[women-rights] Measures to improve the situation of women in the South Caucasus

Strasbourg, 17.01.2007 -- A report aimed at improving the situation of
women in the South Caucasus has just been adopted by the Committee on
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE).

According to the rapporteur, Vera Oskina (Russia, EDG), the situation is
worrying on several counts, the first of these being the participation of
women in political life: the parliamentarians deplored the current levels
of representation in the parliaments concerned - 4.6% in Armenia, 10.5% in
Azerbaijan and 9.4% in Georgia - and recommended an increase in the
minimum rate of female representation.

Concerning discrimination in the workplace, the parliamentarians have
called for a narrowing of the gap in salaries between women and men for
example, particularly in the private sector, as well as protection for
pregnant women against the loss of their job. In the health field, the
parliamentarians called for measures to reduce the number of abortions and
pregnancies among girls, through affordable or if necessary free
contraception.

Finally, the parliamentarians want the authorities of the countries
concerned to realise that violence against women exists, especially
domestic violence, a subject that is still largely taboo. Other aspects
covered include refugee and displaced women, and women in prison. The
committee wants the debate to be put on the agenda of the PACE spring
session.