CEDAW/C/SR.32
English
Page 2
The meeting was called to order at 10.30 a.m.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER
ARTICLE 18 OF THE CONVENTION (continued)
Hungary (CEDAW/C/5/Add.3) (continued)
1.
Ms. EL-FETOUH said that the examples given in the Hungarian report of specific
laws to be applied in implementation of the Convention should have been
supplemented by an explanation of exactly how they ensured that the Convention was
respected. The statistics on working women and women representatives to
legislative bodies were revealing and welcome.
2.
In the context of the implementation of articles 1 to 6, the Hungarian report
referred to severe sanctions which were applied in cases of violation of the
Constitution's prohibition of discrimination. She wondered whether that meant that
discrimination against women was a crime, and if so, what penalties were provided
under Hungarian law.
3.
According to the report, and in implementation of article 7 of the Convention,
article 68 (2) of the Hungarian Constitution provided that citizens could present
proposals of public interest to political and social organizations. She asked
whether the political and social organizations referred to were specific political
parties or governmental bodies and whether citizens had to be active members of a
party before they could submit proposals, or could do so simply by virtue of being
Hungarian citizens.
4.
In describing Act III of 1966, the report indicated that women played an
important role in trade unions, which were the largest of all mass organizations in
Hungary. She asked whether trade unions had a legislative function, and if so,
whether it paralleled or substituted for the work of regional and national
legislative organs.
5.
The National Council of Hungarian Women initiated the adoption of new laws and
monitored their implementation. Was the Council the only body empowered to perform
those tasks?
6.
Article 19 (2) of Act II of 1967 on the Labour Code provided that when similar
conditions prevailed, pregnant women and mothers with small children enjoyed
preference in respect of employment. She asked if that meant that they would be
chosen over a woman who was not pregnant or a man who might apply for the same job.
7.
With regard to the implementation of article 16, the report noted that the
legislation in force provided that husband and wife were duty-bound to support each
other. She inquired what form that support was intended to take, whether it was
absol~tel~ obligatory, and what measures were applied if it was not provided. She
also 1nqu1red about the results and background of the review of the role played by
women schoolteachers and whether they taught in secondary as well as primary
schools.
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