the physioian who performed it, should be subject to criminal proueadinys. A recent draft law transmitted by the Senate to the Seym. aimed at limiting the existing legal opportunities for abortion, had bean described in detail in the third periodic report of Poland. The representative said that the sex education of soaiety in general, including young people, had bsen Only 28 per cent of all Couples used contraceptives, which were insufficient. Confidential advice on contraception was free of available but expensive. charge and easily accessible. as wore all health services, including gynaeoological consultation. 194. Concerning questions on drug-related problems and AIDS, the representative said that a number of preventive activities had been carried religious and other voluntary institutions. out by eduoational, Although the number of opium addicts (lO,OOO-20,000) seemed to be rather low, the fact that the substance was administered intravenously had led to a rapid rise in the incidence of HIV infection. According to data for the period 1969 until 31 December 1990, 1,435 ~8606 of HIV infection had been reported, out of which -~1,026 were drug addicts. The ratio of males to females, which had initially -been eight to one, was four to one at the end of September 1990. AIDS -patients had been treated in eight hospitals and HIV-infected persons in There had been difficulties in establishing more special service centres. centres owing to hostility on the part of the looal population. 195. Regarding questions relating to article 14, on the situation of rural women, the representative stated that rural women were in a difficult financial situation: the new yovernmental Programme for the Improvement of Living Conditions in Rural Areas intended to redress it. 196. Regarding article 16, the representative said that the main reasons for the high divorce rate were conjugal infidelity, financial constraints and difficult living conditions (such as the lack of accommodation). In reply to the question on enforcement policies regarding the payment of allowances, the representative said that a woman who did not reooive maintenance from the man was entitled to claim it from a so-called Alimony Fund, to which the man was obliged to contribute or otherwise face charges by court. 197. In response to follow-up questions and oommsnts, the representative emphasised the importance of statements by membsrs encouraging the improvement of policies and programmes for the advancement of women in Poland that required the participation of women from the grass-roots level to the governmental level. Suoh participation would assist the Government to introduce major changes, The representative noted the value of international cooperation and exchange of experience in order to take advantage of existing & iure equalities as well 8s of pEirtiCuli3r opportunities to improve the situation of women. The representative referred to major obstacles, such as a workforoe segregated by gender: differential pay levelst the lack of participation in management, political processes and decision-making; traditional roles and attitudes; and a low level of legal literacy. 198. The representative said that an opinion had been she expressed by some social groups that a woman’s place was in the home, but she expressed the hope that that attitude would change with time, if women could act decisively to defend their status. -38-