CEDAW/C/SR.l79 English Page 6 (Ms. Licuanan) equal work. any claims would therefore go through the normal channels in regard to violations of labour laws. 28. She was unable to give a specific reply to question 4 but would consult the relevant provisions for any discrepancies. Her country was a signatory to all ILO Conventions and. to the best of her knowledge, legal provisions and practice were in conformity with them. 29. Replying to question 5, she said that draft legislation in support of paternity leave had been brought before Congress at the initiative of a number of non-governmental organizations. There was some controversy over the idea, even among women's groups, where there was some doubt as to whether such leave would be properly used by men to help in the home. 30. In reply to question 6, she said that there were laws providing for the establishment of day-care centres, and such facilities did exist, but the supply fell far short of needs in a country with a very large young population. The shortfall was particularly acute among the lower-income groups. A number of non-governmental organizations were working actively to improve the situation. Many government departments now ran day-care centres at the workplace. 31. On question 7, she said that the inadequacy of statistics about women in general was a major concern of NCRFW. Gender data was seldom supplied or was not processed. The situation was even worse concerning overseas workers. Strenuous efforts were being made, however, to improve statistical data, with the willing co-operation of government agencies. The Government was also well aware of the need to protect overseas workers, especially those in domestic positions, but in the case of the latter protection measures were restricted by the difficulty of access to private homes. 32. In reply to question 8, she was glad to report that, on the initiative of a rural women's NGO, a code concerning the workers in question was currently being drafted and would be brought to the attention of the legislators, the aim being to afford them the same protection as regular workers. Article 12 33. In reply to question 1, she said that it was seen as the right of the couple, and not the right of the State, to choose the number and spacing of children in the family. That principle was clearly enshrined in the Constitution and was applied in practice. Women's freedom of choice in the matter required consciousnessraising among both men and women; the latter were not very assertive about their rights in her country. 34. Replying to question 2, she said that there were general laws against violence, but draft legislation was also now pending specifically relating to violence in the home. The increasing awareness about a subject previously considered taboo was noteworthy, as was the fact that many of the authors of the bills were men. 35. She could provide no specific figures in reply to question 3, and suspected that government data would not be very eloquent, since awareness about HIV infection and AIDS was still at the very early stages. I . ..