CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the very brief report provided by the Government, including its response to the comments sent by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) dated 23 September 2003, indicating discrimination against women in employment and occupation.

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Discrimination against women in practice. In its comments, the ICFTU states that although there might not be any discrimination in law between men and women, in practice women are concentrated in poorer jobs in the public and private sectors. They have less access to higher paid professions and the majority are employed in rural and informal economy work. Female illiteracy is very high and school enrolment of girls is low. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it will provide a reply on these comments in the future, and hopes that the Government will make every effort to include the information in its next report.

2. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not provide any information with regard to its previous comments, which in fact also relate to the comments made by the ICFTU under point 1 of this direct request. It therefore must repeat its previous comments which included the following points:

(a)  Article 2. National policy. Please keep the Committee informed of any developments with regard to (i) the harmonization of the legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [...], including the adoption of the two texts on the organizations for the protection of women’s rights; and (ii) the adoption of the two Bills that are being considered, one to ensure gender equality in respect of invalidity, survivors’ and old-age benefits, and the other to enable women’s dependants to benefit from the advantages afforded to them by law.

(b)  Article 3(b). Awareness raising. The Government is requested to provide information on the efforts made to combat discrimination at work and raise awareness among administrative authorities and employers about equal opportunities and treatment.

(c)  Article 3(d). Access of women to the public service. Noting that women are appointed to a variety of posts in the public service, the Committee asks the Government to provide statistical data on men and women in the public service.

(d)  Article 3(e). Access to vocational training. The Committee would be grateful to receive information, including statistics, on (i) the increase in the number of girls in general secondary education and the overall school registration rate, and on the introduction of the gender training module in the National Institute of Higher Education; (ii) the rehabilitation of women’s technical educational centres, the type of training they provide, the number of students, and on the specific measures taken to ensure that women’s occupational skills are also promoted and developed; (iii) the measures taken for the development of women entrepreneurs.

(e)  Please provide information on the content and follow-up of the launching of a girls’ school enrolment programme (SCOFI) and the establishment of community schools, the project to support the "new school" and the finalization and implementation of the Ten-year Education and Training Programme (1998-2007), and their impact on equality of opportunity and treatment in Senegalese society and in the labour market, particularly in rural areas.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to include this information its next report.