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1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports. The Committee also notes with interest the 1996 report of the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Government's initial report on the application of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether consideration is being given to those recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, during its examination of the Government's report, which relate to the establishment of machinery to receive complaints and undertake investigations of discrimination (UN document A/52/38 of 24 June 1997). The Committee also requests the Government to continue to supply information on any other measures being taken to ensure gender equality in education and employment for women workers.

2. Further to its previous request concerning the constitutional prohibition on members of the armed forces and the police from joining any political party -- which was introduced to avoid the politicization of the army -- the Committee notes that the draft legislation on interior affairs, which will regulate this question with regard to the police has not yet been enacted. The Committee also notes from the report that, to date, there have been no complaints, nor judicial or administrative decisions concerning this prohibition which is regulated under section 88 of the Defence Act. Please furnish a copy of the draft legislation when adopted and provide, in future reports, information on any complaints concerning this prohibition.

3. Further to its previous direct request, the Committee notes that, in September 1996, the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs requested the Ministry of Education and Sport and the Ministry of the Interior to reconsider the possibility of allowing girls to enrol in the Secondary Police School. The Committee notes from the Government's report that girls will be allowed to enter the Secondary Police School for the first time, in the 1997/98 school year. Please provide information on the number of girls who enter the Secondary Police School.

4. The Committee notes with interest the report on the activities of the Commission for Ethnic Communities, which is a standing commission of the National Assembly charged with dealing with all questions affecting the position and rights of the Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities. Please supply in future reports information on the activities of the Commission, more particularly in regard to measures taken to ensure non-discrimination in education, training and employment. The Committee also notes with interest the 1996 report of the Office of National Minorities, which undertakes the task, among others, of ensuring that the interests, needs and demands of minorities are taken into account by all relevant bodies. The Committee notes that the Office has prepared a programme of measures by which the Government wishes to help the Rom ethnic community in their speedier social integration and active inclusion into society, whilst retaining their ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity. Noting that this programme binds bodies of the State to cooperate in realizing these tasks, while at the same time undertaking concrete assignments in their own areas, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the progress achieved in the implementation of the programme. Please also provide information on any other initiatives contemplated or taken to further equality of opportunity and treatment in employment for members of national minorities.