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The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to the previous comments. It must therefore repeat its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes with interest that a Ministerial Order of 21 June 1991 (No. 5163 MFEM) establishes, within the framework of the Human Resources Development Programme (PDRH), a Support and Coordination Unit (USC) for the "Promotion of the Status of Women" component within the Ministry of Women, Children and the Family, whose mandate is to manage and implement the Ministry's programmes. The Committee also notes that Decree No. 96.398 of 15 May 1996 to reorganize the Ministry of Women, Children and the Family creates a supplementary structure designated "Directorate of Family Welfare", whose responsibilities include supporting and promoting all initiatives which aim to enable women to participate effectively in development and enhance the value of their work and other activities in connection with the promotion of the status of women. The Committee also notes that, according to a report submitted by the Government to the Human Rights Committee (United Nations document CCPR/C/79/Add.82), the Ministry of Women, Children and the Family has initiated plans of action in collaboration with non-governmental organizations as part of its overall efforts to enhanced public awareness of women's issues. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide concrete information in its future reports on the Ministry's activities and programmes and, in particular, on the activities of the Support and Coordination United for the "Promotion of the Status of Women" component and of the Directorate of Family Welfare aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation.

2. The Committee notes that the Government's report does not answer the questions raised in its direct request of 1995, in which it asked the Government provide specific information on any positive action undertaken in practice to facilitate and promote the access of women and, where appropriate, underprivileged ethnic groups, to training and employment, particularly in jobs and trades in which they are still under-represented. The Committee once again asks the Government to supply this information in its future reports and refers the Government specifically to paragraphs 166 to 169 of its 1988 General Survey on equality in employment and occupation in which it defines "positive action programmes" involving temporary measures directed only at women or other disadvantaged social groups with a view to redressing de facto inequalities affecting their opportunities.

3. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that the situation of women workers in management posts is developing without any hindrance, in terms both of legislation and practice. The Committee also notes the Government's information to the effect that the reaction of employers to awareness-raising measures has been largely positive and that this has been reflected in the increasing number of posts taken by women in sectors traditionally dominated by men. Unfortunately, according to the Government, the 1991 statistics given in its report of 1995 on the number of women employed in the private sector and in the public service are currently the only ones available. These statistics will, however, no doubt be updated in the very near future. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide, as soon as they are available, the updated statistics on the number of women employed in the private and public sectors and any developments in the situation with regard to the number of women employed in management posts and in the sectors hitherto dominated by men, which is currently growing, according to the Government's report.