ÿWPC[ ‚ щ'Ê[uÐzO†ª»‚w1£.d|oÖU{ÔA9SØáãèÍ*Ƽ_r)ì#ãHŠÍ–M¤÷8;7·…ñ¹Åa¨††4ÝÁNtM3F;½éÁI3à â"Žk™ëöÛ¶™Ðö' ëyã& ¤`ØHó3zÕÄõ&‘{^k“()ê‹èÅo#®X3»åIoå„…KÅ:·@½7xÔ@Ÿì¸²n=JÖÖ¸>è;FñíFÊ~w‘]øyÒ­- wpz‰ÕŒNa¨ÖÅHNr¤f´@·¸®àáx¸Ã=-áHæyO´¯ÌXÜI·Ä$¨z30øÇw¹àÞ zk}ûøþ2"$† Êü˜4õ6 æ`Qd¥¾½+25?Xp^ÝŒiVôÁ뽦­Ú°¥„ÊØ~ˆØôýÐýŒaëÄ.Æ-ÆI ]¥®$oÓ6ñ@„ßB`nèéPMôÓÅ|ª”ϳƒ}ü#…G“øQˆ˜ý5jÒ5äÚ¿HÒiG‡I?*Wâ,çæŠÅCbI&¶£„@©V} |²ÄÐEù®”-b¶Ê„»úHK€OoX¨ah[ò "XYE)ç>/´Æ~­T< #Á¶UNw %Å 0:Ë^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô&™g, &bœ+ør œ œ3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ïì»XXÔò òÓ  ÓHONDURASÔ€X·pX»¼ïìÔÐ ° ÐÓ_ÓÓÓÌÌÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô€€A/47/38€Ô_Ô(1992)Ô_ÔÐ œì ÐÌÌó ó106.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial,€second€and€third€periodic€report€of€HondurasÐ ` ° Ð(Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/5/Add.44,€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/13/Add.9€and€Amend.1€and€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/HON/3)€at€its€193òòrdóó€andÐ L œ Ð196òòthóó€meetings,€on€22€and€24€January€1992€(see€Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/SR/193€and€196).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ107.€€In€introducing€the€report,€the€representative€of€Honduras€stated€that€recently€many€reforms€hadÐ `  Ðbeen€carried€out.€€As€they€had€not€been€reflected€in€the€third€periodic€report,€she€was€concentratingÐ üL  Ðin€her€presentation€on€the€developments€that€had€taken€place€since€the€date€of€that€report.€€She€saidÐ è8  Ðthat€60€per€cent€of€her€country€lived€in€rural€areas€and€that,€since€1979,€the€country€had€beenÐ Ô$  Ðsuffering€from€economic€difficulties.€€Many€women€from€rural€areas€were€currently€working€for€veryÐ À  Ðlow€wages€in€the€urban€informal€sector.€€Most€rural€women€carried€out€unpaid€domestic€activities.€Ð ¬ü  ÐLack€of€firewood€caused€by€deforestation€and€shortage€in€water€supplies€because€of€erosion€andÐ ˜è Ðother€factors€had€a€direct€impact€on€the€status€of€women,€although€the€Government€was€making€greatÐ „Ô Ðefforts€through€the€social€compensation€system€to€integrate€more€women€in€remunerative€activitiesÐ pÀ Ðor€to€encourage€them€to€take€advantage€of€educational€and€training€programmes.Ð \¬ ÐÌ108.€€The€representative€stated€further€that€her€country€had€been€the€hardest€hit€by€the€HIV/AIDSÐ 4„ Ðpandemic€in€Central€America.€€The€highest€percentage€of€HIV/AIDS€cases€were€to€be€found€amongÐ  p Ðwomen€and€men€in€the€age€bracket€of€16€to€35€years,€which€is€the€reproductive€age.€€TheÐ  \ ÐGovernment€was€trying€to€educate€public€health€officials€through€seminars€and€workshops.€€It€wasÐ øH Ðcarrying€out€general€educational€campaigns€and€provided€training€to€women€teachers€regarding€sexÐ ä4 Ðeducation€and€sexually€transmitted€diseases.€€The€national€AIDS€control€programme€directed€manyÐ Ð  Ðmedical€and€psychological€support€programmes€specifically€for€women.€€In€addition,€there€wereÐ ¼  Ðnational€programmes€regarding€sex€education€and€basic€health€needs€specifically€for€rural€women,Ð ¨ø Ðincluding€information€on€sexually€transmitted€diseases.Ð ”ä ÐÌ109.€€According€to€the€representative,€rural€training€activities€were€carried€out€with€a€view€toÐ l!¼ Ðintegrating€rural€women€into€the€productive€process.€€She€mentioned€that€for€the€acquisition€of€landÐ X"¨  Ðthe€only€requirement€was€to€be€a€Honduran€citizen,€male€or€female,€over€the€age€of€16€if€unmarried;Ð D#”! Ðof€any€age€if€married,€in€a€de€facto€union€or€without€family€dependants.€€A€Social€DevelopmentÐ 0$€" ÐOffice€(Ô_ÔGADESÔ_Ô),€created€in€1986€by€the€Government€to€lend€assistance€to€the€social€sectors,€hadÐ %l # Ðdecided€to€include€among€its€specific€objectives€the€integration€of€women€into€programmes€for€theÐ &X!$ Ðgrant€and€ownership€of€rural€and€urban€lands.€€The€representative€also€referred€to€the€possibility€ofÐ ô&D"% Ðintroducing€legal€reforms,€such€as€amendments€to€the€Labour€Code€and€the€Penal€Code,€pointing€outÐ à'0#& Ðthat€the€Social€Security€Laws€and€the€Law€on€Agrarian€Reform€had€recently€been€amended.€€TheÐ Ì($' Ðrepresentative€also€said€that€efforts€were€being€made€to€establish€cooperatives€with€the€aim€ofÐ ¸)%( Ðsupplying€basic€commodities€at€acceptable€prices.€€As€an€example€she€referred€to€the€cooperativesÐ ¤*ô%) Ðset€up€to€use€the€vouchers€for€female€heads„of„household€introduced€for€the€benefit€of€children€andÐ +à&* Ðmothers€living€in€extreme€poverty.€€The€representative€also€mentioned€a€social€compensationÐ |,Ì'+ Ðprogramme€for€women€in€the€informal€sector€and€for€marginalized€women€in€rural€and€urban€areas.€Ð h-¸(, ÐÔ_ÔRural€women€were€also€beginning€to€get€involved€in€environmental€protection.€€Reforms€of€schoolÐ ° Ðtextbooks€were€being€carried€out€with€the€assistance€of€international€agencies€in€order€to€eliminateÐ œì Ðstereotyping.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ110.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€thanks€to€the€representative€of€Honduras€for€beingÐ `° Ðpresent€and€for€introducing€the€report€in€such€a€sincere€and€informative€way€and€for€the€additionalÐ L œ Ðinformation€provided.€€They€congratulated€the€Government€on€having€presented€a€much„improvedÐ 8 ˆ Ðthird€periodic€report€and€expressed€appreciation€for€the€efforts€undertaken€by€the€Government€despiteÐ $ t Ðthe€prevailing€difficult€political€and€economic€situation,€and€for€the€positive€developments€that€hadÐ  ` Ðbeen€taking€place€since€the€ratification€of€the€Convention.€€It€was€evident€that€the€Convention€hadÐ ü L  Ða€visible€impact€on€the€Governmentððs€policy€to€enhance€the€status€of€women€and€had€led€to€theÐ è 8  Ðamendment€of€a€number€of€laws€in€their€favour.€€The€members€also€appreciated€the€measuresÐ Ô$  Ðundertaken€by€the€Government€to€improve€the€lives€of€rural€women,€who€had€been€involved€inÐ À  Ðconducting€agrarian€reforms€and€were€currently€heading€rural€projects.€€However,€members€askedÐ ¬ü  Ðabout€the€existence€of€a€national€machinery€or€similar€body€to€promote€the€advancement€of€women,Ð ˜è  Ðthe€dissemination€of€the€Convention€and€its€implementation.€€They€were€concerned€at€the€magnitudeÐ „Ô  Ðof€the€problem€of€HIV/AIDS.€€Another€point€raised€by€the€Committee€referred€to€the€distribution€ofÐ pÀ Ðforeign€aid€that€was€often€done€by€menððs€committees€and,€consequently,€did€not€cater€to€the€needsÐ \¬ Ðof€women.€€The€question€was€asked€whether€and€how€women€would€be€able€to€take€part€in€theÐ H˜ Ðdistribution€of€foreign€aid€funds.Ð 4„ ÐÌ111.€€Regarding€article€2,€members€asked€whether€the€assertion€in€the€report€that€in€connection€withÐ  \ Ðrape€ð ðthe€physical€and€organic€damage€and€the€moral€trauma€engendered€in€a€ððmaleðð€victim€may€beÐ øH Ðmore€serious€than€in€a€womanðð€was€the€result€of€a€study€or€a€prejudicial€concept.€€They€also€enquiredÐ ä4 Ðwhether€there€were€plans€to€reform€the€Penal€Code€with€regard€to€the€sanctions€for€the€murder€of€aÐ Ð  Ðspouse€for€adultery,€which€amounted€to€only€4„6€years.€€The€government€representative€was€askedÐ ¼  Ðto€provide€the€text€of€the€law€that€gave€women€a€preferential€right€over€the€salary,€wages€or€incomeÐ ¨ø Ðof€their€husbands.Ð ”ä ÐÌ112.€€On€article€3,€members€observed€that€a€change€in€legislation€was€not€sufficient€for€combatingÐ l¼ Ðdiscrimination€against€women.€€It€was€important€to€implement€the€related€laws€by€concrete€measures.€Ð X ¨ ÐAlthough€the€third€periodic€report€referred€to€a€set€of€measures,€there€did€not€seem€to€be€a€plan€ofÐ D!” Ðaction€behind€them€or€a€national€machinery€to€carry€them€out.€€They€also€pointed€out€that€theÐ 0"€  Ðdiscrepancies€in€wages€for€men€and€women€persisted€and€asked€which€programmes€had€beenÐ #l! Ðundertaken€to€eliminate€that€inequality.Ð $X" ÐÌ113.€€Under€article€4,€members€asked€why€so€far€no€temporary€special€measures€had€been€undertakenÐ à%0!$ Ðto€ensure€de€facto€equality€between€women€and€men.€€Further€clarification€was€sought€regardingÐ Ì&"% Ðmaternity€benefits,€and€the€question€was€asked€why€maternity€benefits€were€mentioned€under€articleÐ ¸'#& Ð4€of€the€Convention€although€that€constituted€basic€right.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ114.€€On€article€5,€more€information€was€requested€on€legislation€to€protect€women€against€violenceÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€various€forms€or€other€violations€of€human€rights.€€Members€asked€whether€support€services,Ð h+¸&* Ðinformation€and€training€programmes€to€face€violence€existed€and€they€requested€statistics€on€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðfrequency€of€various€forms€of€violence.€€Other€questions€asked€were€whether€there€were€attemptsÐ @-(, Ðto€coordinate€activities€with€womenððs€groups€and€non„governmental€organizations,€what€was€beingÐ ° Ðdone€to€protect€migrant€women€and€whether€there€were€special€programmes€for€refugee€women.€Ð œì ÐMore€information€was€sought€on€legislation€with€regard€to€the€punishment€of€sexual€harassment€andÐ ˆØ Ðits€application.Ð tÄ ÐÌ115.€€Under€article€6,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€prostitution€of€minors,€on€theÐ L œ Ðeffectiveness€of€any€related€measures€and€the€number€of€cases€taken€to€court.€€Questions€asked€wereÐ 8 ˆ Ðhow€many€and€what€kind€of€women€engaged€in€prostitution€and€whether€any€plans€existed€toÐ $ t Ðestablish€contact€with€non„governmental€organizations€to€protect€women€from€violence€and€abuse.€Ð  ` ÐIt€was€noted€that€the€report€made€no€reference€to€AIDS€programmes€directed€at€prostitutes.€€SomeÐ ü L  Ðmembers€wanted€to€know€whether€female€prostitutes€received€the€same€protection€by€law€againstÐ è 8  Ðviolence€and€rape€as€other€women.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ116.€€On€article€7,€questions€asked€were€what€the€citizenship€status€of€Hondurans€under€the€age€ofÐ ¬ü  Ð18€was€and€whether€the€interdiction€for€active€service€personnel€in€the€armed€forces€to€exercise€theirÐ ˜è  Ðright€to€vote€did€not€constitute€a€discrimination€of€a€certain€section€of€the€population.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ117.€€Under€article€9,€information€on€the€nationality€rights€of€children€was€requested.Ð \¬ ÐÌ118.€€Regarding€article€10,€statistics€were€requested€on€the€number€of€girls€attending€middle€schoolsÐ 4„ Ðand€universities.Ð  p ÐÌ119.€€On€article€11,€clarification€was€sought€on€the€long€duration€of€maternity€leave€and€itsÐ øH Ðcompulsory€character,€and€the€question€was€asked€whether€the€provisions€contained€in€the€LabourÐ ä4 ÐCode€implied€that€women€were€considered€intellectually€and€morally€the€weaker€sex.€€InformationÐ Ð  Ðwas€requested€on€any€laws€that€guaranteed€equality€of€women€and€men€at€the€workplace,€and€onÐ ¼  Ðequality€with€regard€to€job€assignment,€salaries€and€career€prospects.€€Members€enquired€about€theÐ ¨ø Ðnumber€of€women€who€attended€professional€training€courses,€about€any€actions€undertaken€byÐ ”ä Ðlabour€unions€for€guaranteeing€equal€employment€opportunities€for€women€and€about€the€percentageÐ €Ð Ðof€women€in€the€labour€force€broken€down€by€sector.€€A€question€was€asked€concerning€the€degreeÐ l¼ Ðto€which€women€participated€in€the€production€process€and€to€which€way€they€were€protected€againstÐ X ¨ Ðdismissal€on€the€grounds€of€pregnancy.€€Questions€were€asked€as€to€whether€article€124€of€the€LabourÐ D!” ÐCode€referring€to€the€prohibition€of€the€termination€of€a€pregnant€womanððs€work€contract€did€not,Ð 0"€  Ðin€practice,€work€against€women,€especially€if€women€did€not€have€the€resources€to€resort€to€theÐ #l! Ðcourts.Ð $X" ÐÌ120.€€On€article€12,€questions€were€raised€about€obstetric€conditions€of€women,€maternal€and€childÐ à%0!$ Ðhealth,€family€planning€and€contraception,€about€the€results€of€any€related€health€programmes,€aboutÐ Ì&"% Ðstatistics€on€clandestine€abortions€and€about€the€number€of€deaths€as€a€result€of€unlawful€clandestineÐ ¸'#& Ðabortions.€€Another€question€asked€was€whether€women€were€free€to€practice€family€planning€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwhether€women€were€reluctant€to€refer€to€health€counseling.Ð )à$( ÐÌ121.€€Regarding€article€14,€clarification€was€requested€on€the€thrust€of€the€Governmentððs€programmeÐ h+¸&* Ðfor€rural€women.€€The€question€was€asked€whether€they€were€treated€as€equal€to€men€or€simply€asÐ T,¤'+ Ðhelpmates.€€Members€enquired€about€the€state€of€health€of€,€and€the€health€protection€for€,€ruralÐ @-(, Ðwomen€and€about€education€in€family€planning.€€They€asked€whether€there€were€programmes€toÐ ° Ðencourage€the€establishment€of€agricultural€cooperatives,€which€would€be€a€way€for€women€toÐ œì Ðbecome€economically€independent.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ122.€€On€article€15,€the€question€was€asked€as€to€whether€the€new€Family€Code€abolished€theÐ `° Ðhusbandððs€right€to€decide€on€the€conjugal€residence€or€whether€it€did€away€with€the€husband€beingÐ L œ Ðhead€of€household.€€Experts€also€enquired€whether€there€was€a€campaign€in€Honduras€for€the€repealÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€the€provision€regarding€homicide€in€case€of€adultery.Ð $ t ÐÌ123.€€On€article€16,€clarification€was€requested€on€the€order€of€the€legitimate€guardianship€of€minors,Ð ü L  Ðon€the€administration€of€the€family€patrimony€within€marriage€and€for€the€reasons€for€a€higherÐ è 8  Ðmarriageable€age€for€boys€than€for€girls.€€Members€asked€whether€the€legal€provisions€governingÐ Ô$  Ðmarital€unions€applied€also€to€de€facto€unions€and€whether€it€was€not€counter„productive€to€imprisonÐ À  Ðmen€for€non„payment€of€alimony€since€that€might€further€reduce€the€support€to€the€family.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ124.€€In€replying€to€questions€raised,€the€representative€of€Honduras€said€that,€despite€great€effortsÐ „Ô  Ðmade€by€the€Government€to€implement€the€Convention,€many€of€the€measures€would€show€theirÐ pÀ Ðeffects€only€gradually€in€the€course€of€time.€€She€gave€a€summary€of€the€countryððs€draft€forestryÐ \¬ Ðstrategy,€in€which€it€was€apparent€that€the€Government€wanted€to€promote€the€equitable€integrationÐ H˜ Ðof€rural€women€into€development.€€The€strategy€was€aimed,€among€other€things,€at€improving€theÐ 4„ Ðliving€conditions€of€rural€women,€at€facilitating€the€participation€of€women€in€management,Ð  p Ðconservation,€protection€and€multiple€use€of€forests,€at€promoting€social€and€family€projects€toÐ  \ Ðeliminate€stereotypes,€at€seeking€alternatives€for€fuel€and€water€to€liberate€women€from€the€task€ofÐ øH Ðforest€protection€and€at€introducing€legal€reforms.€€Some€of€the€recommended€actions€includedÐ ä4 Ðcoordination€with€non„governmental€organizations,€training€programmes,€access€to€credit,€child„careÐ Ð  Ðfacilities€and€legal€reforms.€€Under€the€draft€strategy,€the€specific€interests€of€women€figured€weaklyÐ ¼  Ðin€the€development€of€national€programmes€because€of€the€characteristic€lack€of€importance€attachedÐ ¨ø Ðto€women.€€It€was€said€that,€to€date,€womenððs€concerns€had€not€been€taken€into€account€in€theÐ ”ä Ðelaboration€of€national€programmes.€€Women€were€not€considered€important€by€society€and€theirÐ €Ð Ðconcerns€were€not€taken€into€account€in€development€projects.Ð l¼ ÐÌ125.€€Turning€to€article€2,€she€explained€that,€under€the€Family€Code,€women€had€a€preferential€rightÐ D!” Ðover€the€salary€and€income€of€the€husband€in€the€quantities€required€for€providing€food€forÐ 0"€  Ðthemselves€and€their€minor€children.€€The€husband€had€a€similar€right€if€the€wife€had€to€contributeÐ #l! Ðto€the€family€income.€€Both€spouses€had€the€same€duties€to€maintain,€educate€and€instruct€theirÐ $X" Ðchildren;€in€case€of€divorce€the€innocent€spouse€and€the€children€were€entitled€to€alimony.€€TheÐ ô$D # Ðassertion€in€the€report€that€the€damage€and€trauma€engendered€on€a€male€victim€of€rape€were€moreÐ à%0!$ Ðserious€than€on€a€woman€was€the€result€of€the€prevailing€criteria€for€the€legislators,€but€a€reform€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðthat€concept€was€under€consideration.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ126.€€Referring€to€questions€raised€under€article€3,€she€said€that€the€Group€of€ParliamentarianÐ )à$( ÐWomen€within€the€National€Congress€was€more€and€more€interested€in€reforming€the€laws€thatÐ |*Ì%) Ðcurtailed€womenððs€rights.€€That€Group€organized€research€activities€and€seminars€that€had€a€decisiveÐ h+¸&* Ðinfluence€on€the€achievement€of€school€reforms.€€Recently,€representatives€of€non„governmentalÐ T,¤'+ Ðorganizations€and€womenððs€groups€had€started€attending€those€seminars.€€Currently,€with€theÐ @-(, Ðparticipation€of€all€groups€involved€in€womenððs€problems,€a€nation„wide€meeting€was€being€held€toÐ ° Ðwork€out€a€plan€of€action€to€carry€out€the€project€called€ð ðwomenððs€policiesðð.€€More€persons€wereÐ œì Ðcurrently€being€designated€in€different€ministries€to€deal€with€womenððs€problems.€€RegardingÐ ˆØ Ðquestions€raised€with€respect€to€discrepancies€in€wages€for€men€and€women,€she€said€that,€under€theÐ tÄ Ðprovisions€of€the€Constitution,€all€persons€had€the€right€to€work€under€equal€and€satisfactoryÐ `° Ðconditions€with€equal€salary.€€However,€in€practice,€the€principle€of€equal€pay€was€not€alwaysÐ L œ Ðrespected.€€Discrimination€did€not€so€much€refer€to€the€salary€as€to€the€level€of€post.€€Many€womenÐ 8 ˆ Ðwere€found€in€minor€jobs;€but€the€general€economic€deterioration€had€forced€them€to€seek€higherÐ $ t Ðeducation€and€better€work.Ð  ` ÐÌ127.€€Referring€to€article€4,€she€said€that€the€lack€of€mechanisms€and€services€that€would€directlyÐ è 8  Ðsupport€women€was€to€be€explained€by€the€scarce€financial€resources€and€the€other€reasons€statedÐ Ô$  Ðearlier.€€Temporary€measures,€support€and€control€services€required€strong€enforcement€mechanismsÐ À  Ðand,€while€the€cause€of€women€was€starting€to€gain€importance€in€the€country,€training€would€haveÐ ¬ü  Ðto€be€backed€up.€€Consciousness„raising€to€eradicate€remaining€discrimination€would€be€veryÐ ˜è  Ðdifficult€in€practice.€€€However,€at€the€summit€meeting€of€the€heads€of€Central€American€States€a€newÐ „Ô  Ðframework€for€action€in€the€social€field€had€become€visible.ò òÐ pÀ ÐÌó ó128.€€On€article€5,€she€stated€that€the€National€Congress,€the€Rural€Development€Department€and€theÐ H˜ ÐMinistry€of€Health,€in€cooperation€with€some€non„governmental€organizations,€had€conductedÐ 4„ Ðvarious€seminars€and€training€workshops€directed€to€women€at€the€grass„roots€level.€€InformationÐ  p Ðon€HIV/AIDS€was€being€provided€in€the€farthest€reaches€of€the€country.€€She€said€that€womenððsÐ  \ Ðorganizations€were€trying€to€coordinate€efforts€in€order€to€solve€common€problems.€€No€specialÐ øH Ðregulations€existed€for€migrant€women,€but€those€women€could€refer€to€normal€legal€procedures€inÐ ä4 Ðcase€of€violations€of€their€rights.€€Similarly,€there€were€no€special€programmes€for€refugee€women.€Ð Ð  ÐOn€lingering€discriminatory€socio„cultural€attitudes,€the€Ministry€of€Education€had€drafted€newÐ ¼  Ðtextbooks€and€prepared€new€training€material.€€Although€the€subject€of€sexual€harassment€had€notÐ ¨ø Ðbeen€covered€by€law,€the€Parliamentary€Commission€dealing€with€womenððs€issues€had€presented€aÐ ”ä Ðdraft€law€to€the€National€Congress,€according€to€which€acts€involving€lascivious€attitudes€andÐ €Ð Ðindecent€sexual€approaches€between€persons€of€different€sex€committed€without€consent€wereÐ l¼ Ðconsidered€an€offence€and€put€under€penal€sanction.€€If€such€acts€were€committed€by€personsÐ X ¨ Ðexercising€authority€over€others,€they€were€treated€in€the€same€way.Ð D!” ÐÌ129.€€Regarding€domestic€violence,€she€explained€that€none€of€the€rights€based€on€marriage,€such€asÐ #l! Ðthe€duty€of€fidelity,€mutual€succour€and€the€duty€to€follow€the€spouse,€pursuant€to€the€Civil€Code€ofÐ $X" Ð1906,€could€be€enforced€by€police€or€public€authorities.€€Police,€penal€legislation€and€society€at€largeÐ ô$D # Ðdid€not€protect€women€from€domestic€violence,€unless€it€involved€homicide€or€serious€injury,€sinceÐ à%0!$ Ðsuch€acts€of€maltreatment€were€considered€to€be€mere€misdemeanours.€€Under€the€Family€Code€theÐ Ì&"% Ðonly€remedy€in€case€of€violence€in€the€family€was€divorce€or€separation.€€Other€reasons€for€divorceÐ ¸'#& Ðor€separation€were€conduct€aimed€at€perverting€the€spouse€or€children,€the€refusal€to€assist€withÐ ¤(ô#' Ðeducation€and€food,€and€the€abandonment€of€a€spouse€for€more€than€two€years.€€The€representativeÐ )à$( Ðmentioned€the€length€of€sentences€established€under€the€Penal€Code€for€offences€against€life€andò òÐ |*Ì%) Ðó óintegrity.€€The€Penal€Code€put€under€sanction€of€brief€imprisonment€offences€against€the€life€andÐ h+¸&* Ðphysical€integrity€of€the€legal€or€the€common„union€spouse,€physical€violence€against€a€pregnantÐ T,¤'+ Ðwoman,€non„compliance€with€the€duty€of€financial€assistance€to€the€family€and€fraudulous€evasionÐ @-(, Ðof€the€duty€of€maintenance.€€The€denunciation€of€the€offence€in€the€case€of€rape€had€to€be€made€byÐ ° Ðthe€victim€and,€in€the€case€of€minors,€by€the€legal€representative€and,€if€the€perpetrator€was€the€fatherÐ œì Ðor€tutor,€by€the€public€prosecutor,€trustee€or€district€judge€of€first€instance.€€Bodily€harm€had€to€beÐ ˆØ Ðproved.Ð tÄ ÐÌ130.€€Regarding€the€legal€provisions€defining€sexual€violence,€including€rape,€she€said€that€theyÐ L œ Ðreflected€patriarchal€concepts€and€showed€a€disregard€for€women€as€human€beings.€€In€the€case€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ðrape,€the€womanððs€age,€honesty€and€good€reputation€were€paramount€and€the€sentences€were€shortÐ $ t Ðprison€terms.€€The€procedures€were€often€emotionally€counter„productive€for€the€victims€not€onlyÐ  ` Ðbecause€of€the€type€of€evidence€required,€but€also€because€of€the€subjective€manner€in€which€theÐ ü L  Ðauthorities€involved€often€proceeded,€to€which€in€some€cases€could€be€added€lack€of€technicalÐ è 8  Ðtraining,€lack€of€security€and€supervisory€services,€and€the€behaviour€of€certain€authorities.€€TheÐ Ô$  Ðmagnitude€of€violence€against€women€was€not€generally€recognized,€and€statistics€existed€only€inÐ À  Ðthe€major€cities,€reflecting€only€the€cases€that€had€gone€to€court€or€were€reported€on€by€the€medica.€Ð ¬ü  ÐFor€reasons€of€cultural€stereotypes,€those€offences€were€mainly€kept€secret.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ131.€€Replying€to€questions€under€article€6,€she€said€that€the€National€Board€of€Social€Well„BeingÐ pÀ Ðwas€attempting€to€coordinate€actions€in€favour€of€child€prostitutes€by€programmes€of€reorientationÐ \¬ Ðand€rehabilitation€for€street€children.€€Control€over€female€prostitutes€exercised€up€to€then€had€beenÐ H˜ Ðfor€reasons€of€health€control,€but€because€of€economic€constraints€no€further€statistics€had€beenÐ 4„ Ðestablished.€€With€regard€to€the€exploitation€of€prostitution,€persons€who€promoted€or€facilitatedÐ  p Ðprostitution€or€the€corruption€of€adults€of€either€sex€were€liable€to€imprisonment€of€10„15€years€and,Ð  \ Ðif€the€victim€was€a€minor,€of€20€years.€€The€same€penalties€applied€to€whomever€promoted€orÐ øH Ðfacilitated€the€entry€of€a€person€into€the€country€for€the€purposes€of€prostitution.€€The€laws€punishingÐ ä4 Ðviolence€were€equally€applicable€to€prostitutes,€although€in€practice€prostitutes€themselves€seemedÐ Ð  Ðto€detract€from€the€value€of€that€fact€by€surrendering€their€rights€and€regarding€violence€as€an€integralÐ ¼  Ðpart€of€their€profession.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ132.€€Turning€to€questions€under€article€7,€she€said€that€service€personnel€were€not€allowed€to€voteÐ €Ð Ðbecause€the€Honduran€Army€was€a€permanent,€mainly€professional,€apolitical,€obedient€and€non„Ð l¼ Ðdeliberating€national€institution.€€Regarding€nationality,€she€said€that€Honduran€citizenship€wasÐ X ¨ Ðacquired€through€birth€or€naturalization.€€Neither€marriage€nor€its€dissolution€affected€the€nationalityÐ D!” Ðof€the€spouses€or€the€children.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ133.€€On€article€10,€the€representative€said€that€economic€constraints€reflected€on€the€quality€andÐ $X" Ðlevel€of€school€education.€€Regarding€illiteracy,€she€explained€that€one€third€of€urban€illiterates€wereÐ ô$D # Ðwomen.€€Many€children€in€rural€areas€had€no€more€than€three€years€of€schooling€and€most€dropoutsÐ à%0!$ Ðfrom€school€occurred€after€the€age€of€10,€when€both€boys€and€girls€were€needed€for€domestic€tasks.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ134.€€Turning€to€article€11,€she€admitted€that€the€long€duration€of€maternity€leave€was€a€point€to€beÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdiscussed,€but€said€that,€because€of€the€poor€economic€situation,€women€had€not€understood€that€itÐ )à$( Ðcould€be€a€reason€for€discrimination€in€the€workplace.€€Currently,€no€statistics€were€available€on€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðdegree€of€participation€of€women€in€the€production€process;€however,€efforts€would€be€made€toÐ h+¸&* Ðprovide€data€in€the€subsequent€report.€€She€mentioned€figures€for€1987€only,€when€80€per€cent€of€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðworking€population€were€men€and€20€per€cent€women.€€Turning€to€another€question,€discriminationÐ @-(, Ðon€the€grounds€of€pregnancy,€the€representative€said€that€employers€did€indeed€often€ascertain,€priorÐ ° Ðto€contracting€a€woman,€whether€or€not€she€was€pregnant.€€The€fact€that€employers€gave€preferenceÐ œì Ðto€men€over€women€in€the€hiring€process€would€hopefully€change€over€time.€€The€provisions€in€theÐ ˆØ ÐLabour€Code€concerning€the€work€of€women€and€minors€were€currently€being€revised.Ð tÄ ÐÌ135.€€On€article€12,€she€stated€that€no€information€was€available€on€the€number€of€clandestineÐ L œ Ðabortions.€€Consciousness„raising€in€matters€of€family€planning€was€gradually€having€positive€resultsÐ 8 ˆ Ðas€evidenced€by€the€recent€decline€in€birth€rates.€€Births€took€place€in€hospitals€or€in€health€centresÐ $ t Ðin€rural€areas.€€Midwives€received€special€training€through€the€Ministry€of€Health,€particularly€withÐ  ` Ðregard€to€sex€education,€the€transmission€of€sexual€diseases,€and€prenatal€and€postnatal€care.€€TheÐ ü L  Ðactivities€also€of€the€Division€for€Maternal€and€Child€Health€were€being€further€developed.Ð è 8  ÐÌ136.€€Answering€questions€raised€under€article€14,€she€explained€that€men€were€generally€reluctantÐ À  Ðto€allow€their€spouses€entry€into€cooperatives.€€She€mentioned,€however,€a€seminar€on€women€andÐ ¬ü  Ðcooperatives€sponsored€by€the€International€Cooperative€Alliance,€held€in€1991,€which€had€workedÐ ˜è  Ðout€strategies€for€incorporating€women€into€the€development€process,€for€quantifying€domestic€work,Ð „Ô  Ðfor€allowing€cooperative€members€to€take€part€in€juvenile€training€programmes€and€for€includingÐ pÀ Ðmore€women€in€the€decision„making€process.€€Emphasis€was€also€laid€on€the€importance€of€familyÐ \¬ Ðplanning€and€child„care€facilities.€€The€legislative€amendments€of€the€Agrarian€Law€included€theÐ H˜ Ðwife€as€direct€beneficiary€in€the€adjudication€of€land€in€urban€and€rural€areas,€and€also€granted€to€theÐ 4„ Ðwife€land€rights€in€the€absence€or€death€of€the€husband€and€extended€the€property€rights.Ð  p ÐÌ137.€€Turning€to€article€15,€she€said€that€previously€the€husband€had€decided€on€the€conjugalÐ øH Ðresidence;€however,€the€current€Family€Code€stipulated€that€the€domicile€of€the€spouses€was€theÐ ä4 Ðplace,€wherever€either€of€the€spouses€normally€had€their€residence,€and€the€domicile€of€the€childrenÐ Ð  Ðwas€that€of€the€spouse€with€whom€they€normally€lived.Ð ¼  ÐÌ138.€€Turning€to€article€16,€she€said€that€the€order€of€legitimate€guardianship€of€minors€was€a€resultÐ ”ä Ðof€stereotyped€criteria.€€The€sanction€of€imprisonment€of€men€in€case€of€non„payment€of€alimony€hadÐ €Ð Ðnot€had€any€negative€effects€and,€provided€the€necessary€resources€were€available,€the€consciousnessÐ l¼ Ðof€men€should€be€raised.€€It€might€be€useful€to€find€other€useful€sanctions€by€some€research€on€theÐ X ¨ Ðmatter.€€Regarding€the€economic€administration€of€the€family€household,€under€the€Family€Code,€theÐ D!” Ðcommunity€rgime€and€the€separation€of€property€were€possible,€without€excluding€the€formationÐ 0"€  Ðof€family€patrimony.€€Future€spouses€could€decide€on€the€type€of€administration€of€matrimonialÐ #l! Ðproperty€before€celebrating€their€marriage.€€Regarding€the€distinct€legal€marriageable€ages€for€girlsÐ $X" Ðand€boys,€she€said€that€the€provision€was€a€heritage€of€sexist€stereotypes€form€the€past€and€was€nowÐ ô$D # Ðunder€review.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ139.€€Members€thanked€the€representative€for€the€efforts€made€at€providing€such€detailed€and€frankÐ ¸'#& Ðexplanations.€€They€recognized€that€certain€sectors€required€much€further€action€by€the€GovernmentÐ ¤(ô#' Ðand€that€significant€legal€changes€were€needed€to€bring€legislation€in€Honduras€into€line€with€theÐ )à$( Ðstipulations€of€the€Convention,€particularly€as€the€cultural€patterns€were€so€deeply€rooted€that€it€wasÐ |*Ì%) Ðdifficult€to€change€them.€€The€consciousness€of€both€men€and€women€needed€to€be€raised.€€WithoutÐ h+¸&* Ðany€change€in€thinking,€legislative€amendments€could€never€have€a€long„lasting€effect.€€It€was€to€beÐ T,¤'+ Ðhoped€that€subsequent€reports€would€show€that€men€were€taking€part€in€the€efforts€to€advanceÐ @-(, Ðwomen.€€It€was€also€obvious€that€Honduras€had€to€move€forward€with€its€economic€and€culturalÐ ° Ðprogress.€€They€underlined€that€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€would€contribute€to€theÐ œì Ðeconomic€and€social€development€of€the€country€and€that€all€energies,€including€the€energies€ofÐ ˆØ Ðwomen,€must€be€put€to€use.Ð tÄ ÐÌ140.€€Special€congratulations€were€expressed€to€the€Government€for€having€included€information€onÐ L œ Ðthe€environmental€concerns€at€a€time€when€eco„feminism€was€emerging€around€the€world€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðwomenððs€values€seemed€to€coincide€with€the€values€of€those€seeking€to€protect€the€environment.€Ð $ t ÐWomen€had€a€different€approach€to€the€environment,€and€the€concept€of€ð ðdevelopmentðð€was€beingÐ  ` Ðreplaced€by€ð ðsustainable€developmentðð.€€In€that€evolution,€women€had€an€important€role€to€play.Ð ü L  ÐÌ141.€€Concern€was€expressed€by€some€members€over€the€provision€of€the€Honduras€regulation€thatÐ Ô$  Ðpersons€in€active€service€were€precluded€from€voting€and€that€for€belonging€to€an€apolitical€body€aÐ À  Ðperson€should€be€deprived€of€one€of€the€most€fundamental€rights.€€It€was€asked€whether€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðregulation€applied€also€to€police€officers€and€prison€guards,€and€the€Government€was€invited€toÐ ˜è  Ðreconsider€the€related€provisions€in€the€Constitution.€€Other€members,€however,€showedÐ „Ô  Ðunderstanding€for€that€provision,€stating€that€many€Latin€American€countries€had€endured€frequentÐ pÀ Ðòòcoups€dððtatóó,€and€the€army€had€to€bow€to€the€rgime€of€the€country.€€Military€and€paramilitaryÐ \¬ Ðorganizations€were€supposed€to€protect€the€elections€and€the€nation,€and€not€to€be€involved€inÐ H˜ Ðpolitics.Ð 4„ ÐÌ142.€€An€expert€asked€whether€the€Government€was€aware€of€the€important€principle€of€equal€payÐ  \ Ðfor€work€of€equal€value€and€the€Honduran€legislators€were€invited€to€take€it€into€account€in€theÐ øH Ðpreparation€of€future€legal€reforms.Ð ä4 ÐÌ143.€€In€concluding€observations,€the€Committee€expressed€its€appreciation€for€the€GovernmentððsÐ ¼  Ðefforts€in€implementing€the€Convention€and€in€improving€the€status€of€women,€while€taking€not€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€political€situation€that€prevailed€in€Honduras€and€also€of€the€background€of€Latin€AmericaÐ ”ä Ðcountries€in€general.€€It€emphasized€the€interlinkage€of€development€and€social€progress€and€pointedÐ €Ð Ðout€that€the€Convention€was€one€of€the€few€international€instruments€that€addressed€the€variousÐ l¼ Ðaspects€of€human€activity.€€In€spite€of€the€conditions€prevailing€in€the€country,€it€was€noted€that€theÐ X ¨ ÐConvention€had€a€positive€impact€on€the€status€of€Honduran€women.€€Since€the€time€of€ratification,Ð D!” Ðmany€positive€reforms€had€been€undertaken,€especially€referring€to€the€family,€and€the€penal€andÐ 0"€  Ðagrarian€codes.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€introduction€of€a€new€system€to€evaluate€agrarianÐ #l! Ðreforms€merited€closer€examination€and€evaluation€and€its€results€should€be€included€in€subsequentÐ $X" Ðreports.€€Some€uncertainty€as€to€whether€the€Penal€Code€discriminated€against€women€and€whetherÐ ô$D # Ðthe€principle€of€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value€was€respected€preoccupied€the€Committee.€€TheÐ à%0!$ ÐCommittee€felt€also€that€the€issue€of€violence€against€women€required€close€monitoring.€€It€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðhoped€that€the€Government€would€take€strong€measures€to€eliminate€old€stereotypes€curtailing€theÐ ¸'#& Ðrole€of€women€and€address€consciousness„raising€campaigns€to€both€women€and€men€to€allowÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwomen€to€contribute€effectively€to€society.Ð )à$( ÐÓ·Ó