CMNT_TITLE

1. The Committee notes with interest Decree No. 254/98 of 9 March 1998, approving the plan for equality of opportunity between men and women in the world of work, and it requests the Government to provide information on the application of the plan, including information on its development, on vocational training and statistics on levels of education and illiteracy, disaggregated by sex. Taking into account the regional diversity within the country, the Committee would be grateful for the information to be classified by province, both with regard to the projects being undertaken, the progress achieved and the difficulties encountered, and in relation to the manner in which the plan will be implemented at the provincial level, with an indication for example of whether provincial offices have been entrusted with its implementation, and their competence. The Committee notes that paragraph 1.4.3 of the plan establishes the objective of introducing provisions penalizing sexual harassment in employment in the private sector and it requests the Government to keep it informed of the progress made in achieving this objective.

2. With a view to gaining a better understanding of any problems arising in the application of the Convention in Argentina, the Committee requests information on the activities of the National Institute against Discrimination (INADI), including the number of complaints received, their content and the manner in which they are resolved.

3. The Committee notes the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Argentina, 18/09/97, CERD/C/304/Add.39), and observes that the above Committee noted the existence of discrimination suffered by the members of indigenous populations with regard to access to vocational training and employment in the various occupations, as well as in their terms and conditions of employment. The Committee of Experts therefore requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which a national policy has been declared and pursued, in relation to indigenous peoples, under the terms of Article 2 of the Convention, to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation. With regard to the development of policies and action programmes for the effective abolition of discriminatory practices, the Committee recalls paragraphs 278 to 289 of its Special Survey on equality in employment and occupation, 1996.