’WPC[ ¼'+~FLXtĄ±Š%¶ƒƒÕø@Ż€ÉqĮoOjsŪy¢ŪŌB½µŗ&ó ‘}"Źīƒ’ÕøJś²ŽeČÉz—©öҼ÷QżžS'ސ…I_ÜĘ¢Ø©Ķfpf²}\7š$œ~J’ä֒{IĘ׏‚É<hFL¬51['­¢°ć@Īgv.҃0ĮĒED46ͬuqK3k3d〉ŚB½õKō[GĮ’ÜP¢ß!Ł:[T*ŽšŒõ(°æŹ¾[ĒLg@‘“KŹH?\=¼iBėaߣķŪaé®#ęēĖ<§ō œW*Ž\ĪYģø>6mšTnx(fĘ ­@xҘŒ2żŗ`<‘ńŪ –MrŽMÖohųT[…Čeų§o* —ų>˜M™½äæĒąˆ}©ü…D“jN‹ĀŠ4Ēės›÷ņō›hŚj3ņł)s_K ½üŻ=cś2H©>ŽÄśŒ,ĀĶOg]pÄČ <.<›qŲ§XK-”ųlŗå™ƒĀ÷濾Ōs𹰊š”a£c¤„ ?7FXéÜż…r[nc BŽäPÕ JAO¦ćiÜd8®;ɲ\‡6F”E -=S.żŠén§/~pTA]!÷6ĖK­ŪSfs“  Ū2Ɲ ŌS #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ō{m, ×~f,bk1(Xœ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓŌ‡¼hø»XXŌNICARAGUAŌ#†X%ęX»¼høL#ŌŠ ° ŠÓ@ÓĢĢŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€€A/44/38€(1989)ó óŠ •å ŠĢĢÓ  Ó169.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Nicaragua€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/5/Add.55)€at€its€137ņņthóóŠ Q ” Šand€139ņņthóó€meetings,€on€23€and€24€February€1989€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.137€and€139).Š : Š ŠĢ170.€€The€representative€from€Nicaragua,€in€introducing€the€report,€said€that€it€should€be€consideredŠ  \  Šin€conjunction€with€the€information€in€her€introductory€statement.€€The€report€before€the€CommitteeŠ õ E  Šhad€subsequently€been€updated€but€that€version€had€not€arrived.€€Her€introductory€statementŠ Ž.  Šdescribed€the€historical€background€of€womenššs€role€in€Nicaragua€throughout€its€changing€historyŠ Ē  Šand€presented€an€analytical€and€critical€review€of€the€constitutional€laws€and€practices€of€NicaraguaŠ °  Šin€the€context€of€the€Convention.€€The€representative€stressed€the€rights€guaranteed€in€theŠ ™é  ŠConstitution€and€the€contradictions€that€existed€in€the€Civil,€Penal€and€Labour€Codes€in€force€in€theŠ ‚Ņ  Šcountry.Š k» ŠĢ171.€€The€representative€stated€that€the€situation€of€women€was€synonymous€with€the€history€ofŠ = ŠNicaragua€and€its€struggle€for€freedom.€€In€their€fight€for€emancipation,€women€had€not€only€triedŠ &v Što€liberate€themselves,€but€had€also€tried€to€change€the€social,€political€and€economic€structure€ofŠ _ ŠNicaraguan€society.€€The€revolution€of€July€1979€had€placed€them€in€a€new€context,€presenting€newŠ ųH Šperspectives€for€their€emancipation.€€The€representative€emphasized€the€difficulties€that€womenŠ į1 Šfaced€in€connection€with€the€various€developments€that€the€country€had€been€exposed€to€and€theŠ Ź Šproblems€the€war€had€caused€in€delaying€the€full€emancipation€of€women.Š ³ ŠĢ172.€€The€Committee€noted€its€appreciation€of€the€report€and€the€comprehensive€statement€made€byŠ …Õ Šthe€representative€of€Nicaragua,€as€well€as€its€clear€identification€of€issues.€€The€CommitteeŠ n¾ Šexpressed€the€hope€that€the€Government€would€find€further€ways€of€continuing€to€improve€the€statusŠ W§ Šof€women€through€a€speedy€revision€of€the€provisions€in€the€Civil,€Penal€and€Labour€Codes€thatŠ @ Šwere€not€in€full€consonance€with€the€Nicaraguan€Constitution.€€It€was€asked€to€what€extent€womenŠ ) y Šand€womenššs€organizations€were€seeking€to€have€those€Codes€revised.Š !b ŠĢ173.€€The€Committee€noted€that€there€was€a€clear€difference€in€the€report€between€the€existingŠ ä"4! Šlegislation€and€the€ņņde€factoóó€situation.€€Noting€that€the€report€stated€that€any€inconsistency€betweenŠ Ķ#" Šthe€articles€of€the€Convention€and€administrative€or€legal€regulations€could€be€brought€before€aŠ ¶$ # Šjudge,€a€member€of€the€Committee€requested€details€of€the€major€reform€that€would€be€necessaryŠ Ÿ%ļ $ Što€remove€such€an€inconsistency€and€asked€whether€the€Government€was€in€a€position€to€implementŠ ˆ&Ų!% Šsuch€a€reform.€€Another€member€asked€if€any€timetable€had€been€established€for€such€a€new€reform.Š q'Į"& ŠĢ174.€€A€clarification€was€requested€of€the€inconsistencies€found€in€the€report€in€connection€withŠ C)“$( Šarticle€129€of€the€Penal€Code,€especially€concerning€abduction€and€rape.€€It€was€asked€whether€anyŠ ,*|%) Šefforts€were€being€made€to€reform€those€obsolete€and€discriminatory€laws.Š +e&* ŠĢ175.€Regarding€any€inconsistency€between€the€Civil€Code€and€the€Constitution,€a€member€of€theŠ ē,7(, ŠCommittee€raised€the€issue€of€whether,€as€the€representative€had€implied€in€her€introductoryŠ Š- )- ŠŌ_Ōstatement,€womenššs€groups€could€really€have€any€influence€on€a€judgeššs€interpretation€of€the€lawŠ ° Šwhen€dealing€with€matters€relating€to€the€family€and€the€roles€of€men€and€women€within€the€family.Š ™é ŠĢ176.€€An€observation€was€made€that,€in€many€countries,€the€rate€of€progress€made€by€women€inŠ k» Šwartime€was€more€rapid€than€afterwards.€€A€question€was€raised€concerning€the€number€andŠ T¤ Šinfluence€of€non„governmental€organizations€and€other€large€womenššs€organizations€in€the€country,Š =  Šthe€extent€of€womenššs€participation€in€the€city€councils€(ņņŌ_ŌcabildosŌ_Ōóó)€and€the€number€of€women€whoŠ & v Šoccupied€high€professional€posts€in€the€army.Š  _ ŠĢ177.€€More€information€was€requested€by€members€of€the€Committee€on€womenššs€movements€inŠ į 1  ŠNicaragua€and€how€they€co„operated€with€each€other€and€on€whether€the€Government€helped€themŠ Ź   Šfinancially.Š ³  ŠĢ178.€€It€was€asked€whether€the€Nicaraguan€law€provided€for€the€prosecution€of€the€male€clients€ofŠ …Õ  Šprostitutes€and€whether€there€were€programmes€aimed€at€changing€the€attitudes€of€men€towardsŠ n¾  Šprostitution€and€the€exploitation€of€women.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€anything€was€being€done€toŠ W§  Šprovide€training€for€alternative€jobs€for€prostitutes€and€to€deal€with€the€problem€of€AIDS.Š @ ŠĢ179.€€The€Committee€asked€whether€there€were€any€women€judges€in€the€higher€courts€and€whatŠ b Špercentage€of€the€high„level€posts€in€Nicaragua€were€occupied€by€women.Š ūK ŠĢ180.€€Noting€that€the€illiteracy€rate€had€fallen€from€50.3€per€cent€to€12.9€per€cent,€it€was€askedŠ Ķ Šwhether€literacy€training€was€confined€to€reading€and€writing€or€whether€there€were€also€remedialŠ ¶ Šor€supplementary€educational€programmes.€€A€member€of€the€Committee€requested€clarification€ofŠ Ÿļ Šthe€percentage€of€women€enrolled€in€various€sectors€of€education.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ181.€€The€Committee€sought€clarification€of€the€types€of€employment€to€which€women€wereŠ ZŖ Šrestricted,€and€the€legal€remedies€that€existed€in€the€case€of€sex€discrimination€in€employment€in€theŠ C“ Špublic€and€private€sectors.Š ,| ŠĢ182.€€Further€information€was€requested€on€the€reasons€for€forbidding€advertisements€for€milkŠ žN Šproducts€in€the€mass€media.Š ē 7 ŠĢ183.€€A€member€of€the€Committee€inquired€whether€special€day„care€services,€refuges€and€healthŠ ¹" ! Šservices€were€available€to€protect€children€and€communities€from€the€deleterious€effects€of€the€warŠ ¢#ņ" Šand€to€improve€the€health€of€the€family.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ184.€€Information€was€requested€on€any€measures€that€had€been€taken€to€prevent€or€reduce€the€abuseŠ ]&­!% Šof€young€girls€and€women,€including€domestic€violence,€sexual€assault,€alcoholism€and€drug€abuse,Š F'–"& Šand€on€the€care€of€the€victims€of€those€social€ills.Š /(#' ŠĢ185.€€It€was€asked€whether€women€who€were€being€trained€as€health€workers€were€encouraged€toŠ *Q%) Šemphasize€the€need€for€good€hygiene€habits,€clean€drinking€water€and€sanitation.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ186.€€The€Committee€asked€about€the€results€of€sex€education€campaigns€and€whether€any€statisticsŠ ¼, (, Šwere€available€on€their€benefit€to€teenagers.€€It€also€asked€what€the€youngest€permissible€age€forŠ „-õ(- Šmotherhood€was.Š ° ŠĢ187.€€A€member€asked€whether€all€women€had€a€right€to€family€planning€services,€and€whether€theyŠ ‚Ņ Šwere€sponsored€by€the€Government.€It€was€asked€whether€the€provision€governing€the€right€to€lifeŠ k» Šgave€preference€to€the€life€of€the€foetus€rather€than€to€that€of€the€mother.€€It€was€also€asked€whetherŠ T¤ Šthere€were€any€programmes€to€reduce€the€high€rate€of€infant€mortality€and€to€improve€access€toŠ =  Šsupplies€of€clean€water.Š & v ŠĢ188.€€A€member€of€the€Committee€asked€for€information€on€the€process€of€agrarian€reform€andŠ ų H Šwhether€there€were€employment€opportunities€for€women€in€rural€areas.€€She€also€wanted€to€knowŠ į 1  Šthe€reasons€for€the€increased€movement€of€women€to€urban€areas,€especially€since€the€report€hadŠ Ź   Šstated€that€women€in€rural€areas€had€played€an€important€role.€€Another€member€of€the€CommitteeŠ ³  Šasked€what€had€been€done€to€encourage€more€women€to€cultivate€the€land€and€what€particularŠ œģ  Šmeasures€had€been€taken€for€the€benefit€of€women€belonging€to€ethnic€minorities.€€A€question€wasŠ …Õ  Šasked€about€the€impact€of€the€war€on€women€in€rural€areas€and€how€women€were€coping€with€theŠ n¾  Šdisruption€to€their€lives.Š W§  ŠĢ189.€€A€member€of€the€Committee€asked€about€the€extent€to€which€men€were€ready€to€share€parentalŠ )y Šresponsibilities€and€domestic€tasks.Š b ŠĢ190.€€A€question€was€raised€on€how€the€new€legal€provisions€were€implemented€in€the€case€ofŠ ä4 Šwomen€who€were€abused€within€the€family€and€children€who€were€ill„treated.Š Ķ ŠĢ191.€€A€member€of€the€Committee€requested€information€on€how€marriage€could€be€dissolved€byŠ Ÿļ Šmutual€consent€and€unilaterally,€and€whether€that€meant€that€the€partners€could€abandon€theŠ ˆŲ Šrelationship€without€provision€for€complying€with€their€responsibilities€towards€each€other€and€theirŠ qĮ Šchildren.€€Information€was€requested€on€the€disposition€of€property€acquired€during€marriage,€as€wellŠ ZŖ Šas€details€of€the€inheritance€laws€for€women€and€children.€€Information€was€also€requested€on€ņņdeŠ C“ Šfactoóó€unions,€and€their€effect€on€the€laws€governing€alimony,€the€distribution€of€property€andŠ ,| Šinheritance,€as€well€as€on€the€status€of€children€born€out€of€wedlock.Š e ŠĢ192.€€The€Committee€asked€for€information€on€how€the€provisions€for€wives€and€children€wereŠ ē 7 Šenforced€in€the€event€of€divorce,€and€what€the€rates€for€divorce€and€common„law€marriage€were.Š Š!   ŠĢ193.€€In€replying€to€the€questions€on€the€Constitution,€the€review€of€related€codes€and€the€positionŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€the€Government€regarding€such€changes,€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€replied€that€the€mainŠ ‹$Ū# Štask€has€been€the€elaboration€of€the€Constitution.€€The€codes€would€be€updated€in€accordance€withŠ t%Ä $ Šthe€provisions€of€the€Constitution.€€As€the€Constitution€had€already€been€adopted,€it€would€be€usedŠ ]&­!% Šas€a€guide€for€the€amendment€of€the€codes€as€required€by€law.€€Already,€a€study€on€the€new€LabourŠ F'–"& ŠCode€was€being€prepared.€€The€representative€said€that€the€fact€that€some€references€to€women€inŠ /(#' Šthe€Penal€Code€could€be€considered€discriminatory€would€be€borne€in€mind€because€the€ConstitutionŠ )h$( Šhad€enshrined€the€principle€of€equality€of€all€persons€before€the€law.Š *Q%) ŠĢ194.€€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€women€had€participated€actively€in€theŠ Ó+#'+ Špreparation€of€the€Constitution€in€two€phases.€€The€first€phase€had€consisted€of€the€collection€ofŠ ¼, (, Šinformation€at€national€and€international€levels,€including€the€opinions€of€diverse€politicalŠ „-õ(- Šorganizations€and€other€relevant€associations€and€the€second€phase€had€consisted€of€the€preparationŠ ° Šof€the€first€draft€of€the€Constitution€incorporating€all€the€information€that€had€been€gathered.€Š ™é ŠWomen€had€also€participated€in€the€national€consultation€on€the€draft€Constitution€and€had€organizedŠ ‚Ņ Šcity€councils€(ņņŌ_ŌcabildosŌ_Ōóó)€to€obtain€the€opinion€of€women.Š k» ŠĢ195.€€Regarding€the€request€for€information€on€the€rape€and€abuse€of€women,€the€representativeŠ =  Šreplied€that€the€Penal€Code€provided€for€a€sentence€of€between€6€and€12€years€particularly€when€theŠ & v Šrape€was€considered€to€have€been€extremely€cruel.€€An€amendment€of€that€rule€was€underŠ  _ Šconsideration.€€She€said€that€refuges€or€shelters€for€abused€women€existed€in€three€regions€of€theŠ ų H Šcountry,€which€provided€such€women€with€counselling€and€psychological€support.Š į 1  ŠĢ196.€€Regarding€the€comment€that€had€been€made€on€the€tendency,€in€times€of€peace,€for€theŠ ³  Šprogress€achieved€by€women€during€wartime€to€slow€down,€the€representative€stated€that€she€sharedŠ œģ  Šthat€opinion.€€Women€themselves€were€aware€of€that€tendency€and€were€trying€to€raise€the€generalŠ …Õ  Šawareness€of€the€work€they€did,€of€womenššs€subordinate€position€and€of€the€need€for€women€toŠ n¾  Šorganize€themselves€to€balance€the€unequal€position€of€women€and€men.€€She€referred€to€the€activeŠ W§  Šrole€that€women€had€played€during€wartime,€which€had€made€women€question€their€traditional€rolesŠ @ Šand€see€the€need€to€change€their€lives€in€accordance€with€reality.€€Training€for€leaders€andŠ )y Štechnicians€was€being€provided€and€day„care€centres€were€being€established.Š b ŠĢ197.€€In€reply€to€questions€about€whether€the€positive€measures€that€had€been€taken€were€on€accountŠ ä4 Šof€pressure€applied€by€women,€and€whether€the€Convention€would€be€used€as€a€tool€for€introducingŠ Ķ Šmore€programmes,€the€representative€replied€that€the€Nicaraguan€Womenššs€Institute€would€have€toŠ ¶ Šassume€the€responsibility€for€developing€a€programme€to€publicize€the€Convention.€€She€added€thatŠ Ÿļ Šit€would€be€important€to€make€all€parliamentarians€and€members€of€the€cabinet€and€judges€of€theŠ ˆŲ ŠSupreme€Court€of€Justice€and€other€relevant€institutions€aware€of€the€Convention.Š qĮ ŠĢ198.€€Regarding€the€situation€of€Indian€women,€who€constituted€a€minority€group,€the€representativeŠ C“ Šsaid€that€there€was€a€law€that€granted€them€autonomy.€€Accordingly,€they€were€able€to€elect€theirŠ ,| Šown€authorities€and€were€free€to€decide€on€the€administration€of€their€own€natural€resources.€€TheyŠ e Šalso€had€the€right€to€regulate€the€ownership€of€their€land.€€They€were€allowed€to€live€in€accordanceŠ žN Šwith€their€own€traditions€and€to€preserve€their€art,€language€and€culture.Š ē 7 ŠĢ199.€€Regarding€the€role€of€television€and€radio€in€influencing€attitudes€towards€women,€particularlyŠ ¹" ! Šin€informing€them€of€the€progressive€law,€the€representative€said€that€a€programme€existed€that€wasŠ ¢#ņ" Šaimed€at€increasing€womenššs€knowledge€of€their€rights.€€Furthermore,€Ō_ŌCONAPROŌ_Ō€broadcast€aŠ ‹$Ū# Šwomenššs€programme€that€covered€three€regions€of€the€country.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ200.€€The€representative€stated€the€Constitution€prohibited€prostitution.€€Only€the€procurer€and€theŠ F'–"& Šowner€of€a€brothel€were€prosecuted,€however.€€There€was€no€provision€to€prosecute€the€male€clientsŠ /(#' Šof€prostitutes.€€She€said€that€a€major€campaign€on€AIDS€had€been€undertaken€to€prevent€the€spreadŠ )h$( Šof€the€disease,€and€a€special€programme€for€the€media€was€under€way€to€educe€people€about€theŠ *Q%) Šdangers€of€AIDS,€particularly€for€high„risk€groups€such€as€prostitutes€and€homosexuals.€€Only€14Š ź*:&* Šcases€of€AIDS€had€been€reported.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ201.€€Regarding€the€percentage€of€women€appointed€to€the€High€Court€and€involved€in€politics,€theŠ „-õ(- Šrepresentative€said€that€28€per€cent€of€the€judges€of€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice,€24€per€cent€of€theŠ ° Šmembers€of€the€ruling€party€and€43€per€cent€of€the€members€of€regional€committees€were€women.€Š ™é ŠThere€were,€however,€no€women€in€the€national€directorate€of€the€party.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ202.€€As€regards€illiteracy,€the€representative€stated€that€there€was€a€national€campaign€of€volunteersŠ T¤ Što€reduce€illiteracy€from€50€to€12€per€cent.€€During€a€six„month€period,€80,000€persons€hadŠ =  Šparticipated,€60€per€cent€of€whom€were€women.€€That€programme€had€been€followed€up€by€anŠ & v Šeducational€programme€for€adults.€€In€reply€to€a€question€on€the€data€on€education€presented€in€theŠ  _ Šreport€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/5/Add.55),€the€representative€stated€that€they€referred€to€the€distribution€ofŠ ų H Šstudents€registered€in€the€different€levels€of€the€educational€system.€€€The€majority€of€the€studentsŠ į 1  Šwere€registered€in€the€primary„€and€secondary„school€levels.Š Ź   ŠĢ203.€€The€representative€said€that€one€objective€of€education€was€to€provide€an€integrated€trainingŠ œģ  Šof€all€persons.€€Consequently,€there€was€no€difference€between€the€access€of€men€and€women€to€freeŠ …Õ  Šeducation.€€The€statistics€supplied€indicated€the€registration€figures€of€students.€€In€1987,€54€per€centŠ n¾  Šof€the€903,500€students€were€women.€€In€primary€education,€52.25€per€cent€of€the€students€wereŠ W§  Šwomen.€€In€the€basic€€cycle€of€secondary€education,€63€per€cent€of€the€students€were€women,€in€theŠ @ Šdiversified€cycle€of€secondary€education,€67€per€cent€of€the€students€were€women.€€WomenŠ )y Šaccounted€for€48€per€cent€of€the€students€in€adult€education.€€She€indicated,€however,€that€differencesŠ b Šaccording€to€sex€were€apparent€in€the€choice€of€professional€and€technical€careers.Š ūK ŠĢ204.€€Regarding€the€request€for€more€information€on€the€participation€of€women€in€income„Š Ķ Šgenerating€activities€and€recourse€to€legal€action€in€cases€of€discrimination,€the€representativeŠ ¶ Šreferred€to€the€statistical€data€attached€to€her€presentation,€which€would€be€included€in€the€updatedŠ Ÿļ Šreport.€€As€for€additional€data€on€employment€in€the€public€and€private€sectors,€she€said€that€the€dataŠ ˆŲ Šwould€be€sent€to€the€Secretariat€later.Š qĮ ŠĢ205.€€With€regard€to€family€planning,€the€representative€stated€that€the€Government€was€promotingŠ C“ Ša€programme€on€family€planning€through€the€health€centres€and€providing€education€on€the€use€ofŠ ,| Šcontraceptives.€€She€said€that€women€had€access€to€those€centres€but€had€no€knowledge€ofŠ e Šcontraception.€€She€indicated€that€the€programme€had€also€been€carried€out€through€the€print€andŠ žN Šelectronic€media.€€She€said€that€vaccination€campaigns€had€been€undertaken€to€reduce€infantŠ ē 7 Šmortality;€no€statistics€were€available,€however,€but€they€would€be€supplied€later.Š Š!   ŠĢ206.€€In€reply€to€a€question€about€the€reasons€for€prohibiting€advertisements€for€milk,€theŠ ¢#ņ" Šrepresentative€replied€that€a€misunderstanding€had€arisen€because€she€had€meant€that€breast„feedingŠ ‹$Ū# Šwas€to€be€promoted€rather€than€the€use€of€milk€substitutes.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ207.€€Regarding€the€impact€of€the€war€on€women€in€the€rural€areas,€the€representative€stated€that€itŠ F'–"& Šhad€tended€to€lead€to€the€Ō_ŌfeminizationŌ_Ō€of€the€rural€sector€since€women€constituted€the€bulk€of€theŠ /(#' Šlabour€force.€€It€had€also€led€to€the€establishment€of€co„operatives€among€the€workers€and€had€meantŠ )h$( Šthat€women€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€to€consolidate€the€roles€they€were€called€upon€to€play€in€those€difficultŠ *Q%) Šcircumstances.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ208.€€In€connection€with€agrarian€reform€and€co„operative€programmes,€the€representative€said€thatŠ ¼, (, Ša€good€legal€framework€existed€for€the€implementation€of€co„operative€programmes.€€Women,Š „-õ(- Šhowever,€were€still€relegated€to€a€subsidiary€role€and€she€attributed€that€to€the€influence€of€theŠ ° Štraditional€role€of€women€and€the€authority€of€men€within€the€co„operatives€and€that€of€the€husbandŠ ™é Šat€home.€€She€indicated€that€some€difficulties€arose€when€the€title€to€the€land€was€granted€to€theŠ ‚Ņ Šhusband,€following€a€dissolution€of€marriage,€and€the€wife€was€left€without€land.€€Consideration€wasŠ k» Šbeing€given€to€that€problem€and€additional€information€would€be€supplied€in€the€updated€report.€Š T¤ ŠĢ209.€€In€connection€with€the€request€for€clarification€of€the€obligation€for€men€and€women€to€shareŠ & v Šhousework,€and€the€extent€to€which€men€were€willing€to€share€it,€the€representative€said€that€the€lawŠ  _ Šon€the€relations€between€mother,€father€and€children€had€established€an€obligation€that€domesticŠ ų H Šresponsibilities€should€be€shared€although€it€was€difficult€to€enforce€it.€€The€majority€of€men€wereŠ į 1  Šnot€prepared€to€lose€the€privilege€of€coming€home€to€rest,€and€women€resented€that€situation,€whichŠ Ź   Šwas€the€reason€why€the€legal€provisions€had€been€introduced.€€The€existence€of€such€a€provisionŠ ³  Šonly€enhanced€the€need€to€enact€a€new€law€for€a€new€society.Š œģ  ŠĢ210.€€Regarding€the€maltreatment€of€children,€the€representative€indicated€that,€in€general,€everyoneŠ n¾  Štended€to€protect€children.€€There€was€a€specific€Central€Trusteeship€of€Minors.€€A€parent€whoŠ W§  Šmaltreated€a€child€might€lose€the€rights€to€ņņpatria€Ō_ŌpotestadŌ_Ōóó,€and€other€persons€guilty€of€theŠ @ Šmaltreatment€of€children€were€deemed€to€have€committed€a€crime.Š )y ŠĢ211.€€Regarding€the€information€requested€on€the€unilateral€dissolution€of€marriage,€theŠ ūK Šrepresentative€said€that€a€law€outlined€the€procedures€and€requirements€for€such€dissolution,Š ä4 Šspecifically€providing€for€the€guardianship€of€the€children,€maintenance€and€distribution€of€theŠ Ķ Šproperty.Š ¶ ŠĢ212.€€The€parent€who€became€the€guardian€of€the€children€had€the€right€to€keep€the€house€if€it€hadŠ ˆŲ Šbeen€acquired€during€the€marriage.€€The€subject€of€ņņde€factoóó€marriages€would€be€discussed€in€1989Š qĮ Šwithin€the€womenššs€movement.€€ņņDe€factoóó€union€was€not€regulated€but€the€social€security€provisionsŠ ZŖ Šrecognized€such€unions€by€granting€social€security€to€the€orphans€and€widows€of€such€unions.€€SheŠ C“ Šstated€that€during€the€previous€three€years,€there€had€been€a€high€incidence€of€divorce.Š  ,| Šņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/48/38€(1993)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ359.€The€Committee€considered€the€second€and€third€periodic€reports€of€NicaraguaŠ l¼ Š(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/13/Add.20€and€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/NIC/3)€at€its€219ņņthóó€meeting,€on€26€January€(seeŠ U„ ŠŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.219).Š > Ž ŠĢ360.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€political€changes€and€economic€conditions€in€recent€years€hadŠ  ` Šaffected€progress€in€Nicaragua.€€It€noted€that,€apart€from€playing€an€active€role€in€the€tragic€andŠ ł I Šdrawn„out€conflict,€Nicaraguan€women€had€contributed€considerably€to€their€country€in€makingŠ ā 2  Šimportant€social€advances€as€a€result€of€their€awareness€of€their€duties€and€rights€as€one€of€the€basicŠ Ė   Šconstituents€of€their€society.Š “  ŠĢ361.€€The€Committee€observed€that€the€second€and€third€periodic€reports€submitted€by€NicaraguaŠ †Ö  Šwere€not€as€systematically€presented€as€would€have€been€desirable€and,€in€some€instances,€involvedŠ oæ  Šcontradictions.€€It€suggested€that€future€reports€adhere€more€closely€to€the€general€guidelinesŠ XØ  Šregarding€the€form€and€content€of€reports€received€from€State€parties€under€article€18€of€theŠ A‘ ŠConvention€(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/7)€and€to€the€general€recommendations€of€the€Committee.Š *z ŠĢ362.€€Before€replying€to€questions,€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€said€that€both€reports€reflectedŠ üL Šthe€history€of€the€country,€which€had€involved€political€events€that€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€a€strong€impact€on€theŠ å5 Šstatus€of€Nicaraguan€women.€€Whereas€the€second€periodic€report€portrayed€the€legal€situation€andŠ Ī Šthe€participation€of€women€in€all€walks€of€life€as€a€result€of€the€war,€the€third€periodic€reportŠ · Špresented€the€actual€situation€and€showed€the€efforts€made€and€the€political€will€to€work€on€theŠ  š Šelimination€of€the€causes€that€had€given€rise€to€discrimination€against€women.Š ‰Ł ŠĢņņQuestions€related€to€specific€articlesóóŠ [« ŠĢņņArticles€1,€2,€3€and€4óóŠ -} ŠĢ363.€€Asked€about€the€Constitution€of€Nicaragua€that€had€been€promulgated€in€1987€and€that€hadŠ ’O Šbeen€inspired€by€a€new€social€order,€the€representative€said€that€it€was€still€in€force€and€had€beenŠ č 8 Šneither€repealed€nor€amended.Š Ń!!  ŠĢ364.€€Regarding€the€questions€whether€the€Government€Office€for€Women,€established€in€1982,€stillŠ £#ó" Šexisted€and€what€its€functions€were,€the€representative€explained€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€Office€had€beenŠ Œ$Ü# Šreorganized€and€transformed€into€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€Women€(Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō)€in€1987.€€Its€mainŠ u%Å $ Šfunctions€were€to€participate€actively€in€defining€and€revising€government€policies€and€to€coordinateŠ ^&®!% Šwith€all€governmental€institutions€in€order€to€ensure€that€they€took€into€account€the€status€of€women;Š G'—"& Što€disseminate€data€on€the€participation€of€women€in€economic€development€so€as€to€make€theŠ 0(€#' ŠGovernment€and€society€aware€of€the€real€situation€of€women;€to€promote€the€participation€ofŠ )i$( Šwomen€in€Government„sponsored€projects;€to€obtain€external€financing€for€the€strengthening€ofŠ *R%) ŠŌ_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€and€the€promotion€of€its€programmes;€to€initiate€the€revision€of€laws€concerning€the€status€ofŠ ė*;&* Šwomen;€to€launch€and€monitor€technical€training€programmes€that€should€take€into€account€genderŠ Ō+$'+ Šperspectives;€to€participate€in€national€and€international€conferences€dealing€with€womenššs€issues;Š ½, (, Šand€to€promote€sources€of€income€and€employment€for€unemployed€women.€€Currently,€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_ŌŠ ¦-ö(- Šreceived€allocations€from€the€national€budget€and€from€cooperating€agencies.Š ° ŠĢ365.€€Asked€for€further€information€on€what€had€been€termed€in€the€third€periodic€report€aŠ ‚Ņ Šš šreactivationšš€of€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€in€November€1990,€the€representative€explained€that€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€had€Ō_ŌhadŌ_Ō€to€startŠ k» Šfrom€scratch€because€neither€the€former€documentation€centre€of€over€2,500€volumes,€researchŠ T¤ Šfindings€about€Nicaraguan€women,€the€computer€centre,€archives€and€documents€about€projects€andŠ =  Šthe€administration€of€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€nor€the€vehicles€could€be€located.€€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€had€been€brought€back€to€lifeŠ & v Šonly€through€the€Governmentššs€efforts€and€the€support€of€neighbouring€States.Š  _ ŠĢ366.€€Asked€whether€the€Centre€for€the€Guardianship€of€Minors€was€still€in€existence,€theŠ į 1  Šrepresentative€said€that€it€had€been€converted€into€an€institution€with€additional€responsibilitiesŠ Ź   Šwithin€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€Social€Security€and€Welfare.€€It€provided€legal€assistance€andŠ ³  Šcare€to€minors,€the€family€and€the€community,€it€dealt€with€the€legal€requirements€for€adoption,Š œģ  Šmarital€conflicts,€the€right€of€guardianship€for€children€and€maintenance€payments,€and€it€gave€legalŠ …Õ  Šadvice€to€women€in€need.Š n¾  ŠĢ367.€€Regarding€the€former€Family€Guidance€and€Protection€Office€of€that€Institute,€which€had€beenŠ @ Šdealing€with€the€legal,€social€and€psychological€problems€of€women,€the€representative€said€that€itsŠ )y Šlegal€functions€had€been€transferred€to€the€Legal€Petition€Office€for€Minors€and€the€FamilyŠ b Š(Ō_ŌDirecciš;šnŌ_Ō€de€Ō_ŌInstanciaŌ_Ō€Legal€del€Ō_ŌMenorŌ_Ō€y€la€Familia).€€Its€psycho„social€functions€had€beenŠ ūK Štransferred€to€the€Office€for€Centres€and€Zones€(Ō_ŌDirecciš;šnŌ_Ō€de€Ō_ŌCentrosŌ_Ō€y€Ō_ŌZonalesŌ_Ō),€with€the€sameŠ ä4 Šhierarchical€structure€as€the€former€Office€for€Family€Orientation€and€Protection.Š Ķ ŠĢ368.€€With€regard€to€the€Womenššs€Legal€Office,€an€organ€of€the€Luisa€Amanda€Ō_ŌEspinozaŌ_ŌŠ Ÿļ ŠAssociation€of€Nicaraguan€Women,€the€representative€said€that€it€was€a€womenššs€organization€withŠ ˆŲ Šthe€political€orientation€of€the€Ō_ŌFrenteŌ_Ō€Sandinista.€€She€said€that€currently,€the€Government€supportedŠ qĮ Šmainly€development€projects€in€favour€of,€and€at€the€request€of,€women.Š ZŖ ŠĢ369.€€Asked€for€further€information€on€the€planned€establishment€of€a€statistical€information€systemŠ ,| ŠŌ_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€by€gender€and€age€group€as€well€as€by€other€characteristics,€the€representative€statedŠ e Šthat€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€was€currently€working€on€the€establishment€of€such€a€nationwide€network.€€Furthermore,Š žN Ša€census€of€households,€covering€population,€housing€and€farming,€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€by€gender,€wasŠ ē 7 Šbeing€planned.Š Š!   ŠĢ370.€€An€additional€comment€was€made€by€a€member€to€the€effect€that€the€Convention€on€theŠ ¢#ņ" ŠElimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€had€not€been€mentioned€among€the€legalŠ ‹$Ū# Šinstruments€on€which€the€unrestricted€respect€for€human€rights€was€based,€and€yet€the€ConventionŠ t%Ä $ Šwas€recognized€in€the€countryššs€Constitution.€€She€asked€whether€discrimination€as€specified€in€theŠ ]&­!% ŠConvention€was€actually€forbidden€by€the€Constitution.Š F'–"& ŠĢ371.€€Bearing€in€mind€that€the€adjustment€programme€had€led€to€a€reduction€of€the€deficit€from€20Š )h$( Šper€cent€to€7€per€cent€of€GNP,€as€mentioned€in€the€third€periodic€report,€which€had€resulted€in€aŠ *Q%) Šdecline€of€the€living€conditions€of€women€and€children,€a€member€asked€whether€thought€had€beenŠ ź*:&* Šgiven€earlier€to€the€social€dimension€of€the€structural€adjustment€programmes,€in€order€to€reduceŠ Ó+#'+ Štheir€negative€effects,€and€what€kind€of€emergency€measures€had€been€adopted€to€absorb€thoseŠ ¼, (, Šeffects.Š „-õ(- ЇņņArticle€5óóŠ ° ŠĢ372.€Regarding€the€question€whether€the€decree€of€1979€prohibiting€the€publication€or€use€ofŠ ‚Ņ Šrepresentations€of€women€as€sexual€commercial€objects€still€existed,€the€representative€said€that€theŠ k» Šlaw€had€been€put€into€force€in€1979€and€had€been€abolished€in€1990.Š T¤ ŠĢ373.€€Regarding€the€measures€taken€to€overcome€all€forms€of€gender„based€violence€and€a€requestŠ & v Šfor€detailed€reports€on€the€nature€and€extent€of€the€problem€of€violence€against€women,€theŠ  _ Šrepresentative€stated€that€the€President€had€established€the€Commission€on€Violence€against€WomenŠ ų H Šin€1992.€€The€Commission€coordinated€its€activities€for€setting€up€centres€for€female€victims€ofŠ į 1  Šviolence€with€the€Institute€for€Social€Security€and€Welfare.€€A€centre€offering€psychologicalŠ Ź   Šcounselling€for€young€female€victims€of€sexual€violence€had€already€been€established.€€TheŠ ³  ŠCommission€was€also€organizing,€together€with€the€police,€seminars€for€dealing€with€female€victimsŠ œģ  Šof€violence.Š …Õ  ŠĢņņArticle€6óóŠ W§  ŠĢ374.€€In€reply€to€several€questions€related€to€prostitution,€the€representative€stated€that€prostitutionŠ )y Šwas€not€legal€in€Nicaragua.€€Incitement€to€prostitution€was€punishable€by€three€to€six€yearsššŠ b Šimprisonment€and,€if€the€perpetrator€was€married€to,€or€lived€in€a€de€facto€union€with€the€victim,€byŠ ūK Šup€to€10€yearsšš€imprisonment.€€The€incidence€of€prostitution€was€increasing€as€a€result€of€theŠ ä4 Šeconomic€situation€in€Nicaragua.€€The€State€was€not€taking€any€specific€measures€on€behalf€ofŠ Ķ Šprostitutes,€but€efforts€were€being€made€to€integrate€them€into€vocational€training.€€They€could€alsoŠ ¶ Šundergo€monthly€gynaecological€examinations€in€a€health€centre.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ375.€€Asked€about€the€measures€taken€by€the€Government€to€protect€prostitutes€from€HIV/AIDS,€theŠ qĮ Šrepresentative€said€that€education€campaigns€were€being€carried€out€through€the€mass€media€andŠ ZŖ Šother€forms€of€publicity.Š C“ ŠĢņņArticle€7óóŠ e ŠĢ376.€€Although€15€of€the€92€representatives€in€the€National€Assembly€were€women,€only€one€womanŠ ē 7 Šheld€a€senior€position€in€the€legislature.€€The€representative€said€that€the€Electoral€Law€did€not€callŠ Š!   Šfor€a€specific€percentage€of€women€on€the€election€lists.€€There€was€only€one€woman€among€theŠ ¹" ! Šseven€judges€sitting€in€the€Supreme€Court€of€Justice,€and€only€one€woman€among€the€five€judgesŠ ¢#ņ" Šwho€made€up€the€Supreme€Electoral€Council.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ377.€€Asked€about€the€number€of€women€represented€on€the€Council€of€Ministers,€the€representativeŠ ]&­!% Šsaid€that€there€were€two,€the€Health€Minister€and€the€Vice„Minister€of€Finance.€€She€said€that€womenŠ F'–"& Šwere€represented€on€many€other€bodies€of€administrative€authority,€such€as€the€Office€of€theŠ /(#' ŠAttorney.€€Furthermore,€the€Director€of€the€Culture€Institute€and€the€Director€and€Deputy€DirectorŠ )h$( Šof€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō€were€also€women.€€The€proportion€of€women€in€the€legal€profession€was€about€20€per€cent.€Š *Q%) ŠIn€general,€women€were€well€represented€among€the€advisers€of€persons€holding€political€decision„Š ź*:&* Šmaking€positions.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢņņArticle€8óóŠ „-õ(- Ї378.€€Asked€how€many€women€were€representing€Nicaragua€in€other€countries€and€how€many€wereŠ ° Šemployed€in€international€organizations,€and€what€their€proportion€in€relation€to€men€was,€theŠ ™é Šrepresentative€said€that€there€was€one€woman€ambassador€who€was€serving€as€ambassador€in€fiveŠ ‚Ņ Šcountries€concurrently.Š k» ŠĢņņArticle€10óóŠ =  ŠĢ379.€€Questioned€about€the€fact€that€women€accounted€for€51.6€per€cent€of€all€illiterate€persons€inŠ  _ ŠNicaragua€and€asked€whether€any€literacy€training€programmes€were€targeted€on€women,€theŠ ų H Šrepresentative€said€that€the€adult€education€programmes€were€not€specifically€directed€to€women.Š į 1  ŠĢ380.€€In€answer€to€questions€about€special€programmes€to€encourage€education€for€women,€theŠ ³  Šmethods€pursued€by€the€Government€to€eliminate€stereotyped€concepts€of€the€roles€of€men€andŠ œģ  Šwomen,€and€programmes€to€steer€women€in€the€direction€of€industrial€education€courses,€in€keepingŠ …Õ  Šwith€the€requirements€of€the€State,€the€representative€said€that€the€Government€carried€out€trainingŠ n¾  Šactivities€in€non„traditional€sectors€through€the€National€Technological€Institute.€€That€training€hadŠ W§  Šan€impact€on€women€because€they€became€interested€in€seeking€alternative€employment.€€More€andŠ @ Šmore€women€were€looking€for€alternative€education€patterns,€but€the€impact€of€those€programmesŠ )y Šwould€be€felt€only€in€the€long€term.€€Use€was€made€of€publicity€campaigns€on€the€radio€to€informŠ b Šwomen€of€training€opportunities.€€She€said€that€at€the€end€of€1992€it€had€been€urged€that€anŠ ūK Šinformation€centre€for€the€training€and€employment€of€women€should€be€created€to€carry€out€theŠ ä4 Švocational€training€of€women€through€seminars€for€employers,€teachers€and€people€in€general,€andŠ Ķ Šthrough€publicity.€€The€programme€of€the€National€Technological€Institute€had€become€part€of€aŠ ¶ Šregional€training€programme€involving€eight€Latin€American€countries.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ381.€€In€an€additional€comment,€a€member€underlined€the€need€for€further€improvement€in€theŠ qĮ Šeducational€and€cultural€levels€of€women,€saying€that,€in€spite€of€the€Governmentššs€efforts,€theŠ ZŖ Šcountryššs€goals€had€still€not€been€attained.Š C“ ŠĢņņArticle€11óóŠ e ŠĢ382.€€Asked€about€the€effect€on€women€of€the€changes€introduced€since€1990€in€the€approach€to€theŠ ē 7 Šeconomy,€the€representative€explained€that€the€impact€had€been€greatest€on€women€heads€ofŠ Š!   Šhousehold.€€As€they€were€less€educated€and€had€insufficient€training€to€qualify€them€for€higher€paidŠ ¹" ! Šjobs,€they€had€access€only€to€low€paid€jobs,€which€had€led€to€an€increase€in€the€number€of€personsŠ ¢#ņ" Šliving€in€poverty.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ383.€€Concerning€questions€on€the€actual€rate€of€unemployment€in€Nicaragua€and€the€proportion€ofŠ ]&­!% Šwomen€that€were€unemployed,€the€representative€replied€that€currently€51€per€cent€of€theŠ F'–"& Šeconomically€active€population€was€unemployed.Š /(#' ŠĢ384.€€Regarding€the€participation€of€women€in€the€economically€active€population,€the€representativeŠ *Q%) Šconfirmed€that€the€figure€of€34€per€cent,€given€in€the€third€periodic€report,€was€correct.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ385.€€Asked€for€the€reasons€for€the€decrease€in€the€economically€active€female€population€in€the€ruralŠ ¼, (, Šsector,€the€representative€said€that€many€of€the€persons€who€had€made€up€the€rural€population€hadŠ „-õ(- Šemigrated€to€urban€areas€because€of€the€almost€10€years€of€war€and€because€of€natural€disasters.€€InŠ ° Šurban€areas,€women€mostly€tried€to€find€jobs€in€the€informal€sector€and€in€domestic€employment.€Š ™é ŠNo€information€was€given€on€measures€taken€to€correct€the€situation.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ386.€€While€the€representative€did€not€indicate€the€current€percentage€of€women€working€in€theŠ T¤ Šinformal€sector,€she€enumerated€various€economic€assistance€programmes€for€women€employed€inŠ =  Šthe€informal€sector,€such€as€financing€programmes€for€small€and€medium„sized€businesses€andŠ & v Šprogrammes€of€communal€banks€for€financing€the€productive€and€commercial€activities€of€womenŠ  _ Šhead€of€household€who€had€no€access€to€credit€and€lived€in€extreme€poverty.Š ų H ŠĢ387.€€In€response€to€a€question€on€the€outcome€of€a€ruling€by€the€International€Court€of€Justice€at€TheŠ Ź   ŠHague€under€which€Nicaragua€should€be€compensated€for€the€losses€that€it€had€suffered€as€a€resultŠ ³  Šof€indirect€aggression€and€whether,€if€it€had€been,€any€of€the€money€was€being€used€to€improve€theŠ œģ  Šsituation€of€women€in€Nicaragua,€the€representative€said€that€no€such€ruling€had€been€made€andŠ …Õ  Šconsequently€no€indemnity€had€been€paid.Š n¾  ŠĢ388.€€Asked€about€the€kind€of€assistance€given€to€women€heads€of€household,€the€representative€saidŠ @ Šthat€the€Government€was€encouraging€a€promotion€and€training€programme€through€Ō_ŌINIMŌ_Ō,€inŠ )y Šcoordination€with€several€ministries€and€the€Institute€for€Social€Security€and€Welfare,€whichŠ b Šconsisted€in€literacy€campaigns€and€training€activities€in€traditional€and€non„traditional€jobs€in€orderŠ ūK Što€facilitate€access€to€income„generating€credit.€€The€latter€organization€was€also€establishing€day„Š ä4 Šcare€centres€to€offer€security€to€children€and€to€facilitate€womenššs€integration€into€the€labour€force.Š Ķ ŠĢ389.€€In€additional€comments,€further€information€was€requested€on€women€in€the€informal€sector,Š Ÿļ Šincluding€statistical€data€and€details€about€their€working€conditions;€job„creation€measures€forŠ ˆŲ Šwomen;€and€the€situation€of€working€mothers,€since€not€enough€day„care€centres€were€available€andŠ qĮ Šwomen€did€not€have€adequate€access€to€labour„saving€technology.Š ZŖ ŠĢņņArticle€12óóŠ ,| ŠĢ390.€€Asked€about€the€plans€of€the€Government€to€adopt€a€general€policy€for€the€protection€ofŠ žN Šmaternity,€reproductive€health,€and€occupational€health€and€safety,€the€representative€said€that€theŠ ē 7 Šright€to€health€of€all€citizens€was€covered€by€article€59€of€the€Constitution.€€Through€the€Institute€forŠ Š!   ŠSocial€Security€and€Welfare,€the€Government€was€trying€to€decentralize€the€health€services€and€toŠ ¹" ! Šprovide€social€assistance€to€all€workers.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ391.€€Regarding€the€question€whether€the€Government€was€carrying€out€any€programme€of€educationŠ t%Ä $ Šand€assistance€to€deal€with€the€problem€of€abortion,€which€was€referred€to€as€the€third€most€commonŠ ]&­!% Šcause€of€death€among€mothers,€the€representative€explained€that€the€Government€was€a€member€ofŠ F'–"& Šthe€regional€commission€for€combatting€maternal€death€and€it€acted€through€the€Ministry€of€HealthŠ /(#' Šand€various€Ō_ŌsubcommissionsŌ_Ō.€€The€reduction€of€maternal€death€was€one€of€the€priorities€of€theŠ )h$( ŠMinistry€of€Health€within€the€framework€of€its€programme€for€mothers€covering€the€time€ofŠ *Q%) Špregnancy€and€the€first€years€of€infancy.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ392.€€In€additional€comments,€concern€was€expressed€about€the€high€incidence€of€death€related€toŠ ¼, (, Šabortion€and€the€question€was€reiterated€as€to€what€kind€of€family€planning€and€assistance€measuresŠ „-õ(- Šthe€Government€was€carrying€out.€€Members€also€asked€whether€the€Government€had€approachedŠ ° Šgovernmental€and€non„governmental€organizations€to€assist€the€country€in€alleviating€its€foodŠ ™é Šshortage€that€affected€mostly€women€and€children.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢņņArticle€14óóŠ T¤ ŠĢ393.€€In€response€to€a€question,€the€representative€said€that,€according€to€the€statistics€of€1990,Š & v Šwomen€accounted€for€40€per€cent€of€the€agricultural€wage„earning€workforce.Š  _ ŠĢ394.€€Asked€about€programmes€of€assistance€for€rural€working€women,€the€representative€mentionedŠ į 1  Šthe€programme€š šWomen,€environment€and€developmentšš,€which€promoted€the€participation€of€ruralŠ Ź   Šwomen€in€the€countryššs€development.€€It€was€an€integral€programme€that€was€aimed€at€the€practicalŠ ³  Šand€strategical€necessities€of€rural€women,€including€access€to€credit,€self„esteem€and€legal€literacy.Š œģ  ŠĢ395.€€Regarding€the€data€in€the€second€periodic€report€on€the€proportion€of€rural€women€who€wereŠ n¾  Šheads€of€households,€the€representative€said€that€no€more€contemporary€data€were€available,€but€itŠ W§  Šcould€be€assumed€that€the€proportion€had€increased€because€many€women€had€become€widows€orŠ @ Šorphans€as€a€result€of€the€war.Š )y ŠĢ396.€€Referring€to€assistance€programmes€for€rural€women€workers,€the€representative€said€that€theŠ ūK ŠGovernment€was€trying€to€promote€the€extension€of€education,€health,€training€and€medical€servicesŠ ä4 Šthrough€municipal€governments.Š Ķ ŠĢņņArticle€15óóŠ Ÿļ ŠĢ397.€€Replying€to€the€question€whether€women€still€did€not€have€full€legal€capacity€because€as€statedŠ qĮ Šin€the€second€periodic€report,€they€were€equated,€in€terms€of€legal€capacity,€with€children€andŠ ZŖ Šdisabled€persons€and€required€legal€representation€in€most€cases,€the€representative€said€that€articlesŠ C“ Š27€and€48€of€the€Constitution€gave€women€equality€before€the€law€with€men.Š ,| ŠĢ398.€€In€an€additional€comment,€a€member€pointed€to€a€contradiction€between€law€and€practice€inŠ žN ŠNicaragua.€€She€was€concerned€that€while€women€participated€in€the€political€life€of€the€country,Š ē 7 Šthey€did€not€have€full€legal€capacity€and€could€not€appear€in€court€on€their€own€behalf.€€When€askedŠ Š!   Šhow€women€reacted€to€that€situation,€the€representative€replied€that€women€were€represented€in€allŠ ¹" ! Špolitical€institutions€and,€in€the€absence€of€appropriate€written€laws,€women€resolved€their€problemsŠ ¢#ņ" Šin€a€pragmatic€way.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņArticle€16óóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ399.€€Referring€to€observations€made€on€Law€No.€€38€on€the€dissolution€of€marriage€at€the€wish€ofŠ /(#' Šone€of€the€parties,€a€practice€that€gave€rise€to€a€series€of€injustices€whose€effects€would€be€felt€mostŠ )h$( Šby€women€and€children,€the€representative€said€that€the€law€had€been€promulgated€in€1988.€Š *Q%) ŠAlthough€the€law€was€still€in€force,€some€progress€had€been€made€in€that€it€had€been€analysed;€theŠ ź*:&* Špopulation,€mainly€women,€had€been€consulted€and€more€Government€support€for€the€payment€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šmaintenance€had€been€required.€€She€said€that€women€had€made€most€use€of€the€law.€Š ¼, (, ŠSimultaneously,€other€laws€had€been€put€into€force,€such€as€the€law€on€alimony.Š „-õ(- Ї400.€€Asked€to€clarify€a€presumed€contradiction€between€the€second€and€the€third€periodic€reportsŠ ° Šregarding€the€treatment€of€pregnant€women€prisoners,€the€representative€said€that€there€was€noŠ ™é Šcontradiction€between€the€two€reports.€€It€was€correct€to€say€that€no€special€law€protected€pregnantŠ ‚Ņ Šwomen€prisoners,€and€the€statement€concerning€their€special€treatment€referred€to€administrativeŠ k» Šmeasures€to€protect€pregnant€women€prisoners€because€of€the€non„existence€of€a€special€law.Š T¤ ŠĢ401.€€Regarding€the€concern€expressed€by€members€over€the€high€incidence€of€early€marriages€andŠ & v Šthe€high€percentage€of€unregistered€marriages,€and€questioned€on€the€Governmentššs€view,€theŠ  _ Šrepresentative€said€that€the€Government€did€not€promote€early€marriages.€€They€were€a€fact€of€lifeŠ ų H Šon€account€of€the€natural€conditions€of€the€country€with€its€numerous€seismic€events,€its€volcanoesŠ į 1  Šand€other€natural€disasters,€and,€most€important€of€all,€the€early€maturity€gained€from€participationŠ Ź   Šin€the€war.Š ³  ŠĢ402.€€An€additional€comment€was€made€on€the€number€of€families€where€children€lived€with€onlyŠ …Õ  Štheir€mother,€a€situation€that€was€harmful€for€their€upbringing.€€€A€member€asked€what€theŠ n¾  ŠGovernmentššs€view€was.Š W§  ŠĢ403.€€Regarding€the€high€divorce€rate€and€questioned€why€most€divorces€were€initiated€by€women,Š )y Šthe€representative€replied€that€women€had€never€shirked€playing€many€roles.€€Although€menŠ b Šcontinued€to€be€the€political€decision€makers,€women€took€decisions€behind€the€scenes.€€She€saidŠ ūK Šthat€women€carried€a€sufficient€part€of€the€burden€of€income„earning€and€child€care,€that€they€wereŠ ä4 Šunwilling€to€support€a€spouse€who€did€not€contribute€and€accordingly€they€were€willing€to€ask€forŠ Ķ Ša€divorce€rather€than€to€continue€supporting€an€unnecessarily€dependent€husband.€€In€the€same€wayŠ ¶ Šas€they€carried€out€any€kind€of€activity,€they€also€asked€for€a€divorce€if€necessary.Š Ÿļ ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ qĮ ŠĢ404.€€Members€commended€Nicaragua€for€the€fact€that€it€had€ratified€the€Convention€withoutŠ C“ Šentering€any€reservations,€for€the€timely€preparation€of€its€reports€and€their€presentation€to€theŠ ,| ŠCommittee,€and€for€the€detailed€replies€to€the€questions.€€It€was€particularly€impressive€because€theŠ e Šcountry€had€undergone€so€many€changes€and€had€suffered€from€a€war,€natural€disasters€and€a€tradeŠ žN Šembargo.€€It€demonstrated€the€political€will€of€the€Government€and€its€commitment€to€the€womenššsŠ ē 7 Šcause.€€Tribute€was€paid€to€Nicaraguan€women€wh€had€taken€such€an€active€part€in€all€walks€of€life.€Š Š!   ŠMembers€commended€the€countryššs€ratification€of€several€other€international€conventions€relevantŠ ¹" ! Što€womenššs€rights€and€they€hoped€that€those€international€instruments€would€also€be€properlyŠ ¢#ņ" Šimplemented.€€Concern€was€expressed,€however,€that€neither€of€the€reports€had€followed€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠCommitteeššs€general€guidelines€regarding€the€form€and€content€of€reports€nor€had€they€taken€intoŠ t%Ä $ Šaccount€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendations.€€Members€said€that€a€consideration€of€theŠ ]&­!% ŠConvention,€article€by€article,€would€help€the€Government€in€overcoming€some€of€its€difficulties€inŠ F'–"& Špromoting€the€status€of€women.€€An€effective€application€of€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€wouldŠ /(#' Šimprove€the€situation€of€the€entire€society.Š  )h$( ŠĢņ ņŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/56/38€Ō_Ō(2001)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ™é ŠĢĢ277.€The€Committee€considered€the€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€reports€of€NicaraguaŠ U„ Š(Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/NIC/4€and€Ō_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/NIC/5)€at€its€525th€and€526th€meetings,€on€17€July€2001€(seeŠ > Ž ŠŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō/C/SR.525€and€526).Š ' w ŠĢ(a)€ņņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyóóŠ ł I ŠĢ278.€In€introducing€the€reports,€the€representative€of€Nicaragua€informed€the€Committee€that€theyŠ Ė   Šcovered€the€period€from€1991€to€1998,€and€described€some€important€innovations€during€that€time.Š “  ŠĢ279.€She€informed€the€Committee€that€the€Government€had€committed€itself€to€the€implementationŠ †Ö  Šof€the€Convention€but€several€obstacles€had€impeded€full€implementation.€Those€included€theŠ oæ  Špersistence€of€stereotypical€attitudes,€in€particular€machismo,€and€the€poverty€that€Nicaragua€faced.Š XØ  ŠThe€Government€had€implemented€a€reinforced€strategy€to€reduce€poverty€and€other€programmesŠ A‘ Što€improve€the€health€and€education€of€women,€girls€and€boys.€The€law€provided€a€generalŠ *z Šframework€of€human€rights€protection€and€the€Constitution€and€the€ley€de€Ō_ŌamparoŌ_Ō,€which€protectedŠ c Šindividuals€against€administrative€abuse€and€provided€for€injunctions€to€stop€administrative€actsŠ üL Šwhich€could€adversely€affect€the€rights€of€citizens,€ensured€the€implementation€of€those€rights.€AŠ å5 Šcommon€agenda€on€womenššs€priorities€had€been€established,€in€collaboration€with€civil€society€andŠ Ī Špolitical€parties.€Draft€revisions€to€the€penal€and€family€codes€and€penal€procedures€would€removeŠ · Šdiscriminatory€provisions,€and€the€Constitution€and€the€Civil€Code€included€provisions€onŠ  š Šnationality.€The€Childhood€and€Adolescence€Code,€which€had€been€approved€in€1998,€establishedŠ ‰Ł Šthat€children€were€entitled€to€know€their€parents€and€to€carry€a€name.€The€Commission€for€Women,Š rĀ ŠChildhood,€Youth€and€Family€had€presented€a€law€of€equal€opportunity€to€the€National€AssemblyŠ [« Šfor€approval.Š D” ŠĢ280.€The€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€Women€had€been€established€as€the€national€machinery€with€theŠ f Šmandate€to€define,€formulate€and€promote€public€policies€and€develop€strategies€to€ensure€equalŠ ’O Šopportunities€for€men€and€women,€including€through€action€to€improve€female€living€conditions€onŠ č 8 Šthe€basis€of€equality,€development€and€peace.€The€Ministry€for€the€Family€had€also€been€created,Š Ń!!  Šand€aimed€to€promote€projects€and€programmes€relating€to€families,€girls€and€boys,€and€teenagersŠ ŗ" ! Šin€situations€of€social€risk.€The€promotion€of€women€had€also€been€included€in€the€MinistryššsŠ £#ó" Šactivities€with€respect€to€domestic€violence,€which€was€addressed€as€a€violation€of€the€right€to€lifeŠ Œ$Ü# Šand€the€right€to€security€of€person.€A€reduction€in€financial€resources€had,€however,€limited€theŠ u%Å $ Šimpact€of€these€projects€and€programmes.Š ^&®!% ŠĢ281.€The€representative€of€Nicaragua€indicated€that,€among€the€various€policies€that€had€beenŠ 0(€#' Šimplemented€by€the€Government€to€promote€the€advancement€of€women€were€the€social€policy,€theŠ )i$( Šnational€population€policy,€the€citizen€participation€policy,€the€sex€education€policy€and€the€equalŠ *R%) Šopportunity€policy.€Other€mechanisms€to€promote€the€dialogue€between€the€Government€and€civilŠ ė*;&* Šsociety€had€been€implemented€through€the€inter„institutional€commissions.€In€addition,€twoŠ Ō+$'+ Špositions,€those€of€attorney€for€human€rights€and€special€attorney€for€children,€youth€and€women,Š ½, (, Šhad€been€created.Š ¦-ö(- Ї282.€The€representative€informed€the€Committee€about€the€advancement€of€women€in€theŠ ° Šeducational€sector€and€the€positive€results€that€had€been€achieved€in€terms€of€womenššs€access€toŠ ™é Šeducation€at€all€levels,€and€high€levels€of€attendance€at€schools€and€universities,€to€which€theŠ ‚Ņ ŠNational€Plan€for€Education€(2001„2015)€had€contributed.€Results€were€particularly€significant€inŠ k» Šrespect€of€girls€in€rural€areas.€The€rate€of€illiteracy€of€women€was€lower€than€that€of€men,€andŠ T¤ Šwomen€made€up€the€majority€of€the€student€population.€The€National€Institute€of€Technology,€whichŠ =  Šwas€responsible€for€professional€training,€had€created€a€specific€unit€to€develop€programmes€to€buildŠ & v Šthe€capacity€of€women€in€geographical€areas€with€high€levels€of€unemployment,€as€well€asŠ  _ Šprogrammes€for€rural€women,€single€mothers€and€teenagers€at€risk.€Those€programmes€were€aimedŠ ų H Šat€the€creation€of€Ō_ŌmicroenterprisesŌ_Ō€for€women,€providing€them€with€access€to€credit€at€low€interestŠ į 1  Šrates,€and€ensuring€that€they€were€offered€jobs€in€non„traditional€sectors.Š Ź   ŠĢ283.€The€representative€of€Nicaragua€indicated€that€the€life€expectancy€for€women€had€increased€butŠ œģ  Šthat€maternal€mortality€was€still€a€critical€health€problem.€Measures€that€had€been€taken€to€addressŠ …Õ  Šthe€problem€included€the€establishment€of€specialized€hospitals,€where€female€staff€offered€disease„Š n¾  Šprevention€and€prenatal„monitoring€services.Š W§  ŠĢ284.€The€representative€admitted€that€women€tended€to€be€concentrated€in€low„paid€sectors€ofŠ )y Šemployment.€In€rural€areas,€discrimination€insofar€as€access€to€opportunities€and€productiveŠ b Šresources€and€services€was€still€significant.€In€1997,€the€Inter„institutional€Commission€for€WomenŠ ūK Šand€Rural€Development€had€been€created€to€promote€the€interests€of€rural€women,€and€hadŠ ä4 Šsubsequently€implemented€a€project,€entitled€š šWomen€and€creditšš,€to€increase€womenššs€access€toŠ Ķ Šcredit.Š ¶ ŠĢ285.€The€representative€pointed€out€that€domestic€violence€affected€a€large€number€of€women€inŠ ˆŲ ŠNicaragua.€The€Government€had€created€offices€for€women€and€children,€as€a€result€of€theŠ qĮ Šcooperative€effort€by€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€Women,€the€Womenššs€Anti„violence€Network,€theŠ ZŖ Šsecretariat€of€the€National€Plan€to€Prevent€Domestic€and€Sexual€Violence€(2001„2006)€and€theŠ C“ ŠNational€Commission€on€Violence€against€Women,€Children€and€Young€Persons€to€address€theŠ ,| Šproblem.€The€Penal€Code€had€also€been€reformed€to€provide€greater€protection€for€victims.Š e ŠTrafficking€in€all€its€forms€was€also€prohibited€by€article€40€of€the€Constitution.Š žN ŠĢ286.€In€conclusion,€the€representative€informed€the€Committee€that€the€number€of€women€inŠ Š!   Šdecision„making€positions€and€in€politics€had€increased€significantly€in€recent€years.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ(b)€ņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ287.€The€Committee€expresses€appreciation€to€the€Government€of€Nicaragua€for€its€fourth€and€fifthŠ /(#' Šperiodic€reports.€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€the€reports€do€not€incorporate€sufficientŠ )h$( Šstatistical€data€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€by€sex.Š *Q%) ŠĢ288.€The€Committee€expresses€appreciation€for€the€information€contained€in€the€reports€and€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šfrankness€with€which€the€reports€were€prepared.€It€commends€the€Government€on€the€comprehensiveŠ ¼, (, Šreplies€to€the€Committeeššs€questions€which€sought€to€clarify€the€situation€of€women€in€Nicaragua,Š „-õ(- Šand€on€the€Governmentššs€sincere€oral€presentation€of€the€reports.Š ° ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ ‚Ņ ŠĢ289.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€efforts€made€by€the€Government€of€Nicaragua€to€implement€theŠ T¤ ŠConvention,€as€reflected€in€a€range€of€laws,€institutions,€policies€and€programmes€to€addressŠ =  Šdiscrimination€against€women€in€Nicaragua.€The€Committee€recognizes€that€the€Nicaraguan€InstituteŠ & v Šfor€Women€was€one€of€the€first€national€machineries€to€be€established€in€the€region,€in€1982.€TheŠ  _ ŠCommittee€welcomes€the€Governmentššs€collaboration€with€civil€society€and€other€actors€in€reachingŠ ų H Ša€common€agenda€on€womenššs€priorities.Š į 1  ŠĢ290.€The€Committee€commends€the€Government€on€the€publication€and€dissemination€of€a€handbookŠ ³  Šexplaining€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.Š œģ  ŠĢ291.€The€Committee€commends€the€Government€on€its€efforts€to€include€the€teaching€of€humanŠ n¾  Šrights€in€kindergarten,€primary,€secondary€and€technical€or€vocational€schools,€and€in€military€andŠ W§  Špolice€training€academies,€and€on€the€integration€of€a€gender€perspective€into€the€NationalŠ @ ŠDevelopment€Plan€and€school€curricula€and€teacher€training.Š )y ŠĢ292.€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€efforts€made€to€combat€violence€against€women,Š ūK Šincluding€the€adoption€of€legislation€against€domestic€violence€(Act€No.€230);€the€establishment€ofŠ ä4 Šthe€National€Commission€on€Violence€against€Women,€Children€and€Young€Persons;€the€NationalŠ Ķ ŠPlan€for€the€Prevention€of€Domestic€and€Sexual€Violence€2001„2006;€and€the€coordination€carriedŠ ¶ Šout€with€various€sectors€of€society,€including€the€national€police€force,€in€particular€the€womenššsŠ Ÿļ Špolice€stations€(Ō_ŌcomisarasŌ_Ō),€in€Ō_ŌcombatingŌ_Ō€gender€violence.Š ˆŲ ŠĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ ZŖ ŠĢ293.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€high€level€of€poverty€in€Nicaragua,€aggravated€by€naturalŠ ,| Šdisasters,€poses€a€serious€obstacle€to€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€and€womenššs€fullŠ e Šenjoyment€of€their€rights.Š žN ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ Š!   ŠĢ294.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€persistence€of€stereotypes€concerning€the€role€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Šwomen€in€the€family€and€society,€including€the€expectations€of€womenššs€subordination€to€menŠ ‹$Ū# Šexpressed€by€some€religious€communities,€and€attitudes€and€behaviour€driven€by€machismo€in€publicŠ t%Ä $ Šand€private€life.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that,€notwithstanding€the€Governmentššs€recognitionŠ ]&­!% Šof€the€problem€and€its€efforts€to€address€the€problem,€including€legislative€change,€such€stereotypesŠ F'–"& Šcontinue€to€constitute€an€obstacle€to€the€achievement€of€equality€for€women.Š /(#' ŠĢĢ295.€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€to€strengthen€measures€to€change€stereotypicalŠ ź*:&* Šattitudes€about€the€roles€and€responsibilities€of€women€and€men,€including€awareness„raising€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šeducational€campaigns€directed€at€both€women€and€men,€as€well€as€the€media,€in€order€to€achieveŠ ¼, (, Šde€facto€equality€between€women€and€men.€It€also€calls€upon€the€Government€to€undertake€anŠ „-õ(- Šassessment€of€the€impact€of€its€measures€in€order€to€identify€shortcomings,€and€to€adjust€andŠ ° Šimprove€these€measures€accordingly.Š ™é ŠĢ296.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€high€incidence€of€poverty€among€women,€in€particularŠ k» Šrural€women€and€households€headed€by€women.€Š T¤ ŠĢ297.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€give€priority€attention€to€rural€women€and€womenŠ & v Šheads€of€household,€including€in€the€allocation€of€budgetary€resources,€and€to€monitor€research€intoŠ  _ Štheir€situation,€with€a€view€to€developing€effective€policies€and€programmes€to€strengthen€theirŠ ų H ŠŌ_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€situation€and€ensuring€that€they€receive€needed€services€and€support.€TheŠ į 1  ŠCommittee€emphasizes€that€social€investment€in€women€not€only€ensures€their€enjoyment€of€theŠ Ź   Šhuman€rights€outlined€in€the€Convention,€but€also€constitutes€one€of€the€most€effective€means€ofŠ ³  ŠŌ_ŌcombatingŌ_Ō€poverty€and€promoting€sustainable€development.Š œģ  ŠĢ298.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€custom,€in€particular€in€rural€areas,€of€sexual€abuseŠ n¾  Šof€young€girls€by€older€men.€It€notes€that€this€violates€the€rights€of€girls€to€reproductive€health,€asŠ W§  Šwell€as€other€rights€under€the€Convention.Š @ ŠĢ299.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€introduce€awareness„raising€and€penal€measures€toŠ b Šeliminate€the€sexual€abuse€of€young€girls.Š ūK ŠĢ300.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€high€infant€and€maternal€mortality€rates€inŠ Ķ ŠNicaragua.€The€Committee€also€expresses€concern€that€the€leading€causes€of€mortality€amongŠ ¶ Šwomen€are€cervical€and€breast€cancer,€and€pregnancy„related€problems,€including€post„partumŠ Ÿļ Šhaemorrhage€and€toxaemia.€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€a€lack€of€information€on€abortionsŠ ˆŲ Šand€on€the€incidence€of€related€death€or€illness.Š qĮ ŠĢ301.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€make€every€effort€to€increase€access€toŠ C“ Šhealth„care€facilities€and€medical€assistance€by€trained€personnel€in€all€areas,€including€rural€areas.Š ,| ŠThe€Committee€also€recommends€the€implementation€of€programmes€to€prevent€cervical€and€breastŠ e Šcancer,€and€to€ensure€the€availability€of€pregnancy„related€medical€care.€The€Committee€requestsŠ žN Šthe€Government€to€include€in€its€next€report€information€on€the€number€of€abortions€performed€andŠ ē 7 Šrelated€death€and/or€illness,€within€the€general€framework€of€health€conditions€of€women.€Š Š!   ŠĢ302.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€high€fertility€rate€in€Nicaragua.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ303.€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€to€improve€its€family€planning€and€reproductiveŠ t%Ä $ Šhealth€policy€and€programmes,€including€the€availability€and€accessibility€of€affordable€modernŠ ]&­!% Šcontraceptive€means€to€both€women€and€men.€It€encourages€the€Government€to€promote€educationalŠ F'–"& Šprogrammes€on€reproductive€rights€and€responsible€sexual€behaviour€on€the€part€of€both€women€andŠ /(#' ŠŌ_Ōmen,€in€particular€young€people.Š )h$( ŠĢ304.€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€persistence€of€a€high€level€of€illiteracy€among€certainŠ ź*:&* Šgroups€of€women€in€Nicaragua.Š Ó+#'+ ŠĢ305.€The€Committee€encourages€the€Government€to€develop€programmes€specifically€designed€toŠ „-õ(- Šreduce€female€illiteracy.Š ° ŠĢ306.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€that€women€workers€have€been€replaced€by€men€in€both€theŠ ‚Ņ Šformal€and€informal€sectors€of€the€economy,€that€menššs€wages€are€three€times€greater€than€those€ofŠ k» Šwomen€and€that€the€rates€of€unemployment€and€underemployment€of€women€are€high.€It€alsoŠ T¤ Šexpresses€concern€at€the€indirect€discrimination€against€women€because€they€have€limited€accessŠ =  Što€credit€owing€to€their€lack€of€collateral.Š & v ŠĢ307.€The€Committee€recommends€that€measures€be€taken€to€improve€the€status€of€working€women,Š ų H Šincluding€the€introduction€of€training€programmes€to€promote€the€integration€of€women€into€theŠ į 1  Šlabour€force€and€to€diversify€their€participation;€the€establishment€of€childcare€centres;€improvedŠ Ź   Šaccess€to€credit,€with€special€emphasis€on€rural€women;€and€greater€efforts€to€achieve€equal€pay€forŠ ³  Šwork€of€equal€value.Š œģ  ŠĢ308.€While€the€Committee€welcomes€the€Governmentššs€efforts€to€combat€domestic€violence,€itŠ n¾  Šexpresses€concern€at€the€continuing€extent€of€domestic€violence€against€women€in€Nicaragua.€TheŠ W§  ŠCommittee€stresses€that,€since€violence€against€women€is€an€infringement€of€human€rights,€it€is€theŠ @ ŠGovernmentššs€responsibility€to€prevent€such€violence€and€to€take€measures€to€protect€its€victims.Š )y ŠĢ309.€The€Committee€calls€upon€the€Government€to€take€practical€measures€to€follow€up€and€monitorŠ ūK Šlegislation,€and€to€strengthen€its€policies€and€programmes€addressing€violence€against€women,Š ä4 Šincluding€by€assessing€their€effectiveness€and€adjusting€them€accordingly.Š Ķ ŠĢ310.€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€the€national€machinery€for€women,€theŠ Ÿļ ŠNicaraguan€Institute€for€Women,€but€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€institutional€support€for€the€InstituteŠ ˆŲ Šand€its€dependence€on€international€cooperation.Š qĮ ŠĢ311.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€provide€the€Nicaraguan€Institute€for€Women€with€theŠ C“ Šrequired€finances,€personnel€and€political€decision„making€capacity€to€enable€it€to€influenceŠ ,| Šeffectively€the€promotion€of€gender€equality€in€Nicaragua.Š e ŠĢ312.€While€the€Committee€welcomes€the€adoption€of€legislation€to€protect€and€promote€womenššsŠ ē 7 Šhuman€rights,€including€domestic€violence€legislation€and€the€Equal€Opportunities€Law,€theŠ Š!   ŠCommittee€expresses€concern€that€discriminatory€laws€continue€to€exist€and€that€there€is€noŠ ¹" ! Šlegislation€dealing€with€education.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ313.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€reform€existing€legislation€and€enact€new€legislationŠ t%Ä $ Što€protect€the€equal€rights€of€women€and€men€in€regard€to€education.€It€recommends€the€speedyŠ ]&­!% Šadoption€of€a€non„discriminatory€family€code.€Ō_ŌŠ F'–"& ŠĢ314.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€lack€of€information€in€the€reports€on€the€migrationŠ )h$( Šof€women€and€girls,€women€working€in€the€maquiladora€factories€and€free€trade€zones,€older€womenŠ *Q%) Šand€minority€and€indigenous€women,€prostitution,€and€trafficking€of€women€and€girls.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ315.€The€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€provide€in€its€next€report€information€on€theŠ ¼, (, Šmigration€of€women€and€girls,€including€why€the€movements€are€occurring,€the€destination€points,Š „-õ(- Šand€the€extent€to€which€these€women€and€girls€become€vulnerable€to€sexual€exploitation,€includingŠ ° Štrafficking,€prostitution€and€sex€tourism;€the€situation€of€women€working€in€the€maquiladoraŠ ™é Šfactories€and€free€trade€zones,€including€the€measures€taken€to€ensure€that€their€rights€are€protected;Š ‚Ņ Šolder€women€and€minority€and€indigenous€women,€especially€as€regards€their€health,€employmentŠ k» Šand€educational€status;€prostitution,€including€the€measures€taken€to€protect€women€who€areŠ T¤ Šprostitutes€and€to€reintegrate€them€into€society,€as€well€as€the€measures€taken€to€counteract€the€rootŠ =  Šcauses€of€prostitution;€and€the€measures€taken€by€the€Government€to€combat€trafficking,€and€theŠ & v Šimpact€of€such€measures.Š  _ ŠĢ316.€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€sign€and€ratify€the€Optional€Protocol€to€theŠ į 1  ŠConvention€and€to€deposit€as€soon€as€possible€its€instrument€of€acceptance€of€the€amendment€toŠ Ź   Šarticle€20,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€concerning€the€meeting€time€of€the€Committee.Š ³  ŠĢ317.€The€Committee€requests€the€Government€to€respond€to€the€concerns€expressed€in€the€presentŠ …Õ  Šconcluding€comments€in€its€next€periodic€report€submitted€under€article€18€of€the€Convention.€ItŠ n¾  Šurges€the€Government€to€improve€the€collection€and€analysis€of€statistical€data,€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€byŠ W§  Šsex,€age€and€minority€or€ethnic€group,€and€to€submit€such€data€to€the€Committee€in€its€next€report.Š @ ŠThe€Committee€invites€the€Government€to€seek€international€cooperation€in€connection€with€theŠ )y Šcollection€and€analysis€of€such€data.€Š b ŠĢ318.€The€Committee€requests€the€wide€dissemination€in€Nicaragua€of€the€present€concludingŠ ä4 Šcomments€in€order€to€make€the€people€of€Nicaragua,€in€particular€governmental€administrators€andŠ Ķ Špoliticians,€aware€of€the€steps€that€have€been€taken€to€ensure€the€de€jure€and€de€facto€equality€ofŠ ¶ Šwomen€and€of€the€further€steps€that€are€required€in€this€regard.€It€requests€the€Government€toŠ Ÿļ Šcontinue€to€disseminate€widely,€in€particular€to€womenššs€and€human€rights€organizations,€theŠ ˆŲ ŠConvention€and€its€Optional€Protocol,€the€Committeeššs€general€recommendations,€the€BeijingŠ qĮ ŠDeclaration€and€Platform€for€Action€and€the€results€of€the€twenty„third€special€session€of€the€GeneralŠ ZŖ ŠAssembly,€entitled€š šWomen€2000:€gender€equality,€development€and€peace€for€the€twenty„firstŠ C“ Šcenturyšš.