CEDAW/C/1997/3/Add.3
English
Page 9
10. Madame Ivanka Corti, President of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women, was one of the principal guests at the conference
of 4 March 1996 organized by UNESCO and France for International Women's Day.
It dealt with violence against women throughout the world. b/ With this
participation, UNESCO was able to explain to the public at large the work of
CEDAW and its important role in improving the status of women.
IV.
UNESCO ACTIVITIES AND BREAKDOWN OF STATES' REPORTS TO
THE SIXTEENTH SESSION OF CEDAW CONCERNING ARTICLE 10
OF THE CONVENTION
11. Article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women states that every effort shall be made to favour
the participation of women and girls, on a footing of equality, in all forms and
at all levels of education, management and planning in the field of education
and in decision-making in this sector. The article calls for equality of
treatment between the sexes and an improvement in the quality of public
education in general.
A.
UNESCO activities designed to implement article 10 of
the Convention
1.
Activities to promote equality of opportunities between
men and women in education
12. UNESCO has a dual strategy in programme planning: to highlight women's
activities in key sectors of its educational programme and to implement special
programmes. Education forms the major share of its budget devoted to women.
Its activities are concentrated on basic education for all. The aims are mainly
increased access to, and improvement of, the quality and relevance of basic
education. The project for the renovation of general and vocational education
stresses the nature and content of the education given to women and girls.
Finally, it may be recalled that the programmes of basic education and universal
literacy are targeted on women and girls. The New Delhi office of UNESCO has
published a book for primary school teachers of girls in India: From Girl Child
to Person. Resource Materials for Teachers and Head Teachers of Primary Schools
in India. c/ In the restructuring of the Education Sector decided on by the
Director-General (July 1996), education for all occupies a central position and
clearly reveals UNESCO's priorities in this field.
13. As for the special projects, defined in time, space and by the budget, they
are mainly addressed to the problems of education, general illiteracy and the
training of women in science and technology. UNESCO considers that science and
technology are priority sectors for women's education. It has organized
numerous activities concerning women and science, particularly with
non-governmental organizations. It has also awarded to women scientists a
substantial number of scholarships to finance scientific research projects in
new fields. The world science report published annually by UNESCO devoted a
whole chapter to the place occupied by women in science and technology. This
/...