51. It was also pointed out that the report concentrated on women's situatlon in the pUbllC sector, but dld not refer expllcltly enough to the status of women in private life. In that regard, several questlons were posed regarding inheritance laws, dlvorce laws, provlslons regardlng "reglstered" marrlages as opposed to common law unions, the legal standing of children born out of wedlock and of unmarrled mothers, asslstance to women and famllles ln the ralsing of chlldren, how that affected the birth rate and the policy of the family-planning programme. It was further pointed out that most of the measures mentioned ln the report were women-oriented and little was said as to provisions for the father's participation in the chlld-rearlng responslbllitles ana in the home. There seemed to be no indication, it was also noted, that paternity leave had been introduced. :I :I, LC 52. Hegardlng labour law, lt was asked whether the prlnciple of equal pay for equal work was guaranteed and, if so, whether lt lncluded the idea of equal pay for work ot equal value. Also, clariflcatlons were requested as to what was meant by a "working day" and a "working week", in terms of the number ot worklng hours. It was also asked whether new provisions had been made to protect women's health ln occupations which required or involved new technologies. 1 ~d . 53. Other questlons regarding prostltutlon and rehabllitatlon were raised wlth regard to the Penal Code. Neither was it clear whether sanctions regarding rape had been introduced and whether crlsis centres had been established as well as counselling and other measures specifically devised for rape victims. ~ ,I fi ~ 54. { With regard to women's partlclpation in agriculture, questions were asked the particular situation of women working in such a highly advanced technological society as the German Democratlc Hepubllc. It was well known that women who worked in the rural areas performed of necessity heavy physical work. That fact had ln other countrles dlscouraged women trom working in the rural areas and caused their moving to the urban centres for better working and living condltlons. Informatlon was requested on whether women in the rural areas enjoyed the same facilities available in the cities. ~egarding t I ,r ~~, lR 55. It was also requestea that more lnformation should be provided on the obstacles encountered in the process of applying the principles of the Convention. That lnformation would enable the Committee to learn from the experience of the German Democratlc Republlc. It was also important to share the experience of States parties in the lmplementation of measures in all sectors and, for that purpose, examples would be welcome. t I' f I 19 f:i" I' ~ I" I l f' ~ 56. The request was made by several experts that, in future, all pertinent legislatlon mentioned in the reports should be made avallable to the Committee through the Secretariat. Such information could be deposited with and kept by the Secretariat for perusal by the members of the Committee. I. r t( if It j:{ th ~'1 ~. i ':1 57. The representative of the German Democratic Republic made a cou~rehensive statement, trying to answer a~l the questions put by members of the Commlttee, and explair,ed that the principle of equality was enshrined in the Constitution under articles 20 (equal rights for men and women) and 24 (equal pay for equal work); however, equality of women was not achieved by the mere enactment of legislation but, in addition, the necessary social conditions had to be created for the actual process to take place. His Government was trying to create those conditions through materlal and ideological measures and, in fact, it was still in process. .;•. 1 .; i ;1 j ,I :j -10-