€their€spouses€emigrate,€as€well€as€women€living€on€the€Ecuador„ColombianŠ ‹$Ū# Šborder.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ311.ą  ąAlthough€the€Constitution€guarantees€the€protection€of€children€and€adolescents€fromŠ F'–"& Štrafficking,€prostitution,€pornography€and€sexual€exploitation,€and€the€law€defines€the€corruption€ofŠ /(#' Šminors€as€a€serious€offence,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€many€such€activities€are€not€explicitlyŠ )h$( Šdefined€as€serious€offences€by€the€Penal€Code€and€that€there€is€insufficient€protection€for€the€victimsŠ *Q%) Šof€such€offences.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€lack€of€studies,€analyses€and€gender„Š ź*:&* ŠŌ_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€statistics€on€the€incidence€of€these€activities.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€thatŠ Ó+#'+ Šsexual€abuse€is€not€defined€as€an€offence;€it€is€especially€concerned€at€the€fact€that€trafficking€inŠ ¼, (, Šwomen,€particularly€for€the€sex€industry,€is€not€penalized€by€law,€leaving€its€victims€unprotected.Š „-õ(- Ї312.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€Penal€Code€should€severely€penalize€these€seriousŠ ° Šoffences€against€children€and€adolescents,€that€the€appropriate€measures€should€be€taken€to€protectŠ ™é Šand€rehabilitate€the€victims€and€that€the€appropriate€studies€and€analyses€should€be€conducted€toŠ ‚Ņ Šenable€the€Government€to€deal€effectively€with€the€situation.€The€Committee€further€believes€thatŠ k» Štrafficking€in€women,€particularly€for€the€sex€industry,€should€be€strictly€penalized.Š T¤ ŠĢ313.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€Governmentššs€lack€of€attention€to€the€problem€ofŠ & v Šprostitution€and€at€the€fact€that€current€legislation€fails€to€penalize€pimps€for€managing€premises€forŠ  _ Šthis€type€of€exploitation.€This€is€the€case€under€the€rules€established€by€the€administrativeŠ ų H Šauthorities,€and€those€rules€are€incompatible€with€article€6€of€the€Convention.Š į 1  ŠĢ314.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€appropriate€attention€should€be€given€to€the€problem€ofŠ ³  Šprostitution€and€that€the€law€should€penalize€those€who€engage€in€the€exploitation€of€prostitution.Š œģ  ŠĢ315.ą  ąWhile€the€Committee€welcomes€the€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€combat€violence€againstŠ n¾  Šwomen€through€the€enactment€of€the€Law€to€Combat€Violence€against€Women€and€the€Family,€itŠ W§  Šis€concerned€at€the€absence€of€regulations€for€the€implementation€of€that€Law€and€at€the€persistenceŠ @ Šof€violence€against€women€in€Ecuador.€The€Committee€also€expresses€its€concern€at€the€fact€that€theŠ )y ŠPenal€Code€defines€violence€against€women€not€as€a€serious€offence€but€only€a€minor€offence.Š b ŠĢ316.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€take€steps€to€implement€the€aforementionedŠ ä4 Šlegislation,€taking€into€account€the€Committeeššs€General€Recommendation€19€on€violence€againstŠ Ķ Šwomen,€and€to€monitor€its€application€and€assess€its€effectiveness.€The€Committee€likewiseŠ ¶ Šconsiders€it€particularly€important€that€violence€against€women€should€be€penalized€under€theŠ Ÿļ ŠEcuadorian€Penal€Code.€Similarly,€it€urges€the€State€party€to€draft€and€implement€regulations€toŠ ˆŲ Šimplement€the€Law€to€Combat€Violence€against€Women€and€the€FŌ_ŌamilyŌ_Ō€and€recommends€that€theŠ qĮ ŠState€party€should€conduct€training€and€awareness€campaigns€on€domestic€violence,€mainly€for€staffŠ ZŖ Šin€the€judicial€sector€and€police€officers.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€provide€sufficient€funding€forŠ C“ Šprogrammes€to€protect€the€victims€of€violence€against€women,€in€order€to€ensure€theirŠ ,| Šimplementation.Š e ŠĢ317.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€that,€although€there€is€a€National€Education€Plan€for€Love€andŠ ē 7 ŠSexuality,€it€is€not€applied€consistently€and€little€is€done€to€publicize€womenššs€right€to€sexual€andŠ Š!   Šreproductive€health€care,€which€would€help€to€make€both€sexes€aware€of€their€rights€andŠ ¹" ! Šresponsibilities€in€the€area€of€reproduction.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€high€rate€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Špregnancy€and€abortion€among€teenagers,€particularly€in€rural€areas.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ318.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€implement€the€National€Education€Plan€for€Love€andŠ ]&­!% ŠSexuality€and€to€strengthen€its€health„care€programmes,€including€sexual€and€reproductive€health,Š F'–"& Šand,€as€soon€as€possible,€to€implement€a€national€programme€that€provides€women€and€men€withŠ /(#' Šadequate€and€reliable€information€on€available€contraceptive€methods€and€methods€that€can€enableŠ )h$( Šthem€to€exercise€their€right€to€make€a€free€and€informed€decision€concerning€the€number€and€spacingŠ *Q%) Šof€their€children€and€to€strengthen€methods€for€preventing€sexually€transmitted€diseases€andŠ ź*:&* ŠHIV/AIDS,€including€the€availability€of€condoms.€It€also€requests€the€State€party€to€continueŠ Ó+#'+ Šstrengthening€support€programmes€for€pregnant€teenagers€and€teenage€mothers€and€sexual€educationŠ ¼, (, Šprogrammes€to€prevent€pregnancies€among€the€teenage€population.€The€Committee€requests€theŠ „-õ(- ŠState€party€to€include€in€its€next€periodic€report€information€on€the€impact€of€programmes€to€limitŠ ° Šand€prevent€teenage€pregnancies.Š ™é ŠĢ319.ą  ąThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€persistent€problem€of€illiteracy,€especially€in€rural€areas,Š k» Šand€the€high€rate€of€school€dropouts€among€the€female€population,€in€particular€in€rural€andŠ T¤ Šindigenous€areas.Š =  ŠĢ320.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€efforts€to€address€this€problem€should€be€stepped€up,Š  _ Šthrough€the€sustained€implementation€of€programmes€and€plans,€especially€in€rural€and€indigenousŠ ų H Šareas.Š į 1  ŠĢ321.ą  ąAlthough€there€is€a€bilingual€education€plan€and€gender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō€programmes€designedŠ ³  Što€be€applied€at€the€different€levels€of€basic€education€and€teacher€training,€the€Committee€notes€withŠ œģ  Šconcern€that€the€plan€is€not€applied€systematically€and€in€all€centres€responsible€for€applying€it.Š …Õ  ŠĢ322.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€implement€the€bilingual€education€plan€and€theŠ W§  Šgender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō€programmes.Š @ ŠĢ323.ą  ąAlthough€labour€legislation€exists,€the€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€lack€of€a€generalŠ b Šemployment€policy€giving€priority€attention€to€women,€the€failure€to€apply€labour€legislation€andŠ ūK Šthe€persistence€of€inequalities,€manifested€in€particular€by€a€gap€between€menššs€and€womenššsŠ ä4 Šsalaries.€The€Committee€is€especially€concerned€at€the€persistent€high€rate€of€child€labour€inŠ Ķ ŠEcuador.Š ¶ ŠĢ324.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€necessary€steps€should€be€taken€to€guarantee€that€theŠ ˆŲ Šprovisions€of€article€11€of€the€Convention€are€enforced€and€that€the€relevant€International€LabourŠ qĮ ŠOrganization€conventions€ratified€by€Ecuador€are€applied,€in€particular€concerning€the€prohibitionŠ ZŖ Šof€discrimination€in€employment,€the€prohibition€of€child€labour€and€equal€pay€for€women€and€men.Š C“ ŠIt€recommends€the€adoption€of€a€gender„sensitive€employment€plan€and€labour€code€and€theŠ ,| Šprohibition€of€child€labour.Š e ŠĢ325.ą  ąDespite€the€existence€of€awareness„raising€programmes,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€theŠ ē 7 Špersistence€of€traditional€stereotypes€relating€to€the€roles€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€menŠ Š!   Šwithin€the€family,€in€the€education€system€and€in€society€in€general.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ326.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€the€development€of€policies€and€implementation€of€programmesŠ ‹$Ū# Šfor€women€and€men€aimed€at€eliminating€stereotypes€associated€with€traditional€roles€within€theŠ t%Ä $ Šfamily€and€in€the€education€system,€employment,€politics€and€society€in€general.€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ327.ą  ąDespite€the€reform€of€the€Electoral€Law,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€low€percentageŠ /(#' Šof€political€participation€of€women€and€the€failure€to€apply,€alternatively€and€sequentially,€articleŠ )h$( Š40€of€the€Electoral€Law,€which€stipulates€that€there€must€be€a€30€per€cent€quota€of€women€on€theŠ *Q%) Šelectoral€lists.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€possibility€that€this€article€might€be€removedŠ ź*:&* Šfrom€the€Law.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ328.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€adopt€strategies€to€increase€theŠ „-õ(- Šnumber€of€women€taking€part€in€decision„making€positions€at€all€levels,€including€the€introductionŠ ° Šof€temporary€special€measures,€in€conformity€with€article€4,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€toŠ ™é Šstrengthen€its€efforts€to€promote€women€to€positions€of€power€in€both€the€public€and€private€sectors,Š ‚Ņ Šsupported€by€special€training€programmes€and€campaigns€to€raise€awareness€of€the€importance€ofŠ k» Šwomenššs€participation€in€the€countryššs€political€life.Š T¤ ŠĢ329.ą  ąWhile€acknowledging€efforts€made€by€the€State€party€to€establish€gender„Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_ŌŠ & v Šindicators,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€reports€submitted€contain€an€insufficient€amount€of€gender„Š  _ ŠŌ_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€data€and€insufficient€information€concerning€rural€and€indigenous€women.Š ų H ŠĢ330.ą  ąThe€Committee€recommends€a€broader€and€more€exhaustive€compilation€of€gender„Š Ź   ŠŌ_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€data€and€urges€the€State€party€to€include€in€its€next€report€statistics€indicating€theŠ ³  Šstatus€of€programmes€and€their€impact€on€the€countryššs€female€population,€in€particular€rural€andŠ œģ  Šindigenous€women.Š …Õ  ŠĢ331.ą  ąThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€terms€š šequalityšš€and€š šequityšš€are€usedŠ W§  Šsynonymously€in€the€State€partyššs€reports.Š @ ŠĢ332.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€note€that€the€terms€š šequityšš€and€š šequalityšš€are€notŠ b Šsynonymous€or€interchangeable€terms€and€that€the€Convention€is€aimed€at€the€elimination€ofŠ ūK Šdiscrimination€against€women€and€at€ensuring€equality€between€women€and€men.Š ä4 ŠĢ333.ą  ąThe€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€deposit€its€instrument€of€acceptance€of€theŠ ¶ Šamendment€to€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention€concerning€the€Committeeššs€sessions.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ334.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€State€party€to€respond€to€the€specific€questions€raised€in€theseŠ qĮ Šconcluding€comments€in€its€next€periodic€report€to€be€submitted€under€article€18€of€the€Convention.Š ZŖ ŠThe€Committee€invites€the€State€party€to€submit€its€sixth€periodic€report,€which€was€due€inŠ C“ ŠDecember€2002,€and€its€seventh€periodic€report,€due€in€December€2006,€in€a€combined€report€inŠ ,| Š2006.Š e ŠĢ335.ą  ąTaking€account€of€the€gender€dimensions€of€deŌ_ŌclarationsŌ_Ō,€programmes€and€platforms€forŠ ē 7 Šaction€adopted€by€relevant€United€Nations€conferences,€summits€and€special€sessions€(such€as€theŠ Š!   Šspecial€session€of€the€General€Assembly€to€review€and€appraise€the€implementation€of€theŠ ¹" ! ŠProgramme€of€Action€of€the€International€Conference€on€Population€and€Development€(the€twenty„Š ¢#ņ" Šfirst€special€session),€the€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly€on€Children€(the€twenty„seventhŠ ‹$Ū# Šspecial€session),€the€World€Conference€against€Racism,€Racial€Discrimination,€Xenophobia€andŠ t%Ä $ ŠRelated€Intolerance€and€the€Second€World€Assembly€on€Ageing),€the€Committee€requests€the€StateŠ ]&­!% Šparty€to€include€information€on€the€implementation€of€aspects€of€these€documents€relating€toŠ F'–"& Šrelevant€articles€of€the€Convention€in€its€next€periodic€report.Š /(#' ŠĢ336.ą  ąThe€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€Ecuador€of€these€concluding€commentsŠ *Q%) Šin€order€to€make€the€people€of€Ecuador,€in€particular€government€administrators€and€politicians,Š ź*:&* Šaware€of€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€or€remain€to€be€taken€to€ensure€the€de€jure€and€de€factoŠ Ó+#'+ Šequality€of€women.€It€also€requests€the€State€party€to€continue€to€disseminate€widely,€in€particularŠ ¼, (, Što€womenššs€and€human€rights€organizations,€the€Convention,€its€Optional€Protocol,€the€CommitteeššsŠ „-õ(- Šgeneral€recommendations€and€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€Platform€for€Action,€as€well€as€the€resultsŠ ° Šof€the€twenty„third€special€session€of€the€General€Assembly,€entitled€š šWomen€2000:€gender€equality,Š ™é Šdevelopment€and€peace€for€the€twenty„first€centuryšš.Š ‚Ņ ŠŌUK.,CE.,c¾Ō