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1. Article 1, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention. Further to its previous observation concerning the absence of any protection in the law against discrimination based on religion in employment and occupation, the Committee notes with interest that the revised Constitution of November 1996 contains the following articles: 29 (equality before the law, without any discrimination on grounds of birth, race, sex, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance), 32 (guarantee of fundamental freedoms and human rights), 33 (guarantee of protection of fundamental human rights for individuals and associations, and of individual and collective freedoms) and 36 (inviolability of freedom of conscience and freedom of opinion) which, when read together, would appear to guarantee constitutional protection against religious discrimination. The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether this understanding of the constitutional protection of equality is correct and to supply copies of texts implementing these provisions, if any. It also asks the Government to supply information on the application of the provisions of the revised Constitution, for example copies of court decisions that concern these articles.

2. Gender equality. The Committee notes with interest that, by Presidential Decree No. 96-51 of 22 January 1996, the Government acceded with reservations to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and subsequently, by Executive Decree No. 97-98 of 29 March 1997, created a National Council for Women (which is tripartite and inter-ministerial and acts as a consultative body for the advancement of the status of women in the country and for the conduct and dissemination of research in this area). The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the activities of this Council to promote the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, including copies of information material, studies published on the employment of women and the tripartite involvement in such activities.

3. The Committee raises other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.