’WPC™ ¼ ?gKuĶy‰bŻė©CN \jćE_7B9FBqŒĪą0,‡zĘ[Ģr_“ Ö6Õ\˜X5tzŗ>•V…WxnTųi–_5l„1Ā…÷7ŚźfNŲXăQ]ļ¶Ńŗ€ŹÅ.+H@Äü‡īfoO:odŒ’®žBTcžHn’e™€1)ē9‘@üQ6ųĢX/ĀØÆsęÓē°Ҧ®°­-žDģĖ‚Ē>¢M6ÕĄ€u{„?W·4*Ŗź»ķ‰.”Rq’w$īL“åyÅĪ‚x¶ōWõræņ䫣4ńKvæĪ÷nŖ¼Ø»XŪ·1 ŃQŵĶ™®īF­iĆg˜øØÄł½NTOżŃ”Ą°CØ"*’¦“[N{ü„ˆ†, ]ł£čƒ:¬Š–SM}±J}ć2å Ū”™Ø™īßw½t×S`¶UqļG°ńs1ųH÷ß²ņ¹føŒ+…gg[ų—×J?X%@“)§>a”uP¶Öp"ķb7JZ¤ĘG{‹‡*1 ōLA‰Ź`v(,ģŅ"%ąGh€]všę˜Ļžšś{2™ždĀ;ɗ„ģ·“+Œ u—–g #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:FQN—˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ōo‰o, —{m,œ(  ° 3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ government"criminalizationŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņŌ‡¼h»XXŌUNITED€KINGDOM€OF€GREAT€BRITAIN€AND€NORTHERN€IRELANDó óŠ ° ŠĢŌ#†X Ž ŠĢ(a)€€ņņIntroduction€by€the€State€partyóóŠ  ` ŠĢ279.€€In€introducing€the€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports,€the€representative€noted€that€since€theŠ ā 2  Šsubmission€of€the€third€periodic€report,€and€following€the€election€in€1997,€substantial€policyŠ Ė   Šchanges€had€occurred.€The€fourth€periodic€report€represented€the€current€situation€in€the€State€party.€Š “  ŠShe€also€drew€attention€to€the€presence€in€the€delegation€of€experts€to€address€the€situation€of€womenŠ ķ  Šin€Scotland€and€Northern€Ireland,€where€responsibility€devolved,€and€of€representatives€of€differentŠ †Ö  Šparts€of€the€Government€with€responsibility€for€womenššs€issues.€€Emphasis€was€placed€on€the€clearŠ oæ  Švision€for€equality€for€women,€represented€by€a€new€range€of€policies,€and€of€new€institutions€andŠ XØ  Šstructures€within€Government.Š A‘ ŠĢ280.€€The€representative€stressed€the€Governmentššs€commitment€to€equality€of€opportunity€andŠ c Šfairness€for€all€and€to€the€elimination€of€discrimination€against€women.€€This€encompassed€theŠ üL Špositive€goal€of€improving€womenššs€overall€position€in€society€and€included€a€commitment€to€givingŠ å5 Šmen€the€chance€to€take€on€roles€traditionally€assumed€by€women.€€The€obligations€under€theŠ Ī ŠConvention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€and€the€policyŠ · Šrecommendations€of€the€Beijing€Declaration€and€the€Platform€for€Action€were€catalysts€for€helpingŠ  š Šthe€Government€to€deliver€its€goals.€€Through€a€process€of€gender€Ō_ŌmainstreamingŌ_Ō,€the€majorŠ ‰Ł Šdepartments€of€State€had€policy€and€programme€responsibility€to€promote€the€womenššs€agenda€asŠ rĀ Šan€integral€part€of€their€wider€responsibilities.€€Other€partners€also€played€a€critical€role€€in€achievingŠ [« Šthe€goal€of€equality€for€women,€including€the€private€sector,€non„governmental€organizations€andŠ D” Šcivil€society.€Close€cooperation€was€maintained€with€the€Equal€Opportunities€Commission€and€withŠ -} Šnon„governmental€organizations.€The€Equal€Opportunities€Commission€and€the€Womenššs€NationalŠ f ŠCommission€contributed€to€the€preparation€of€the€fourth€periodic€report.Š ’O ŠĢ281.€€In€highlighting€key€policy€developments€relating€to€the€Convention,€the€representative€noted,Š Ń!!  Šin€particular,€the€National€Childcare€Strategy,€budgetary€reforms€such€as€an€increased€child€benefit,Š ŗ" ! Šworking€families€tax€credit,€the€introduction€of€the€national€minimum€wage,€pension€reform,Š £#ó" Šemployment€programmes€(the€New€Deals),€including€those€benefiting€women,€implementation€ofŠ Œ$Ü# Šthe€Social€Chapter€of€the€European€Union€and€family„friendly€employment.Š u%Å $ ŠĢ282.€€The€representative€stressed€the€commitment€to€š šjoined„upšš€and€more€open€Government,€whichŠ G'—"& Šwas€reflected€in€the€establishment€of€new€machinery€and€processes.€€The€appointment€of€twoŠ 0(€#' ŠMinisters€for€Women,€the€creation€of€the€Womenššs€Unit€in€the€Cabinet€Office€and€new€cross„cuttingŠ )i$( Šmechanisms€such€as€a€Cabinet€Subcommittee€on€women€and€a€womenššs€policy€group€allowed€forŠ *R%) Šfocussed€attention€to€womenššs€issues.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€the€number€of€women€in€ParliamentŠ ė*;&* Šand€in€the€Cabinet€had€reached€the€highest€level€ever.€€The€representative€identified€a€number€ofŠ Ō+$'+ Šcontinuing€challenges,€including€the€implication€of€the€decision€to€mainstream€womenššs€issues€andŠ ½, (, Šthe€related€relatively€low€profile€of€the€womenššs€machinery,€as€well€as€womenššs€lack€of€informationŠ ¦-ö(- ŠŌ_Ōabout€government€action€on€their€behalf.Š ° ŠĢ283.€€The€process€of€devolution€reflecting€the€diversity€in€the€State€party€represented€a€majorŠ ‚Ņ Šconstitutional€change.€€While€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€retained€overall€responsibilityŠ k» Šfor€implementation€of€the€Convention,€certain€responsibilities€were€being€devolved€to€the€ScottishŠ T¤ ŠParliament,€the€Northern€Ireland€Assembly€and€the€National€Assembly€for€Wales,€respectively.€€TheŠ =  Šrepresentatives€provided€an€overview€of€the€legislative€powers€and€institutional€structures€and€ofŠ & v Šmechanisms€responsible€for€womenššs€issues€and€of€planned€as€well€as€ongoing€activities.€€It€wasŠ  _ Šnoted€that€detailed€post„devolution€working€arrangements€would€be€decided€by€Ministers€in€dueŠ ų H Šcourse.Š į 1  ŠĢ284.€€Women€in€Northern€Ireland€had€played€a€very€active€role€in€the€peace€process€and€14€womenŠ ³  Šhad€been€elected€to€the€new€Northern€Ireland€Assembly,€which€had€a€total€of€108€seats.€€TransferredŠ œģ  Šresponsibilities€included€responsibility€for€equality€legislation,€including€sex€discrimination€andŠ …Õ  Šequal€pay€legislation,€for€womenššs€issues€generally,€and€for€the€administration€of€the€new€EqualityŠ n¾  ŠCommission.€€The€representative€stressed€the€commitment€to€a€continuing€and€effective€process€onŠ W§  Šwomenššs€issues€in€Northern€Ireland.Š @ ŠĢ285.€€A€commitment€to€promoting€equal€opportunities€underpinned€the€devolution€settlement€withŠ b Šregard€to€Scotland.€€The€Equal€Opportunities€Committee€of€the€Parliament€had€a€wide€remit,Š ūK Šincluding€power€to€initiate€new€legislation.€€A€new€Equality€Unit€in€the€Scottish€Executive€wouldŠ ä4 Šplay€a€key€role€in€supporting€mainstreaming€of€all€policy€and€programme€developments,Š Ķ Šimplementation€and€evaluation€in€areas€of€gender,€race,€and€disability.€€Womenššs€representation€inŠ ¶ Šthe€Scottish€Parliament€(37€per€cent)€and€in€the€Cabinet€(3€out€of€10)€was€noted,€and€consultativeŠ Ÿļ Šprocesses€with€womenššs€organizations€were€highlighted.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ286.€€With€regard€to€Wales,€the€representative€noted€that€the€Welsh€Assembly€would€have€no€newŠ ZŖ Špowers€to€create€legislation,€but€will€have€transferred€to€it€the€powers€currently€held€by€the€SecretaryŠ C“ Šof€State€for€Wales.€€A€standing€Committee€on€equality€was€to€be€created,€supported€by€an€equalityŠ ,| Špolicy€unit.€€Of€those€elected€to€the€new€Welsh€Assembly,€28€were€women€(42€per€cent),€and€fourŠ e Šwomen€had€been€appointed€to€the€8„person€Cabinet.Š žN ŠĢ287.€€In€addition€to€the€important€developments€in€devolution,€the€representative€highlighted€the€roleŠ Š!   Šof€the€Treasury€and€of€the€1999€budget€with€regard€to€women.€€The€new€budget€process€had€a€moreŠ ¹" ! Šstrategic€orientation,€which€sought€to€address€the€causes€of€problems,€rather€than€to€remedy€theirŠ ¢#ņ" Šeffects.€€It€also€required€a€gender€impact€assessment,€as€well€as€mainstreaming.€€The€overallŠ ‹$Ū# Šemphasis€of€the€1999€budget€was€on€poverty€reduction,€which€had€a€series€of€implication€for€womenŠ t%Ä $ Šand€children,€including€a€new€tax€rate€that€benefited€low„earning€women;€a€new€low€basic€tax€rate;Š ]&­!% Šreduction€in€National€Insurance€contributions€for€8€million€women;€extension€of€maternity€pay€toŠ F'–"& Šlow„paid€women€in€part„time€work;€new€maternity€grants;€a€further€real€increase€in€child€benefit;Š /(#' Šand€additional€support€for€lone€parents.Š )h$( ŠĢ288.€€In€conclusion,€the€representative€noted€that€the€Government€had€put€in€place€the€mainŠ ź*:&* Šstructural€elements€and€that€progress€was€being€made€in€addressing€the€continuing€institutional€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šcultural€obstacles€that€women€continued€to€face.€She€underlined€the€Governmentššs€determinationŠ ¼, (, Što€secure€further€improvement€for€women.Š „-õ(- Ї(b)€€ņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ ° ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ ‚Ņ ŠĢ289.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€of€GreatŠ T¤ ŠBritain€and€Northern€Ireland€for€submitting€detailed€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€containing€dataŠ =  Šdisaggregated€by€sex.€€It€commends€the€Government€for€the€comprehensive€written€replies€to€theŠ & v ŠCommitteeššs€questions€and€its€oral€presentation€that€further€clarified€recent€developments€in€theŠ  _ ŠState€party.€€It€appreciates€the€open€manner€in€which€the€report€was€prepared€and€presented€and,€inŠ ų H Šparticular,€the€breadth€of€the€consultative€process€with€non„governmental€organizations€during€theŠ į 1  Špreparation€of€the€fourth€periodic€report.€€This€enriched€the€reports€and€enabled€a€large€number€ofŠ Ź   Šwomen€to€become€informed€about€the€Convention€and€the€rights€protected€by€it.€Š ³  ŠĢ290.€€The€Committee€commends€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom€of€Great€Britain€andŠ …Õ  ŠNorthern€Ireland€for€having€sent€a€large€delegation€with€a€high€degree€of€expertise,€which€was€ledŠ n¾  Šby€the€Director€of€the€Womenššs€Unit,€Cabinet€Office,€and€included€officials€from€various€branchesŠ W§  Šof€Government€and€from€the€Scottish€and€Northern€Ireland€offices.€€Their€participation€enhancedŠ @ Šthe€quality€of€the€constructive€dialogue€between€the€State€party€and€the€Committee.€€The€CommitteeŠ )y Šnotes€that€the€reports€refer€to€steps€taken€by€the€Government€to€implement€the€Beijing€Platform€forŠ b ŠAction.Š ūK ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ Ķ ŠĢ291.€€The€Committee€commends€the€Government€for€withdrawing€some€reservations€entered€to€theŠ Ÿļ ŠConvention€upon€ratification€and€on€the€fact€that€remaining€reservations€are€kept€under€review.€€TheŠ ˆŲ ŠCommittee€notes€that€this€is€in€keeping€with€one€of€the€Governmentššs€commitments€made€at€theŠ qĮ ŠFourth€World€Conference€on€Women.Š ZŖ ŠĢ292.€€The€Committee€notes€the€commitment€to€š šjoined„upšš€and€open€Government€and€especially€theŠ ,| Šprogramme€of€consultation€on€public€policy€issues€with€women€who€are€not€members€ofŠ e Šrepresentative€organizations.€€It€also€commends€the€decisions€to€mainstream€womenššs€issues€intoŠ žN Šall€areas€of€work€of€the€Government,€particularly€into€the€work€of€the€Treasury€and€the€budgetŠ ē 7 Šprocess.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€the€Cabinet€Subcommittee€on€Women€andŠ Š!   Šthe€creation€of€governmental€machinery€on€womenššs€issues€and€its€role€as€catalyst€and€facilitatorŠ ¹" ! Šfor€mainstreaming.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ293.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€adoption€of€the€regional€human€rights€instruments€and€theŠ t%Ä $ Šenactment€of€the€Human€Rights€Act€1998.€€This€will€create€an€environment€in€which€womenššsŠ ]&­!% Šhuman€rights€can€be€developed€to€comply€fully€with€the€Convention.Š F'–"& ŠĢ294.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€legislative€changes€since€the€consideration€of€the€second€reportŠ )h$( Šin€1991,€including€the€amended€Sex€Discrimination€Act€(1996),€the€Protection€from€Harassment€ActŠ *Q%) Š(1997),€the€Sex€Offenders€Act€(1997),€and€the€National€Minimum€Wage€Act€(1999).Š ź*:&* Šą  ąĢĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ „-õ(- Ї295.€€The€Committee€notes€that€there€are€no€significant€factors€or€difficulties€which€prevent€theŠ ° Šeffective€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€the€United€Kingdom€of€Great€Britain€and€NorthernŠ ™é ŠIreland.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢņņPrincipal€areas€of€concern€and€recommendationsóóŠ T¤ ŠĢ296.€€The€Committee€notes€the€fundamental€constitutional€changes€in€the€State€party,€including€theŠ & v Šdevolution€of€a€degree€of€power€and€responsibility€for€government€to€elected€bodies€in€Wales,Š  _ ŠScotland€€and€Northern€Ireland.€€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€the€obligation€forŠ ų H Šimplementing€the€Convention€rests€with€the€Government€of€the€United€Kingdom.€€The€CommitteeŠ į 1  Šnotes€that€different€regimes€are€being€established€in€Wales,€Scotland€and€Northern€Ireland€withŠ Ź   Šresponsibility€for€womenššs€equality€issues,€including€legislative€and€administrative€provisions€andŠ ³  Šmechanisms.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€protection€of€womenššs€human€rights€will€beŠ œģ  Šuneven.Š …Õ  ŠĢ297.€€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€ensure€that€there€is€unified€national€strategy€andŠ W§  Špolicy€for€the€implementation€of€all€provisions€of€the€Convention€so€that€all€women€in€the€entireŠ @ Šterritory€of€the€State€party€can€benefit€equally€as€a€result€of€the€Governmentššs€obligations€under€theŠ )y ŠConvention€and€its€stated€commitment€to€the€goal€of€ņņde€jureóó€and€de€facto€equality€for€women.€€TheŠ b ŠCommittee€urges€the€Government€to€extend€the€legislative€provisions€for€mainstreaming€equalityŠ ūK Šfor€women€in€Norther€Ireland€to€the€rest€of€the€United€Kingdom.€€The€Committee€also€calls€on€theŠ ä4 ŠGovernment€to€monitor€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€carefully€and,€in€particular,€theŠ Ķ Špractical€arrangements€that€are€being€put€in€place€on€equality€issues.Š ¶ ŠĢ298.€€The€Committee€recognizes€that€only€a€short€period€of€time€has€elapsed€since€the€introductionŠ ˆŲ Šof€new€legislation€and€policies€in€areas€such€as€the€national€minimum€wage,€the€New€DealsŠ qĮ Š(employment€programmes)€for€women,€the€new€outcome„oriented€budgeting€process€and€budgetaryŠ ZŖ Šreforms,€the€commitment€to€family„friendly€employment,€and€since€the€decision€was€made€toŠ C“ Šmainstream€womenššs€€issues€into€all€areas€of€Government.Š ,| ŠĢ299.€€The€Committee€urges€the€Government€to€ensure€rigorous€analysis€and€evaluation€of€recentlyŠ žN Šintroduced€and€planned€policies€and€their€implications€for€ņņde€jureóó€and€de€facto€equality€for€women.€Š ē 7 ŠIt€also€invites€the€Government€to€ņ ņó ócontinue€to€refine€its€mainstreaming€approach€and€the€cross„Š Š!   Šsectoral€and€cross„cutting€approach€to€issues.€The€Committee€requests€the€Government€in€its€fifthŠ ¹" ! Šperiodic€report€to€provide€a€comprehensive€assessment€of€the€impact€of€these€efforts€so€that€theŠ ¢#ņ" ŠCommittee€can€evaluate€changes€in€relation€to€the€Convention.€In€particular,€the€Committee€requestsŠ ‹$Ū# Šthe€Government€to€monitor€the€implementation€of€policies€in€the€entire€territory€of€the€State€party.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ300.€€While€welcoming€the€adoption€of€the€Human€Rights€Act€1998,€the€Committee€emphasizes€thatŠ F'–"& Šthe€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€does€not€provide€for€the€fullŠ /(#' Šrange€of€womenššs€human€rights€incorporated€in€the€Convention€on€the€Elimination€of€All€Forms€ofŠ )h$( ŠDiscrimination€against€Women.€In€particular,€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€andŠ *Q%) ŠFundamental€Freedoms€does€not€expressly€provide€for€the€rights€to€equality€in€article€2€of€theŠ ź*:&* ŠConvention.€Nor€does€it€contain€a€positive€obligation€for€Governments€to€eliminate€indirectŠ Ó+#'+ Šdiscrimination€as€defined€in€article€1€of€the€Convention€or€provide€for€temporary€special€measuresŠ ¼, (, Šas€set€out€in€article€4.1€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€Government,€asŠ „-õ(- Šstated€in€the€oral€replies,€considers€the€obligations€under€the€Convention€to€be€of€a€much€moreŠ ° Šš šprogrammaticšš€nature€than€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€FreedomsŠ ™é Šand€thus€difficult€to€introduce€into€common€law.€The€Committee€considers€that€nonetheless€fullŠ ‚Ņ Šimplementation€of€the€Convention€can€be€achieved.Š k» ŠĢ301.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€give€further€consideration€to€theŠ =  Šintroduction€of€legislation€covering€all€aspects€of€the€Convention,€in€particular€the€provisions€ofŠ & v Šarticle€1€to€prohibit€indirect€discrimination€and€to€provide€women€with€effective€remedies€againstŠ  _ Šindirect€discrimination.€The€Committee€also€urges€the€Government€to€introduce€legislativeŠ ų H Šprotection€for€the€rights€in€article€2,€and€to€take€further€measures€to€implement€article€4.1,€includingŠ į 1  Šlegislative€measures,€and€to€set€goals€for€womenššs€equal€representation€in€all€areas€and€at€all€levels.Š Ź   ŠIt€also€recommends€that€the€Government€give€consideration€to€incorporating€the€Convention€on€theŠ ³  ŠElimination€of€All€Forms€of€Discrimination€against€Women€into€domestic€law,€as€it€has€incorporatedŠ œģ  Šthe€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms.Š …Õ  ŠĢ302.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€numbers€and€percentage€of€women€in€public€andŠ W§  Špolitical€life,€in€the€judiciary,€in€positions€of€higher€education€and€in€other€areas€remain€far€fromŠ @ Šequal€with€men.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€undertake€a€critical€evaluation€ofŠ )y Šthe€impact€and€sufficiency€of€current€measures€to€comply€fully€with€its€obligations€under€articlesŠ b Š7€and€8€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€recommends€that€specific€strategies€be€adopted€toŠ ūK Šencourage€women€to€seek€public€office€and€governmental€appointments,€including€mentoring,Š ä4 Šnetworking€and€review€of€merit€qualifications€to€reflect€a€broader€range€of€experiences€and€skills.€Š Ķ ŠĢ303.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€information€provided€by€the€State€party€with€regardŠ Ÿļ Što€the€implementation€of€the€Convention,€as€well€as€at€the€limited€follow„up€to€commitments€madeŠ ˆŲ Šat€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women€in€the€overseas€territories,€most€notably€the€Isle€of€Man,Š qĮ Šthe€Turks€and€Caicos€Islands,€the€Virgin€Islands€and€the€Falkland€Islands€(Malvinas).Š ZŖ ŠĢ304.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€necessary€measures€to€implement€theŠ ,| ŠConvention€in€its€overseas€territories,€and€to€provide€comprehensive€information€on€steps€andŠ e Šmeasures€taken€in€this€regard€in€its€next€report.Š žN ŠĢ305.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€disadvantaged€situation€of€women€belonging€to€ethnicŠ Š!   Šminorities,€notwithstanding€the€existence€of€legislative€protection€against€discrimination€on€the€basisŠ ¹" ! Šof€race€and€ethnicity.€Ethnic€minority€women€continue€to€experience€higher€levels€of€unemployment,Š ¢#ņ" Šlower€levels€of€education€and€training,€lower€wages€and€salaries€and€fewer€benefits€than€whiteŠ ‹$Ū# Šwomen.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ306.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€steps€be€taken€to€ensure€the€elimination€of€direct€and€indirectŠ F'–"& Šdiscrimination€against€ethnic€minority€women,€including€through€positive€action€in€recruitment,Š /(#' Šawareness€campaigns€and€targeted€training,€education,€employment€and€health„care€strategies.Š )h$( ŠĢ307.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€continuing€pay€gap€between€women€and€men€where€figuresŠ ź*:&* Šfor€1998€show€that€average€hourly€earnings€of€full„time€women€employees€amounted€to€around€80Š Ó+#'+ Šper€cent€of€menššs€earnings€and€womenššs€average€gross€weekly€earnings€were€around€72€per€cent€ofŠ ¼, (, Šmenššs€earnings.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€that€women€working€in€higher€educationŠ „-õ(- Šincluding€academic€staff€consistently€receive€lower€pay€than€their€male€counterparts€and€do€notŠ ° Šadvance€in€their€careers€as€rapidly€or€in€the€same€numbers€as€men.Š ™é ŠĢ308.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€use€its€new€employment€policies€to€addressŠ k» Šthe€pay€gay€between€womenššs€and€menššs€earnings.€It€urges€the€Government€to€review€the€Equal€PayŠ T¤ ŠAct,€taking€into€account€developments€that€have€refined€the€concepts€of€equal€pay€for€equal€workŠ =  Šand€for€work€of€comparable€value.€It€urges€the€Government€to€implement€any€recommendations€thatŠ & v Šmight€be€contained€in€the€report€on€higher€education€pay€with€a€view€to€eliminating€discrimination.Š  _ ŠIt€also€recommends€that€the€Government€assess€the€impact€of€cultural€stereotypes€and€womenššsŠ ų H Šreproductive€responsibilities€on€the€continuing€pay€gap.€In€this€regard,€it€invites€the€Government€toŠ į 1  Špursue€its€efforts€towards€providing€men€more€opportunities€to€take€on€roles€traditionally€assumedŠ Ź   Šby€women,€to€continue€to€review€and€rationalize€maternal€and€parental€leave€and€benefits,€and€toŠ ³  Šshare€its€findings€and€insights€with€the€Committee€in€its€next€report.Š œģ  ŠĢ309.€€Noting€the€Governmentššs€efforts€and€will€to€address€the€issue,€the€Committee€is€nonethelessŠ n¾  Šseriously€concerned€at€the€level€of€teenager€concept€in€the€State€party,€which€is€the€highest€rateŠ W§  Šamong€the€countries€of€Western€Europe,€and€at€the€consequences€of€early€motherhood,€such€as€lowerŠ @ Šeducational€achievement,€higher€levels€of€poverty€and€greater€reliance€on€social€welfare.€TheŠ )y ŠCommittee€is€also€concerned€at€the€high€rates€of€sexually€transmitted€diseases,€especially€amongŠ b Šteenagers€aged€16€to€19.€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€Abortion€Act€1967€does€notŠ ūK Šextend€to€Northern€Ireland€where,€with€limited€exceptions,€abortion€continues€to€be€illegal.Š ä4 ŠĢ310.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€teenage€conception€and€pregnancy€be€addressed€by€aŠ ¶ Šmultiplicity€of€measures,€including€a€greater€focus€on€male€responsibility€and€a€review€of€theŠ Ÿļ Šprimary€school€curriculum€with€a€view€to€introducing€age„appropriate€sex€education.€It€alsoŠ ˆŲ Šrecommends€the€allocation€of€resources€for€prevention€and€treatment€programmes€for€sexuallyŠ qĮ Štransmitted€diseases€directed€at€adolescents€within€a€holistic€approach€to€sexual€and€reproductiveŠ ZŖ Šhealth,€including€sexual€violence.€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€Government€initiate€aŠ C“ Šprocess€of€public€consultation€in€Northern€Ireland€on€reform€of€the€abortion€law.Š ,| ŠĢ311.€€While€noting€the€legislative€and€measures€in€place€to€address€violence€against€women,€theŠ žN ŠCommittee€is€concerned€at€the€absence€of€a€national€strategy€on€the€prevention€and€elimination€ofŠ ē 7 Šviolence€against€women.€According€to€information€available€to€the€Committee,€women€in€NorthernŠ Š!   ŠIreland€are€particularly€affected€by€violence.€The€Committee€recommends€that€a€unified€andŠ ¹" ! Šmultifaceted€national€strategy€to€eliminate€violence€against€women€be€implemented€to€include€legal,Š ¢#ņ" Šeducational,€financial€and€social€components,€in€particular€support€for€victims.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ312.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€several€aspects€of€the€criminal€justice€system€in€relation€toŠ ]&­!% Šwomen.€It€notes€the€high€number€of€women€in€prison,€particularly€those€from€ethnic€minorities.Š F'–"& ŠMany€women€have€been€imprisoned€for€drug„related€offences€or€because€of€the€criminalization€ofŠ /(#' Šminor€infringements,€which€in€some€instances€seem€indicative€of€womenššs€poverty.€It€also€notes€thatŠ )h$( Šin€the€United€Kingdom,€and€particularly€in€Northern€Ireland,€young€female€offenders€are€held€inŠ *Q%) Šadult€prisons,€there€are€inadequate€educational€and€rehabilitative€programmes€for€women€prisonersŠ ź*:&* Šand€they€are€often€held€in€prisons€situated€far€from€their€families.€It€also€notes€that€the€defence€ofŠ Ó+#'+ Šprovocation€is€not€widely€available€to€women€victims€of€violence€who€are€charged€with€murder€andŠ ¼, (, Šthat€there€is€a€low€level€of€convictions€for€rape€and€sexual€violence.