United Nations CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 Convention on the Elimination Distr.: General 14 November 2011 of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Original: English ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Seychelles Combined initial, second, third and fourth and fifth periodic report [12 October 2011] GE.11 CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1993 – 2009) Combined initial, second, third, fourth and fifth periodic reports Seychelles, October 2011 Ministry of Social Development and Culture Gender Secretariat Republic of Seychelles © Copyright 2011, Ministry of Social Development and Culture Registration No: P281, Cultural Property and Copyright Unit, Office of the Principal Secretary Culture Department Ministry of Social Development and Culture First printed 2011 All rights reserved. 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Design: Peter Pierre-Louis Cover: Artwork by Christine Chetty Fanm 9 2m x 2m mixed media 2004, Seychelles ISBN: 978-99931-833-0-3 2 CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 Contents Paragraphs Page List of Tables: ................................................................................................................ 4 List of Boxes ................................................................................................................ 5 List of Figures ................................................................................................................ 5 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................. 6 Preface ................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction and Background ........................................................................................................ 10 PART I Article 1: Definition of Discrimination .......................................................................................... 19 Article 2: Obligations to Eliminate Discrimination ...................................................................... 24 Article 3: Advancement of Women ............................................................................................... 30 Article 4: Acceleration of Equality between Men and Women ..................................................... 37 Article 5: Sex Roles and Stereotyping .......................................................................................... 39 Article 6: Exploitation of Women; Trafficking and Prostitution ................................................... 44 PART II Article 7: Political and Public Life ................................................................................................ 48 Article 8: International Representation .......................................................................................... 61 Article 9: Nationality ................................................................................................................ 63 PART III Article 10: Education ................................................................................................................ 65 Article 11: Employment 79 Article 12: Access to Health Care .................................................................................................. 89 Article 13: Economic and Social Life ........................................................................................... 105 Article 14: Rights of Rural Women ............................................................................................... 118 PART IV Article 15: Equality before the Law and Civil Matters .................................................................. 130 Article 16: Equality in Marriage and Family Relations ................................................................ 135 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 141 Annex 1: Bibliography ................................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Annex 2: Appendices ................................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3 CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 List of Tables: Table 1: Women at a Glance Table 2: Recent Laws and their Impact on Women Table 3: Gender Balance of Votes Cast in Elections from 2001 to 2007 Table 4: Voter Participation by Sex: 2007 Presidential Elections Table 5: Number of Men and Women in the National Assembly from 1993 to 2009 Table 6: Number of Ministers from 1993 to 2009, by Sex Table 7: Diplomatic Cadre of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by Sex Table 8: Public Expenditure on Education as a Percentage of Total Public Expenditure and of GDP Table 9: Enrolment in Schools, by School level, Year and Sex Table 10: Ratio of Girls to Boys in Education Institutions Table 11: Number of Teachers in 2008, by Sex and Nationality (government schools) Table 12: Number of Teachers by Qualification and Level, 2009 Table 13: Literacy Rates for Persons above 15, by Age Group and Sex Table 14: Student Drop Outs from 2004-2009, by Sex Table 15: Labour Participation Rates in 1994 and 2002, by Sex Table 16: Pattern of Employment, by Sex Table 17: Surveyed Working Population (aged 15 and above), by Occupation and Sex Table 18: Survey Working Population, by Industry and Sex (% within sex) Table 19: Survey Working Population by Industry and Sex (% within industry) Table 20: Vital and Health Statistics Table 21 Number of Health Professionals, by Year Table 22: Total Expenditure on Health (SCR) as % of GDP Table 23: Key Indicators of Teenage Reproductive Behaviour in Seychelles from 1996 to 2006 Table 24: Abortions Reported in Wards in Seychelles from 1995 to 2007 Table 25: HIV/AIDS and Hep C Situation from 1987 to September 2009, by Sex Table 26: Benefit Types and Rates Table 27: Sector Dominance by Women, by Year Table 28: Cottage Industries Registered with SEnPA, by Sex Table 29: No. of Women in Coaching, Officiating and Administration Table 30: Population by Administrative Divisions in 2002, by Sex Table 31: Comparison of Basic Amenities and Communications in 1999/2000 and 2006/2007 Table 32: Composition of District Committees, by Sex Table 33: Percentage of Population Aged 15+ in 1994 and 2002, by Marital Status and Sex 4 CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 List of Boxes Box 1: Seychellois Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms Box 2: Gender Portfolio Locations Box 3: Article 24(1) Right to Vote, Constitution of Seychelles Box 4: Article 3, Right to Vote, Constitution of Seychelles Box 5: Right of Assembly and Association Box 6: Right to Education, Constitution of Seychelles Box 7: Article 35, Right to Work, Constitution of Seychelles Box 8: Article 29, Right to Health, Constitution of Seychelles Box 9: Principles of the Draft National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health Box 10: Article 39, Right to Culture List of Figures Figure 1: Budget Allocation for Gender Activities Figure 2: Budget Allocation for Social Development Division/Policy Planning Section Figure 3: Attendance Rates for Literacy Classes from 2001-2003, by Sex Figure 4: Literacy Rates for Population Aged 15 or more, by Sex Figure 5: Reported Income Group of Households, by Sex of Head of Household Figure 6: Risk Factors Associated with Circulatory System Figure 7: Pap-Smear Attendance from 1998-2007 Figure 8: Loans Approved, by Year and Sex Figure 9: Value of Loans Approved, by Year and Sex Figure 10: Estimated Population Density, Mahe, 2008 Figure 11: Family Tribunal Spousal Violence Cases Registered from 2006 to 2009, by Sex 5 CEDAW/C/SYC/1-5 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ALDEC Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre APSHF Association for the Promotion of Solid and Humane Families Art. Article ASFF Alliance of Solidarity for the Family AU African Union BAS Bar Association of Seychelles Cap. Chapter CCA Concessionary Credit Agency CDCU Communicable Disease Control Unit CDS Curriculum Development Section CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women CESD Climate and Environmental Services Division CEO Chief Executive Officer CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child CSO Civil Society Organisation DA District Administrator DBS Development Bank of Seychelles DRDM Department of Risk and Disaster Management EDF European Development Fund EFA Education for All EMPS Environment Management Plan of Seychelles EU European Union FAWE Forum for African Women Educationalists FBO Faith Based Organisation FLHE Family Life and Health Education GBV Gender Based Violence GDI Gender Development Index GDP Gross Domestic Product GEM Gender Empowerment Measure GMAS Gender and Media Audience Study GMS Gender Management System HBS Household Budget Survey HDI Human Development Index HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HR Human Resources HSA Health Services Agency IDC Island Development Company ICPD International Conference on Population and Development