CMNT_TITLE

Repetition

Article 3 of the Convention. National policy. The Committee recalls the National Policy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2006–10). The Committee notes with interest the legislative measures to give effect to the provisions of the Convention, in particular the adoption of the Anti-discrimination Act, 2008 (Official Gazette No. 85/08), and the Maternity and Parental Benefits Act, 2008, as last amended in 2011 (Official Gazette Nos 85/08, 10/08 and 34/11), as well as the establishment of the Maternity and Parental Benefits Act Implementation Monitoring Commission. The Committee notes that section 1(1) of the Anti-discrimination Act provides for protection against discrimination on various grounds, including gender and marital or family status. The Office of the Ombudperson has been a central equality body since 2009 and according to its report, three cases concerned marital or family status among a total of 172 cases of alleged discrimination filed with the Office. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the practical application of the Maternity and Parental Benefits Act, 2008 and the results achieved under the National Policy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2006–10), in order to promote equality of treatment and opportunity of workers with family responsibilities. Please also provide information on the functions of the Maternity and Parental Benefits Act Implementation Monitoring Commission. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on any cases of discrimination related to family responsibilities dealt with by the Office of the Ombudperson or the courts.