ÿWPC[ »œÄVP•]Ëý2ßG âqÉ‹§œSn+Y±Þ¢ÒfE õ%·3ªöeU\ö‘sC¢2­¹#âQU¾j+  ÏBË0?&/Ù§MrèÚz€-bÎ]Ô“”.eåésòË[’Þeù.ÓúMè^[àãjm¸%ÍJ¬iK°Fà“NÊmïCQSÚ%Lî0/Yë›åýpVèù~¸'¿É›* ;‰ÕûgË9Ùµ\ ÿÖ¨TöD;³?bqÅÙé§alÇ“³k4“~®ªÇõÓ_2­gŠBw¶lT? u­fcë§T!Näk¹ÍŸBJLèÚ]}ž‘¬Âeš²‘­’OA2Ô%|:[i…âú"1´Àë Zbå(zòPÑ‘ú hÄYà¯[¬‘©tCÙ@ŠË ~Ž„ QÉãm™ñT²7 uN âÛ‹xüuEƒ;ó¢¬aâA×.nëÞ#²FŒÐ7`uó-ú“ §)Ú ñF…G˜û"Ðpy—÷ W«óºç8l}ꦛPÏ9e•SÛ®%'µ0è]øŽŒ‚Si¬ÎpZu»bp¦›âƒÎaËa÷ÁQ¼ #Á¶UNw %Å 0:Ë^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô<{l, &bœ+`ü 3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@CC&ìàÔ€¼ñT»XXÔò òMAURITIUSˆÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÌÌÔ€X°¸X»¼ñTÔÔ_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô€A/50/38€Ô_Ô(1995)Ô_ÔÐ ì< ÐÌÌó ó160.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€and€second€periodic€reports€of€MauritiusÐ °  Ð(Ô_ÔCEDAWÔ_Ô/C/MAR/1-2)€at€its€268òòthóó€and€271òòstóó€meetings,€held€on€20€and€24€January€1995.Ð œ ì ÐÌ161.€€In€her€statement,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€described€the€legal,€political,€institutional€andÐ t Ä  Ðeconomic€framework€in€her€country€for€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€and€highlighted€theÐ `°  Ðlegal€and€practical€changes€that€had€taken€place€since€the€submission€of€the€report.€She€pointed€outÐ Lœ  Ðthat€structural€adjustment€in€the€country€had€actually€benefitted€women€in€terms€of€their€access€toÐ 8ˆ  Ðemployment€and€integration€in€the€economy.€Despite€the€general€economic€hardships€associated€withÐ $t  Ðadjustment,€the€Government€had€found€it€possible€not€only€to€avoid€cutting€expenditure€on€socialÐ `  Ðprogrammes€but€actually€to€expand€the€national€machinery€for€the€advancement€of€women€byÐ üL Ðcreating€a€new€Ministry€for€Women's€Rights.€Having€highlighted€positive€developments€in€women'sÐ è8 Ðemployment,€education€and€health,€she€acknowledged€the€persistence€of€certain€legal,€administrative,Ð Ô$ Ðcultural€and€religious€barriers€to€the€equality€of€women€and€the€improvement€of€their€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô-economicÐ À Ðstatus.€She€emphasized€the€continuing€commitment€of€her€Government€to€the€advancement€ofÐ ¬ü Ðwomen€and€its€determination€to€promote€women's€rights€in€general€and€on€the€basis€of€a€forthcomingÐ ˜è ÐWhite€Paper€on€Women€and€Development,€in€particular.Ð „Ô ÐÌòòGeneral€observationsóóÐ \¬ ÐÌ162.€€Members€of€the€Committee€commented€on€the€concise,€comprehensive€and€frank€nature€of€theÐ 4„ Ðpresentation€made€by€the€representative€of€Mauritius€and€on€the€country's€considerable€achievementsÐ  p Ðin€implementing€the€Convention.€They€were€particularly€impressed€by€the€strong€commitment€of€theÐ  \ ÐGovernment€of€Mauritius€to€the€goal€of€the€advancement€of€women€and€by€the€fact€that€socialÐ øH Ðservices€and€funding€for€women's€organizations€had€not€been€cut€off€even€in€difficult€times€ofÐ ä4 Ðstructural€adjustment€and€recession.€They€noted€with€satisfaction€that€cooperation€had€beenÐ Ð  Ðestablished€with€some€of€the€specialized€agencies€of€the€United€Nations€to€promote€women'sÐ ¼!  Ðdevelopment.Ð ¨"ø  ÐÌ163.€€Several€experts€expressed€great€satisfaction€with€the€withdrawal€of€reservations€to€articles€11.1Ð €$Ð" Ð(b),€11.1€(d)€and€16.1€(g)€of€the€Convention.€One€expert€pointed€out€that€Mauritius€was€one€of€thoseÐ l%¼ # Ðrare€countries€where€the€Convention€itself€was€being€used€to€reform€the€domestic€legal€and€economicÐ X&¨!$ Ðsystems€so€as€to€achieve€greater€compliance.Ð D'”"% ÐÌ164.€€Members€of€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€the€report€would€have€benefitted€from€a€clearerÐ )l$' Ðpresentation€of€how€the€situation€in€the€country€had€evolved€since€the€preparation€of€the€first€reportÐ *X%( Ðand€from€greater€highlighting€of€the€obstacles€that€still€existed.Ð ô*D&) ÐÌ165.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€chapters€2.3€and€16.3€of€the€Constitution€of€Mauritius,€dealing€with€theÐ Ì,(+ Ðprotection€of€fundamental€human€rights€and€the€definition€of€discrimination€respectively,€had€beenÐ ¸-), Ðformulated€without€regard€to€gender.€It€was€suggested€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€fact€might€bring€about€internalÐ ° Ðinconsistency€in€the€Constitution€as€far€as€issues€of€discrimination€were€concerned.€If€that€was€indeedÐ œì Ðso,€the€situation€should€be€rectified.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ166.€€Members€noted€the€positive€developments€that€had€taken€place€in€Mauritius€with€respect€to€theÐ `° Ðincrease€in€women's€employment,€the€promotion€of€their€human€rights€and€their€economicÐ L œ Ðindependence,€which,€as€one€expert€pointed€out,€was€the€main€prerequisite€for€their€advancement€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€preservation€of€their€dignity.€However,€they€expressed€concern€at€what€appeared€to€be€excessiveÐ $ t Ðemphasis€on€directing€female€employment€towards€industrial€occupations€in€export-processing€zonesÐ  ` Ðand€in€the€private€sector.Ð ü L  ÐÌ167.€€It€was€suggested€that€article€4€of€the€Convention€should€be€fully€utilized€to€ensure€that€thereÐ Ô$  Ðwere€more€women€in€positions€of€economic€decision-making€rather€than€merely€to€increase€furtherÐ À  Ðtheir€number€in€the€traditional€sectors,€where€women€had€long€been€over€represented.€With€respectÐ ¬ü  Ðto€special€positive€discrimination€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô,€one€expert€cited€the€conversion€of€two€coeducationalÐ ˜è  ÐState€secondary€schools€into€schools€for€girls€only,€pointing€out€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€measure€was€in€factÐ „Ô  Ðnegative€since€it€promoted€segregation€and€was€contrary€to€the€Nairobi€Forward-looking€Strategies.Ð pÀ ÐAnother€expert€pointed€out€that€protective€legislation€was€problematic€in€terms€of€its€impact€on€theÐ \¬ Ðequality€of€women€and€men.€It€did€not€fall€into€the€category€of€special€temporary€measures€toÐ H˜ Ðaccelerate€equality.€In€her€opinion,€the€report€of€Mauritius€reflected€a€misunderstanding€of€whatÐ 4„ Ðaffirmative€action€was.€The€industrial€sewing€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€reinforced€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô-market€stereotypes,€andÐ  p Ðcourses€in€banking€and€management€should€be€considered€instead.Ð  \ ÐÌ168.€€Concern€was€expressed€by€members€of€the€Committee€regarding€the€report's€lack€of€data€onÐ ä4 Ðviolence€against€women.€Given€the€widespread€nature€of€the€problem€and€its€acute€consequences,Ð Ð  Ðmore€information€was€needed.€One€expert€commented€on€section€253€of€the€Criminal€Code:€in€herÐ ¼  Ðview,€the€Code€was€designed€to€protect€society€from€prostitution€but€not€to€address€the€issues€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðexploitation€of€women€engaged€in€that€activity€and€of€violence€against€them.€Concern€was€alsoÐ ”ä Ðexpressed€regarding€the€potential€of€sex-tourism€in€the€light€of€the€rapidly€growing€tourism€sectorÐ €Ð Ðin€Mauritius.Ð l¼ ÐÌ169.€€Having€expressed€satisfaction€with€the€progress€made€by€the€Government€of€Mauritius€in€theÐ D!” Ðelimination€of€discrimination€against€women€and€in€their€continuing€advancement€in€the€economicÐ 0"€  Ðand€social€spheres,€one€expert€expressed€particular€interest€in€the€White€Paper€on€Women€inÐ #l! ÐDevelopment€currently€being€prepared€by€the€Government.€She€expressed€confidence€that€the€paperÐ $X" Ðwould€open€new€possibilities€for€addressing€issues€of€special€concern€to€women€in€the€country.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ170.€€Having€described€female€literacy€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€as€highly€commendable,€one€expert€expressedÐ Ì&"% Ðconcern€regarding€the€content€of€such€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô,€which€currently€served€to€confirm€women€inÐ ¸'#& Ðtheir€traditional€roles.€She€also€noted€that€there€were€no€courses€on€family€nutrition.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ171.€€One€expert€noted€that€the€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Law,€which€forbade€night€work€by€women,€was€in€factÐ |*Ì%) Ðdiscriminatory;€night€work€was€usually€better€paid.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ172.€€One€expert€praised€the€Government€for€the€initiation€of€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€for€the€early€detection€ofÐ @-(, Ðbreast€and€cervical€cancer,€which€reflected€the€fact€that€women's€distinctive€physiological€needs€wereÐ ° Ðfinally€being€addressed.€She€noted€a€contradiction,€however,€with€respect€to€the€provision€of€familyÐ œì Ðplanning.€On€the€one€hand,€the€report€emphasized€free€and€accessible€family€planning€services€and,Ð ˆØ Ðon€the€other,€it€pointed€to€the€widespread€problem€of€illegal€abortion.Ð tÄ ÐÌòòQuestions€related€to€specific€articlesóóÐ L œ ÐÌòòArticle€1óóÐ $ t ÐÌ173.€€Members€of€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€the€Constitution€of€Mauritius€did€not€defineÐ ü L  Ðdiscrimination€in€terms€of€sex.€One€expert€commented€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€implied€that€no€laws€onÐ è 8  Ðdiscrimination€against€women€existed.€Members€asked€whether€the€Government€intended€to€reviseÐ Ô$  Ðthe€Constitution€so€as€to€remedy€that€problem€and€whether€the€enactment€of€equal€opportunityÐ À  Ðlegislation€was€considered.€In€her€reply,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€indicated€that€herÐ ¬ü  ÐGovernment€would€consider€the€amendment€of€the€Constitution€after€the€issues€of€citizenship€andÐ ˜è  Ðnationality€were€addressed.Ð „Ô  ÐÌòòArticle€3óóÐ \¬ ÐÌ174.€€Members€asked€what€the€exact€relationship€between€the€National€Women's€Council€and€theÐ 4„ ÐMinisterial€Committee€was€and€what€the€relationship€of€those€two€bodies€to€the€Ministry€forÐ  p ÐWomen's€Rights€and€Family€Welfare€was.€They€also€wanted€to€know€if€there€was€a€problem€ofÐ  \ Ðcoordination€between€those€bodies€and€whether€the€cooperation€between€the€Ministry€for€Women'sÐ øH ÐRights€and€other€ministries€was€fruitful.€They€also€wanted€to€know€whether€desk€officers€reportedÐ ä4 Ðon€problems€in€their€ministries.Ð Ð  ÐÌ175.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€replied€that€the€responsibilities€of€the€National€Women'sÐ ¨ø ÐCouncil€involved€the€organization€of€women's€associations€and€the€facilitation€of€dialogue€betweenÐ ”ä Ðthe€State€and€women€through€those€associations.€The€Ministerial€Committee,€for€its€part,€was€madeÐ €Ð Ðup€of€desk€officers€in€various€sectoral€ministries€who€met€and€discussed€problems€that€wereÐ l¼ Ðencountered€in€their€ministries€in€the€implementation€of€gender€policy€and€shared€information€onÐ X ¨ Ðprojects€that€were€carried€out€by€their€ministries€and€had€an€impact€on€women.€The€work€of€theÐ D!” ÐMinisterial€Committee€was€somewhat€inefficient€owing€to€the€lack€of€prior€training€of€desk€officersÐ 0"€  Ðin€gender€analysis€and€gender€planning€and€also€because€of€the€transfer€of€officers.€However,€theÐ #l! ÐCommittee€had€worked€successfully€on€an€ad€hoc€basis€for€the€preparation€of€the€White€Paper€onÐ $X" ÐWomen€in€Development€and€the€national€report€on€the€implementation€of€the€NairobiÐ ô$D # ÐForward-looking€Strategies€and€its€staff€participated€in€seminars€and€meetings,€thereby€contributingÐ à%0!$ Ðto€the€solution€of€various€problems.€The€training€of€desk€officers€in€gender€analysis€was€on€theÐ Ì&"% Ðagenda€of€the€Ministry€for€Women's€Rights€for€1995€and€a€consultant€had€been€made€available€byÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€United€Nations€Development€Ô_ÔProgrammeÔ_Ô€(Ô_ÔUNDPÔ_Ô)€for€that€purpose.€A€link€existed€between€theÐ ¤(ô#' ÐMinisterial€Committee€and€the€National€Women's€Council€in€that€the€Council€was€managed€by€aÐ )à$( Ðcommittee€which€consisted€of€the€representatives€of€women's€associations€and€of€desk€officers€fromÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€most€important€ministries€in€the€social€sector,€such€as€the€Ministries€of€Education,€Health,Ð h+¸&* ÐEconomic€Planning€and€Development,€Social€Security€and€Youth€and€Culture.Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, ÐòòArticle€4óóÐ ° ÐÌ176.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€report€indicated€that€there€was€provision€for€policeÐ ˆØ Ðtraining€for€women€and€for€the€development€of€a€corps€of€policewomen.€It€was€asked€whether€thatÐ tÄ Ðidea€would€be€extended€to€the€national€judicial€system.€In€reply,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€saidÐ `° Ðthat€the€training€of€judges€and€magistrates€would€have€to€be€looked€into€especially€in€connection€withÐ L œ Ðthe€creation€of€a€Family€Court,€which€was€on€the€Government's€agenda.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ177.€€Members€wanted€to€know€what€was€meant€by€specific€protective€legislation€for€women€inÐ  ` Ðagriculture€and€manufacturing.€In€particular,€they€asked€if€it€really€protected€women€in€those€sectorsÐ ü L  Ðor€if€it€in€fact€helped€to€perpetuate€employment€segregation.€The€representative€of€Mauritius€repliedÐ è 8  Ðthat€women€in€agriculture€had€indeed€benefitted€from€protective€legislation:€they€were€no€longerÐ Ô$  Ðrequired€to€perform€strenuous€field€operations.€Women€in€the€advanced€stage€of€pregnancy€wereÐ À  Ðprohibited€from€lifting€heavy€loads€and€were€provided€with€light€field€work.€The€option€of€earlyÐ ¬ü  Ðretirement€at€the€age€of€55€was€opened€to€women€in€the€sugar€and€salt€industries.€As€regardsÐ ˜è  Ðindustrial€employment,€women€in€an€advanced€state€of€pregnancy€were€not€required€to€perform€jobsÐ „Ô  Ðthat€involved€continuous€standing.€Also,€a€discriminatory€clause€that€had€not€allowed€women€toÐ pÀ Ðaspire€to€the€post€of€"factory€operator"€had€been€removed€in€1989.€Women€employed€in€the€industrialÐ \¬ Ðsector€were€not€compelled€to€do€overtime.€They€now€enjoyed€privileges€with€respect€to€refunds€ofÐ H˜ Ðtheir€transportation€fees.€Pregnant€women€who€had€12€months€of€continuous€employment€receivedÐ 4„ Ðfull€maternity€benefits€that€included€12€weeks€of€paid€leave,€cash€allowances€and€1-hour€nursingÐ  p Ðbreaks.Ð  \ ÐÌòòArticle€6óóÐ ä4 ÐÌ178.€€In€response€to€the€concern€expressed€by€members€of€the€Committee€regarding€the€lack€of€dataÐ ¼  Ðon€violence€against€women,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€informed€the€Committee€that€the€issueÐ ¨ø Ðof€violence€was€very€sensitive€and€that€victims€were€often€reluctant€to€report€such€abuse.€She,Ð ”ä Ðhowever,€provided€the€Committee€with€some€statistical€information€on€domestic€violence€in€herÐ €Ð Ðcountry.€Specifically,€from€1991€to€date,€107€cases€of€incest€and€431€cases€of€child€abuse€had€beenÐ l¼ Ðreported.€Also,€from€1989€to€date,€1,500€cases€of€the€battering€of€women€had€been€reported.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ179.€€Members€inquired€about€laws€governing€the€solicitation€and€purchase€of€a€prostitute's€services.Ð 0"€  ÐThey€also€wanted€to€know€if€prostitutes€were€undergoing€regular€medical€check-ups.€MembersÐ #l! Ðinquired€whether€there€were€any€specific€laws€designed€to€protect€minors€from€sexual€tourism.€TheyÐ $X" Ðalso€wanted€to€know€if€immigrant€women€were€among€prostitutes€and€if€there€were€laws€againstÐ ô$D # Ðtrafficking€in€women.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ180.€€In€response,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€informed€the€Committee€that€there€was€noÐ ¸'#& Ðregistration€of€prostitutes€in€her€country€and€that€prostitutes€therefore€operated€illegally.€She€howeverÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpointed€out€that,€owing€to€the€sensitization€campaign€on€AIDS,€they€were€now€more€conscious€ofÐ )à$( Ðhealth€hazards€associated€with€their€profession.€She€cited€a€television€source,€according€to€whichÐ |*Ì%) Ðprostitutes€underwent€regular€medical€check-ups.€She€referred€to€the€relevant€sections€of€theÐ h+¸&* ÐCriminal€Code€and€the€Child€Protection€Act€that€stated€that€procurement,€enticement€or€exploitationÐ T,¤'+ Ðof€adults€and€children€for€purposes€of€prostitution€were€considered€an€offence€and€were€subject€toÐ @-(, Ðpenalties.Ð ° ÐÌòòArticle€7óóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ181.€€Members€of€the€Committee€wanted€to€know€what€had€been€done€to€encourage€women'sÐ `° Ðparticipation€in€the€diplomatic€service€and€how€their€participation€in€the€diplomatic€service€comparedÐ L œ Ðwith€the€progress€made€by€them€in€the€judicial€system.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ182.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€responded€that€the€foreign€service€was€open€to€both€men€andÐ  ` Ðwomen€and€that€recruitment€to€the€foreign€service€was€on€the€basis€of€an€entrance€examination.Ð ü L  ÐCurrently,€the€Mauritian€diplomatic€service€was€comprised€of€51€members,€including€7€women.€TheÐ è 8  Ðdisparity€in€numbers€was€primarily€due€to€the€lack€of€qualified€women€candidates€and€not€toÐ Ô$  Ðdiscrimination€against€women.€There€was€currently€one€female€Ô_ÔpuisneÔ_Ô€judge€(out€of€six)€and€bothÐ À  Ðthe€Master€and€Deputy€Master€in€Bankruptcy€were€women.€Also,€3€of€the€12€District€CourtÐ ¬ü  Ðmagistrates€were€women.€Thus,€in€general,€women€were€well€represented€in€the€judicial€system,Ð ˜è  Ðalthough€their€participation€was€somewhat€low€in€the€various€levels€of€court€administration.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ183.€€One€expert€asked€whether€the€Ô_ÔmulticulturalÔ_Ô€and€multiracial€fabric€of€Mauritian€society€hadÐ \¬ Ðcreated€internal€problems€and,€if€so,€what€impact€those€problems€had€on€women.€The€representativeÐ H˜ Ðof€Mauritius€replied€that€there€was€no€indigenous€population€in€her€country€and€that€people€ofÐ 4„ Ðvarious€races€and€cultures€from€Europe,€Asia€and€Africa€lived€in€perfect€harmony.€Given€the€extremeÐ  p Ðdiversity€of€the€population€in€Mauritius,€the€Government€was€extremely€cautious€and€prudent€inÐ  \ Ðdealing€with€issues€that€could€upset€the€balance€and€disrupt€the€social€fabric.€She€stated€thatÐ øH Ðcomments€made€by€members€regarding€dangers€of€cultural€strife€and€its€adverse€impact€on€womenÐ ä4 Ðhad€been€noted.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòArticle€10óóÐ ¨ø ÐÌ184.€€Members€commented€that€the€courses€offered€by€the€adult€education€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€run€by€theÐ €Ð ÐMinistry€for€Women's€Rights€were€primarily€in€industrial€sewing,€secretarial€skills,€embroidery€andÐ l¼ Ðhandicrafts.€It€was€asked€whether€any€other€types€of€training€was€available€to€women€and€what€theÐ X ¨ ÐMinistry€for€Women's€Rights€intended€to€do€about€that€situation.Ð D!” ÐÌ185.€€Replying€to€the€question,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€informed€the€Committee€that€theÐ #l! ÐMinistry€of€Women's€Rights€provided€training€primarily€to€low€academic€achievers€who€did€not€haveÐ $X" Ðaccess€either€to€training€provided€by€the€Industrial€Vocational€Training€Board€or€to€that€provided€byÐ ô$D # Ðprivate€institutions.€The€main€objectives€of€the€training€offered€by€the€Ministry€to€those€women€wereÐ à%0!$ Ðto€provide€them€with€basic€skills€to€help€them€in€their€family€life,€to€discover€their€talents€and€toÐ Ì&"% Ðachieve€a€certain€degree€of€self-fulfilment.€The€Industrial€Vocational€Training€Board,€responsibleÐ ¸'#& Ðfor€the€provision€of€training€in€Mauritius,€offered€training€in€electronics,€engineering€and€otherÐ ¤(ô#' Ðprofessional€fields€that€were€open€to€women.Ð )à$( ÐÌ186.€€In€response€to€the€comment€on€the€conversion€of€two€coeducational€State€secondary€schoolsÐ h+¸&* Ðinto€schools€for€girls€only,€she€said€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€decision€had€been€taken€in€consideration€of€the€culturalÐ T,¤'+ Ðenvironment€and€educational€tradition€of€her€country.€The€practice€helped€in€the€effective€teachingÐ @-(, Ðand€learning€process€and€allowed€teachers€to€utilize€different€approaches€to€teaching€boys€and€girls.Ð ° ÐShe€assured€the€Committee€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€specific€conversion€did€not€lead€to€segregation,€but€instead,Ð œì Ðprovided€additional€educational€opportunities€for€girls€at€the€right€time.Ð ˆØ ÐÌòòArticle€11óóÐ `° ÐÌ187.€€The€Committee€noted€the€withdrawal€of€the€reservation€to€articles€11.1€(b)€and€11.1€(d).€TheyÐ 8 ˆ Ðwanted€to€know€what€new€laws€had€been€adopted€in€Mauritius€to€allow€the€reservations€to€beÐ $ t Ðwithdrawn€and€if€all€the€legal€procedures€with€respect€to€the€withdrawal€of€those€reservations€hadÐ  ` Ðbeen€followed€properly.Ð ü L  ÐÌ188.€€In€her€reply,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€stated€that€all€the€necessary€procedures€regardingÐ Ô$  Ðthe€waiving€of€the€reservations€on€parts€of€article€11€(as€well€as€of€art.€16)€had€been€followed.€ThoseÐ À  Ðprocedures€included€consultations€with€the€State€Law€Office€and€at€Cabinet€level.€Given€the€changesÐ ¬ü  Ðin€the€economic€and€social€situation€in€the€country€that€had€taken€place€between€1984€and€1991,€theÐ ˜è  ÐState€Law€Office€had€agreed€to€the€withdrawal€of€those€reservations,€which€had€been€followed€byÐ „Ô  Ðgovernment€approval.Ð pÀ ÐÌ189.€€Members€noted€that€the€report€indicated€that,€under€the€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Law€and€the€export-processingÐ H˜ Ðzone€act,€women€in€Mauritius€were€entitled€to€maternity€leave€for€only€three€pregnancies.€They€askedÐ 4„ Ðwhat€would€happen€when€a€fourth€pregnancy€occurred,€particularly€in€the€light€of€the€strict€laws€onÐ  p Ðabortion.€The€representative€of€Mauritius€responded€that€paid€maternity€leave€was€restricted€to€threeÐ  \ Ðconfinements.€Female€employees€were€granted€leave€without€pay€after€the€third€confinement.€SheÐ øH Ðalso€pointed€out€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€provision€was€in€line€with€the€national€population€policy€to€discourageÐ ä4 Ðlarge€families.Ð Ð  ÐÌ190.€€As€to€the€policy€of€granting€an€employed€woman€a€one-hour€break€to€breast-feed€her€child,Ð ¨ø Ðmembers€wanted€to€know€how€that€provision€was€implemented€and€whether€that€law€was€necessaryÐ ”ä Ðfor€working€mothers.€The€representative€replied€that€practical€difficulties€were€encountered€inÐ €Ð Ðimplementation€of€that€provision€because€there€were€few€nurseries€near€the€factories.€She€said€thatÐ l¼ Ðthe€law€had€been€enacted€to€encourage€breast-feeding.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ191.€€As€to€when€the€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€law€covering€employment€within€the€export-processing€zone€would€beÐ 0"€  Ðamended€so€that€women€working€in€that€sector€could€enjoy€the€same€working€conditions€as€thoseÐ #l! Ðin€the€public€sector,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€pointed€out€that€the€public€and€private€sectorsÐ $X" Ðin€her€country€operated€under€different€conditions€and€that€it€was€not€economically€feasible€at€theÐ ô$D # Ðpresent€stage€of€economic€development€to€provide€the€same€working€conditions€in€both€sectors.€SheÐ à%0!$ Ðnoted,€however,€that€the€Export€Enterprises€Regulations€enacted€in€1983€fixed€wages€and€some€otherÐ Ì&"% Ðconditions€of€employment.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ192.€€Regarding€what€impact€changes€in€fiscal€and€taxation€policies€and€in€the€price€index€had€onÐ )à$( Ðwomen,€she€replied€that€it€had€not€been€scientifically€studied.€However,€the€reduction€in€capitalÐ |*Ì%) Ðexpenditure€had€led€to€a€freeze€in€the€construction€of€State€secondary€schools€and€subsidized€housingÐ h+¸&* Ðthat€might€have€reduced€women's€access€to€education€and€proper€housing.€She€also€pointed€out€thatÐ T,¤'+ ÐÔ_ÔthatÔ_Ô€trend€had€been€reversed€since€the€late€1980s€and€that€those€sectors€were€currently€in€fullÐ @-(, Ðdevelopment.€Women€had€been€direct€beneficiaries€of€the€Government's€policy€to€adopt€new€taxationÐ ° Ðpolicies€in€that€they€could€now€file€their€income€tax€returns€separately€and€could€deduct€benefitsÐ œì Ðindividually.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ193.€€Members€noted€that€women's€participation€in€the€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€force€was€growing€rapidly€in€MauritiusÐ `° Ðand€asked€if€the€Government€had€projects€to€meet€the€increasing€demand€for€health€care,€day€careÐ L œ Ðand€retraining.€They€also€wanted€to€know€if€the€increasing€employment€rate€was€associated€withÐ 8 ˆ Ðpositive€developments€only€or€if€it€had€some€negative€aspects€as€well.€The€representative€ofÐ $ t ÐMauritius€stated€that€the€rapidly€growing€participation€of€women€in€the€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€force€in€her€countryÐ  ` Ðhad€tripled€the€burden€on€women€and€that€they€needed€to€be€provided€with€community€supportÐ ü L  Ðservices.€Her€Government€had€embarked€on€the€provision€of€such€services€in€collaboration€withÐ è 8  Ðnon-governmental€organizations,€local€governments,€the€private€sector,€etc.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ194.€€Members€noted€with€concern€that€the€report€indicated€that€minors€under€the€age€of€16€wereÐ ¬ü  Ðallowed€to€work,€which,€according€to€the€relevant€International€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Organization€Convention,Ð ˜è  Ðwas€wrong.€It€was€pointed€out€that€the€report€did€not€provide€any€information€on€where€minors€wereÐ „Ô  Ðworking,€whether€there€were€any€special€laws€governing€their€employment€and€whether€theirÐ pÀ Ðemployment€was€monitored€by€the€Government.€The€representative€of€Mauritius€informed€membersÐ \¬ Ðthat€the€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€Law€in€her€country€prohibited€the€employment€of€a€person€under€15€years€of€age€andÐ H˜ Ðthat€in€1990€her€Government€had€ratified€ILO€Convention€No.€138€on€minimum€age€for€employmentÐ 4„ Ðand€was€determined€to€eliminate€child€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô,€which€at€the€moment€represented€0.7€per€cent€of€theÐ  p ÐMauritius€working€population.€She€pointed€out€that€the€report€of€her€Government€referred€to€age€16Ð  \ Ðas€the€age€when€minors€were€allowed€to€work.Ð øH ÐÌòòArticle€12óóÐ Ð  ÐÌ195.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€the€Ministry€for€Women's€Rights€was€doing€to€improveÐ ¨ø Ðthe€poor€quality€of€life€of€women€in€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_Ô.€What€was€done€with€respect€to€the€provision€ofÐ ”ä Ðhealth€services€and€job€opportunities€for€women€in€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_Ô€and€to€the€improvement€of€socialÐ €Ð Ðinfrastructure?€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€there€was€a€Ministry€for€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_Ô,Ð l¼ Ðwhich€dealt€exclusively€with€the€situation€there.€She€also€stated€that€new€information€had€beenÐ X ¨ Ðcollected€and€updated.€The€situation€in€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_Ô€was€improving:€water,€sanitation€and€roads€wereÐ D!” Ðwidely€available€but€a€lot€remained€to€be€done.€Figures€that€reflected€the€situation€in€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_ÔÐ 0"€  Ðwould€be€provided€in€the€next€report.Ð #l! ÐÌ196.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€how€family€planning€reached€all€women,€including€poorÐ ô$D # Ðwomen.€They€also€wanted€to€know€what€the€prospects€were€for€a€revision€of€the€anti-abortionÐ à%0!$ Ðlegislation.€The€representative€of€Mauritius€replied€that€family€planning€in€her€country€was€availableÐ Ì&"% Ðto€women€of€all€ages,€married€and€unmarried,€and€was€specifically€targeted€to€teenage€women.€InÐ ¸'#& Ðspite€of€the€wide€availability€of€contraceptive€methods,€about€2,000€complications€from€abortionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwere€reported€each€year€and€it€was€not€clear€whether€those€were€natural€or€induced.Ð )à$( ÐÌòòArticle€14óóÐ h+¸&* ÐÌ197.€€Members€requested€more€information€on€whether€women€could€own€land,€what€theÐ @-(, ÐGovernment€did€to€enhance€women's€right€to€land€ownership,€and€how€that€issue€affected€ruralÐ ° Ðhouseholds€headed€by€women.€One€member€found€it€encouraging€that€women€in€rural€areas€had€theÐ œì Ðchoice€to€work€not€only€in€agriculture€but€also€in€industry.€She,€however,€wanted€to€know€aboutÐ ˆØ Ðwomen€and€land€ownership:€in€some€countries,€women€could€not€own€land€owing€to€social,€legal€andÐ tÄ Ðcultural€impediments.€Another€member€also€asked€if€Mauritian€women€could€own€land.€In€her€reply,Ð `° Ðthe€representative€of€Mauritius€stated€that€women€in€her€country€had€access€to€land€ownership€andÐ L œ Ðthat€they€had€the€same€rights€with€respect€to€land€ownership€and€land€inheritance€as€men.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ198.€€One€member€requested€clarification€of€the€contradiction€between€the€statement€regardingÐ  ` Ðshortages€of€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€in€the€agricultural€sector€and€the€following€statement€that€indicated€that€theÐ ü L  Ðworkday€in€agriculture€was€from€6€a.m.€to€12€noon,€i.e.€very€short.€The€representative€replied€thatÐ è 8  Ðthe€shortage€of€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€in€agriculture€existed€because€women€as€well€as€men€no€longer€wanted€toÐ Ô$  Ðwork€in€the€agricultural€sector€in€spite€of€the€shorter€hours€of€work€and€a€comparable€rate€of€pay.Ð À  ÐThey€showed€strong€preferences€for€work€in€manufacturing€industry€in€spite€of€longer€hours,Ð ¬ü  Ðpresumably€because€work€in€that€sector€was€regarded€as€"cleaner"€and€had€more€status.€Furthermore,Ð ˜è  Ðshe€indicated€that€it€had€been€the€practice€in€Mauritius,€especially€in€sugar-cane€fields,€to€work€fromÐ „Ô  Ðsunrise€to€noon€in€view€of€the€climate.Ð pÀ ÐÌ199.€€A€question€was€raised€by€members€as€to€how€environmental€degradation€affected€rural€womenÐ H˜ Ðand€what€measures€were€taken€in€that€respect.€Members€noted€that€changes€in€food€habits€wereÐ 4„ Ðmentioned€and€asked€for€more€information€and€whether€it€implied€a€worsening€of€nutritionalÐ  p Ðstandards.€In€response,€the€Committee€was€informed€that€a€survey€conducted€in€1988€revealed€thatÐ  \ Ð38€per€cent€of€women€were€anaemic€and€that€obesity€was€most€prevalent€among€the€female€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_ÔÐ øH Ðforce.€There€was€a€tendency€among€the€population€to€go€for€fast€food€and€disregard€nutritionalÐ ä4 Ðstandards.€The€Ministry€of€Health€and€the€Ministry€of€Agriculture€were€engaged€in€developing€a€foodÐ Ð  Ðand€nutrition€policy€in€order€to€help€families€to€adjust€to€new€patterns€of€life€in€a€newly€industrializedÐ ¼  Ðsociety.€She€informed€members€that€environmental€degradation€was€especially€visible€in€Ô_ÔRodriguesÔ_Ô,Ð ¨ø Ðmainly€through€soil€erosion€and€deforestation.€Measures€to€sustain€the€environment€had€beenÐ ”ä Ðinitiated€and€involved€terracing€of€land,€reforestation,€sensitization,€waste€management€and€others.€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòArticle€16óóÐ X ¨ ÐÌ200.€€As€to€a€question€on€the€recognition€of€religious€marriage,€the€procedure€for€the€dissolution€ofÐ 0"€  Ðreligious€marriages€and€whether€or€not€religious€law€was€applicable€to€divorce,€she€stated€thatÐ #l! Ðreligious€marriages€in€her€country€had€all€the€effects€of€civil€marriages,€that€children€of€suchÐ $X" Ðmarriages€were€considered€legitimate€and€that€the€civil€law€applied€to€them€as€well€as€to€divorceÐ ô$D # Ðprocedures.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ201.€€Members€inquired€if€married€women€in€Mauritius€were€allowed€to€live€in€the€parental€home.Ð ¸'#& ÐThey€also€wanted€to€know€if€a€married€woman€had€a€right€to€shelter€in€a€house€other€than€herÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhusband's€or€his€family's.€The€representative€replied€that€a€married€woman€in€her€country€had€a€rightÐ )à$( Ðto€live€in€the€family€home€until€her€death,€even€after€her€husband's€death.€The€law€in€her€country€didÐ |*Ì%) Ðnot€provide€for€a€right€to€shelter€in€any€other€house.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ202.€€Members€asked€whether€judges€were€trained€regarding€divorce€and€the€interests€of€the€childÐ @-(, Ðin€the€event€of€divorce.€€One€member€suggested€that€the€Government€needed€to€reform€the€"300Ð ° Ðdays"€stipulation,€keeping€women€from€re-entering€marriage.€Another€member€wanted€to€know€howÐ œì Ðmany€marriages€were€arranged€by€parents.€In€her€reply,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€stated€thatÐ ˆØ Ðno€such€training€for€judges€existed€in€her€country.Ð tÄ ÐÌòòConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóÐ L œ ÐÌòòIntroductionóóÐ $ t ÐÌ203.€€The€Committee€congratulated€the€distinguished€representative€of€the€Government€of€MauritiusÐ ü L  Ðon€presenting€the€comprehensive€combined€initial€and€second€periodic€report,€which€was€preparedÐ è 8  Ðon€the€basis€of€the€Committee's€guidelines€and€provided€ample€statistical€data.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ204.€€The€Committee€expressed€thanks€to€the€Government€of€Mauritius€for€ratifying€the€ConventionÐ ¬ü  Ðin€full€and€urged€it€to€use€the€Convention€to€further€improve€women's€status€in€Mauritius.Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòPositive€aspectsóóÐ pÀ ÐÌ205.€€The€Committee€was€of€the€opinion€that€Mauritius€was€a€country€which€had€achievedÐ H˜ Ðcommendable€success€in€social€integration€while€promoting€equal€opportunities€for€women€throughÐ 4„ Ða€strong€social€Ô_ÔprogrammeÔ_Ô.€It€commended€Mauritius€for€having€made€a€determined€effort€to€ensureÐ  p Ðequal€rights€for€all€ethnic€groups.Ð  \ ÐÌ206.€€The€Committee€further€appreciated€the€fact€that€despite€the€structural€adjustment€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_ÔÐ ä4 Ðthe€Government€had€not€cut€down€on€educational€and€social€benefit€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€concerning€women.Ð Ð  ÐÌ207.€€The€positive€move€on€the€part€of€the€Mauritius€Government€in€withdrawing€its€reservations€onÐ ¨ø Ðarticles€11.1€(b),€11.1€(d)€and€16.1€(g)€was€highly€appreciated€by€the€Committee.Ð ”ä ÐÌòòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ l¼ ÐÌ208.€€The€Committee€expressed€concern€that€the€Constitution€of€the€country€did€not€coverÐ D!” Ðdiscrimination€on€the€grounds€of€sex.€The€Committee€felt€that€this€had€to€be€reflected€in€theÐ 0"€  ÐConstitution.Ð #l! ÐÌ209.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€report€did€not€provide€enough€information€on€prostitution€andÐ ô$D # Ðtrafficking€in€women€and€rehabilitation€Ô_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€in€this€respect.€The€next€report€should€provideÐ à%0!$ Ðmore€information€in€this€regard.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ210.€€The€Committee€observed€a€lack€of€clarity€on€the€nationality€law€of€Mauritius,€especially€inÐ ¤(ô#' Ðareas€where€rights€enjoyed€by€men€and€women€marrying€foreign€citizens€varied.Ð )à$( ÐÌ211.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€reasons€for€the€high€rate€of€teenage€pregnancy€despite€improvedÐ h+¸&* Ðfamily€planning€services€were€not€explained.€€The€Committee€also€noted€that€the€report€did€notÐ T,¤'+ Ðspecify€clearly€whether€family€planning€services€were€made€available€to€women€irrespective€ofÐ @-(, Ðmarital€status.Ð ° ÐÌ212€€The€Committee€also€noted€with€concern€that€the€development€of€women€in€the€Ô_ÔRodrigueÔ_Ô€laggedÐ ˆØ Ðfar€behind€that€on€the€main€island.Ð tÄ ÐÌ213.€€The€Committee€believed€that€non-academic€training€such€as€embroidery,€industrial€sewing,Ð L œ Ðetc.,€conducted€as€a€positive€discrimination€Ô_ÔprogrammeÔ_Ô€would€only€contribute€to€keeping€women€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€Ô_ÔfeminizedÔ_Ô€sector€of€the€economy.Ð $ t ÐÌòòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ ü L  ÐÌ214.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€in€the€subsequent€report,€further€information€should€be€given€onÐ Ô$  Ðthe€national€machinery€and€on€what€had€been€done€to€institutionalize€it€at€the€local€levels.Ð À  ÐÌ215.€€The€Committee€also€suggests€that€more€information€should€be€given€on€prostitution€andÐ ˜è  Ðgovernment€efforts€to€decrease€it€and€rehabilitate€women€involved€in€prostitution.€It€also€requestedÐ „Ô  Ðmore€information€on€the€potential€rise€of€sex€tourism.Ð pÀ ÐÌ216.€€The€Committee€also€encourages€the€Government€of€Mauritius€to€amend€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€laws€for€theÐ H˜ Ðexport€processing€zones€and€provide€respective€information€on€such€efforts€in€the€subsequent€report.Ð 4„ ÐÌ217.€€The€Committee€requests€more€information€in€the€subsequent€report€on€the€vocational€trainingÐ  \ ÐÔ_ÔprogrammesÔ_Ô€for€girls€and€women€with€specific€emphasis€on€non-traditional€vocational€training.Ð øH Ð