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1. The Committee notes the Government’s report which contains information in reply to the communication received from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) dated 23 September 2003, as well as information concerning certain matters raised by the Committee in its previous comments. The Committee also notes the communication dated 16 October 2006 received from the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Senegal (UNSAS) and the Government’s response thereto.

2. The Committee recalls that the ICFTU expressed concerns over the concentration of women in low-quality jobs both in the public and private sectors. According to the ICFTU, women have less access to better paid occupations and the majority of them are employed in rural and informal economy work. Female illiteracy is very high and school enrolment of girls is low. UNSAS states that discrimination against women exists in practice and confirms that women are concentrated in low-quality jobs, often without access to social protection.

3. The Government states that no legal provision discriminates against women in respect of employment and occupation and that the process of harmonizing the legislation with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was still ongoing. The Government contests the allegations concerning discrimination in practice, stating that women are more likely to be attracted by some occupations than others due to their “social and family obligations”. The statistical information provided by the Government indicates that 22.6 per cent of the civil servants are women, with a very high concentration in occupations relating to health and social affairs. The proportion of women in category A of the civil service is as low as 8.7 per cent. As regards access to education and training, the report indicates that some progress has been made concerning the enrolment of girls and addressing female illiteracy. According to the data provided, the overall enrolment rate for girls is 80.6 per cent compared to 82.5 for boys. However, the Committee notes that girls participate in education beyond the primary level at a much lower rate than boys.

4. The Committee stresses the need for the Government to continue to review the legislation, particularly the Family Code, and to repeal provisions that contradict the principle of gender equality, as such provisions have an adverse impact on the enjoyment by women of their human right to equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. However, the Committee also notes that a national policy, as envisaged in Article 2 of the Convention, not only consists of ensuring non-discrimination and equality before the law, but must also include an equal opportunity policy offering everyone, without distinction based on sex or other grounds, equal means and opportunities for training and employment. Taking into consideration the information received, the Committee considers that further measures are required to address the existing gender imbalances in respect of education, employment and occupation, including through a proactive policy to promote gender equality at work and in society at large that avoids stereotypical assumptions regarding women’s aspirations, capabilities and social roles. The Committee requests the Government to provide, in its next report, detailed information on the following:

(a)   the progress made in harmonizing the legislation with the principle of gender equality;

(b)   the measures taken to implement an equal opportunities policy that enables women to access education and work on an equal footing with men, including access to traditionally male-dominated jobs, self-employment, and decision-making and management positions;

(c)   the measures taken to promote awareness and training on gender equality issues as may be necessary to secure acceptance and observance of the national equality policy, including measures taken in cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations and other appropriate bodies; and

(d)   the results achieved regarding these matters, including statistical information on enrolment in education and training at the various levels, disaggregated by sex, and the participation of men and women in employment and work in the private and public sectors (according to job categories or occupations), as well as the informal economy.