CEDAW/C/SR.37 English Page 13 (Ms. Cortes) growth rate, which was apparently very high. With regard to family centres, which appeared to have very important functions, it would be interesting to have more detailed information about their organization, financing and functioniny. The very detailed section of the report dealing with i;costitution led her to suppose that it was a widespread problem. It would be interesting to know whether that was the case, and how effective the punitive measures provided for under the law had been. In particular, it would be interesting to have more detailed information corx:erning the implementation of article 363 of the Criminal Code~ how that article was implemented and how effective it was. 44. Ms. JAYASINGHE associated herself with the positive comments which had been made concerning the introduction of the report. She asked what women's p:,sition was in the life of the country, what percentage women accounted for in the executive, legislative and judicial powers, in the country's working population and in senior posts, both of fie ial and private. It would also be interesting to have more data on the status of women in education. Wlat was the illiteracy rate for women? \'hat was the number of girls enrolled in schools, and what percentage of the total number of students did they represent? W1at proportion of all school drop-outs were girls? Likewise, it would be useful to know what mechanisms existed within the country to promote the advancement of women. Were there any official institutions or organs responsible for the i;com:>tion of equal rights for women? Were there any non-governmental organizations for that purpose? W1at mechanisms existed and how did they operate? 4 5. Ms. CARON thanked Ms. Baziyaka for her interesting introduction of her country's report, which had furnished valuable additional data. Little had been said about women's civil rights, especially as to whether or not women enjoyed full legal rights and could be financially independent, conclude agreen~nts and enjoy and dispose freely of their p:-operty without the intervention of their husbands. With regard to financial independence, she asked whether women could inherit property or whether, on the contrary, their position was analogous to that of iocompetents or minors. With regard to the punishment of adultery, she shared the astonishment of other speakers•. everyone knew that two persons were needed to commit adultery; why, then, were the punishments more severe for one of those persons than for the other? 4 6. Ms. MACEDO DE SHEPPARD remarked on the outstanding courage of Miss Baziyaka 's introduction. She had described the situation of women in I+landa in a very straightforward manner. Because of the brevity of the initial report, many questions had been raised about the lack of information, especially with regard to practical measures to ensure women's equality, statistical data regarding their political involvement, nationality, international representation, access to education, work, health care, social security, the involvement of women in ecol'XJmic life in rural areas, marital status, family rights and many other subjects covered by the convention. That information vacuum had been filled in somewhat by the extensive introductory statement, although some doubts remained. With regard to article 9 of the law of 28 February 19 67, which stipulated that married women exercising a profession or trade might join professional organizations and participate in their administration or leadership, the situation of women having a different marital status should be explained. With rogard to the extf:nsivt-s s ec'.':i'· I . ..