Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Niger (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous direct request, and in particular the new Constitution adopted by referendum on 26 December 1992 and promulgated by the Decree of 22 January 1993, which establishes multi-party democracy and the equality of all before the law without distinction as to sex, social, racial or ethnic origin, or religion and provides for statutory penalties against all forms of racial, ethnic, political or religious discrimination (section 9), in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Convention.

1. The Committee notes with interest the recent creation of the Ministry for Social Development, Population and the Advancement of Women, and several associations for the advancement of women, and would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide detailed information on the activities of these bodies to promote equal opportunities and treatment for women in employment and occupation and the results obtained, including any annual, periodical and other reports, studies or documents they may have published which are relevant to the Convention.

2. With regard to women's participation in employment in the public and private sectors, which the Committee considered to be low in its previous comments, it notes the Government's indication that no particular measures have been taken for women since they have the same rights and opportunities as men, particularly as regards access to all schools and training centres. The Committee draws the Government's attention to paragraphs 15, 158 and 170 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation, in which it stressed the affirmative action that must be taken in pursuing the national policy provided for in Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention, and the need to provide details on measures taken and results obtained. It therefore asks the Government to indicate in its next report the specific measures taken or envisaged in pursuit of the national policy on equality to promote the access of women to employment in the public and private sectors. Please provide information on the results obtained, including statistics of the percentage of women employed at the various levels and the number of women holding posts of responsibility.

3. With regard to education and vocational training, the Committee notes that data showing trends in the distribution, by sex, of students in vocational training centres will be forwarded once the National Guidance Committee has met and grants have been allocated. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will provide with its next report statistics of the percentage of female students in schools and vocational training centres, and will indicate the measures that have been taken or are contemplated to increase the number of girls attending such centres and other educational or training courses, so as to promote and diversify women's opportunities in employment and occupation.

4. The Government is asked to provide the information requested under points III, IV and V of the report form on the practical application of the Convention.