CEDAW/C/1997/3/Add.3 English Page 21 1. (a) UNESCO activities to identify and implement legal texts designed to establish equality of opportunity between men and women, in particular, article 2 of the Convention Programme of legal apprenticeship and literacy 31. In its plan of action 1996-1997 UNESCO has included a programme of legal apprenticeship and literacy. Its aim is to allow women and politicians to identify any law or rule that runs counter to the principles of equality between men and women and of non-discrimination against women. It is also designed to train legal technicians so that they can apply more efficiently, and gain greater control over, legal equality between the sexes. UNESCO is also conducting a programme of education and training in human rights and is encouraging any initiative taken on these lines. In 1995 it took part in the publication of a collection of reports following a workshop held from 12 to 13 May 1993 on education, training and information concerning human rights in Namibia. The collection was entitled Human Rights Education and Advocacy in Namibia in the 1990s: A Tapestry of Perspectives. Part Three of the collection is devoted entirely to the problem of equality in law between men and women in Africa. It also states the views of African women - Namibian women in particular - on human rights. See Part III, "Towards a Gender-Balanced Perspective on Human Rights in Africa: Human Rights through the Eyes of African Women; Women and Law in Namibia: A Call for Reform; Human Rights through the Eyes of Namibian Women." (b) Programme to apply the laws protecting women against violence in private and public life 32. Violence against women is an extreme form of discrimination. UNESCO promotes campaigns against such violence and organizes programmes to protect the victims. This year it sponsored the conference of 4 March to celebrate International Women's Day. The conference was devoted to violence against women throughout the world and studied the legal procedures best suited to combat it. The seminar held after the conference discussed in detail the legal difficulties involved and the scope of the measures required. The conference revealed the diversity of violence against women (prostitution, trafficking, conjugal violence, certain cultural and religious practices) and the diversity of the socio-cultural contexts in which they take place. It took note of the experience of Canada, the first country to work out a real policy for helping women victims of violence. This policy was supported by a stable government and a network of aides and services. A plan to prevent, detect and oppose conjugal violence was signed by the Prime Minister and countersigned by the Ministries of Justice, Health, Social Services and the Status of Women. Canada was also the first country to establish by law programmes for dealing with violent spouses. Canada's example shows what can be done by national institutions in the fight against violence and the protection of women victims. (c) Meeting of the "Collective Maghreb Egalité" (Tunis 19-24 April 1996) 33. The Collective is concerned mainly with the elimination against women in the legislation of the Maghreb countries, in particular texts dealing with personal and family relations. These discussions have become more and more /...