224. The Committee (CEDAW/C/13/Add.13 CEDAW/C/SB.181). considered the second periodic report of Rwanda and Amend.1) at its 16lst meeting, on 26 January (see 225. The representative of Rwanda. in replying to the questions asked by members, said that the statistical data requested would be supplied later, he had asked his Government to provide them, but they had not yet arrived, as 226. As regards general questions, he stated that the Government was making efforts to integrate the advancement of women into the country’s development plans by promoting literacy and awareness among women. Once women were aware of their rights, he said, they could ensure that their concerns were included Development issues relating to women, suoh as the in all development plans. low rate of literacy, were the subject of reports submitted to the bodies and specialised agencies of the United Nations, such as the United.Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientifio Andy Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). members asked whether the Government did 221. In their additional questions, not consider it necessary to introduce further legal measures to protect women’s interests. The representative stated that the Conventjon had been ratified without a full study being made of how its provisions could be Members also expressed some concern translated into national legislation. that women’s needs were not taken into account in the context of requests for international aid. The representative stated that the problems of women’s illiteracy were dealt with by literacy campaigns carried out by UNICEF. UNERCO had also been approached for help. Community training centres had been set up to provide courses in reading , writing, hygiene and artisanal work. 226. Referring to article 2, he said that part I of the Civil Code, entitled “Family Code”, had already entered into force. Some of the provisions that constituted progress for the status of women were that a man was no longer the presumed head of the family and that in the case of dissolution of marriage, the care for the children had to be subject to an agreement between the spouses. He said that the provisions aoncerning dowry had led to heated debate. No legislative measures other than the Civil Code had been taken yet to eliminate discrimination against women nor had the limitation on the appointment of women to the presidency been abolished. 229. Under article 2, additional questions referred to the relation of the Convention to the national legal system. It was asked whether the Convention became automatically part of.the national legal system and whether it could be The representative explained that the directly invoked before the courts. Convention was in conformity with the Constitution, but in Rwanda it was not the Convention that was directly ratified by the Parliament, but the law to which the text of the Convention was annexed. Once the law concerning the ratification of the Convention had come into force, the Convention was accepted by the Parliament. 230, Turning to article 3, he said that Urunana rw’ Abanyarwandakaei mu Majyambere (URAblA) was closely connected to the revolutionary movement and benefited from state subsidies. The representative provided no information -45- on