......... on in n in tance o en, how 58. Conditions were such as to enable women to have access to education and specialized training, as well as to provide the social and political opportunities to stimulate their own growth and increase their capacity. The high number of women act~ve in the People's Chamber, to which they were democratically elected, demonstrated the confidence of the general electorate in women. The fact that that had been achieved in the last 30 years showed some measure of progress. It re pation o or pay tor nt by a It h ~n lth rape 59. Information was provided which related to the internal structure of the Government, of the mUlti-party system and on how international conventions were applied and publicized. He further outlined stipulations in the Labour Code regulating women's and young people's work, facilities for and assistance to women with children, including education and training, and he read out specific parts and articles of the Constitution, the Family Law and the Civil and Labour Codes. He also provided information on the political sphere of action of the women's organization in the German Democratic Republic, the Democratic Women's League. 60. Criminal acts against women were punishable under the Penal Code and violations of labour law provisions could be brought before the Labour Court. Under civil and family law, women could appeal against offences in the administrative f~eld. 61. :IS With regard to the situation of rural women, he explained that, as members of co-operatives, women were better able to avail themselves of their rights. Up to now, 79.4 per cent of all women in agriculture had comp~eted vocat~onal tra~n~ng. They enjoyed regular working hours i had rree time and were able to avail themselves of existing educational facilities. In addition, the co-operatives haa brought shorter working hours, a reduction of heavy physical labour and paid annual holidays. agr~~ultural prOduct~on ~d j that rk , areas rj oy ed rt Lon . :he !e ly the re !, and ider :) ; .ron ictiua.I ~ss • 62. The emancipation of women, especially at home, he said, was ultimately only through the emancipation of both sexes ana traditions were being examined to see if they merited survival. In addition, women had been given the freedom to choose the number and spacing of their children. The birth rate had increased, which showed that working mothers were able to combine their professional career with their family responsibilities. There were over 200 counselling centres to assist with that problem. Single mothers or fathers with children up to three years old could not be dismissed from their Job, and single mothers or fathers were entitled to leave with pay in order to care for sick children. Information was given concerning the problem of divorce. The divorce rate was 1 per cent of all marriages or 40,000 divorces a year. At the same time, it was stated that society had undertaken comprehensive efforts to strengthen marriages which were in difficulties and prepare youths more suitably for marriage and family responsibilities. poss~ble 63. Mothers with two or more young children enjoyed a 40-hour working week on full pay, instead ot the normal working week of 43 3/4 hours, and all married women, mothers with young children and single women aged ·~O or over had a day off with pay every month for household chores. 64. Prostitution was alien to the society and was prohibited and punished by law. rape and traffic in human beings were also punishable under the Penal Code. Concerning women's access to courts in discrimination cases, he pointed out that they could file suits in labour, civil and family courts. Batter~ng, -11-