Article 1: Definition of discrimination
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Does the constitution, if there is one, include a guarantee of equality of women with men in the protection and enjoyment of human rights? Are women provided with fundamental human rights, without any form(s) of discrimination based on sex? marital status? If yes, is it implemented in practice? If not, what work is being done to amend the constitution? Are there any obstacles to such an amendment? What are they? Are there any laws or policy statements that define discrimination against women? Do these laws include in their definition any act which causes, or result in, a difference of the treatment of women on comparison to men? Do these include laws and practices or policies (whether legislative, administrative, customary or traditional) which impair or nullify the recognition of women and their enjoyment or exercise of civil, political, economic, social and cultural or any other rights? Is the legal definition of discrimination sufficiently broad or interpreted broadly enough to be compatible with that contained in the Convention? Does the definition cover practices that although not intending to discriminate, are discriminatory in effect and not reasonable or justifiable? Does the legal definition or discrimination encompass discrimination against women by private institutions and individuals? Does the legal definition of discrimination include discrimination against women in the private or domestic sphere? Does the legal definition of discrimination include gender-based violence against women? Do women have equal rights to men, irrespective of their marital status, in getting legal and medical counselling? acquiring a passport? lodging complaints and seeking redress before a court or other relevant authority? participating in administrative and judicial proceedings affecting themselves? having legal capacity to inherit? conducting property transactions? creating and joining associations? choosing a religion? employment? giving testimony in court in civil cases? in criminal cases? changing their identity, including change of name? nationality? Do women have the right to choose their own husband? Do mothers have equal rights to fathers regarding decision-making for, and care of, their child?

 

Article 2: Measures to eliminate discrimination
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Has there been a comprehensive review to consider what measures are appropriate for implementation of the Convention? Has there been a comprehensive review of all legislation, including any customary, regional or local law in the State, to ensure compatibility with the Convention? Is the principle of non-discrimination against women, identified by the Committee, reflected in legislation? Does the Constitution reflect the principles of the Convention, with particular reference to women? Is there a comprehensive national strategy for implementation of the Convention? Are there policies or practices of government and other public institutions that discriminate against women? Are there any law or administrative or other practices that discriminate against women? Can the areas in which women are discriminated against in practical be identified? What means are used to identify such areas? Is the proportion of social expenditure devoted to women adequate nationally? regionally/at provincial level? locally? Are permanent arrangements established for budgetary analysis at national and other levels of government to ascertain the proportion of overall budgets devoted to women? any disparities between regions, rural/urban, particular groups of women? the effects of structural readjustment, economic reforms and changes on all women? the proportion and amount received/given in relation to international co-operation to promote the rights of women, and allocated to different sectors? Can the provisions of the Convention be invoked before, and directly enforced by, the courts, other tribunals or administrative authorities, without implementation by way of internal laws or administrative regulations? To what extent do policies or practices of government and other public institutions nullify or impair the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights by women? Are these policies and practices in the process of being repealed or changed? Have any laws, regulations or policies been promulgated that regulate the conduct of official institutions, public authorities and public officials towards women? Do such laws extend to private persons, organisations or enterprises? Have any special remedies or avenues of redress been developed to enable women to pursue their rights? If so, how effective have these been? Are women guaranteed the legal right to fight against discrimination by the enterprise they work for? the organisation they are a part of? any type of employer? Have all appropriate measures been taken by the State to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women? How many cases of discrimination have been brought before the courts or other bodies in the last four years? How were they decided? Does any special machinery, such as a commission or ombud, been established to promote and protect the rights of women? Has specific machinery been established to oversee Convention implementation? Is the principle of non-discrimination against women, identified by the Committee, reflected in legislation? Has the country attempted to address through legislation and other programmes the modification of customs and practice that result in discrimination against women or perpetuate such discrimination? In particular, has the country attempted to address through the legislation and other programmes gender-based violence against women? What measures, if any, have been adopted to advance or improve the situation of women and to guarantee women fundamental freedoms and equal rights? What are the practical obstacles that prevent women from attaining their full development, fundamental freedoms or equals rights?

 

Article 3: Quality in the exercise and enjoyment of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Do existing laws, practices and administrative policies ensure the full development and advancement of women? Do women have the same access as men, in law and in fact, to the political process, social services, health and medical care, education, literacy development programmes, employment, ownership or property and social welfare? Is the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedom by women, on a basis of equality with men, guaranteed under the constitutional or other relevant laws? Is sufficient disaggregated data collected to enable evaluation of the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination against women? What are the practical obstacles that prevent women from attaining their full development and exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with men? What measure have been taken to bring about the full development and advancement of women, and to guarantee their exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms? Is civil society involved in the process of implementation at all levels, including in particular appropriate non-governmental organisations (NGOs)? women themselves? Have any laws or policy measures taken that affect the status or women with regard to political participation and participation in social, economic and cultural life? Have women effectively participated in the formulation or such laws or policies? Are these laws and policies being implemented to the satisfaction of women?

 

Article 4: Temporary special measures
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Is the Convention’s principle of non-discrimination against women included in the Constitution, if any, and in legislation? Is there any official policy aimed at accelerating the de facto equality of women which has been implemented? Have any laws been enacted to implement such a policy? What positive or temporary special measures whether in the form of affirmative action, or otherwise, have been adopted to achieve equality between men and women? What are the inequalities that these measures sought to redress? Are there special measure for the protection of pregnancy, maternity, the health and safety of women in the work place? What are they? Are they effective? Is their effect being monitored? Are special measures considered to be non-discriminatory under the law? What enforcement mechanisms have been established? How do they operate? Is disaggregated data collected to enable effective monitoring of potential discrimination on the basis of sex in the enjoyment of rights, and discrimination between women in different regions, and rural and urban areas? Are parliamentary mechanisms established to ensure appropriate scrutiny and debate of matters relating to implementation? Has the State taken active steps to make the provisions and principles of the Convention widely know throughout the population? Has the Convention, and information about its implications, been translated into all languages in use throughout the jurisdiction and appropriately disseminated?

 

Article 5: Elimination of sex role stereotyping and prejudice
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
What cultural and traditional practices, or ways of life, if any, hamper women's advancement in society? What measures have been taken to change social and cultural patterns that lead to stereotyping or reinforcing the idea of the inferiority of women? Does the religion or custom impose practices or beliefs that interfere with improving the status of women? What are they? What roles are men and women expected to play in society and in the family? Are males and females stereotyped in schoolbooks or in the media? What efforts are being made to eliminate the stereotyping of men and women? What are the obstacles to eliminating these stereotypes? Who is considered, by law or custom, to be the "head of the household"? Are there certain kinds of work that are considered as "men's work" or "women's work"?  What are the percentages of men and women in these kinds of work? What kinds of work are women forbidden to do, either by law or custom? Are girls and boys expected to do different tasks in the home or at school? Has the State encouraged the participation of women in more diverse social and economic roles to eliminate stereotyped division of labour? Is there a detailed legal definition of parental responsibilities, duties and rights with specific reference to the role of both the mother and father? Has such a definition been reviewed to ensure compatibility with the principles and provisions of the Convention? Is any provision made for the family life education within the country? What is it? How do syllabuses in educational institutions reflect this article of the Convention? Does the State promote formal and informal family education including a proper understanding of maternity as a social function? the recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development of the child? Does the criminal justice system have regard for the need for mothers not to be separated from their babies? Do husbands have the right to chastise their wives?  Which law provides for such a right? Are sanctions exercised against men if they chastise their wives? How is violent behaviour between spouses perceived by women and men? Are there any public campaigns to raise awareness about violence against women as a problem? Do they attempt to change the attitudes of men? Are there public information programmes to educate women about their rights? To what extent do the media contribute to such programmes? In education is use made of materials on how to resolve conflict between men and women in non-violent ways? Where dowry or brideprice is a condition or requirement for a valid marriage as a matter or custom and tradition, how many cases of violence related to marriage payments are reported? Is there legislation against these practises? If legislation does exist, does it provide sanctions against both parties (i.e. both those asking for and those making a marriage payment)? What measures and steps have been taken to conscientise and inform law enforcement officials of the issue of violence against women, particularly within the home? Is there a place for women to go when faced with violence within the family? Are there special law enforcement units to deal with domestic violence? Is there a process to deal with violent and sexually offensive films and magazines? How are victims of sexual assault treated by law enforcement officers? Are there any special procedures to deal with the sexual abuse of children?

 

Article 6: Traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Do laws clearly prohibit all forms of trafficking of women and girls? exploitation or prostitution of women? If so, is it implemented effectively and what sanctions exist for such traffic? Is any form of prostitution legal? If prostitution is illegal, are both prostitute and client subject to prosecution? In practice, does prosecution take place? What sanctions do prostitutes face? What sanctions do the clients of prostitutes face? Are there specific laws relating to clients of prostitutes? Are they enforced? Is the selling of a women's sexual services by a third person is illegal? Are prostitutes licensed or regulated in any way? What law, if any, are there concerning child prostitution? If prostitution is legal, do sanctions exist to protect prostitutes from exploitation? What is the prevailing social attitude towards prostitution? Does the law relating to violence against women, including rape, apply equally to prostitute women? and on equal practice? Are of immigration and emigration monitored? Specifically, is there a system in place monitor whether immigrants or emigrants are predominantly engaged in sex work? Are women guaranteed protection from illegal trafficking? Has the State set up a special governing body or Task Force to suppress and eliminate trafficking and prostitution of women? Are there laws and policies in place to protect women and young girls from labour agencies which are essentially engaged in trafficking? Are there laws and policies in place relating to marriage bureaux, specifically those involved in arranging marriages with foreign nationals? Are there laws in the country to penalise nationals who exploit women and girls children outside the country, such as, for example, legislation relating to sex tourism? Describe their implementation and effect? Are there any obstacles to eliminating the exploitation of prostitution and traffic in women? If so, what are they? Has the situation been reviewed on a regular basis in urban areas? rural areas? different communities and ethnic groups? What is the legal punishment of such offences?

 

Article 7: Political and public life
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Are women guaranteed, on equal terms with men, the political right to vote in all elections, whether local, regional or national? to vote in all public referenda? to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies? to participate in the formulation and implementation of government policy? to perform all public functions? to hold the government or its officials responsible and accountable for their actions? to participate in non-governmental organisations and associations? to be a member of or form a political party? What percentage of women vote in all elections? What percentage of women vote as compared to men? Is the right to vote dependent on any property or literacy requirement? Do such requirements adversely affect women? For instance, do such requirements exclude women from voting, or do they have a greater effect on women's ability to vote than on that of men? Are women in rural areas ensured equal political rights to women in urban areas? Are women from all communities and ethnic groups ensured similar political rights? What percentage of the following are women: members of Parliament and/or other legislatures? members of registered political parties? party leaders? What is the nature of the participation of these women in the work of political parties? What measures have been adopted by political parties to increase women's membership? What percentage of women stand as candidates for publicly elected bodies, locally or nationally? What proportion of women to men are elected? Are women eligible to be candidates for elected positions on the same terms as men? What percentages of candidates are women?  What measures have been adopted by political parties to increase the percentage of women standing as candidates? What measures have been adopted by political parties to increase the number of women office holders? Which public office are currently held by women, Including both appointed and elected positions? Are the holders of such offices representative of women? What percentage of public offices are held by women? Are there any factors that prevent women's political participation? What are they and are they being addressed in any way? What impediments exist which prevent women from running for office in the party or committee structure? For example, finance, provision of children, lack of confidence or general attitudes? What measures have been taken to ensure that women participate in the design and implementation of development planning at all levels? What support services exist within the country to enable women to participate in public life? Do women participate in trade unions? Are there any factors that affect their participation in this sector? Have measures been introduced to encourage their participation? Are women discriminated against or subject to human rights violation because of their political activities as members of women's organisations? Are women political prisoners or detainees subject to sexual abuse? If yes, please document and give the details? To what extend are women's organisations actively involved in policy making? Do mechanisms exist to ensure such involvement?

 

Article 8: International representation
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Do women have the right and opportunity to represent the Government on an international level and to participate in the work of international organisations on equal terms with men? What percentage of the following are women: members of the Protocol at the MOF? ambassadors and diplomats at missions abroad? representatives / officers in international organisations? other envoys? soldiers and army officers? Are women ensured the equal right to participate and represent their country in international debates, talks, forums and conferences? and what are their areas of expertise? Is there equal opportunity of women to serve as representatives of their country and as participants in the work of international organisations? Are there any programmes to encourage women to enter the foreign service or to apply for positions in international bureaucracy? Are there instance where women, because of their sex, have been denied their opportunity to represent the country or to participate in the work of international organisations? Please describe?

 

Article 9: Nationality
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Does the State grant women equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their nationality? What social, cultural or economic factors affect a woman's exercise of these rights? Does the marriage to a non-citizen, or a change of nationality by the husband, affect a woman's nationality in any way? Does legislation ensure that a woman can retain her nationality when marrying an alien? her husband changes nationality? Is a person's citizenship determined by birth, by parentage, by marriage, or by a combination of these factors? If citizenship is determined by parentage, does s mother's citizenship carry equal weight with that of the father? Do women and men have the same rights with respect to gaining residence and employment status for their spouse in situations where the spouse is a non-national? How is the nationality of a child determined? Are children able to acquire the nationality of both parents? Do women have equal rights to men with respect to the nationality of their children? Do minor children have their own passports?  If not, can minor children travel on their mother's passport or only their father's? Is the father's consent required to include children on their mother's passport? Is the consent of the parents of minor children required prior to their leaving the country? If so, whose consent is required and in what circumstances?

 

Article 10: Education
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Have legislative or other measures been taken to ensure equal access to education for men and women and is there equal access to education in practice? Do men and women have equal access to the same curricula? the same examinations? teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard? school premises and equipment of the same quality? In the school that are not co-educational, are the curricula, examinations, teaching staff, school premises and equipment of the same quality for boys and girls? and, if not, describe the difference? For example, compare student-teacher ratios, subject taught, per capita expenditures for male and female students? Are active measures taken to eliminate any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education (e.g. by coeducation, by the revision of textbooks and school programmes, etc.)? Have measures been introduced to address this stereotyping? Has research been undertaken into the achievement of girls who attend co-educational schools in comparison to those who attend single sex schools? What is the result of this research? Are girls and boys able to take the same subjects at primary and secondary school and at institutions of higher learning? Are girls aware of the options that are available to them? If they are so aware, do they take the advantage of these options? and, if not, why? What the percentage of primary, secondary, and university graduates are female? How do these percentages relate to the percentage of women to men in the country per age cohort? What are the overall literacy rates for males and female? Between age 15-44? Ages 25-44? Ages 45 and above? If the educational system places students in different branches or streams or "tracks" of studies, are girls and boys equally represented in such tracks?  Are girls encouraged to pursue traditionally "male" studies? How? What is the percentage of women graduating in the field of  medicine? engineering? law? science?  agriculture? How do these percentages relate to the percentage of women to men in the country? What grants or scholarships are available? Do women have equal opportunities to men in benefiting from scholarships and other study grants? Of those grants and scholarship available to both men and women, what number go to women and what number go to men? Are there any grants or scholarships available solely for women and solely for men? What percentage of all available scholarships, awards, or grants are given to women at primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels? How many women are shortlisted for such scholarships and grants as compared to men? What percentage of the students in adult education and literacy programmes are women? Does the State provide adult and functional literacy programmes aimed at reducing the gap in education between men and women? Do women have equal opportunities for access to programmes of continuing education? What are the comparative numbers of women and men enrolling in these programmes? Are there any barriers to women's enrolment? If so, what are they? Is there any particular group of women, for example migrant or indigenous women, particularly affected by such barriers? What are the major causes of girls or women discontinuing their education? Are there laws and policies that attempt to keep girls in school until school leaving age? Describe? Is there a steady reduction of female student drop-out rates? Are programmes organised for girls and women who have left school prematurely? What are the qualifications and experiences of the teachers in such programmes? Do more men than women taken such programmes? What percentage of all teachers are women  at the primary level? at secondary level? at university level? Compare the seniority levels of women staff at each level? What percentage of school principals and heads of departments are women?  What percentage of university professors and heads of departments are women? Provide a gender disaggregated staff profile of the primary, secondary and higher education sectors? Are men and women given equal opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical education? Are there any dress regulations that impede the full participation of girls and women in sports? Is it culturally acceptable for women to participate in all sports? Are sports facilities equally available to men and women, boys and girls? Has the State ensured adequate access for men and women, on the basis of equality, to specific educational information, including health and nutrition? preventive health care? family-planning? Is education for family planning included in course syllabi? What is taught? Are active measures taken to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, in pre-school, general, technical, professional and higher technical education, as well as in all types of vocational training, the same conditions for career and vocational guidance? equal access to studies? the same conditions for the achievement of diplomas in educational establishments of all categories in rural as well as in urban areas? Do girls need special encouragement to take up these opportunities? If so, what sort of encouragement is required? Do girls encounter any obstacles in taking up these opportunities? What are they? Have any measures been introduced to address these obstacles? Please describe them?

 

Article 11: Employment
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Do all women have the right to work? Do women have the same employment opportunities as men, including the application of the same criteria for selection in matters of employment? Do women receive equal remuneration and equal treatment in respect of work of equal value? Is the quality of work evaluated without discrimination on the basis of sex? What provisions exist to eliminate discrimination against women in employment? Are they enforced? How? What legislative or other measures have been taken to promote equal employment opportunities for women and men? What percentage of total waged workforce is women between ages 15-24? age 25-44? age 45 and older? Of the women in the waged labour force, what percentage are part-time workers? full-time workers? What percentage of part-time and full-time workers overall are women? Has the State taken all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the right to free choice of profession and employment? promotion? job security? all benefits and conditions of service? receive vocational training and retraining, including apprenticeships, advanced vocational training and recurrent training? Are there industries in which women perform piecework or outwork in their homes? Are there regulations which affect such work? Are there particular form of work, for example night work, underground and mine work or work in particular industries that restrict women's participation? on what basis? What effect do such restrictions have on women's economic opportunities? If provisions exist to protect health and safety of women at work are they subject to regular review in the light of scientific and technical advances? Are such workers entitled to benefits, for example, sick leave, holiday pay? What is the level of wage for such work compared with other employment? Do men and women have equal rights to social security, particularly in cases of retirement? unemployment? sickness? invalidity? old age? other incapacity to work? Do men and women have equal rights to paid leave? What work related benefits are available to workers generally? Is work done by women in the home counted as part of the work done in the labour for and included in national statistics (e.g. calculation of GDP/GNP)? Is unpaid agricultural work counted as part of the country 's gross national product? Does unpaid work in the home and agriculture count to wards eligibility for retirement and other work related benefits? What is the mandatory retirement age for men and for women? What is usual voluntary retirement age for men and for women? Do men and women contribute the same amounts towards their pensions? If the country has social security legislation, are all women covered by such legislation? If not, which groups are excluded and for what reason? Do wives benefit from pension plans held by their husbands and vice versa? Do men and women have equal rights to protection of health and to safety in working conditions? Is employment security affected by pregnancy? How? Has the State taken appropriate measures to ensure that women shall not be dismissed on the grounds of pregnancy? maternity leave? marital status? Does the country have provisions to ensure that women who are pregnant or on maternity leave are not subject to dismissal? If so, what sanctions, if any, are provided for such dismissal? How frequently are these sanctions invoked? What provisions is made for maternity leave? Does the country have a system of maternity leave with pay? If so, by whom is it paid, and how effective is it? What penalties exist for violations? Have studies been undertaken to determine its use and effectiveness? Has maternity leave with pay or with comparable social benefits, without loss of former employment, seniority or social allowances, been introduced? Are there special protection measures for women during pregnancy in types of work proved to be harmful to them? Is there provision for parental leave? and can it be shared between parents? If it is available, what percentage of men take it? If parental leave provisions exist, what effect does taking parental leave on the accrual of work-related benefits and seniority and promotion? If the country had provision for paid leave, is such leave equally available to men and women? Is there provision for flexible working patterns, such as job sharing or permanent part-time employment, to allow women or men to combine employment with family responsibilities? If so, do women take advantage of these opportunities equally? If not, who take advantage of these opportunities? If there is an opportunity for flexible work, what effect does working in this way have on the accrual of work-related benefits and seniority and promotion? Have appropriate measures been taken to ensure that all protective legislation relating to matters covered in this article are reviewed periodically in the light of scientific and technological knowledge, and revised, repealed or extended as necessary? Are there professional that, by law or custom, tend to be filled predominantly by women? what are they? Are there profession that, by law or custom, tend to be filled predominantly by men? what are they? Does the Government ensure that opportunities exist for women in occupations which are not traditionally pursued by women? Are women encouraged to take up apprenticeships in fields not usually pursued by women? Has the state taken appropriate measures to develop a network of child-care facilities? If so, does it meet existing needs? What type of child care are available for working women? Does the government support, financially or otherwise, child care? IF child care services exist are they staffed by trained personnel? What percentage of employer provide child care? What percentage of children 0-3 are in child-care? Age 3-6? How are school-age children cared for when parents work longer than the school day? Are nursing breaks for breastfeeding mothers required by law? In practice, are they provided and do women take advantage of them? What is extent of unionisation of the labour force? What percentage of women are member of unions overall? What is the level of unionisation in areas of the labour market dominated by women? Has the country introduced measure to address sexual harassment and violence against women in the workplace? If so, please describe them and their effect.

 

Article 12: Health
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
What measures have been taken to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care? Do women have the same access as men to health care services? Is medical care for women during pregnancy and in the post-natal period free of charge? Does the state seek to ensure that women receive adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation? in what way? What health facilities and personnel are available for women? This could include hospitals, clinics, health posts and other facilities as well as physicians, nurses, auxiliary health personnel, family planning workers, and community agents? Are there any health facilities and personnel dedicated to the health needs of women?  Do all women have access to appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period? Are free services granted for the above, where necessary? Do all women have access to prenatal care, trained attendants during childbirth and referral facilities for high-risk pregnancies and emergencies? What are major causes of female mortality and morbidity? What is the maternal mortality rate? What are the infant and child mortality rates for boys and girls? What are the major causes of infant and child mortality and morbidity for girls? What are the major causes of infant and child mortality and morbidity for boys? What is the average life expectancy for men and women? What are the crude birth rates and crude death rates for men and women? What is the percentage of women receive prenatal care? What is the average number of live birth per woman? What is the unmet need for contraception? What is the prevalence of contraception, by method? What legal or cultural obstacles are there to women receiving health care services, including family planning? How many women work in the health sector? In what area of the health sector do they work? At what level of seniority in these areas do they work? Does the country have traditional health workers? what do they do? How many traditional health workers are women? Is the husband's authorisation required, either by law or in practice, before a married women can receive health services including family planning? Does the State have any law or policies that require use of family planning measures? If so, are there any consequences, such as financial penalties, whether these laws or policies are not complied with? Is abortion legal? under what circumstance? Is the cost of abortion covered under national medical insurance or social security? Can poor women receive free or subsidised abortions? If abortion is legal, how available are services in practice? Is the rate of abortion recorded and reported, including by age? Where abortion is permitted, is its use appropriately regulated? Where abortion is permitted, is there no discriminatory variation in the term at which it is permitted, (e.g. dependent on identification of disability)? Is pre-natal foetal testing available? If so, what is the incidence of abortion following pre-natal testing? If there is incidence of abortion following pre-natal testing, what are the major reasons for such abortions? Does the State have any laws or policies requiring abortions? If there are such laws or policies, are the wishes of the mother taken into consideration when determining whether an abortion should take place? If abortion is not legal, is it perform any way? What statistics are available for death and/or illness due to or related to abortion? What provisions are made for care of women with incomplete abortions? IS elective sterilisation available? If so, what is the incidence of elective sterilisation for women? For men? Does the State have any laws or policies requiring sterilisation? What sanctions exist for failure to comply with these laws or policies? Is female genital mutilation or circumcision practised? Under which circumstance and is it legal? Do any groups in the country perpetuate practices (for example, dietary restrictions for pregnant women) that might be harmful to women's health? If so. what measures have been introduced to eradicate such practices? Is the rate of child pregnancies recorded and reported? Have appropriate measures been undertaken to reduce the number of child pregnancies? Do all women in the jurisdiction  have the same rights as men in the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health? have equal access to facilities for the treatment of illness and the rehabilitation of health? What measures have been introduced in the country to increase public awareness of the risk and effects sexually transmitted diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS? Have any of these measure been aimed specifically at women and girls? Have any programmes been introduced to combat sexually transmitted diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS?  If so, are any of these programmes dedicated to women and girls? Do any of these programmes pay particular attention to women's reproductive role and female subordination as factors that make women and girls vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS? What measure have been introduced to ensure the participation of women as health care workers in the context of HIV/AIDS?

 

Article 13: Economic and social benefits
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Does the country have the system of family benefits? what are they? If family benefits exist, who qualifies for them? Do women have the right to such family benefits?  Are measures taken to ensure that the process of applying for family benefits does not discriminate against women? Do all women in need have a potential right to benefit from social security? Do married women, in their own right or as parents, have access to family benefits such as: children's allowance, public housing, health insurance or coverage, or other government subsidies or allowance? Do unmarried and married women have the same access to these benefits? Are measures taken to ensure that take-up of benefits is made as easy as possible? How are the various benefit paid? Are they paid directly or through the tax system as credits or deduction with respect to taxes? Who actually receive benefits? For example, if the payment is direct, is it paid to the primary care giver or to the family unit? How do people qualify for bank loans, mortgages, and other forms of financial credits from Government? from private institutions? Do women have equal rights to men regarding bank loans? mortgages? other forms of financial credit? Do women. particularly married women, have access to loans, mortgages, and other forms of financial credit? If not, what are the constrains? Do they need the consent of their husbands or another male obtain credit? Do men and women have the equal rights to participate in recreational activities? sports? all aspects of cultural life? Is there any mechanism by which women who consider they have been unfairly treated can complain?

 

Article 14: Rural women
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Are rural women aware of their rights under the Convention? What measure are being or have been taken, to make women in rural areas aware of their rights? In rural areas, are married, widowed, divorced, non-married, and childless women treated differently from each other? Has the State ensured adequate access to health education, health promotion and support to women, particularly in rural areas, on health and nutrition? the advantages of breast-feeding? hygiene and environmental sanitation? prevention of accidents? preventive health care? family-planning education and services, and HIV/AIDS-related prevention education and information? Is there a national policy with regard to provision of family planning services for women in rural areas? what is it? To what extent are family planning programmes designed to reach both women and men?  How does the availability of health services, including family planning, in rural areas compared to that in urban areas? What obstacle hinder or prevent women from receiving family planning services and counselling in rural areas? What measures and follow-up facilities are made available to ensure safe contraception for rural women? How do the following rates of rural women compare to that of urban women? mortality rate the maternal mortality rate? life expectancy? nutritional status? percent receiving prenatal care? family planning services? What are the infant mortality rates in rural compared to areas? Has the State taken all appropriate measures to ensure women in rural areas the right: to participate in the elaboration and implementation of development planning at all levels? to benefit directly from social security programmes? to obtain all types of training to increase their technical proficiency? to organise self-help groups and co-operatives in order to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment or self employment? to participate in all community activities? Do rural women have access to social security programmes? Are any of these specifically directed to rural women? How do they qualify for coverage? Are training and education available for rural women locally? If such training exists, are there statistics indicating how many rural women participate? What percentage of rural girls and women are enrolled in primary, secondary and university level education? How do these percentages compare with urban enrolment? What percentage of rural women age 15-24 are illiterate? Age 25-44? How do these percentages compare with corresponding percentages for urban women? Do any self-help groups or co-operatives exist for women in rural areas? Does the state recognise the right of rural women to organise self-help groups to participate in co-operatives and other economic or development programmes as individuals? If not, what obstacles hinder their establishment? If such group exist, do they organise to allow women to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment or self-employment? If not, what are their functions? Does the country have any marketing facilities? If so, do they pay attention to the needs of rural women? Can women use rural marketing facilities to sell their goods?  What percent of these facilities are used by women? What percentage of agricultural work in rural areas is done by women? What type of work is generally done by rural women (including cooking, cleaning, water carrying, child-care, marketing, etc.)? Do rural women participate in developing economic and agricultural policies?  Is their contribution taken into account in computing Gross National Product? Are rural women represented in government and on bodies and commissions involved with development planning? What is their representation and input? In relation to women in employment, are there any limits on the right of women to form and to join and to leave trade unions? Has the State taken measures to ensure that all women in the jurisdiction, particularly those in rural areas, have access to the same information, services, facilities, training and education as men? What special programs, if any, have been developed to meet the needs of rural women? Does the national budget set aside a specific amount for programmes to benefit rural women? what are they? Do all women in rural areas have access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing facilities, appropriate technology and equal treatment in land and agrarian reform as well as in land resettlement schemes? Are agricultural extension services designed to reach women directly? What percentage of agricultural credit and loans in rural areas actually given to women? Can women hold title to land? Does women's title to land derive from their husbands or father or brothers or uncles or nephews? Has the country undertaken any land or agrarian reform? If so how has this affected rural women's title to land? What specific provisions exist to ensure adequate living conditions for rural women? Does the State take all necessary measures to provide adequate living conditions to all families in rural areas, particularly in relation to housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport and communications? When reform of sanitation, electricity, water supply, transport and communications is considered are the special needs of rural women taken into account? Are rural women involved in the planning and decision making process? In what community activities, do rural women participate? Are there any religious or cultural traditions that keep women from participating?

 

Article 15: Law
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Are women equal with men before the law? Do women have a legal capacity identical to that of men in civil matters, and the same opportunities to exercise that capacity? Do women have equal rights to men in concluding contracts and administering property? Do women have the right to make contracts, including those relating to credit, real estate and other property, as well as other commercial transactions, in their own name? Can women obtain health care e.g. contraceptives, without their husband's permission? Do women have same right as men to administer property? Can women be executors or administrator of estates? Do women have the right to administer property without interference of consent by a male regardless of whether they acquire it during marriage or bring it into marriage? Has the country given effect to the obligation in Article 15 (3) which requires that all contracts and other instrument aimed at restricting women's legal capacity be deemed null and void? Such contracts and instruments include marriage contracts that diminish women's legal capacity and commercial contracts in which women give up rights to negotiate on their own? Are women treated in the same way as men in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals? Can women sue and be sued in their own name? Can women take their place in the legal system on an equal basis with men? Is the testimony of a woman equal in weight to the testimony of a man?  Are women lawyers entitled to represent clients before courts ad tribunal? Are women entitled to serve as jurors or on other citizen panels? Can they serve in the judiciary, in civil, customary. and religious court? Do they? Do women have equal access to legal services? Can they get free legal help if they are unable to pay for it? If legal aid is available is it provided equally to women and men? If so, do women know about it and take advantage of it? If not, why not? Are women given similar damages awards as men in comparable circumstance? Are women and men sentenced similarly in comparable circumstance? Has any research been carried out regarding judicial reasoning and judicial practices that have a differential impact on women and men? Are there legal concepts, such as special defences, which apply to women and not men?  Do women have the same rights as men, with regard to the law, relating to the movement of persons? the freedom to choose their residence and domicile? Does marriage limit a women's right to choose her residence? Is a women's domicile dependent on that of her father or her husband? Under what circumstances does she retain her domicile of origin? Do migrant women who live and work temporarily in other countries have the same rights as men to have their spouses, partners and children join them?

 

Article 16: Marriage and family life
 

	Yes	Yes but	No
Are family relations governed by civil law, religious laws, customary laws, or a combination of these? Please explain. Are women treated equally with men under these laws? What types or forms of family exist under civil, religious and customary laws? Are they marriages, unions, partnerships, or other kinds of cohabitation. Are they recognised by the State? Does the State ensure women, on a basis of equality with men, the same right to enter into marriage? to freely choose a spouse? to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent? Do men and women have the same rights and responsibilities during marriage? If not, how do these differ, both in law, in practice and in traditional legal systems? Does the State ensure both men and women the same rights and responsibilities during marriage and its dissolution? as parents, irrespective of their marital status, in all matters relating to their children? to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children? to have access to information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights? with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children? Is polygamy (one man having more than one wife) permitted by law? If so, which law and is it done in practice? What percentage of marriages are polygamous? In polygamous marriages, what are the rights and responsibilities of husbands towards wives and wives to wards husbands? What are the rights and responsibilities of men and women who live together as husband and wife without legal marriage towards each other and towards their children? Do women have equal rights to men, as husband and wife, to choose a family name? a profession? an occupation? If so, are they aware of these rights? Do they exercise these rights? Are these rights affected by marriage? Do women have the right to retain their own name on marriage? If so, what percentage of women retain their own name on marriage? Describe the law relating to the selection of family name? If the law require the selection of one family name, do women have equal rights with men to nominate their name as the family name? Can they add their name to the family name? If they can nominate their name as the family name or add their name to the family name, what is the percentage of women who do this? Do women have rights with respect to the choice of the family name of their children? Do they know them and exercise them? Do both husband and wife have the same rights to property ownership? acquisition? management? administration? enjoyment? disposition? If the husband declared bankrupt, how are the rights the wife affected? Do married women have equal voice with their husband in the management and disposal of property acquire during marriage? Does the disposal of property require the consent of the other spouse? Is divorce available to men and women on same grounds? Does divorce by "renunciation" occur either in law or practice? Are divorces registered? On dissolution of marriage what are the rights of the wife with respect to property? Are these the same as the rights of the husband? What are the legal obligations to pay maintenance to a divorced husband or wife? Do women have rights to maintenance on divorce? Are such rights enforced? How is property divided after divorce? Is a woman's work in the home, or her unpaid agricultural labour, counted as a contribution towards the value of the property? Is this work reflected in the division of property on divorce? What rights do those who live together as husband and wife without legal marriage have with respect to property during the relationship and on its breakdown? Do such partners have a right to maintenance during the relationship and on its breakdown? What is the law and practice relating to the abuse of wives and de facto wives? Do women have the right to decide freely the number and spacing of their children? Do they have access without having to ask anyone's permission, to information and services for family planning? In practice, do family planning providers provide information and treatment to women without the knowledge or consent of their husbands? Is there a national policy concerning family planning? what is it? Does it encompass access to family planning information, education and services? Are there any specific legislative provisions that affect the provision of family planning information. education and services? Are there any factors which obstruct women's exercise of their rights to family planning information and services? What are they? Are any measure taken to address these factors? Do women have same rights as men, regardless their marital status, to make decisions about the upbringing of their children? Do women have the same rights to custody of their children as men? Are those rights, if they exist, affected by the marital status of the woman? Who is the natural guardian of the child? Do women have the same rights as men in matters of guardianship, warship, trusteeship, and adoption of children? On divorce or relationship breakdown who usually acquires custody of the children? After death of husband? Do the practical results in custody matters differ from the law as written? Are fathers of children required to pay child support? Are child support orders enforced? Do single parents have the right to appropriate child support from the other parent? Is this right enforceable? and how? What are the rights of surrogate mothers, including mothers of children born by virtue of artificial means? Is a minimum age for marriage specified in legislation? Is this minimum age the same for both men and women? Is official registration of a marriage compulsory? Are there exceptions to this minimum age? on what ground? Is child marriage a matter of custom in particular areas or among particular groups? Is it legally recognised? If it exists. how does it affect women's choice in marriage? Is the betrothal of children prohibited?  If the country has traditionally accepted child betrothal or marriages, has legislation been introduced to restrict this practice? If so has such legislation affected traditional customs concerning the betrothal of children? Is there a legislative provision setting the minimum legal age of consent to sexual intercourse? Is the age different for men and women? Does sexual intercourse below this age result in criminal penalty? If there is a minimum legal age for sexual intercourse, does it correspond with the minimum age of marriage? Is the registration of marriages and divorces required by law? Are there procedures for the registration of marriage? If so, what are they and are they enforced? Is information disseminated about laws on minimum age of marriage, consent to marriage and registration of marriage? Is it customary or legal to pay a bride price or dowry? If so, what effect does this have on marriage? In State Parties with dual or plural legal systems, what is the position of statutory law and its interpretation, and of customary or religious law, on bride price or dowry? How does bride price or dowry affect the equality of women? If laws have been introduced to regulate the practises of dowry or bride price have they been enforced? What has been effect of such law? What are the rules regarding inheritance? Are they beneficial for women? If so, do women make use of them? Legally and in practice, what are the rights and obligations of widows? In what way, if any, do they differ from the rights and obligations of widowers? Are widows required to perform any rite of purification on the death of their husbands? If so, do widowers have to perform the same rites? What is the social status of widows? Is this status different from that of widowers? Do widows and daughters of a deceased man have legal rights to inherit land and other property if there is no will? If they have such right, in it equal to that of widowers and sons? Can a widow or daughter receive property under a will? If so, is there any legal or customary constrain on a testator bequeathing the same share of property to widows and daughters as to widowers and sons? Is the levirate (widows having to marry the deceased husband's brother) practised by any group in the country? What percentage of households are headed by a female? What percentage of poor households are headed by a female?