276. Although it was impossible to indicate the percentage of those working in the Mlnlstry for Foreign Affalrs who were women, lt COU!d be stated that whlle as yet few women were ambassadors or occupied managerial posts, the number of women advlsers and technical specialists in the Minlstry had increased ln recent years, as had the participation of women in international bodies concerned with matters not ordinarily dealt with by women. 277. Regarding the family, counselling was provided through the National Group on Sexua! Education. The courts took al! pertinent decisions in relatlon to dlvorce, child custody and property. Common property was divided between the spouses and the court also deClded on the dlvislon ot household goOdS, bearlng 1n mlnd the interests of children. 278. Abortion was free and on request as long as it did not endanger the women's health. Also, the consent ot the parents was requlred ln the case of a minor girl in need of abortion. 279. Special maternlty provlsions eXisted, as stated ln the report, and the dletary supp!ement tor pregnant women conslsted of mllk and meat at a very low price, although the gOOdS were avallable on the free market and at olgher prices. The system of "collective feedlng" described in the report referred to workers' canteens in factories and other places of work where workers could buy meals at low prices. 280. Prostltutlon had been eradicated through a long process of compUlsory educatlon, rehabilltatlon and soclal work. The Penal Code defined prostitutlon as a "state of danger" and provided speciflc sanctions ln that regard not only tor the prostitute but also for the procurer. The same was true of the sale of and public exposure to pornography and other soclally deVlant behaviour. \ , 281. Some of the privileges accorded to women were based on their inherent biological differences. For that reason, a woman retired earlier than a man. However, men could also opt for early retirement if they were lncapacitated b.' sickness or accident. The Law on Protection and Hygiene at Work indicated, for the same reason, tasks which could be harmful to women owing to their physical and biological make-up. The text of the law was not available, but the next report of Cuba would include detalls of the regulatlons envisaged ln the law. 282. The Constitution guaranteed the right of all citj~ens to social security protection against old age, illness and accidents, and the social security legislation governed the implementation of that constitutional guarantee. The polltical. rights of women were enshrined in the Constitutlon as stated in the repor.t; AJ_though statistics were not available, the Commlttee could rest assured that ,-,omen held posts m the acmrnas t.r at ave and juc rc ra.r branches of the Government. A great deal remained to be done in that connection, especially with regard to the presence of women ln high-level posts. 283. The reference to freedom of artistic expression as long as the latter was not contrary to the Revolution had to be understood in its proper context, namely, that the Revolution had transformed the country from a colonial and neo-colonial stronghold to a place where human rlghts were observed. The Revolution had guaranteed the freedom and equality of all citizens and the right of all to employment, land, free education, medical care, soclal security, etc. Artistlc expression could not be permitted to dlverge from the principles of the Revolution, -40- nor int 284 wou una Cub 285 des' rep worn