’WPCT  3IÓł ŗž“›ķ1‡gą$bņy„āŃ÷ŅI×’KņaWN'ĮrĮ*gŗnŽ€ą¬®„ō^‹äć=6ˆĆ“0fSµöÖóQ=ZJåȵļŖÜE•M™õIśŁ‘ƊbYüĄ•Yü*\ŪĄQåø¾CŠ©ĘƒļŚGj`9%u#L{] +Ū£OWė¦ur!ĘĘ~iKuŚ}Tå}j38eVüŠÆ=A2åÄęĢØEuóo®§¢sRéI Żüž¹ćšŗÜõ’œå•¹Ŗ­} `ģ桉aŠa 4«j‘Ó4°öZyj!«½*ÅhJ…ųX ¹½®ÜvHe>źz<±ģ¢˜Łlp!āūHĶp`ģQ@‹¼ó  Øæū%äßni°Ä0Ę»^ó›sI¾r’ŻGææž–ēO…[ėƕ»wåyf˜÷™ž‹›Ē»©Øó:u[˜ļæ[‹%ńš‰_oÓ7z ōø~ž‚¾ćWć„ō“¦ŗūČ0„īLb#fēėĘ_OˆŌIĒŠ‰×{¶UŪ¼Ė[źŹˆ²3%ŸP,²€Ū¾©'§`µ‚]ĒĆ÷ \B’l^%K¼\ł[[œš7”å¬m†ļ1jŚ ”Ä ƘŃŒ‘*sķՊ{·Ų9a#ĮNUN %] 0:c ^  w© 4­ Į Š mŅ 8é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é é 0V! ! ! D-w 0K¤ Ęļ AŸµ ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŁŲŁŁŲČŁ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,Ōéyé* Ūnä*ź:i œ²Ÿ3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ 1990.indemnization(.3=Ī$££Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  Ż)!ČČČČdxdx( ±ž$’’ņ ņFigure€Ś  Ś1Ś  Śó óLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5_Z^]‘ I&mage <=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’ HKKKKŻ ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņŌ‡¼kĄ»XXŌÓ  ÓVENEZUELA€Ō#†X4nX»¼kĄ@#Ōó óŠ ° ŠÓ  ÓÓ  ÓĢņ ņĢŌ_ŌCEDAWŌ_Ō€A/41/45ó óŠ ”ä ŠĢ264.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Venezuela€(CEDAW/C/5/Add.24€andŠ g · ŠAmend.1)€at€its€74ņņthóó€and€77ņņthóó€meetings,€on€17€and€18€March€1986€(CEDAW/C/SR.74€and€77).Š P   ŠĢ265.€€During€the€introduction€of€the€country€report€by€the€representative€of€Venezuela,€a€documentŠ " r Šin€Spanish€was€circulated,€which€contained€more€data.€€The€representative€stated€that€all€theŠ  [  Šactivities€undertaken€to€improve€the€status€of€women€in€the€country€had€been€centralized€in€and€co„Š ō D  Šordinated€by€the€National€Womenššs€Office€run€by€the€Ministry€of€Youth.€€Venezuela€was€trying€toŠ Ż-  Šovercome€its€current€economic€crisis€by€means€of€a€new€strategy,€which€integrated€women€as€activeŠ Ę  Šparticipants€in€its€development€efforts,€and€that€was€in€keeping€with€the€aims€formulated€during€theŠ Æ’  ŠUnited€Nations€Decade€for€Women.Š ˜č  ŠĢ266.€€The€representative€stressed€that€the€Womenššs€Office€at€the€Ministry€of€Youth€had€created€aŠ jŗ Šhigh€degree€of€national€awareness€through€its€important€multi„disciplinary€activities.€€She€quotedŠ S£ Ša€message€of€the€President€of€the€Republic€of€Venezuela€in€which€he€underscored€the€importanceŠ <Œ Šof€the€family€in€the€society€and€of€women€as€a€work€force.€€She€also€mentioned€a€workshopŠ %u Šorganized€by€the€Womenššs€Office,€which€had€dealt€with€women€workers€and€strategies€to€integrateŠ ^ Šwomen€in€the€productive€process.Š ÷G ŠĢ267.€€The€representative€further€enumerated€the€planned€amendments€in€the€Labour€Law,€the€PenalŠ É ŠCode€and€the€Civil€Code€and€the€provisions€referring€to€the€maltreatment€of€women.€€She€said€thatŠ ² Šall€her€expectations€and€proposals€were€being€reinforced€by€the€Governmentššs€support€of€the€socialŠ ›ė Špolicies.€€The€new€strategy€to€achieve€the€full€integration€of€women€in€development€consisted€in€theŠ „Ō Šcreation€of€a€power€network€which€was€strengthened€by€the€motivation€of€both€women€and€men€toŠ m½ Šwork€for€the€common€task€of€development.€€With€that€aim€in€mind,€seven€commissions€had€beenŠ V¦ Šcreated€to€exchange€experience€and€information€in€order€to€achieve€an€improvement€of€the€statusŠ ? Šof€women€in€Venezuela€in€the€political,€legal€and€educational€participation,€in€their€incorporationŠ ( x Šin€the€productive€process€and€in€their€enjoyment€of€such€common€goals€as€health,€nutrition€andŠ !a Šhousing.Š ś!J  ŠĢ268.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€Venezuela€for€having€introduced€theŠ Ģ#" Šreport€which€was€referred€to€by€some€of€them€as€being€very€short€and€not€in€keeping€with€the€generalŠ µ$ # Šguidelines€established€by€the€Committee€for€the€presentation€of€States€parties€reports€under€articleŠ ž%ī $ Š18€of€the€Convention.€€Most€of€them€expressed€regret€at€the€lack€of€statistical€data€and€of€generalŠ ‡&×!% Šdemographic€information€and€population€profiles€and€deplored€that€the€Spanish€documentŠ p'Ą"& Šdistributed€during€the€meeting€had€not€been€available€earlier€nor€supplied€in€time€to€be€translatedŠ Y(©#' Šinto€other€languages.€€However,€some€members€of€the€Committee€congratulated€Venezuela€for€itsŠ B)’$( Šefforts€and,€in€spite€of€admitting€the€persistence€of€discrimination€in€many€areas,€acknowledged€theŠ +*{%) Šprogress€made€by€the€country.Š +d&* ŠĢ269.€€Some€experts,€while€discussing€the€brief€report€of€Venezuela,€made€remarks€at€the€lack€of€dataŠ ę,6(, Šon€the€active€participation€of€the€Venezuela€women€in€international€affairs,€which€could€have€beenŠ Ļ-)- Šsignificant€in€the€preparatory€work€for€the€International€Womenššs€Year€and€during€the€UnitedŠ ° ŠNations€Decade€for€Women.Š ™é ŠĢ270.€€Some€members€wanted€more€information€on€the€effects€of€the€Convention€on€the€general,Š k» Šsocial,€political€and€legal€framework€of€the€country.€€They€wanted€to€know€whether,€after€theŠ T¤ Šratification,€the€country€had€instituted€specific€institutions€and€authorities€for€the€elimination€ofŠ =  Šdiscrimination€against€women€and€whether€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€could€be€directlyŠ & v Šinvoked€before€the€Courts€or€the€administrative€authorities.Š  _ ŠĢ271.€€One€member€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Civil€Code€adopted€in€1982€would€be€sent€toŠ į 1  Šmembers€of€the€Committee;€some€others€asked€which€laws€had€been€adopted€since€1982€to€eliminateŠ Ź   Šdiscrimination.€One€member€asked€about€the€role€of€the€Catholic€Church€in€the€country.Š ³  ŠĢ272.€€Some€members€inquired€about€the€discriminatory€practices€against€women€in€the€country.€Š …Õ  ŠOthers€asked€what€was€being€done€in€the€country€to€eliminate€prejudices€and€sex€stereotyping€andŠ n¾  Šwhat€measures€were€being€taken€to€make€women€aware€of€their€rights.Š W§  ŠĢ273.€€Several€experts€wondered€about€the€role€and€number€of€womenššs€organizations€in€the€countryŠ )y Šand€whether€they€were€supported€by€the€Government.Š b ŠĢ274.€€Some€questions€were€raised€about€the€situation€in€the€country€concerning€prostitution€and€theŠ ä4 Šwhite€slave€trade.€€One€expert€asked€whether€rape€was€considered€to€be€an€offence€and€whetherŠ Ķ Špornography€existed.Š ¶ ŠĢ275.€€Several€experts€commented€on€the€fluctuating€figures€given€in€the€report€on€the€number€ofŠ ˆŲ Šwomen€as€senators€and€deputies.€€They€inquired€about€the€number€of€female€senators€and€deputies,Š qĮ Šabout€the€percentage€of€women€voters€and€women€eligible€to€vote€and€be€elected€and€the€percentageŠ ZŖ Šof€women€at€the€ministerial€level.€€Other€questions€referred€to€the€participation€of€women€in€theŠ C“ Šexecutive€and€the€judiciary.€€Further€information€was€requested€on€the€role€and€functions€of€theŠ ,| ŠNational€Womenššs€Office.€One€expert€wanted€to€know€whether€political€parties€had€womenššsŠ e Šsections€and€whether€women€were€allowed€to€participate€in€trade€unions.Š žN ŠĢ276.€€Further€information€was€sought€on€the€question€of€nationality€of€married€women.Š Š!   ŠĢ277.€Many€members€asked€questions€about€the€literacy€of€women,€the€percentage€of€femaleŠ ¢#ņ" Šilliterates€in€the€cities€and€rural€areas€and€whether€and€up€to€which€level€education€was€free€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Šcharge€and€up€to€which€level€it€was€compulsory.€€Some€questions€referred€to€the€programmes€ofŠ t%Ä $ Šeducation€and€to€their€impact€on€changing€attitudes,€others€to€the€school€drop„out€rate€of€girls.€€OneŠ ]&­!% Šexpert€inquired€about€the€results€of€the€study€of€stereotypes€in€school€textbooks€mentioned€in€theŠ F'–"& Šreport.Š /(#' ŠĢ278.€€Many€questions€referred€to€the€percentage€of€unemployed€women.€€More€details€were€askedŠ *Q%) Šabout€the€labour€legislation€reform.€€Information€was€sought€as€to€whether€the€right€for€equal€payŠ ź*:&* Šfor€equal€work€was€ensured€in€the€new€draft€law.€€One€member€considered€the€prohibition€forŠ Ó+#'+ Šwomen€to€work€as€discriminatory.€€Another€expert€asked€for€further€explanation€as€to€what€wasŠ ¼, (, Šmeant€by€heavy,€dangerous€and€unhealthy€work.€€Other€members€asked€whether€the€differentŠ „-õ(- Šretirement€age€for€women€and€men€was€to€be€considered€as€positive€or€negative€discrimination€andŠ ° Šwhat€the€minimum€ages€for€retirement€were.€€She€also€asked€why€the€economic€and€social€value€ofŠ ™é Šdomestic€work€was€so€important€in€that€society.€Another€expert€expressed€interest€in€the€text€of€theŠ ‚Ņ Šnew€Labour€Law.Š k» ŠĢ279.€€Several€questions€referred€to€the€conditions€of€work,€the€wage€level,€social€security,€pensionŠ =  Šrights,€the€length€and€nature€of€maternity€leave€and€the€availability€of€nurseries.€€One€member€askedŠ & v Šwhether€any€efforts€were€being€made€to€make€men€assume€their€responsibilities€in€fully€sharingŠ  _ Šhousehold€work.€€One€expert€asked€whether€women€had€to€undergo€a€pregnancy€test€before€takingŠ ų H Šon€employment.€€She€also€wanted€to€know€whether€the€figure€of€27.3€per€cent€for€the€female€labourŠ į 1  Šforce€also€included€underemployed€women,€such€as€domestic€servants€and€street€vendors.€€AnotherŠ Ź   Šexpert€wanted€to€know,€since€the€unemployment€rate€seemed€to€be€higher€for€women€than€for€men,Š ³  Šwhether€hidden€unemployment€existed.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€the€informal€sector€was€importantŠ œģ  Šin€size€and€what€was€the€role€of€women€within€that€sector.€€Questions€were€asked€about€theŠ …Õ  Špercentage€of€women€in€higher€management,€in€unskilled€and€low„skilled€labour€and€on€the€amountŠ n¾  Šof€women€working€as€domestic€servants€as€compared€to€that€of€men.Š W§  ŠĢ280.€€One€expert€asked€whether€women€in€domestic€service€were€registered.Š )y ŠĢ281.€€Some€experts€sought€more€information€on€health€services€available€to€women€and€askedŠ ūK Šwhether€pregnant€women€could€benefit€from€free€medical€care.€€Several€questions€referred€to€theŠ ä4 Špossibility€of€legal€abortion,€to€family€planning€and€to€the€number€of€deaths€per€annum€as€a€resultŠ Ķ Šof€illegal€abortion.€€One€expert€inquired€about€the€protective€measures€for€pregnant€women€andŠ ¶ Šasked€whether€self„employed€women€could€take€advantage€of€the€maternity€benefits.€€AnotherŠ Ÿļ Šmember€inquired€about€maternal€and€child€welfare€programmes€in€the€country.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ282.€€Several€experts€wanted€to€obtain€more€information€on€rural€women.€€They€were€interested€inŠ ZŖ Šstatistical€information;€they€asked€about€pension€rights€and€property€rights,€as€well€as€the€rates€ofŠ C“ Šilliteracy€of€rural€women€and€health€facilities€available€to€them.Š ,| ŠĢ283.€€One€expert€inquired€about€the€situation€of€migrant€women€as€regards€both€internal€and€foreignŠ žN Šmigration.Š ē 7 ŠĢ284.€€More€information€was€sought€on€the€Civil€Code€and€the€status€of€women.€€One€expert€askedŠ ¹" ! Šwhether€the€rule€that€both€husband€and€wife€required€the€consent€of€the€other€spouse€in€commercialŠ ¢#ņ" Štransactions€did€not€constitute€a€disadvantage.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ285.€€Several€experts€asked€for€information€on€the€right€to€divorce€and€on€the€parental€authority€inŠ ]&­!% Šcase€of€divorce.€€Interest€was€expressed€in€learning€more€about€the€rules€governing€propertyŠ F'–"& Šrelations.€€Some€experts€inquired€about€the€percentage€of€marriages€and€of€unmarried€women€livingŠ /(#' Šwith€men€and€also€about€the€property€relations€of€such€unions.€€Others€asked€about€theŠ )h$( Šresponsibilities€of€fathers€ņņvis„„visóó€their€children€and€about€the€rights€of€children€born€outsideŠ *Q%) Šwedlock.€€Some€members€asked€about€the€number€of€households€headed€by€women€and€theŠ ź*:&* Šavailability€of€additional€protective€measures€for€such€women.€They€inquired€about€the€minimumŠ Ó+#'+ Šage€for€marriage€and€about€the€rights€of€women€to€choose€the€family€name€in€case€of€marriage.€€OneŠ ¼, (, Šexpert€inquired€about€the€existence€of€a€Family€Code€and€about€inheritance€rights€of€women.€Š „-õ(- Š‡286.€€As€regards€domestic€violence,€information€was€sought€on€any€steps€taken€in€cases€of€domesticŠ ° Šviolence€and€on€the€availability€of€crises€centres.Š ™é ŠĢ287.€€Some€experts€expressed€appreciation€for€the€participation€of€the€country€in€the€struggle€forŠ k» Špeace€and€asked€about€the€activities€undertaken€by€the€country€within€the€framework€of€theŠ T¤ ŠInternational€Year€of€Peace.Š =  ŠĢ288.€€In€answering€the€questions€posed€by€the€experts,€the€representative€of€Venezuela€informed€theŠ  _ ŠCommittee€that€a€comprehensive€reply€had€been€prepared€which€would€be€made€available€to€theŠ ų H Šsecretariat€for€subsequent€reference.€Š į 1  ŠĢ289.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€institutional€support€for€the€advancementŠ ³  Šof€women€consisted€of€a€National€Commission,€a€Minister€of€State€and€the€National€Office€for€theŠ œģ  ŠStatus€of€Women.€€These€were€in€turn€supported€by€the€Municipal€Council,€universities€and€non„Š …Õ  Šgovernmental€organizations.€€The€National€Office€for€the€Status€of€Women€co„ordinated€the€overallŠ n¾  Šprogramme,€conducted€research€and€provided€advice.€€The€Advisory€Commissions€of€this€OfficeŠ W§  Šwere€broken€down€by€sectors€such€as€health,€legal,€education,€employment€and€participation.€Š @ ŠStrategies,€diagnosis€and€proposals€were€then€given€to€all€women€in€influential€and€decision„makingŠ )y Špositions€in€the€private€and€public€sector,€governmental€and€non„governmental,€for€comments€andŠ b Šaction.€€A€review€of€the€Penal€Code€and€of€the€Labour€Law€had€been€recommended€by€the€Office.Š ūK ŠĢ290.€€Womenššs€non„governmental€organizations€worked€indirectly€through€political€parties,Š Ķ Šreligious€groups€or€trade€unions,€and€were€also€directly€involved€in€the€programmes€of€the€NationalŠ ¶ ŠOffice.€€Through€the€latter€these€groups€had€access€to€international€forums€such€as€the€Inter„Š Ÿļ ŠAmerican€Commission€for€Women.€No€statistics€were€available€on€womenššs€participation€inŠ ˆŲ Šinternational€organizations;€however,€recently,€a€national€of€Venezuela€had€been€appointed€to€aŠ qĮ Šsenior€post€in€the€United€Nations€to€co„ordinate€the€status€of€women€in€the€Secretariat.Š ZŖ ŠĢ291.€€Political€parties€such€as€the€Democratic€Action€Party€had€established€a€15€per€cent€quota€toŠ ,| Šensure€the€full€participation€of€women.€€This€quota€had€been€reached€and€surpassed,€both€at€theŠ e Šnational€and€municipal€levels.Š žN ŠĢ292.€€The€representative€also€stated€that€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€was€hampered€byŠ Š!   Šsocio„cultural€and€traditional€attitudes.€€However,€the€reform€of€the€Civil€Code€which€dealt€withŠ ¹" ! Šfamily€law€had€opened€the€way€for€further€improvements€in€bringing€awareness€to€womenššs€equalityŠ ¢#ņ" Što€the€population.€€A€change€had€occurred€in€her€country,€since€at€the€present€time,€at€the€executiveŠ ‹$Ū# Šlevel,€there€were€two€women€Ministers€(10€per€cent);€at€the€legislative€level€(16€per€cent);€at€theŠ t%Ä $ Šmunicipal€level€there€was€only€a€6.1€per€cent€of€women€in€1975€and€in€1985€it€had€increased€toŠ ]&­!% Š21.48€per€cent.€€The€majority€of€judges€were€women,€she€stated,€and€a€marked€increase€had€beenŠ F'–"& Šnoticed€in€other€professional€occupations.Š /(#' ŠĢ293.€€The€representative€also€explained€that€efforts€were€being€made€through€communication€meansŠ *Q%) Što€eliminate€stereotypes,€sexism€and€other€still€prevalent€attitudes.€€These€activities€have€been€furtherŠ ź*:&* Šstrengthened€by€preparations€carried€out€at€the€national€level€in€preparation€for€the€United€NationsŠ Ó+#'+ ŠWorld€Conference€to€Review€and€Appraise€the€Achievements€of€the€United€Nations€Decade€forŠ ¼, (, ŠWomen:€Equality,€Development€and€Peace.€€Television€space€had€been€secured€and€programmesŠ „-õ(- Šdesigned€under€the€Ministry€to€educate€the€public.€€In€addition,€a€multi„disciplinary€commission€hadŠ ° Šbeen€established€to€study€the€use€of€womenššs€image€by€the€media.€€The€recommendations€of€thisŠ ™é Šcommission€will€provide€the€guidelines€for€the€media€and€other€communication€sectors.€€Venezuela,Š ‚Ņ Šshe€stressed,€was€a€pluralistic€society€where€many€ideologies,€political€parties€and€religionsŠ k» Šconverged;€it€was€through€dialogue€among€all€representatives€that€change€would€come€about.€Š T¤ ŠĢ294.€€Prostitution€existed€and€had€originated€because€of€internal€migration€patterns€and€foreignŠ & v Šmigration.€Data€had€not€been€collected€on€time€from€the€Ministry€of€Social€Health€and€Hygiene€butŠ  _ Šwould€be€included€in€Venezuelaššs€next€report.Š ų H ŠĢ295.€€Concerning€nationality,€she€indicated€that€Venezuelan€women€had€the€same€rights€as€men€inŠ Ź   Šthis€regard.Š ³  ŠĢ296.€€The€representative€of€Venezuela€replied€to€questions€raised€in€regard€to€article€10€of€theŠ …Õ  ŠConvention.€Education€was€free€in€her€country€up€to€the€ninth€grade€and€there€were€noŠ n¾  Šdiscriminatory€provisions€affecting€boys€and€girls.€€There€were€also€private€institutions€whichŠ W§  Šcharged€a€fee.€€Womenššs€registration€in€universities€had€surpassed€menššs€in€the€last€10€years€and€thisŠ @ Štrend€seemed€to€continue.€€Of€the€41€per€cent€women€graduates,€however,€only€13€per€cent€joinedŠ )y Šthe€work€force.€€Resistance€to€employ€women€in€areas€previously€considered€as€menššs€continued.€Š b ŠThe€Government€would€be€attempting€to€increase€the€participation€of€women€from€the€marginalŠ ūK Šareas€into€the€educational€and€cultural€formal€sector.€€Vocational€training€as€well€as€literacy€are€areasŠ ä4 Šof€priority.€€The€representative€referred€to€statistics€and€additional€information€material€which€sheŠ Ķ Šwould€be€circulating€to€the€members€of€the€Committee.€Š ¶ ŠĢ297.€€As€she€had€stated€before,€sex€stereotyping€was€found€also€in€education€and€again€theŠ ˆŲ ŠGovernment€continued€to€allocate€resources€to€remedy€this€anomaly,€through€teacherššs€associationsŠ qĮ Šwhich€continued€to€update€and€evaluate€methods€within€the€socio„cultural€and€economic€contextsŠ ZŖ Šparticular€to€the€specific€problems€and€segments€of€the€population.€Š C“ ŠĢ298.€€Only€27.6€per€cent€out€of€a€labour€force€of€5€million€were€women€and€51€per€cent€of€them€wereŠ e Šemployed€in€the€service€sector.€€Women€constituted€20.5€per€cent€of€the€heads€of€households.€€ThereŠ žN Šwas€a€14€per€cent€unemployment€rate€at€the€present€time€due€to€the€economic€crisis.€€The€principleŠ ē 7 Šof€equal€pay€for€equal€work€was€implemented€specially€among€the€professional€occupations€sinceŠ Š!   Šthey€were€controlled€by€different€trade€unions.€€The€situation,€the€representative€stated,€was€differentŠ ¹" ! Šin€other€areas€where€women€were€not€active€in€trade€union€organizations.€€The€Government€wasŠ ¢#ņ" Štrying€to€correct€this€and€other€anomalies€with€a€new€labour€law,€which€included€also€the€extensionŠ ‹$Ū# Šof€social€security€to€household€workers€and€articles€which€brought€national€legislation€intoŠ t%Ä $ Šalignment€with€the€Convention.€Š ]&­!% ŠĢ299.€€Working€women€had€the€same€rights€to€pension€and€social€security€benefits€as€men,€and€hadŠ /(#' Šthe€same€right€to€establish€and€carry€out€business€transactions.€€This€was€to€avoid€property€disputesŠ )h$( Šin€case€of€subsequent€divorce€and€to€eliminate€an€old€practice€where€husbands€sold€property€withoutŠ *Q%) Šconsulting€the€wife€prior€to€divorce.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ300.€€The€National€Constitution,€through€its€article€61,€forbade€any€type€of€discrimination€based€onŠ ¼, (, Šrace,€sex,€class€or€creed.€€Article€32€of€the€Labour€Law€forbade€discrimination€in€employment€andŠ „-õ(- ŠVenezuela€had€ratified€International€Labour€Organisation€conventions€in€this€regard,€as€for€exampleŠ ° Šthe€convention€regulating€night€work€for€women.€€Although€Venezuelan€law€attempted€not€to€beŠ ™é Šoverprotective,€certain€restrictions€were€applied€to€womenššs€work,€such€as€labour€consideringŠ ‚Ņ Šphysically€arduous,€like€lifting€heavy€weights,€or€considered€dangerous€or€unhealthy.€€Also€womenŠ k» Šwere€prevented€by€the€Labour€Law€from€working€in€enterprises€which€might€prejudice€their€moralityŠ T¤ Šor€good€manners;€the€Law€did€not,€however,€specify€which€enterprises.Š =  ŠĢ301.€€Several€questions€had€been€raised€in€regard€to€the€situation€of€rural€women.€€The€representativeŠ  _ Šstated€that€only€25€per€cent€of€the€population€lived€in€rural€areas,€of€which€12.5€per€cent€wereŠ ų H Šwomen.€€These€women€did€not€work€in€agriculture€nor€live€alone.€€Rural€population€was€composedŠ į 1  Šof€married€couples€or€unmarried€couples€with€children.€€Only€young€women€migrated€to€the€citiesŠ Ź   Šin€search€of€another€type€of€work€or€life.Š ³  ŠĢ302.€€The€representative€of€Venezuela€stated€that€there€were€schools€in€the€rural€areas€and€thatŠ …Õ  Šongoing€literacy€campaigns€were€carried€out€by€the€National€Institute€of€Agrarian„Educational€Co„Š n¾  Šoperation.€€The€illiteracy€rate€was€11.5€per€cent,€of€which€4.9€were€men€and€6.62€women.Š W§  ŠĢ303.€€Women€in€the€rural€areas€had€the€right€to€own€property€and€within€the€scope€of€the€agrarianŠ )y Šreform€had€the€right€to€receive€the€title€for€their€lands,€as€well€as€to€receive€credit€and€other€typesŠ b Šof€technical€advice.Š ūK ŠĢ304.€€Mobile€medical€units€had€been€created€which€visited€remote€areas€and€which€had€been€veryŠ Ķ Šsuccessful€in€monitoring€health€aspects€particular€to€women€and€of€womenššs€concern,€includingŠ ¶ Šearly€cancer€detection.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ305.€€In€reply€to€questions€raised€regarding€health€facilities€provided€to€women,€the€representativeŠ qĮ Šinformed€the€Committee€that€the€following€programmes€were€in€operation:€pre„natal€and€natal€care,Š ZŖ Šincluding€the€mother€and€child,€and€all€health„related€aspects,€including€nutrition€and€preventiveŠ C“ Šmedicine€such€as€vaccination,€family€planning,€and€gynaecological€supervision€for€early€cancerŠ ,| Šdetection,€venereal€disease€control€and€prophylaxis.Š e ŠĢ306.€€Family€planning€programmes€were€in€operation€since€1962€and€since€1974€were€an€officialŠ ē 7 Šprogramme€of€the€Government.€€One€of€the€main€objectives€of€the€programme€was€to€contribute€toŠ Š!   Šthe€reduction€of€illegal€abortions€and€to€diminish€maternal€and€infant€mortality,€among€others.€€ItŠ ¹" ! Šalso€sought€to€promote€responsible€parenthood€and€sexual€education.€€Sterilization€of€both€men€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šwomen€was€allowed.€For€a€woman,€however,€authorization€was€required€from€her€husband.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ307.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€submitted€quantitative€information€on€the€uses,€methodsŠ ]&­!% Šand€types€of€birth€control€used€in€the€country,€and€provided€the€Committee€with€demographicŠ F'–"& Šindicators,€including€maternal€and€infant€mortality€rates,€as€well€as€data€on€the€national€programmeŠ /(#' Šof€child€care.Š )h$( ŠĢ308.€€The€representative€also€referred€to€the€Family€Code€adopted€in€1982.€€This€Code€stipulatedŠ ź*:&* Šequal€rights€for€husband€and€wife€without€distinction€or€privileges.€€It€regulated€property€rights,Š Ó+#'+ Šresponsibilities€in€regard€to€children,€and€affirmed€equal€rights€in€cases€where€a€consensual€unionŠ ¼, (, Šand€not€marriage€had€been€established.Š „-õ(- Š‡309.€€The€Penal€Code,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stated,€addressed€the€anomaly€of€familyŠ ° Šviolence.€€It€considered€that€physical€abuse€was€unhealthy€and€carried€a€penalty€of€1€to€12€monthsŠ ™é Šimprisonment.€€Other€articles€were€more€specific€and€referred€to€the€type,€age€and€sex€of€the€victim,Š ‚Ņ Šwith€penalties€up€to€withdrawal€of€ņņpatria€potestasóó.€€Information€campaigns€had€been€launched€as€aŠ k» Špreventive€measure€and€also€to€elicit€public€awareness€of€the€problems€and€damages€which€thisŠ T¤ Šbehaviour€entailed.Š =  ŠĢ310.€€Divorce€was€allowed€and€equality€in€treatment€had€also€been€established€by€law.€€She€statedŠ  _ Šthat€in€the€past€women€had€had€no€grounds€for€divorce€even€when€the€husband€was€committingŠ ų H Šadultery.Š į 1  ŠĢ311.€€The€representative€thanked€the€Committee€for€the€pertinent€questions€asked€and€indicated€thatŠ ³  ŠVenezuelaššs€next€report€would€contain€more€detailed€data€as€had€been€suggested€by€the€experts.Š œģ  ŠĢ312.€€Many€experts€expressed€their€appreciation€for€the€thorough€reply€delivered€by€theŠ n¾  Šrepresentative€of€the€State€party€which€had€been€prepared€in€24€hours.€€Her€presence€as€Minister€ofŠ W§  Šher€country€gave€proof€of€the€commitment€by€the€Government€of€Venezuela€to€the€fulfilment€of€theŠ @ Šaims€of€the€Convention.€€One€expert€remarked€that€perhaps€the€law€requiring€a€woman€who€soughtŠ )y Šsterilization€to€seek€permission€from€her€husband€would€be€abolished€in€due€course.Š b ŠĢ313.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€replied€that,€as€stated€in€her€introduction€and€replies,Š ä4 Šdiscrimination€still€existed€but€there€was€a€noted€improvement.€€Women€were€working€very€hard€andŠ Ķ Šthere€were€many€who€were€dedicated€to€reaching€the€desired€goals€established€by€the€Convention.Š  ¶ Šņ ņCEDAW€€A/47/38ó óŠ ° ŠĢ414.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Venezuela€(CEDAW/C/13/Add.21)Š ƒÓ Šat€its€201ņņstóó€meeting€on€29€January€1992.€Š l¼ ŠĢ415.€€The€report€complied€with€the€guidelines€for€the€preparation€of€second€and€subsequent€periodicŠ > Ž Šreports€as€it€Ō_ŌfocusedŌ_Ō€on€the€period€between€the€consideration€of€the€initial€report€and€the€date€of€theŠ ' w Šcurrent€report.€€It€gave€a€summary€account€of€the€progress€made€by€Venezuela€between€1985€andŠ  ` Š1988€with€emphasis€on€policies€and€programmes€developed€by€the€governmental€offices/bodies€inŠ ł I Šcharge€of€the€advancement€of€women.€€Those€efforts€should€be€appreciated.€€The€frankness€of€theŠ ā 2  Šreport€in€describing€the€obstacles€women€faced€was€appreciated.€€However,€most€important€legalŠ Ė   Šreforms€(amendments€to€the€Penal€Code€and€the€Labour€Law)€did€not€seem€to€have€advanced€fromŠ “  Šthe€initial€stage,€i.e.€from€the€stage€of€their€submission€to€the€Congress€in€1986€and€1987Š ķ  Šrespectively,€in€which€they€had€to€be€discussed€in€substance€by€it;€their€approval€was€not€expectedŠ †Ö  Šin€the€near€future.€€The€report€did€not€give€any€particular€explanation€for€such€a€situation€or€plansŠ oæ  Što€overcome€it.€€The€report€stressed€however€that,€although€Venezuela€had€been€developing€duringŠ XØ  Šthe€last€few€years€a€series€of€policies€aimed€at€guaranteeing€equal€opportunities€for€women€so€thatŠ A‘ Šthey€could€both€progress€fully€as€human€beings€and€participate€at€all€levels€in€the€countryššsŠ *z Šdevelopment,€there€remained€a€series€of€obstacles€that€prevent€a€significant€improvement€in€thatŠ c Šfield,€the€most€important€obstacles€being€the€whole€system€of€values,€beliefs€and€models€thatŠ üL Šasserted€the€inequality€between€men€and€women,€assigning€to€the€latter€a€role€and€status€thatŠ å5 Šdegraded€them€as€human€beings.€€It€further€explained€that€those€values€were€deeply€embedded€in€theŠ Ī Šbulk€of€the€population,€regardless€of€sex€and€were€institutionalized€in€the€entire€social,€legal€andŠ · Šeconomic€structures€of€that€society.€Another€obstacle,€which€was€actually€related€to€the€above,€wasŠ  š Šthe€inadequacy€of€the€human€and€economic€resources€assigned€to€the€development€and€promotionŠ ‰Ł Šof€the€programmes€and€projects€intended€for€the€status€of€women.Š rĀ ŠĢ416.€€Another€general€remark€that€concerned€the€report€was€that€information€was€missing€on€theŠ D” Šresults€of€the€implementation€of€the€governmental€policies€and€programmes€for€women€and€theirŠ -} Ševaluation,€which€made€it€difficult€to€understand€what€their€real€impact€was.€€It€seemed€that€mostŠ f Šof€the€work€for€change€is€being€done€by€women€on€a€voluntary€basis.Š ’O ŠĢ417.€€Before€replying€to€the€list€of€questions,€the€representative€explained€that€the€second€periodicŠ Ń!!  Šreport€had€covered€the€progress€achieved€during€the€period€1985€„€1988€and€had€been€submitted€inŠ ŗ" ! Š1989.€however,€at€the€end€of€1988€presidential€elections€had€taken€place€in€the€country€and€theŠ £#ó" Šcurrent€administration€had€started€its€work€in€1989.€€Since€the€representative€had€taken€office€asŠ Œ$Ü# ŠMinister€of€State€for€the€Promotion€of€Women,€significant€changes€had€taken€place,€which€sheŠ u%Å $ Šwould€try€to€outline€in€her€presentation.€€She€also€mentioned€an€additional€report€that€she€had€givenŠ ^&®!% Što€the€Secretariat€during€the€session,€which€referred€to€the€period€1989„1991,€and€an€annex€entitledŠ G'—"& Šš šThe€woman€in€Venezuelašš€contained€statistical€data.€€Both€documents€should€be€made€availableŠ 0(€#' Što€all€the€members€of€the€Committee.Š )i$( ŠĢ418.€€She€was€in€agreement€with€the€general€observations€made€by€the€pre„session€working€groupŠ ė*;&* Šand€hoped€that€the€following€answers€would€fill€some€of€the€gaps€in€information€in€the€report.Š Ō+$'+ ŠņņĢArticle€2óóŠ ¦-ö(- Š‡419.€€The€Committee€asked€what€the€Government€was€planning€to€do€to€speed€up€the€process€of€theŠ ° Šadoption€by€the€Parliament€of€the€amendments€to€the€Penal€Code,€the€Labour€Law€and€any€otherŠ ™é Šamendments€to€existing€laws€that€were€discriminatory€to€women.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ420.€€It€asked€if€the€Government€was€receiving€sufficient€support€for€its€actions€in€favour€of€theŠ T¤ Šadvancement€of€women,€by€political€parties,€trade€unions€and€the€mass€media,€and€what€it€wasŠ =  Šplanning€to€do€to€mobilize€and€channel€their€support€in€favour€of€its€policies€and€programmes.€€InŠ & v Šparticular,€it€asked€how€the€Government€was€going€to€fight€against€stereotyping€of€roles€of€sexes.Š  _ ŠĢ421.€€The€representative€said€that€the€National€Congress€had€adopted€a€new€Labour€Law,€which€hadŠ į 1  Šbeen€promulgated€in€1990.€€Many€of€its€provisions€were€favourable€to€the€status€of€women.€€UnderŠ Ź   Šthat€law€discrimination€on€the€grounds€of€sex€was€forbidden;€however,€special€provisions€to€protectŠ ³  Šmaternity€and€the€family€were€not€considered€discriminatory.€€Women€were€entitled€to€receive€equalŠ œģ  Špay€for€work€of€equal€value€and€paid€maternity€leave€of€six€weeks€before€and€12€weeks€after€givingŠ …Õ  Šbirth;€furthermore€they€received€an€indemnization€from€social€security€and€were€protected€againstŠ n¾  Šdismissal€during€pregnancy€and€for€one€year€after€delivery.€€Women€could€also€combine€any€unusedŠ W§  Šannual€leave€with€maternity€leave.€Maternity€leave€was€also€possible€in€case€of€adoption€of€a€babyŠ @ Šchild.€€In€a€company€with€more€than€20€employees,€the€employer€had€to€provide€child„care€facilitiesŠ )y Šwith€qualified€personnel.€€Currently€the€Government€was€trying€to€coordinate€through€a€specialŠ b Šcommission€the€availability€of€child„care€facilities€with€the€national€network€of€day„care€centres.€Š ūK ŠUnder€the€new€law,€the€employer€had€to€allow€for€nursing€rests€for€lactating€mothers.€€The€new€lawŠ ä4 Šgave€equal€treatment€to€the€spouses€if€they€were€both€working€outside€the€house€and€providedŠ Ķ Šprotection€for€women€who€were€employed€in€domestic€service.€€In€order€to€protect€women€in€theŠ ¶ Šexecution€of€all€the€above€rights,€the€institution€of€a€Prosecutorššs€Office€or€Ombudsman€for€WorkingŠ Ÿļ ŠWomen€was€foreseen.€€The€Penal€Code€had€not€so€far€been€amended,€but€a€bicameral€commissionŠ ˆŲ Šfor€the€rights€of€women€within€the€Congress€was€trying€to€deal€with€the€amendment€and€with€a€large„Š qĮ Šscale€judicial€reform€in€the€near€future.€€A€draft€law€against€family€violence€was€on€the€verge€ofŠ ZŖ Šbeing€presented€to€Congress€through€the€Minister€for€the€Promotion€of€Women.€Š C“ ŠĢ422.€€In€reply€to€whether€the€Government€was€receiving€sufficient€support€for€its€action€in€favourŠ e Šof€the€advancement€of€women,€she€said€that€currently€an€Advisory€Commission€for€Women€to€theŠ žN ŠPresidency€of€the€Republic€under€the€Ministry€of€State€for€the€Advancement€of€Women€worked€outŠ ē 7 Šthe€policies€for€the€promotion€of€women.€€In€that€Commission€were€representatives€of€all€politicalŠ Š!   Šparties€and€other€organizations.€€The€progress€achieved€in€the€advancement€of€women€was€the€resultŠ ¹" ! Šof€actions€of€solidarity€by€several€Governments,€all€political€parties,€non„governmentalŠ ¢#ņ" Šorganizations,€womenššs€groups,€trade€unions€and€Venezuelan€women€at€the€grass„roots€level.€€WithŠ ‹$Ū# Šregard€to€the€fight€against€the€stereotyping€of€gender€roles,€she€said€that€the€Ministry€of€EducationŠ t%Ä $ Šwas€carrying€out€programmes€to€combat€stereotyping€in€the€school€system€and€to€promote€equalŠ ]&­!% Šopportunities€through€new€schoolbooks,€which€did€away€with€old€forms€of€discrimination,€includedŠ F'–"& Šgender€problems€in€the€curricula€and€disseminated€printed€and€audiovisual€material.€€Research€onŠ /(#' Šgender€roles€was€carried€out,€and€negotiations€were€held€with€the€media€managers€in€order€to€allowŠ )h$( Šthe€Office€of€the€Ministry€of€State€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€regular€broadcasting€time€forŠ *Q%) Šprogrammes€for€combatting€gender€stereotyping.Š ź*:&* ŠĢņņArticles€3€and€4óóŠ ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š423.€€It€was€appreciated€by€the€Committee€that€the€Government€of€Venezuela€had€in€1974€and€1979Š ° Šestablished€an€important€machinery€in€charge€of€the€advancement€of€women€in€a€Ministry€of€StateŠ ™é Šfor€the€Participation€of€Women€in€Development.€€That€machinery€underwent€substantial€changesŠ ‚Ņ Šthrough€the€years,€in€1987€by€the€establishment€of€the€Machinery€for€the€Family€and€the€GeneralŠ k» ŠSectoral€Directorate€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€under€the€Ministry€and€its€six€advisory€committeesŠ T¤ Š(education,€labour,€legislation,€social€communication,€health€and€political€participation).Š =  ŠĢ424.€€The€Committee€asked€what€the€reasons€were€for€such€transformation;€what€the€size€of€theŠ  _ ŠGeneral€Directorate€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€was€and€what€its€budget€was;€whether€the€MinisterŠ ų H Šfor€the€Family€have€any€special€rights€in€the€legislative€process€or€in€the€Cabinet€in€order€to€initiate,Š į 1  Špromote€or€implement€rights€for€women€even€if€those€rights€are€under€the€responsibility€of€otherŠ Ź   Šministers;€how€the€Ministry€for€the€Family€cooperated€with€other€government€ministries€in€solvingŠ ³  Šproblems€of€womenššs€rights€and€interests;€whether€the€same€form€of€machinery€for€women€had€beenŠ œģ  Šinstitutionalized€at€the€level€of€state€governments€or€municipalities;€to€what€extent€the€variousŠ …Õ  Šnational€policy€plans€as€forwarded€by€the€Advisory€Committees€had€been€legislated€by€ParliamentŠ n¾  Šand€to€what€extent€they€had€been€supported€by€political€parties;€if€they€had€not€been€implementedŠ W§  Šso€far,€what€the€obstacles€were;€if€there€had€been€pressure€by€womenššs€organizations€and€by€theŠ @ Šmass€media€in€that€regard;€if€the€various€programmes€for€women€had€been€continued€and€evaluated;Š )y Šand€if€women€who€had€been€trained€in€the€leadership€programmes€moving€into€politics,€trade€unionsŠ b Šetc.Š ūK ŠĢ425.€€Turning€to€questions€raised€under€articles€3€and€4,€the€representative€said€that€the€changes€thatŠ Ķ Šthe€machinery€for€the€advancement€of€women€had€undergone€were€mainly€due€to€conceptual€andŠ ¶ Šideological€criteria€of€the€different€Governments€and€to€two€phenomena,€the€lack€of€administrativeŠ Ÿļ Šcontinuity€and€of€the€political€will€to€create€a€stable€and€permanent€mechanism€that€would€outliveŠ ˆŲ Šthe€different€administrations.€Already€in€1974,€the€first€Advisory€Committee€under€the€PresidentššsŠ qĮ ŠOffice€had€been€created.€€Later,€a€Minister€of€State€for€the€Incorporation€of€Women€intoŠ ZŖ ŠDevelopment€had€been€nominated.€€In€1989,€the€President€of€the€Republic€had€established€anŠ C“ ŠAdvisory€Commission€for€Women€under€the€State€Minister€for€the€Promotion€of€Women.€Š ,| ŠFurthermore,€the€current€national€development€plan€contained€a€chapter€that€was€specificallyŠ e Šdedicated€to€womenššs€problems.€€And€in€1991,€the€Advisory€Commission€had€presented€to€theŠ žN ŠNational€Congress€a€draft€law€for€setting€up€the€National€Council€of€Women€as€a€stable€and€high„Š ē 7 Šlevel€body€that€would€depend€directly€on€the€Presidency€of€the€Republic.€€She€emphasized€thatŠ Š!   ŠVenezuela€was€a€new€democracy€and€that€womencould€be€found€in€the€first€political€parties€as€earlyŠ ¹" ! Šas€1936.€€The€progress€achieved€up€to€the€present€had€originated€from€the€political€force€that€hadŠ ¢#ņ" Šbeen€exercised€by€women€since€the€very€beginning.€€While€the€personnel€and€the€budget€of€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠGeneral€Directorate€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€had€been€reduced,€the€Advisory€Commission€andŠ t%Ä $ Šthe€Ministry€of€State€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€had€gained€importance€and€political€power.€Š ]&­!% ŠHowever,€as€long€as€the€Ministry€for€the€Family€was€not€transformed€in€the€way€hoped€for,€theŠ F'–"& ŠMinistry€for€Social€Development€would€be€maintained€in€addition€to€the€General€Directorate€for€theŠ /(#' ŠPromotion€of€Women.€€Currently,€the€Government€was€intending€to€keep€those€two€bodies€asŠ )h$( Šcoordinators€for€social€policies€regarding€the€promotion€of€women€in€all€sectors.€€Over€the€last€twoŠ *Q%) Šyears€the€State€Minister€for€the€Promotion€of€Women€had€created€focal€points€in€all€ministries€inŠ ź*:&* Šorder€to€coordinate€all€the€programmes€decided€upon€by€the€Advisory€Commission.€€The€MinistryŠ Ó+#'+ Šof€State€and€the€Advisory€Commission€had€their€own€offices€and€a€budget,€which€allowed€them€toŠ ¼, (, Šcreate€projects€and€to€introduce€the€womenššs€dimension€in€all€the€programmes€on€a€permanent€basis.€Š „-õ(- ŠIt€was€important€to€decentralize€the€policies,€to€involve€also€the€mayors€and€governors€from€allŠ ° Šregions€and€to€extend€them€to€representatives€of€all€the€five€political€parties.€€Although€the€countryŠ ™é Šhad€been€in€a€different€position€from€all€other€countries€in€the€region€because€of€its€oil€resources,Š ‚Ņ Šstructural€adjustment€policies€were€having€a€serious€impact€on€development€strategies.€€TheŠ k» ŠGovernment€took€difficult€political€and€economic€decisions,€and€developed€far„reaching€socialŠ T¤ Špolicies€to€reduce€the€impact€of€the€adjustment€on€the€poorest€segments€of€the€population.€€TheŠ =  Šprojects€carried€out€by€the€Ministry€of€State€and€the€Advisory€Commission€included€a€programmeŠ & v Što€fight€against€sexual€discrimination€and€for€equal€opportunities€in€the€school€system,€a€programmeŠ  _ Šfor€women€and€health,€an€expanded€mother„and„child€programme€for€poor€pregnant€women€andŠ ų H Šnursing€mothers€and€their€children,€a€programme€for€community„level€education€and€a€programmeŠ į 1  Šfor€day„care€centres.€€The€most€important€programme€was€one€for€funding€small€business€loans€toŠ Ź   Šbenefit€women€and€children.€€Although€the€budget€of€the€Ministry€of€State€for€the€Promotion€ofŠ ³  ŠWomen€was€not€sufficiently€large€to€satisfy€all€those€demands,€a€firm€political€will€was€behind€allŠ œģ  Šthose€programmes.Š …Õ  ŠĢ426.€€The€various€national€policy€plans€and€programmes€had,€so€far,€only€been€acted€upon€by€theŠ W§  ŠParliament€and€various€subcomissions€that€had€emerged€from€the€former€advisory€commissions,Š @ Šwhich€were€making€comments€on€draft€bills€under€discussion€in€the€National€Congress.€€SheŠ )y Šadmitted€that€delays€had€indeed€been€experienced€in€the€adoption€of€the€draft€law€for€the€creationŠ b Šof€the€National€Council€for€Women€and€in€the€amendments€to€be€made€to€the€Penal€Code,€especiallyŠ ūK Šas€the€latter€was€being€done€within€the€reform€of€the€entire€judiciary,€but€she€expressed€the€hope€thatŠ ä4 Šthe€situation€in€that€respect€would€improve€as€there€was€a€special€subcomission€called€š šWomen€andŠ Ķ Šthe€Statešš,€and€as€the€Minister€of€State€herself€was€responsible€for€reforming€the€administrativeŠ ¶ Šstructure€of€the€State.€€In€Venezuela,€there€was€great€solidarity€among€all€womenššs€organizations,Š Ÿļ Šand€the€womenššs€sections€in€all€political€parties,€non„governmental€organizations€and€womenššsŠ ˆŲ Šgroups€were€constantly€exercising€pressure€regarding€the€adoption€of€certain€laws€or€programmes.€Š qĮ ŠWomenššs€programmes€had€been€put€on€a€higher€hierarchical€level€and€expanded€to€include€the€mostŠ ZŖ Švulnerable€groups,€such€as€pregnant€and€nursing€mothers.€€The€political€evaluation€of€theŠ C“ Šprogrammes€was€done€through€a€group€of€five€ministries€„€and€the€Minister€of€State€for€theŠ ,| ŠPromotion€of€Women€was€one€of€them€„€who€discussed,€drew€up€and€reformulated€projects.€€TheŠ e Štechnical€evaluation€was€done€by€the€National€System€for€Coordination€and€Planning€and€the€CentralŠ žN ŠStatistical€Office.€€Besides€that,€research€work€regarding€the€situation€of€women€was€ongoing.€Š ē 7 ŠLeadership€training€had€existed€for€a€long€time€in€the€political€parties€and,€more€recently,€also€inŠ Š!   Šsome€non„governmental€organizations€and€womenššs€groups€at€the€grass„roots€level.€€ExperienceŠ ¹" ! Šshowed€that€most€women€who€exercised€leadership€positions€in€political€parties€had€received€suchŠ ¢#ņ" Štraining.€€However,€it€had€not€been€done€systematically.€€Therefore,€the€Advisory€Commission€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šthe€Ministry€of€State€had€initiated€and€financed€a€training€programme€in€self„esteem,€leadership€andŠ t%Ä $ Šwomen€and€power.€€As€a€result€of€the€convening,€in€March€1991,€of€the€Second€National€CongressŠ ]&­!% Šof€Women,€which€had€discussed€the€topic€š šwomen€and€poweršš€and€which€had€been€attended€byŠ F'–"& Šabout€400,000€women,€a€chapter€on€women€had€been€introduced€for€the€first€time€in€the€eighthŠ /(#' Šnational€development€plan.Š )h$( ŠĢņņArticle€5óóŠ ź*:&* ŠĢ427.€€The€Minister€of€Youth,€in€her€statement€before€the€Committee€in€March€1986,€said€that€of€theŠ ¼, (, Š41€per€cent€of€university€graduates€who€are€women,€only€13€per€cent€took€up€employment.€€AŠ „-õ(- Šsystematic€self„exclusion€by€women€from€professional€activities€could€be€observed,€as€well€asŠ ° Šresistance€on€the€part€of€employers€to€taking€on€women€in€areas€traditionally€considered€to€be€maleŠ ™é Špreserves.€€The€Committee€enquired€if€anything€had€been€done€to€change€that€situation€and€askedŠ ‚Ņ Šthe€representative€to€describe€practical€measures€and€their€results.Š k» ŠĢ428.€€The€representative€replied€that€women€constituted,€in€1983,€48€per€cent€of€the€persons€who€hadŠ =  Šcompleted€higher€education:€two„thirds€of€those€were€graduates€from€universities,€one„quarter€wasŠ & v Šin€the€teaching€profession€and€over€one„tenth€were€graduates€from€technical€universities.€€In€1985,Š  _ Šwomen€constituted€the€majority€of€university€graduates.€€None€the€less,€most€women€were€found€inŠ ų H Šthe€service€sector€and€received€low€wages.€€As€Venezuela€had€been€a€rich€society,€most€women€hadŠ į 1  Šbeen€trained€for€careers€involving€competition.€€Almost€half€of€the€female€labour€force€hadŠ Ź   Šsecondary€school€education€and€13€per€cent€had€higher€education.€€More€than€two„thirds€of€womenŠ ³  Šunder€15€years€of€age€were€neither€working€nor€seeking€employment;€they€were€mostly€involved€inŠ œģ  Šhousehold€activities.€€Women€with€secondary€education€were€mostly€found€in€commerce€andŠ …Õ  Šmanufacturing,€whereas€women€with€higher€education€carried€out€jobs€related€to€health€andŠ n¾  Šeducation€services.€€The€highest€unemployment€rate€was€found€among€office€employees.€€In€orderŠ W§  Što€remedy€the€situation,€the€Government€was€trying€to€attract€more€women€into€the€technical€fields,Š @ Šgiving€higher€responsibilities€to€women€in€public€administration€and€assuring€that€in€areas€such€asŠ )y Šfinancial€services€and€company€management€more€women€got€involved€in€the€public€as€well€as€inŠ b Šthe€private€sector.€€The€Governmentššs€current€educational€system€was€following€the€model€ofŠ ūK Šincome€societies€but€it€was€under€reform.€€Hidden€discrimination€was€still€taking€place,€but€theŠ ä4 ŠGovernment€was€trying€to€give€women€higher€posts€in€public€administration.€€There€was€definitelyŠ Ķ Ša€strong€political€will€behind€those€actions,€which€was€documented€by€the€fact€that€there€were€fiveŠ ¶ Šwomen€ministers,€three€top€posts€in€public€administration€were€held€by€women,€one€woman€had€aŠ Ÿļ Šsenior€post€in€an€oil€enterprise€and€two€out€of€five€senior€posts€in€the€steel„€and€aluminium„Š ˆŲ Šproducing€company€were€occupied€by€women.Š qĮ ŠĢ429.€€In€the€initial€report€of€Venezuela,€it€was€mentioned€that€a€study€was€being€made€ofŠ C“ Šstereotyping€and€its€effects€in€order€to€promote€changes€in€the€text€of€schoolbooks,€teaching€materialŠ ,| Šand€the€messages€conveyed€in€the€media.€€The€Committee€asked€what€the€results€of€such€a€study€hadŠ e Šbeen,€its€evaluation€and€implementation€of€eventual€conclusions€and€recommendations.€€As€theŠ žN Šstereotyping€of€sex€roles€continued€to€play€a€very€important€role,€it€was€asked€what€the€plans€wereŠ ē 7 Što€deal€with€it€in€the€future.€€Also,€it€was€asked€whether€the€programme€for€family€education€hadŠ Š!   Šbeen€implemented,€to€what€extent€and€what€its€effects€had€been.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ430.€€Two€studies€had€been€carried€out€on€sexual€stereotypes€in€school€textbooks€for€pre„school€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šprimary€school€education€and€in€televison€programmes.€€The€results€showed€that€there€was€a€clearŠ t%Ä $ Šdiscrepancy€between€the€role€models€presented€in€the€textbooks€and€the€social€reality€of€the€country.€Š ]&­!% ŠThe€textbooks€reinforced€the€sexual€stereotypes€of€the€former€social€framework€and€constituted€oneŠ F'–"& Šof€the€most€serious€obstacles€to€the€complete€integration€of€women€in€development.€€Similarly,Š /(#' Štelevision€programmes€strengthened€prevailing€sexual€stereotypes€and€denied€much€of€the€progressŠ )h$( Šachieved€by€Venezuelan€women.€€Several€ministries,€in€collaboration€with€the€Advisory€CommissionŠ *Q%) Šand€non„governmental€organizations,€were€developing€programmes€and€carrying€out€projects€toŠ ź*:&* Šcombat€sex€stereotyping.€€In€addition€to€that,€the€Office€of€the€Minister€of€State€managed€toŠ Ó+#'+ Šbroadcast€a€weekly€programme€on€State€television€in€order€to€educate€the€public.€€The€programmeŠ ¼, (, Šfor€family€education€had€been€extremely€successful.Š „-õ(- Š‡ņņViolence€(articles€2,€5,€11,€12€and€16)óóŠ ° ŠĢ431.€€Regarding€domestic€violence,€the€Committee€asked€what€the€present€legal€situation€was,€howŠ ‚Ņ Šprotection€and€assistance€could€be€obtained,€and€whether€in€courts€or€other€institutions.€€It€asked€ifŠ k» Šthere€were€any€statistics€on€incidences€of€violence€or€its€victims;€whether€the€members€of€a€family,Š T¤ Šand€women€in€particular,€were€informed€of€their€rights;€what€size€and€scope€of€the€programme€forŠ =  Šthe€protection€of€the€family€against€ill„treatment€and€what€power€it€had,€if€any,€to€enforce€theŠ & v Šprotection,€prosecution€or€education€of€the€family€members.Š  _ ŠĢ432.€€The€representative€explained€that€the€biggest€problem€was€the€Penal€Code,€which€continuedŠ į 1  Šin€force.€Currently,€neither€the€appropriate€legislation€nor€administrative€or€service€structures€wereŠ Ź   Šavailable€to€deal€with€the€problem.€€Recently,€a€draft€law€had€been€introduced,€which€wasŠ ³  Šspecifically€directed€against€domestic€violence€and€provided€for€training€of€officials€who€dealt€withŠ œģ  Švictims€of€violence.€€Currently,€there€were€no€clear€legal€criteria€for€the€offence€of€domesticŠ …Õ  Šviolence.€€Victims€could€resort€to€tribunals,€the€public€prosecutor,€police€stations,€hospitals€andŠ n¾  Šhealth€units,€but€often€cultural€values€prevented€women€from€resorting€to€the€authorities.€€SheŠ W§  Šmentioned€the€Venezuelan€Association€for€Alternative€Sex€Education€as€a€non„governmentalŠ @ Šorganization€that€was€very€active€in€that€area€and€was€trying€to€raise€womenššs€awareness€of€theŠ )y Šproblem.€€Currently,€no€reliable€statistics€were€available€on€the€incidence€of€domestic€violence.€€TheŠ b Šmost€important€programmes€in€that€area€were€carried€out€by€the€Ministry€of€Education€and€theŠ ūK ŠFamily€Ministry€in€collaboration€with€several€other€bodies.€€The€media€and€non„governmentalŠ ä4 Šorganizations€were€also€launched€campaigns.Š Ķ ŠĢņņArticle€6óóŠ Ÿļ ŠĢ433.€€The€Committee€asked€the€representative€to€explain€how€prostitution€resulted€from€migration,Š qĮ Šand€if€the€proposed€reform€of€the€Penal€Code€been€implemented€to€remove€the€different€in€penaltyŠ ZŖ Šfor€raping€a€woman€of€ill„repute.Š C“ ŠĢ434.€€She€said€that€the€country€did€not€have€reliable€statistics€relating€to€prostitution.€€Police€statisticsŠ e Šon€detention€of€prostitutes€indicated€that€a€high€proportion€were€migrant€women€from€neighbouringŠ žN Šcountries.€During€1992,€the€Government€would€be€carrying€out€its€first€investigation€on€the€subject.Š ē 7 ŠĢņņArticle€7óóŠ ¹" ! ŠĢ435.€€The€Committee€enquired€as€to€the€percentage€of€women€elected€in€the€1989€elections€or€in€anyŠ ‹$Ū# Šrecent€local€elections€and€the€significance€such€results€had€for€womenššs€participation€in€the€politicalŠ t%Ä $ Šlife€of€the€country.€€It€asked€if€the€programmes€established€by€government€offices€to€that€effect€hadŠ ]&­!% Šhad€any€results,€and€which,€if€any,€political€parties€had€adopted€a€quota€system€suggested€byŠ F'–"& Šwomenššs€groups.Š /(#' ŠĢ436.€€The€representative€answered€that€the€percentage€of€women€in€the€National€Congress€had€beenŠ *Q%) Š4.8€per€cent€in€1984€and€had€risen€to€9.3€per€cent€after€in€elections€in€1989;€in€the€LegislativeŠ ź*:&* ŠAssemblies€it€had€been€7.5€per€cent€in€1984€and€had€increased€to€11.8€per€cent€in€1989.€€In€theŠ Ó+#'+ Šmunicipal€councils,€the€percentage€of€women€had€dropped€from€21.4€per€cent€in€1984€to€12.8€perŠ ¼, (, Šcent€in€1989€because€at€the€last€elections€the€electoral€system€had€changed.€€The€country€now€hadŠ „-õ(- Šan€open€ballot€system,€which€favoured€the€support€of€male€candidates€by€the€political€parties,€andŠ ° Šin€addition€to€that€only€a€few€female€candidates€had€presented€themselves.€€So€far,€two€politicalŠ ™é Špraties€had€established€quotas€of€20€and€25€per€cent€for€women,€and€a€draft€law€was€under€discussionŠ ‚Ņ Šthat€would€make€it€mandatory€for€all€political€parties€to€introduce€a€quota€system.Š k» ŠĢ437.€€For€the€remaining€replies€the€representative€referred€the€members€of€the€Committee€to€theŠ =  Šwritten€text,€which€was€distributed€at€the€meeting.Š & v ŠĢ438.€€Referring€to€article€9,€it€was€stated€in€the€replies€that€had€been€provided€in€writing€that€theŠ ų H Šforeign€husband€of€a€Venezuelan€woman€did€not€acquire€Venezuelan€nationality.€€An€amendmentŠ į 1  Što€that€discriminatory€provision€in€the€Constitution€was€currently€under€review.Š Ź   ŠĢ439.€€On€article€10,€the€replies€provided€indicated€that€a€change€in€the€choice€of€professions€of€youngŠ œģ  Šwomen€and€men€was€noticeable,€and€slowly€but€continuously€women€were€moving€into€professionsŠ …Õ  Šthat€had€previously€been€reserved€for€men.€€Currently,€the€Minister€of€State€was€carrying€out€a€pilotŠ n¾  Šproject€in€collaboration€with€the€Ministry€of€Labour€and€the€International€Labour€Organisation€toŠ W§  Šstimulate€more€women€into€better€paid€and€technically€oriented€professions.Š @ ŠĢ440.€€On€article€11,€the€text€said€that€the€principle€of€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value€had€beenŠ b Šimplemented.€€At€present,€29.8€per€cent€of€the€population€of€15€years€and€more€were€incorporatedŠ ūK Šinto€the€labour€process,€80€per€cent€of€the€female€population€declared€š šinactivešš€could€be€found€inŠ ä4 Šhousehold€occupations€and€16€per€cent€among€students.€€Women€job„seekers€could€not€be€compelledŠ Ķ Što€undergo€a€pregnancy€test,€and€in€case€of€violations€of€their€rights,€they€could€resort€to€the€PublicŠ ¶ ŠProsecutor€or€the€Ministry€of€Labour.€€No€legal€provision€forbade€the€free€choice€of€profession.€Š Ÿļ ŠTheoretically,€women€could€apply€for€any€government€post€and€currently€occupied€about€17€per€centŠ ˆŲ Šof€high„level€posts€in€the€judiciary€and€in€public€administration.€€The€total€presence€of€women€inŠ qĮ Špublic€administration€was€in€the€order€of€30.5€per€cent.€€In€the€private€sector,€only€7.7€per€cent€ofŠ ZŖ Šwomen€held€a€managerial€position.€€Violations€of€the€Labour€Law€were€generally€reported€throughŠ C“ Štrade€unions€and€were€sanctioned€under€the€legal€provisions.€In€the€public€sector,€women€asŠ ,| Šemployers€could€be€found€in€all€sectors,€whereas€in€the€private€sector€they€were€mostly€in€financeŠ e Šdepartments.€€Women€were€better€paid€in€the€public€than€in€the€private€sector.€€The€possibility€ofŠ žN Šsmall„scale€enterprises€applying€for€loans€had€opened€new€perspectives€for€women€with€lowŠ ē 7 Šincomes.€€However,€currently€more€men€than€women€were€applying€for€such€loans,€and€the€FamilyŠ Š!   ŠMinistry€was€organizing€training€programmes€in€order€to€involve€more€women€in€the€managementŠ ¹" ! Šand€administration€of€small„scale€enterprises.€€It€was€said€in€the€text€that,€thanks€to€various€types€ofŠ ¢#ņ" Šday„care€centres€and€the€institution€of€š šday„care€mothersšš,€many€women€had€the€possibility€ofŠ ‹$Ū# Šavailing€themselves€of€training€and€paid€work€outside€the€house.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ441.€€On€article€12,€the€text€stated€that€there€was€no€legal€basis€for€the€practice€that€women€neededŠ F'–"& Štheir€husbandššs€authorization€for€sterilization.€€HIV/AIDS€programmes€were€directed€to€persons€ofŠ /(#' Šboth€sexes.€Ō_ŌMarginalizedŌ_Ō€women€had€also€access€to€programmes,€which€provided€them€with€food,Š )h$( Špreventive€health€care,€medical€check„ups€etc.€€Currently,€the€Government€was€trying€to€extend€theŠ *Q%) Šnetwork€for€school€meals€to€reach€also€the€groups€most€in€need.Š ź*:&* ŠĢ442.€€Regarding€article€13,€the€text€stated€that€under€the€Constitution€women€and€men€had€equalŠ ¼, (, Šsocial€rights€and€benefits€and€that€special€programmes€were€available€for€women.€€The€survivingŠ „-õ(- Šspouse,€irrespective€of€sex,€received€old„age€pension€and€sickness€benefits.Š ° ŠĢ443.€€On€article€16,€it€was€stated€that€up€to€the€present€there€were€no€plans€to€change€the€minimumŠ ‚Ņ Šages€for€marriage.€€A€slight€increase€in€the€number€of€single€female„headed€households€could€beŠ k» Šnoticed.€€About€44€per€cent€of€them€had€only€primary€education€and€23€per€cent€were€illiterate.€€HalfŠ T¤ Šof€the€single€female€heads€of€households€had€no€occupation.€€The€current€reform€of€the€Penal€CodeŠ =  Šdealt€with€an€amendment€of€the€discriminatory€provisions€relating€to€adultery€and€abortion,€and€theŠ & v ŠCivil€Code€introduced€for€both€spouses€adultery€as€a€reason€for€divorce.Š  _ ŠĢ444.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€were€appreciative€of€the€detailed€replies€and€the€additionalŠ į 1  Šwritten€information€provided€and€commended€the€enthusiasm€with€which€the€presentation€had€beenŠ Ź   Šmade.€€Some€of€them€said€that€they€knew€from€their€own€observation€through€visits€to€the€countryŠ ³  Šthat€the€Government€had€done€a€lot€for€the€advancement€of€women,€which€had€not€been€reflectedŠ œģ  Šin€the€report.€€They€were€surprised€that€the€second€periodic€report€gave€a€totally€different€picture€andŠ …Õ  Šthanked€the€representative€for€throwing€light€on€the€real€situation€and€for€having€outlined€theŠ n¾  Šexisting€obstacles€in€a€frank€manner.€€The€experts€noted€that,€when€the€countryššs€initial€report€hadŠ W§  Šbeen€considered,€the€oral€presentation€was€also€of€a€much€higher€level€than€the€report€itself€andŠ @ Šurged€the€Government€to€present€a€third€periodic€report€that€would€contain€as€much€substantiveŠ )y Šinformation€as€the€representativeššs€oral€presentation€and€concentrate€on€actual€progress€made.€€TheŠ b ŠGovernmentššs€political€will€to€overcome€discrimination€against€women,€the€efforts€to€amend€theŠ ūK ŠPenal€Code,€the€importance€given€by€the€Government€to€decentralization,€the€financial€supportŠ ä4 Šprovided€to€womenššs€organizations,€the€electoral€system,€the€efforts€to€protect€women€from€domesticŠ Ķ Šviolence€and€the€attempts€to€influence€the€media€in€order€to€change€discriminatory€attitudes€wereŠ ¶ Šparticularly€commended.€€However,€the€experts€emphasized€that€all€those€laudable€efforts€neededŠ Ÿļ Što€be€matched€by€an€effective€machinery.€€To€combine€regional€initiatives€with€national€machineryŠ ˆŲ Šwas€a€very€positive€effort.€€It€was€asked€how€important€attitudes€towards€women,€as€reflected€in€theŠ qĮ Špresentation,€were€in€society.Š ZŖ ŠĢ445.€The€representative€of€the€Government€expressed€her€gratitude€for€the€solidarity€of€theŠ ,| ŠCommittee€members€and€said€that€womenššs€resources€in€Venezuela€were€scarce;€however€the€firmŠ e Šwill€to€acquire€them€existed.€€The€biggest€problem€was€to€make€public€administration€officials€awareŠ žN Šof€womenššs€issues.€€She€said€that€Venezuelan€women€were€trying€to€influence€society€through€theŠ ē 7 Šfamily,€the€media€and€the€laws,€and€that€the€use€of€the€radio€had€proved€to€be€the€most€efficientŠ Š!   Šmedia€in€that€context.€€She€said€that€it€would€be€beneficial€if€the€United€Nations€could€establishŠ ¹" ! Šmachinery€to€facilitate€the€dialogue€between€the€different€aid€agencies€that€provided€financial€andŠ ¢#ņ" Štechnical€support.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ446.€€In€concluding€observations,€the€Chairperson€congratulated€the€representative€on€behalf€of€theŠ ]&­!% ŠCommittee€on€her€frank€and€clear€description€of€the€situation€of€women€in€Venezuela€and€on€theŠ F'–"& Šsubstantive€and€detailed€replies€given.€€However,€the€subsequent€periodic€report€should€paint€a€fairerŠ /(#' Špicture€of€the€status€of€women€in€the€country.€€She€said€that€the€programme€to€change€attitudesŠ )h$( Šthrough€the€mass€media,€school€textbooks€and€teaching€programmes€deserved€follow„up€andŠ *Q%) Ševaluation,€the€results€of€which€should€subsequently€to€made€known€to€the€Committee.€€She€wasŠ ź*:&* Šimpressed€by€Venezuelan€womenššs€efforts€to€participate€in€political€life€and€asked€for€an€evaluationŠ Ó+#'+ Šof€those€initiatives.€€The€Chairperson€praised€the€many€privileges€given€to€women€by€the€newŠ ¼, (, ŠLabour€Law€and€asked€for€information€on€measures€regarding€violence€against€women.€€She€wishedŠ „-õ(- ŠVenezuelan€women€success€in€their€endeavours€to€be€given€the€rights€that€they€were€entitled€toŠ ° Šunder€the€Convention.Š  ™é Šņ ņCEDAW€€A/52/38ó óŠ ° ŠĢŌUSUK.,Ō207.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€Venezuela€(CEDAW/C/VEN/3)€at€itsŠ ƒÓ Š323ņņrdóó€€and€324ņņthóó€meetings,€on€22€January€1997€(see€CEDAW/C/SR.323€and€324).Š l¼ ŠĢ208.€€The€representative€of€Venezuela€explained€that€the€third€periodic€report€describedŠ > Ž Šimplementation€of€the€Convention€from€1989€to€1995.€€It€had€been€prepared€after€the€GovernmentŠ ' w Šwas€formed€in€1994.Š  ` ŠĢ209.€€The€representative€emphasized€that€the€third€periodic€report€outlined€the€progress€achieved€byŠ ā 2  Šwomen€in€implementing€the€Convention€during€the€period€indicated.€€However,€she€stressed€that€theŠ Ė   Šreport€did€not€include€the€ninth€national€plan€drawn€up€by€the€Government.€€The€plan€guaranteedŠ “  Šequal€opportunities€for€women€and€men€in€all€areas€of€public€life,€as€well€as€the€integration€of€aŠ ķ  Šgender€perspective,€and€sought€the€full€realization€of€the€goal€of€genuine€democracy.Š †Ö  ŠĢ210.€€The€representative€stated€that€the€process€of€preparing€the€report€had€provided€the€GovernmentŠ XØ  Šof€Venezuela€with€the€opportunity€to€assess€the€progress€achieved€in€the€implementation€of€theŠ A‘ ŠConvention.€She€also€acknowledged€the€role€of€the€Committee€in€the€follow-up€to€theŠ *z Šimplementation€of€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action,€and€expressed€the€hope€that€the€critical€viewsŠ c Šexpressed€by€the€Committee€would€improve€the€Government's€work.Š üL ŠĢ211.€€The€representative€made€clear€that€Venezuela,€as€well€as€the€rest€of€Latin€America,€wasŠ Ī Šexperiencing€social,€political,€economic€and€cultural€transformations€that€were€having€a€tremendousŠ · Šimpact€on€society,€particularly€on€women,€who€had€seen€their€incomes€and€traditional€sources€ofŠ  š Šsupport€reduced€and€their€responsibilities€expanded.€€However,€she€pointed€out€that€the€economicŠ ‰Ł Šand€political€crisis€of€the€1980s€and€part€of€the€1990s€had€forced€women€to€demand€greaterŠ rĀ Šparticipation€in€society€and€the€State.€€It€was€in€that€context€that€demands€for€"participativeŠ [« Šrepresentation"€were€being€made€by€new€players,€especially€women.Š D” ŠĢ212.€€The€representative€stressed€that€Venezuela€had€one€of€the€highest€rates€of€population€growthŠ f Šin€Latin€America.€€She€said€that€the€country€was€affected€by€the€end€of€the€revenue-based€model,Š ’O Šwhich€was€causing€inflation€and€affecting€the€living€conditions€of€the€population,€especially€womenŠ č 8 Šheads€of€household.€She€said€that€the€"Plan€Venezuela"€had€been€put€in€place€to€alleviate,€in€theŠ Ń!!  Šshort€term,€the€impact€of€structural€adjustment€programmes€on€the€most€vulnerable€sectors€of€theŠ ŗ" ! Špopulation.Š £#ó" ŠĢ213.€€The€representative€provided€a€review€of€the€major€achievements€with€respect€to€equalityŠ u%Å $ Šbetween€women€and€men.€€She€described€various€legislative€amendments,€in€particular€the€SexualŠ ^&®!% Šand€Domestic€Violence€Bill,€the€amendments€to€the€Civil€Code€concerning€equality€of€rights€andŠ G'—"& Šresponsibilities€between€spouses€in€marriage,€the€principle€of€solidarity€and€sharing€ofŠ 0(€#' Šresponsibilities€within€the€family,€and€the€right€for€teenage€mothers€to€remain€in€school.€€In€addition,Š )i$( Šshe€indicated€that€the€National€Women's€Council€was€the€machinery€that€monitored€theŠ *R%) Šimplementation€of€the€legal€reforms€and€the€strategies€agreed€to€in€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action.Š ė*;&* ŠĢ214.€€The€representative€made€clear€that,€in€spite€of€the€progress€indicated,€insufficient€emphasis€wasŠ ½, (, Šbeing€given€to€women's€access€to€training€and€literacy€and€to€programmes€for€the€empowerment€ofŠ ¦-ö(- Šwomen,€and€that€persistent€stereotypes,€often€found€in€educational€texts€and€cultural€attitudes,Š ° Šremained€obstacles€to€the€advancement€of€women.€€She€also€informed€the€Committee€that€economicŠ ™é Šinequalities€persisted€against€women,€particularly€in€the€labour€force,€where€their€position€andŠ ‚Ņ Šremuneration€had€placed€them€at€a€lower€level€than€men.€€In€addition,€women€were€still€marginalizedŠ k» Šin€terms€of€resources,€and€their€political€participation€was€quite€limited€owing€to€the€resistance€toŠ T¤ Šquotas€of€political€parties.Š =  ŠĢ215.€€The€representative€emphasized€actions€to€be€taken€in€the€short€term,€including€amendmentsŠ  _ Što€the€Equal€Opportunities€for€Women€Act,€which€were€expected€to€lead€to€the€establishment€of€anŠ ų H Šindependent€women's€institute.€Š į 1  ŠĢ216.€€The€representative€regretted€that€the€Committee's€procedures€for€periodic€reports,€whichŠ ³  Šallowed€only€a€short€time€for€Governments€to€respond€to€written€questions,€did€not€enable€them€toŠ œģ  Šprovide€deep€analysis€and€appropriate€replies.€€She€concluded€by€emphasizing€that€a€State€partyŠ …Õ  Šshould€not€be€subjected€to€undue€pressures€as€a€result€of€Committee€procedures.Š n¾  ŠĢņņConcluding€comments€of€the€CommitteeóóŠ @ ŠĢņņIntroductionóóŠ b ŠĢ217.€€Venezuela€presented€a€report€covering€the€period€from€1989€to€1995.€€The€CommitteeŠ ä4 Šexpressed€appreciation€to€the€representative€of€Venezuela€for€the€frankness€with€which€she€describedŠ Ķ Šthe€social,€economic€and€political€situation€of€women€in€her€country€and€the€way€in€which€herŠ ¶ ŠGovernment€had€tried€to€implement€the€Convention.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ218.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€report€had€not€been€prepared€according€to€the€Committee'sŠ qĮ Šguidelines€and€had€not€provided€statistics€on€problems€related€to€each€article€of€the€Convention.€€NorŠ ZŖ Šdid€it€contain€a€detailed,€factual€description€of€the€policies€and€programmes€being€carried€out€andŠ C“ Štheir€success€in€meeting€the€de€facto€needs€of€Venezuelan€women€with€a€view€to€complying€withŠ ,| Šthe€Convention.Š e ŠĢ219.€€Nevertheless,€the€report€contained€a€large€amount€of€data€on€the€ņņde€jureóó€situation€of€womenŠ ē 7 Šin€Venezuela;€that€information€had€been€taken€up€again€and,€in€some€cases,€expanded€upon€in€theŠ Š!   Šoral€presentation.€€The€Committee€thanked€the€representative€for€answering€most€of€the€74€questionsŠ ¹" ! Šput€to€the€Government€and€noted€with€understanding€the€representative's€statement€that€lack€of€timeŠ ¢#ņ" Šhad€made€it€difficult€to€provide€the€Committee€with€more€detailed€answers€or€with€updated€statistics.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ220.€€The€most€serious€obstacle€to€implementing€the€Convention€in€Venezuela€was€clearly€theŠ /(#' Špoverty€facing€a€large€percentage€of€the€population€(77€per€cent€of€the€urban€population€and€75€perŠ )h$( Šcent€of€the€rural€population€were€living€in€poverty).€€That€problem€had€been€exacerbated€by€the€factŠ *Q%) Šthat€83.99€per€cent€of€the€population€had€moved€to€urban€areas,€leaving€only€16.01€per€cent€in€theŠ ź*:&* Šcountryside.€€Among€the€population€aged€25€to€44€years,€the€percentage€of€women€migrants€wasŠ Ó+#'+ Šgreater€than€that€of€men.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š221.€€Another€serious€problem€was€what€was€referred€to€as€the€"exhaustion€of€the€revenue-basedŠ ° Šdevelopment€model€of€the€Venezuelan€economy",€which€had€forced€the€Government€to€takeŠ ™é Šeconomic€measures€to€control€inflation€and€balance€the€budget,€at€the€cost€of€social€investment.€€TheŠ ‚Ņ Šsevere€restrictions€placed€on€social€spending€had€primarily€affected€the€most€vulnerable€populationŠ k» Šgroups,€including€women,€leading€to€the€so-called€feminization€of€poverty.Š T¤ ŠĢ222.€€The€country€had€been€unable€to€revitalize€and€balance€its€economy,€although€it€hadŠ & v Šimplemented€a€plan€to€combat€poverty€in€an€attempt€to€mitigate€the€social€costs€of€adjustment.€€TheŠ  _ Šplan€had€not€been€very€successful,€as€the€report€indicated.Š ų H ŠĢ223.€€The€economic€situation€was€exacerbated€by€the€persistence€of€entrenched€patriarchal€patternsŠ Ź   Šand€of€stereotypes€and€prejudices€against€women€in€people's€social€attitudes.€€Such€patterns€andŠ ³  Šattitudes€were€reinforced€by€a€set€of€laws€that€had€thus€far€resisted€amendment€(for€instance,€aŠ œģ  Šproposal€for€amending€the€Penal€Code€had€been€under€consideration€since€1985),€despiteŠ …Õ  Šconsiderable€efforts€on€the€part€of€various€governmental€bodies€and€non-governmentalŠ n¾  Šorganizations.Š W§  ŠĢ224.€Another€obstacle€to€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€was€the€lack€of€continuity€in€StateŠ )y Špolicies€and€programmes€for€women,€which€meant€that€concepts,€methods€and€mechanisms€forŠ b Šsolving€problems€and€implementing€the€Convention€coherently€and€systematically€kept€changing.Š ūK ŠĢ225.€€A€further€problem€was€that€it€was€difficult€to€secure€passage,€by€the€legislative€branch,€ofŠ Ķ Šproposals€for€combating€discrimination€against€women.Š ¶ ŠĢ226.€€The€national€machinery€for€implementing€the€Convention,€the€National€Women's€Council,€didŠ ˆŲ Šnot€seem€to€have€the€resources,€decision-making€powers€and€necessary€influence€to€introduce€aŠ qĮ Šgender€perspective€in€the€various€government€bodies.Š ZŖ ŠĢņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ ,| ŠĢ227.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€Penal€Code€Reform€Bill€and€the€Sexual€and€Domestic€ViolenceŠ žN ŠBill.Š ē 7 ŠĢ228.€€The€Committee€viewed€as€very€positive€the€Equal€Opportunities€for€Women€Act,€under€whichŠ ¹" ! Šan€independent€women's€institute€and€a€national€office€for€the€defence€of€women's€rights€were€to€beŠ ¢#ņ" Šestablished.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ229.€€The€incorporation€of€a€gender€perspective€in€the€Eighth€National€Plan€and€the€preparation€ofŠ ]&­!% Ša€national€programme€for€women€with€that€perspective€were€important€achievements.Š F'–"& ŠĢ230.€€The€promulgation€of€legislation€guaranteeing€that€pregnant€teenagers€could€complete€theirŠ )h$( Šeducation€and€could€not€be€withdrawn€from€school€because€of€their€pregnancy€was€a€great€success.Š *Q%) ŠĢ231.€€The€cooperation€initiated€by€the€National€Women's€Council€with€non-governmentalŠ Ó+#'+ Šorganizations€and€the€creation€of€seven€national€women's€networks€were€extremely€positive€steps.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- ŠņņPrincipal€areas€of€concernóó€Š ° ŠĢ232.€€In€addition€to€the€poverty€in€which€Venezuela's€population€was€living,€the€Committee€wasŠ ‚Ņ Šextremely€concerned€at€the€absence€of€any€policies€and€programmes€at€the€grass-roots€level€forŠ k» Špromoting€women's€interests€and€at€the€fact€that€it€was€difficult€to€secure€passage€of€legislativeŠ T¤ Šproposals€for€meeting€women's€needs.Š =  ŠĢ233.€€The€Committee€was€also€concerned€that€the€country€had€not€made€much€real€progress€inŠ  _ Šimplementing€the€Convention€and€that,€despite€its€efforts,€it€had€yet€to€respond€effectively€toŠ ų H Šproblems€such€as€domestic€violence,€prostitution,€early€pregnancy,€female€illiteracy,€discriminationŠ į 1  Šin€the€workplace€in€terms€of€how€much€women€were€paid,€the€high€percentage€of€women€receivingŠ Ź   Šless€than€the€minimum€wage€and€the€elimination€of€stereotypes.Š ³  ŠĢ234.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€that€Venezuela€had€not€made€the€necessary€changes€to€its€legalŠ …Õ  Šsystem€and€that€that€continued€to€reinforce€patriarchal€patterns€of€behaviour.Š n¾  ŠĢ235.€€The€Government€had€also€failed€to€set€up€a€national€programme€for€implementing€theŠ @ Šstrategies€set€forth€in€the€Platform€for€Action€adopted€at€the€Fourth€World€Conference€on€Women,Š )y Ševen€strategies€in€such€urgent€priority€areas€as€poverty€eradication.Š b ŠĢ236.€€Another€area€of€concern€was€the€reduction€in€health€budgets,€the€rise€in€the€maternal€mortalityŠ ä4 Šrate,€the€lack€of€and€limited€access€to€family-planning€programmes€(especially€for€teenagers),€theŠ Ķ Šlack€of€statistics€on€acquired€immunodeficiency€syndrome€and€women's€limited€access€to€publicŠ ¶ Šhealth€services.€€In€addition,€legislation€that€criminalized€abortion,€even€in€cases€of€incest€or€rape,Š Ÿļ Šremained€in€force.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ237.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€that€employment€opportunities€for€women€had€been€lost€as€aŠ ZŖ Šresult€of€cutbacks€in€the€State€employment€sector,€especially€since€that€was€forcing€women€into€theŠ C“ Šinformal€economy€and€into€low-paid€service€jobs.Š ,| ŠĢ238.€€The€Committee€was€also€deeply€concerned€at€the€fact€that€the€State€had€not€prioritized€theŠ žN Šallocation€of€funds€to€social€programmes.Š ē 7 ŠĢ239.€€The€Committee€was€concerned€that€a€Venezuelan€man€had€the€right€to€confer€his€nationalityŠ ¹" ! Šon€his€wife€upon€marriage,€but€a€Venezuelan€woman€did€not€have€the€right€to€confer€her€citizenshipŠ ¢#ņ" Šon€her€husband.€€That€constituted€a€violation€of€article€9€of€the€Convention.Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ ]&­!% ŠĢ240.€€The€Committee€especially€recommended€the€implementation€of€effective€programmes€forŠ /(#' Šcombating€poverty,€which€affected€women€in€particular.Š )h$( ŠĢ241.€€The€Committee€said€that€it€would€welcome€early€adoption€of€the€amendments€to€the€PenalŠ ź*:&* ŠCode€and€of€the€Sexual€and€Domestic€Violence€Bill€and€the€repeal€of€the€article€of€the€Civil€CodeŠ Ó+#'+ Šconcerning€citizenship€rights€that€conflicted€with€the€Convention.Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š242.€€The€Committee€recommended€that€Venezuela€fulfil€the€commitments€it€had€made€in€adoptingŠ ° Šthe€Beijing€Platform€for€Action.Š ™é ŠĢ243.€€The€Committee€suggested€that€policies€and€programmes€should€be€undertaken€to€halt€the€riseŠ k» Šin€the€maternal€mortality€rate€and€that€family-planning€programmes€for€teenagers€should€beŠ T¤ Šdeveloped,€in€both€urban€and€rural€areas.Š =  ŠĢ244.€€The€Committee€suggested€that€the€Government€should€work€for€early€approval€of€theŠ  _ Šestablishment€of€the€national€machinery€with€sufficient€integration€into€the€political€system€andŠ ų H Šsufficient€human€and€financial€resources.Š į 1  ŠĢ245.€The€Committee€recommended€that€the€Government€undertake€broad-based€programmesŠ ³  Šdirected€at€the€entire€population,€through€the€mass€media€and€other€possible€channels,€to€combatŠ œģ  Šgender€stereotypes.Š …Õ  ŠĢ246.€€The€Committee€also€recommended€that€the€Government€undertake€measures€to€close€the€wageŠ W§  Šgap€between€women€and€men€under€the€principle€of€equal€pay€for€work€of€equal€value.Š @ ŠĢ247.€€The€Committee€requested€the€Government€of€Venezuela€to€address€the€concerns€raised€in€theŠ b Špresent€comments€in€its€next€report,€including€following€the€Committee's€reporting€guidelines.€Š ūK ŠInformation€on€the€implementation€of€the€Committee's€general€recommendations€and€steps€to€beŠ ä4 Štaken€in€regard€to€the€follow-up€to€the€Beijing€Platform€for€Action€should€also€be€included.€€ItŠ Ķ Šrequested€the€Government€to€provide€statistical€data€disaggregated€by€sex€with€regard€to€all€areasŠ ¶ Šof€the€Convention€in€its€next€report.€Finally,€the€Committee€requested€the€Government€toŠ Ÿļ Šdisseminate€these€concluding€comments€widely€throughout€Venezuela.Š ˆŲ ŠŌUK.,US.,4ūŌÓ¼Ó