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1. The Committee notes that the public authorities' action to promote basic education for small girls and also that in respect of training and literacy training for women, takes many forms and includes very varied measures such as: the opening of school canteens and boarding schools to help families in a precarious economic situation to keep their girls in educational establishments which are sometimes far from their place of residence; the provisions of bursaries and financial aid for the purchase of educational equipment, the free distribution of educational manuals; the development of school transport in isolated areas; the encouragement of associations working in the field of literacy for small girls who are beyond school age and for women who so wish, in parallel with action undertaken by the National Office for Literacy; greater numbers of primary schools, mid-level and higher-level schools, especially in rural areas; the reinforcement of distance training; increasing the proportion of women in educational personnel, etc. The Committee notes that the Government's efforts appear fruitful, since the overall rate of scholastic attendance for girls now stands at 92.85 per cent.

2. With respect to the access of girls and women to various vocational training and technical training courses, the Committee notes the Government's statements that vocational training is as open to girls as to boys and that women are represented in all departments and not simply in those thought to be feminine. Noting that unemployment for women stands at 37.31 per cent and that the Government is considering opening up new training branches, increasing the possibility of obtaining employment in the field of electricity, electronics, audio-visual techniques, the graphics industry and in computer maintenance, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the measures taken or envisaged to encourage the access of girls and women to these branches so as to afford them a greater chance of entry to the labour market. It also invites the Government to consider what measures may be taken to inform and raise the awareness of girls and women of the wide range of occupations open to them, free from considerations based on stereotypes reserving one profession or occupation to persons of a particular sex and thus avoiding occupational segregation based on sex (that is to say the propensity of individuals of a given sex to take up studies or training leading to a type of employment or occupation where persons of the same sex are in the majority). Finally, the Committee notes the information that the National Advisory Council for Vocational Training has not yet examined the question of segregation in training on the basis of sex and trusts that the Government will include this question on the agenda of an early session of the same Council and keep the Committee informed thereon.

3. In respect of the special protection of women in employment emphasized by the Government in its report -- such as the prohibition of night work or refraining from assigning women to work that is dangerous, insalubrious or harmful to the health, etc. -- the Committee is aware, when examining measures for the protection of women, that the specific needs of each country may vary. Nevertheless, it invites the Government to consider the possibility of reviewing these provisions -- in consultation with the social partners and in particular with women workers -- to appreciate whether it is still necessary to prohibit access to women to certain occupations, in view of the improvement of working conditions and also of changes in mental attitudes. It also draws the Government's attention to the provisions covering this question in: (a) the Protocol of 1990 to the Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 89); (b) the Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171), and the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176), with the corresponding Recommendations; and (c) the ILO resolution on equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women in employment, 1985. One of the reasons put forward by the Government to justify barring women from certain employment derives from the desire to allow women workers to harmonize their working life with the requirements of their family life. In this connection, the Committee wishes to recall that it has often emphasized that it would be preferable if certain measures taken for women workers -- to enable them to raise and care for their children -- were progressively extended to men, so that such advantages need no longer reduce women's competitivity on the labour market. Family responsibilities can effectively become a hindrance to equality in employment and a major cause of direct or indirect discrimination against women. The adoption of such measures would bear witness to the recognition that family responsibilities are a problem proper to the family and society -- and not solely to women.

4. The Committee notes that, following the 1996 acceptance by Algeria of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Government is discussing a first draft of an Act amending the Family Code (in particular section 39 on the duty of the wife to obey her husband); it would be grateful if the Government would keep it informed of the adoption of this draft and would transmit a copy of the various sections of the Family Code which may have been amended and which could affect discrimination in employment based on sex.

5. Since the Government has not supplied information on the activities undertaken by the National Council for Women, created in 1997, the Committee asks it to provide a copy of the most recent annual report of this body, including copies of material produced to raise awareness, of studies published and information on the involvement of the tripartite partners in these activities.