OPEN DISCRIMINATION AGAINST GIRLS PRACTISED IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF CZECH REPUBLIC, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TOLD

WOM/1014
26 January 1998

Experts Commenting on Czech Report, Also Cite High Abortion Rate, Emphasize Danger of Using
Abortion as Contraception

An expert member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women said this
afternoon that "open discrimination" and segregation against girls was practised in the educational
system of the Czech Republic. Young girls in the Czech Republic remained in an anachronistic role
with respect to women worldwide, she told the 23-member expert body this, as it continued its
consideration of that country's compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women. Several experts echoed her concerns about an educational system
based on the respective roles of men and women, with the family as the dominant theme. Questions
from experts included whether textbooks presented women as fullfledged citizens and what the
State was doing to guide those girls. Other experts this afternoon drew attention to the high number
of induced abortions in the Czech Republic and emphasized the danger of abortion being used as
contraception. Concerned that the perception of women as mothers was influencing the use of
contraception, an expert asked why the number of women using contraception was very low, while
the rate of induced abortions was on the rise. She also asked if information campaigns had been
undertaken to increase awareness about contraception. Citing information provided in the Czech
Republic's report, she added that one telephone counselling centre was wholly inadequate to deal
with the situation. The report of the Czech Republic did not address those health issues that were
not related to the reproductive capacity of women, an expert said. A project on smoking was
connected to breastfeeding, for example, but there was no information on the ill-effects of smoking
on women that were unrelated to their role as nursing mothers. Similarly, the issue of women's
mental health was addressed only in terms of how it related to their maternal role. Questions were
also raised about the high rate of divorce and the related issues of child custody and property
division, as well as the rights of women in unregistered marriages. The Committee will meet again at
10 a.m. Tuesday, 27 January, to hear responses to their earlier comments on Zimbabwe's initial
report, which was first considered by the Committee on 22 January.

Committee Work Programme

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women met this afternoon to continue
its consideration of the initial report of the Czech Republic on its implementation of the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. (For background on the report,
see Press Release WOM/1013 issued today.)

Comments on Specific Articles

Beginning this afternoon's meeting with article 10, concerning the elimination of discrimination in
education, an expert drew attention to the note in the report that certain schools, including military
schools, only admitted men because of physical differences, yet such a practice was not considered
discriminatory. She sought further elaboration on that educational policy.

Another expert said that the educational system was based on the respective roles of men and
women, with the family as the dominant theme. Was the woman presented as a full-fledged citizen
in textbooks? she asked. Was the Convention studied in the schools? The Committee was not
dealing with "covert discrimination" here, as was the case in many countries, but with "open
discrimination" and segregation against girls.

Young girls in the Czech Republic remained in an anachronistic role with respect to women
worldwide, she said. Was the State doing nothing to guide those girls? she asked. How was the
State planning to implement the recommendations of related conferences, especially that of the
Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, which emphasized a fair approach to gender and
highlighted the role of education? Perhaps special scholarships could be awarded to encourage girls
to consider technical and scientific careers, another expert suggested.

Turning next to article 11, on the elimination of discrimination against women in employment,
experts indicated concern over social and economic anomalies in the workplace. The report had
mentioned the fact that women often interrupted their professional career to take care of their
children and that trend, among others, kept women from occupying higher posts, one expert said.
She asked whether Czech law penalized employers who did not hire pregnant women. Another
expert asked which jobs and workplaces were prohibited to pregnant women.

When a country established a market economy, women were generally keenly affected, an expert
said. She asked whether the Czech Government was considering policies or programmes aimed at
changing inequalities and reversing discriminatory stereotypes, which undermined a woman's
capacity for self-development. She requested more information regarding the changes anticipated
for the new social services.

One expert said that women should be encouraged to participate in economic activities and that the
Committee needed statistics about women's participation. In what branch of the economy were
most women found? she asked. For example, in industrial activity, what percentage of women were
in supervisory and senior-level posts? Information was also needed on the conditions in which
women worked, she added.

Two experts asked for clarification of the country's pension policy. They noted with concern that
the policy distinguished between men and women, and also between childless women and mothers.
That latter distinction seemed to be based on the assumption that mothers would never obtain the
same salary and position as childless women. They also asked about the relationship between the
pension and the age of a surviving spouse.

Taking up article 12, concerning elimination of discrimination in the field of health, another expert
asked for a breakdown of the major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. That information
was important, in view of the fact that the country had one of the highest rates of induced abortion
within Europe, she said. Furthermore, how were those women and those seeking abortion treated
in hospitals or clinics? She also sought information on the number of times women of childbearing
age had abortions, on average, within one year.

There was a danger of abortion being utilized as a contraceptive method, she said. In contrast, the
number of women using contraceptives was very low. Was that related to the perception of women
as mothers? While the report stated that contraceptives were available, the incidence of induced
abortion had increased. What information campaigns had been undertaken to increase knowledge
and awareness about contraception? It seemed that one telephone counselling centre, as noted in
the report, would be wholly inadequate to deal with the kind of situation being described.

She said that there was a "serious need" to educate and counsel, which meant training health
professionals, as well. The report also stated that contraceptives were only partly covered by health
insurance. Were abortions covered by health insurance? she asked. If abortions were covered and
contraception was not -- then there was a bias in favour of abortion, which impacted negatively on
women's health.

The report did not address women's health issues that were not related to their reproductive
capacity, the expert said. A project on smoking was connected to breastfeeding, but there was no
project on smoking that addressed the ill-effects of smoking that were unrelated to a woman as a
nursing mother. Similarly, the issue of women's mental health was addressed only as it related to
their maternal role.

What were the causes of morbidity among women that were unrelated to their maternal function?
the expert asked. What kinds of services catered to the needs of ageing women? The report
contained no information about the patterns of drug and alcohol use by men and women. She also
sought information about the existence of substance abuse programmes. From 1990 to 1994, there
was an increase in the diagnosed cases of syphilis among men and women. What was the cause of
the rise and had it stabilized? Regarding article 13, on discrimination against women in other areas
of economic and social life, an expert noted that the report had cited training courses in fields such
as needlework and health care, made available by cultural institutions, which were thought to
respond to women's needs. Why were those courses considered of particular interest to women?
she asked. Were other courses also offered, which responded to the requirements for full
participation in a society based on gender equality?

On article 14, problems faced by rural women, an expert commented that the article covered a
broad range of cultural, social and economic matters. However, that section of the report contained
only one paragraph and dealt with the matter in a summary fashion, stressing that there were no
differences between men and women in rural areas. Statistics about land ownership, if available,
would enable the Committee to better understand the conditions of rural women, she said.

Worldwide, due to several factors -- including restricted access to information and education --
women's issues tended to advance slowly in rural areas, she continued. If information on cultural,
social and economic conditions in rural areas was not currently available, the next report should
include discussion of such matters.

Turning next to article 16, elimination of discrimination against women within marriage and the
family, an expert drew attention to the fact that 38 per cent of the marriages ended in divorce. Had
any analysis been done to determine the reasons and background of the high divorce rate? she
asked. Was the Government's emphasis on family a response to that high rate, or was there was
another relation between the two factors?

She then asked about the status of de facto unions. Were there legal provisions and projections for
those in such unions? she asked. What were the rules concerning property settlement and custody
in such unions? Was the practice of joint estate obligatory in marriages, or could a couple opt for
another property regime? She noted that the rules of joint property generally discriminated against
women.