CMNT_TITLE

1. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government: (a) to continue to supply information (including statistics) on the activities relating to vocational guidance and training for women carried out by the various training centres and trade union organisations, including the General Federation of Iraqi Women; (b) to provide details of the results of the efforts made by the Government, in co-operation with the above organisations, to promote the access of women to the labour market in both the private and public sectors; (c) to indicate the number of women holding higher level posts in the public sector and their percentage in relation to that of men. Since the Government's report (which was received too late to be examined last year) does not contain the information requested, the Committee is bound to raise the matter again in the hope that the Government will not fail to provide this information with its next report.

2. The Committee takes note of Resolution No. 480 of 25 July 1989 concerning the employment of women graduates in the administration of the State and in the public and mixed sectors. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the practical effect given to this Resolution stating, in particular, the posts which are prohibited to women under section 1 of the Resolution, and giving details of the wage conditions and classification applying to women under of section 2.

3. The Committee notes from the ninth report submitted by the Government to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN document CERD/C/159/Add.2, November 1988), the measures taken to promote the cultural rights (including the right to education and training) of persons belonging to ethnic and linguistic minorities such as the Turkoman and Kurdish minorities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the results of these measures, and on the manner in which the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment laid down by the Convention is applied to these minorities in respect of access to employment and occupation.