114. The representative pointed out that, although women had achievea much in the pa6t, the previous system had imposed severe limitations. During the previous year, owing to political changes, it had been possible to identify real achievements witb the intention of protecting anrl strengthening them unaer the new conditions, ana making room for various initiatives and activities. Members expressed concern that historically, as well as in the women 00uia participate equally and experience of their respective countries. be accepted during wars and national revolutions, but when those ended, they could be marginalixed and relegated to the domestic sphere. 176. The representative stressed the need for the exchange of experience ana information at the international level. Such an exchange of information would inclut!le ways ana means of8 providing assistance in creating and operating small enterprises; obtaining loaner retrainingr and organizing various community services, such as day-care aentres, a6 well as affording more encouragement and, assistance to those women who were becoming more interested in performing traditional roles to participate in tbe labour force or in sog~~~l @l-J politi_c_al l&8* l76. Concerning the issue of the migration of women, the representative said that although awarenes6 existed of the problem of both the outflow of people to the West and the flow of emigrauts from the East and South-East, more -attention Shoula~be paid to the issue of migrant women. 117. Regarding a query about whether the present system of employment had -failed to create opportunities for graduates of the secondary-level general schools, the representative said that during the transition to a market economy more practical skills had been needed. Women rarely possessed such vocational skill6 and therefore haa been additionally disadvantaged. TWO possible way6 of improving the education system had been di6CU66edt either reorganising the entire system or creating an alternative system to compete with tbhe existing traditional ones. 178. A number of questions were posed regarding the measures improve the situation of women and to encourage them to take .ongoing political processes and decision-making at all levels. representative drew attention to the extended mandate of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women’s Affairs, including it6 develop ,further contacts with women and women’s organizatfonst branches in other town61 to create a women’s information and centrer and to commission further studies on the situation of level of activity would be determined by financial resources, undertaken to an active part in In reply, the new Office of the intention; to to open legal advice The women. however. 179. Rekponding to que6tions relating to article 2, the representative described the proposed transformation of the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary fox Women’s Affairs into the Office of the Minister-Member of the Council of Ministers responsible for Women, E’amily and Youth. The Minister would be able to initiate legislation and the staff of the Office The representative said that the Convention would be enlarged considerably. on tbe Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women had been All the women’6 organications and broadly publicisea and disseminated. institutions concerned, including the Seym, had been consulted in the The Commissioner for Civil Rights preparation of the third periodic report. (ombudsman) continued to play an important role in protecting the rights of -34-