CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s report.

1. The Committee notes with interest the strengthening of the principle of equality between the sexes in the Constitution of 22 January 2001, in which article 25 provides that "everyone has the right to work" and that "no one may be impeded in their work by reason of their origins, sex, opinions, political choices or beliefs". The Committee also notes that education is a national priority, as set out in article 22 of the Constitution, which provides that "The State has the duty and the task of education and training of youth by public schools. All children, boys and girls, throughout the national territory, have the right of admission to school."

2. The Committee notes that, according to the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) of 19 November 2001 (CERD/C/408/Add.2), the Government has undertaken to correct the disparities between the sexes and regions and make education universal through mechanisms to increase the school population (ages 7 to 12 years). It notes, inter alia, the launching of a girls’ school enrolment programme (SCOFI) and the establishment of community schools (paragraph 83(c)), the project to support the "new school" (paragraph 83(d)) and the finalization and implementation of the Ten-year Education and Training Programme (1998-2007), "which will make it possible to correct geographical imbalances in school enrolment, make better provision for children with disabilities and ultimately achieve the goal of education for all" (paragraph 83(f)). The Committee would be grateful to be kept informed of the content and follow up of these various measures, as well as their impact on equality of opportunity and treatment in Senegalese society and in the labour market, particularly in rural areas.

3. Noting that the Government has not provided a reply to its previous comments, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the points raised, which read as follows:

(i)  As regards education, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information, particularly statistics on the increase in the number of girls in general secondary education and the overall school registration rate, and on the introduction of the gender training module in the National Institute of Higher Education. With regard to vocational training, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the rehabilitation of women’s technical educational centres, the type of training they provide, the number of students, and on the specific measures taken to ensure that women’s occupational skills are also promoted and developed. It asks the Government to supply specific information on the measures taken for the development of women entrepreneurs. Please also supply information on the efforts made by the Government to combat discrimination at work and raise awareness among administrative authorities and employers about equal opportunities and treatment.

(ii)  The Committee notes from the Government’s report that two Bills are being considered, one to ensure gender equality in respect of invalidity, survivors’ and old-age benefits, and the other to enable women’s dependants to benefit from the advantages afforded to them by law. It also notes the harmonization of the legislation with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [...] and the two texts on the organizations for the protection of women’s rights. It would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of the legislative texts as soon as they have been adopted.

(iii)  The Committee notes that women are appointed to a variety of posts in the public service. It asks the Government to supply statistical data on men and women in the public service.