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The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report and accompanying documentation for the period ending May 2003. It thanks the Government for its replies, which partially respond to its previous direct request and the full information provided in reply to its general observation.

1. Article 1. Noting that article 16(4) of the Constitution provides for certain exceptions to the principle of non-discrimination, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide more detailed information, including laws adopted or copies of administrative or judicial decisions, on the application in practice of these exceptions.

2. Given the absence of any provision in the Labour Act (revised edition 2000), which defines or prohibits discrimination in employment and occupation, the Committee encourages the Government to include such a provision in the near future and report on measures undertaken towards that end.

3. The Committee notes with interest the provision (section 9(3)) in the Trade Union and Employers’ Organisations (Registration, Recognition and Status) Act, 2000, which prohibits discrimination in trade unions and employers’ organizations inter alia on the grounds set out in the Convention. The Committee hopes that the application of this provision will assist in the promotion of equal opportunities and treatment in employment and occupation.

4. Article 2. The Committee notes with interest the strategic plan entitled "Belize Equity & Equality. Strategic Plan: Facilitating the implementation of a National Gender Management System" dated 14 August 1998 (the "Plan"), which recognizes the need to develop strategies to empower women, and which has increases in "wealth and employment generation opportunities" as a priority area. The Committee further notes that this Plan appears to have been the basis for the drafting of the "National Gender Policy: Belize" (the "Policy"), which the Government mentioned in its report. The Government is also asked to provide any further pertinent details as to the Policy, including its stage and means of implementation, any social partners that are involved in its implementation and educational programmes envisaged to secure acceptance and observance of this Policy.

5. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information as to how its national policy is observed with respect to vocational guidance and training as well as placement services under the direction of the national authority. At the same time, the Committee requests the Government to forward any reports, surveys or other materials relevant to achieving employment equality for women that the Ministry of Human Development, Women and Youth or any other relevant bodies have developed.

6. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that measures to promote equality of opportunity for ethnic minorities including Belizeans and non-Belizeans are included in the Strategic Plan and the Policy mentioned in the previous paragraph. In light of the fact that the Strategic Plan describes its mission as "defining a strategic plan for empowerment of women", and that it arose out of Belize’s interest in implementing the commitments made at the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, the Committee requests clarification of how the Strategic Plan and the Policy, which is based on the Strategic Plan, also promote equality of opportunity on grounds of national extraction. In this connection, the Committee asks the Government to provide any existing specific information regarding efforts, including programmes or policies of public bodies, cooperative efforts with workers’ and employers’ organizations, and any other measures designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for various ethnic groups in employment and occupation.

7. Article 3. The Committee notes that a study entitled "Examination of discriminatory behaviours and practices within the educational system" was conducted as a measure "to eliminate any discrimination that might exist against female teachers and girls in education because of pregnancy". The Committee requests the Government to forward a copy of this report and to provide information regarding responses to it, including initiation of legislative or other efforts to eliminate such discrimination.

8. The Committee notes the information provided as to the technical training programme for women in non-traditional occupations. It requests the Government to provide any further available information on this effort, indicating how many participants are involved and which specific results have been achieved with respect to new positions obtained for the trainees.

9. The Committee notes with interest the reported considerable increase in the number of women being employed in higher-level posts in the public service. The Committee asks the Government to provide any applicable statistics regarding this increase. In addition, the Government is encouraged to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to increase the opportunities for women to be employed in a wide variety of occupations and sectors outside the public service.

10. Part V. The Committee is grateful to have received the statistics, disaggregated by ethnicity and sex, regarding employment in the labour force. The Committee notes that the statistics bear out the concern that women in each of the groups appear to be significantly less well represented in employment than their male counterparts, and asks the Government to confirm that it is taking this evidence into account in its efforts to promote equal employment opportunity for women. The Committee asks the Government if it intends to collect and disseminate employment statistics disaggregated by other categories covered by the Convention including race and religion.