requested on: measures to implement article of aatuel control of the land; and measures rights for women in the agrarian sector. 14 of the Conventionr undertaken to guarantee the issue equal 116. With regard to article 15, information was requested on the restructuring of the judicial system and the position of women before the law. It was asked whether women could go to court, whether they needed representation and how their aomioile was defined legally. Information was also sought on the nature of the matters brought before the courts. 119. On article 16, one question concerned the system of allocating allowances Specific information was requested in the ca6e of between family members. dissolution of a marriage and its financial implications. It was asked whether there was an inheritance law and whether such a law assisted women and Information was requested about the measures to inform women about children. Further their new rights and the strategies to change the de facto situation. the reasons for diSSolVing 8 questions were asked about the divorce rate: marriage: what the age of marriage was under the new family code; apd whether ~tieenew~code~excluded customary law. 120. In replying to questions raised by members, the representative of Burkina -Faso noted that the concept of the family in Burkina-Faso was different from that in Europe: the size of 8 family could be up to 20-30 persons, especially in rural areas. With regard to attitudinal Ch8nger she emphosized the importance of information and-awareness campaigns, 121. Regarding the legal situation, the representative said that under the new Code for Individuals and the Family, which had been in force since 4 August 1990, all customary law had been abrogated. Before its entry into force, the Code had been examined by various national organizations and would, she hoped, be applied vigorously. The principle of equality was strictly observed on,the national level: women were entitled to equal pay for work of equal value and to equal voting rights. Although there were, historically, Borne matriarchal societies in Burkina Faso , she said that the man remained the head of the family. Regarding the judiciary system, she noted that both the new people's conciliation court6 and the people's departmental courts tried to ensure that the judiciary system was baaed on principles of equality and transparency. ... c 122. Regarding organizations and structures, she said that the main tasks of the various national unions were the mobilisation, sensitization, training and organization of women and other groups. The unions worked at the village, departmental and provincial levels. She explained that, in the context of a multisectoral strategy, the Department for the Promotion of the Family could be reg.arded as the focal point for the advancement of women. 123, The Union of Women of Burkina Faso, which carried considerable political weight, orgenized seminars , conferences and development projects, mainly in the field of the political education of women. The National Popular Service, however, aimed at providing both girls and boys with military, political and civil training, which lasted from 18 to 24 monthat men and women performed the same tasks. -24-