CMNT_TITLE

Further to its observation on the application of the Convention, the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report on the results of an experimental research carried out by the women’s section of the Federation of Independent Unions of Croatia and the TOD women’s group. The research shows that women (one out of four) are often exposed to sexual harassment at work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the practical measures taken or envisaged to combat sexual harassment at the workplace, and the practical application of the Labour Act provision on sexual harassment.

2. Further to its previous request, the Committee notes with interest that the Government has annexed to its report the text of the new National Policy for the Promotion of Equality, that includes the programme of implementation of the National Policy for the Promotion of Equality in the Republic of Croatia in the period 2001-05 (No. 112/01). The content of the programme will be analysed by the Committee after translation.

3. Discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national extraction and religion. Further to its previous comment the Committee notes the indication of the Government that Roma people have difficulties in the labour market due to their very low educational level, and lack of vocational training and work experience. It also takes note that a national Romany programme will be adopted in the near future. It asks the Government to adopt the necessary measures to ensure that Roma people and other national minorities will have equal access with the rest of the population to education and to vocational training. It also asks the Government to provide a copy of the mentioned programme once it is adopted.

4. The Committee notes the concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on Croatia of 30 November 2001 (E/C.12/1/Add.73). That Committee expressed its concern over reports alleging that the competent authorities frequently do not address private acts of discrimination and ethnically motivated violence, mainly against Serbs and Roma people, nor discrimination in employment on the basis of gender, age and ethnic origin. That Committee noted that women are generally employed in lower paying and lower status jobs and are poorly represented in public service and office. This Committee joins the CESCR in encouraging the Government to adopt measures to continue to reduce unemployment and promote entrepreneurship, ensuring that in so doing, all such measures, including training of prospective employees and placement of jobseekers with potential employers, are undertaken in a non-discriminatory manner. It also strongly recommended the Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the situation of women in the workforce and as public servants. The Committee hopes that the Government will take into account these observations and will undertake the necessary measures to address the inequality that affects in practice mainly women and certain national minorities. It also hopes that the Government will supply information on the effectiveness of such measures.

5. Enforcement of legislation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on any administrative and legal decisions concerning cases of discrimination on the grounds provided for under the Convention.

6. Further to its previous request on statistics, the Committee takes note with interest that in late 2001 the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Gender Equality published the booklet entitled "Women in Croatia in Figures" to show the real situation of women in the Republic of Croatia in particular areas, a copy of which has been annexed to the report, and will be analysed by the Committee after translation.