(a) the unemployment 57. On article 11, more information was requested on: rate in northern and southern Italy of women by age group, in comparison with that of men; (b) the average income level of women and of merit and (c) the It was asked whether Equal Employment Opportunity Law (903/77), of 1977. Italy had ratified the Convention concerning Equal Opportunities and Equal Workers with Family Responsibilities Treatment for Men and Women Workers: (No. 156) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and whether the Government had considered the introduction of parental leave. Regarding the fines foreseen under the Law for the Protection of Working Mothers, it was asked whether the fines mentioned therein were imposed in practice8 how many such cases had been reportedt and whether women in domestic service were covered by maternity protection. Members inquired about the number of cases that had been filed under, and the practical results of, the procedure of Law 903/77 and about the social security protection of women working in family enterprises. They asked for recent statistics on child-care facilities and asked whether the most frequent ambition of young girls in southern Italy was to get married at an early age or to undergo training and to move to a bigger city. Questions were also asked about the number of, and the situation of, migrant workers. 68. On article 12, members asked whether lower income groups could easily obtain contraceptivos$ whether measures protecting women’s heal&were available for all women, including single women, young women ana women in rural areas; and under what kind of sanitary conditions abortions were carried out. More information was requested on the abortion law. It was asked whether the number of adolescent pregnancies was growing and whether the product RU466 was allowed in Italy. 59. Regarding article 13, members asked whether women suffered discrimination in gaining access to loans and financial services they could participate equally in sports. de facto and whether 60. On article 14, it was asked whether women received training in new technologies, whether women were given the possibility of participating in political bodies in rural areas, and whether the law concerning their It was asked whether participation in rural cooperatives was being changed. women were entitled to own land and whether there were programmes for women who were heads of households. 61. On article 16, members inquired about the provision in the Civil Code that gave the father of the child sole responsibility in case of “immediate danger of serious harm to the child”. It was asked what happened if the father was not available or if the danger originated from the father, As regards alimony, it was asked how payment could be enforced, how long it could take for the payment to be effected and which factors determined the allocation of alimony. Further clarification was requested or the property regimes in marriage. It was asked how de facto unions were dealt with, and what the inheritance rights of the children of such unions and the alimony provisions were. 62. In replying to questions raised, the the preparation of the initial report had interministerial committee on human rights Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Afterwards, -15- representative of Italy noted that been started by an ad hoc , which had been established by the the report had been revined by the