Reports by Specialized Agencies on the Implementation of the Convention in Areas Falling Within the Scope of Their Activities
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CEDAW/C/72/2 Distr.: General 3 December 2018 Original: English only ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Seventy-second session 18 February-8 March 2019 Item 6 of the provisional agenda Implementation of articles 21 and 22 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Reports by specialized agencies on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Summary In accordance with article 22 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the specialized agencies of the United Nations have been invited to submit to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, at its seventy-second session, reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities. CEDAW/C/72/2 I. Introduction 1. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), at its 72th session, to be held from 18 February to 8 March 2019 in the United Nations Office at Geneva, will examine the national reports of the following countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Botswana, Bulgaria, Colombia, Ethiopia, Serbia, and the United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 2. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the alleviation of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, and communication and information. In accordance with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021, gender equality has been designated as one of the two global priorities of the Organization and continues to be global priority for the period 2014-2021. The Priority Gender Equality is pursued through a two-pronged approach, (i) gender specific programming and (ii) mainstreaming of gender equality perspectives in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence. 3. UNESCO has a major role and responsibility within the United Nations system for the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Article 10 of the Convention provides that “the States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education…”. The right to education is at the very heart of UNESCO's mission and represents an integral part of its constitutional mandate. 4. UNESCO’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment, women’s rights and gender equality are guided by UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021, UNESCO’s quadri-annual and bi-annual Programme and Budget documents, UNESCO’s organization- wide Priority Gender Equality Action Plan for 2014-2021 which supports and guides the implementation of its global “Priority Gender Equality”, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action as well as resolutions and international and regional instruments relevant to UNESCO’s areas of action. 5. UNESCO’s commitment to pursue the priority Gender Equality is facilitated by the Division for Gender Equality in the Office of the Director-General. As the UNESCO focal point for gender equality, the Division provides policy guidance and recommendations to the senior management and the Programme Sectors for mainstreaming gender equality considerations in UNESCO policies, strategies and programmes; carries out capacity- building; monitors gender parity and work-life balance within the Secretariat and develops and establishes partnerships with other UN bodies, regional bodies, IGOs, NGOs, private foundations and private sector partners that support women’s empowerment and gender equality initiatives II. Measures taken by UNESCO to implement the provisions of CEDAW in the countries whose reports are to be considered at the 72nd session of the Committee Angola 6. Angola is not a party of the UNESCO Convention against discrimination in Education of 1960. The country did not respond to the Ninth Consultation of Member States on the Implementation of the Convention. 7. Article 21 (h) of the Constitution of Angola promotes equals rights and opportunities between Angolans citizens without any preconception of origin, race, politic affiliation, sex, colour, age or any other form of discrimination. Moreover, paragraph (i) of the same article states as main task of the State to realize massive and permanent investments to fully develop children and the youth in education, health and primary and secondary school. Further, Article 23 of the Angolan constitution states that everyone are equal in front the Constitution and the Law. No one can be discriminated against, privileged or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty for the reason of their ancestry, sex, race, ethnic, 2 CEDAW/C/72/2 colour, deficiency, language, birth place, religion, politics convictions, ideologies or philosophical, instruction level, economic, social or professional situation. 8. Article 35 (3) states that men and women shall be equal within the family, in society and before the state, enjoying the same rights and being responsible for the same duties. Paragraph 6 of the same article states that it is an absolute priority for families, the State and society the protection of children’s rights including the right to an integral and harmonious education and proper life, health and learning conditions. 9. Article 79 of the constitution guarantees the right to education. The state shall promote access for all to literacy, education, culture and sport, encouraging various private agents to become involved in their implementation, under the terms of the law. The state shall promote science and scientific and technological research. Private and cooperative initiatives in the spheres of education, culture and sports shall be exercised under the terms prescribed by law. Article 80 states that every child has the right to special attention from family, the society and the State, which have to coordinate themselves to ensure a wide protection against all forms of abandon, discrimination, oppression, exploration and abusive exercise of authority by the family or institutions. Concerning youth, article 81 guarantees that in order to ensure effective enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, young people shall receive special protection, particularly in education, vocational training and culture. 10. Angola has a 1-6-3-3 formal education structure. There is one year of pre-primary school, which has an official entry age of five and is referred to as Iniciação. Primary school, which is known as Ensino Basico Regular, has an official entry age of six and a duration of six grades. Primary school is compulsory and free of charge. At the end of the cycle, students receive the Certificat des Études Primaires. Secondary school is divided into two cycles: lower secondary and upper secondary. Lower secondary, which is known as Ensino Secundario Primeiro Ciclo, consists of grades 7-9 and culminates in the Certificat du Premier Cycle de l`Enseignement Secondaire; upper secondary, which is known as Ensino Secondario Segundo Ciclo, consists of grades 10-12 and culminates in the Diplôme du Deuxième Cycle de l`Enseignement Secondaire Général. In addition, Angola has a lower secondary vocational education track that lasts three years, and two upper secondary vocational education tracks that each last four years. The higher education is offered at universities, higher technical schools and academies. Higher education is structured in four levels: bacharelato for a duration of three years; licenciatura for a duration of four to six years; mestrado for a duration of two years after licenciatura; and doctorate for a duration of four to six years after mestrado. Antigua and Barbuda 11. Antigua and Barbuda is not a party of the UNESCO Convention against discrimination in Education of 1960. The country did not respond to the Ninth Consultation of Member States on the Implementation of the Convention. 12. Section 14 of Chapter II of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda entitled Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Individuals, guarantees the protection against discrimination on the ground of race, sex, etc, by stating that no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect and that no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority. 13. The education system in Antigua and Barbuda is influenced by the British system. It is compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. There are both public and private schools available and education can begin as early as the age of three in the kindergartens. From the age of five or six a child can attend a primary school until the age of twelve, then begin secondary education for a further four or five years. Entrance into the secondary system requires successful completion of the common entrance examinations. The state provides full five-year secondary education, where the students are equipped to take either Ordinary Level (O'Level) exams used to prepare the students for college and university level courses, or the Advanced Level (A'Level) exams which gives them entrance into the regional University of the West Indies or, if they desire, to foreign 3 CEDAW/C/72/2 universities. The country has three colleges, which includes the University of Health Sciences, University of the West Indies (which also has branches in other parts of the Caribbean) and the Antigua State College which provides technical and teacher training. Students who wish to study for degrees that are not available in the country opt for universities in Europe or North America. Botswana 14. Botswana is not a party of the UNESCO Convention against discrimination in Education of 1960.