Displaying 43626 - 43650 of 58126 recommendations found
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
Type:Review DocumentationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:Reference AddressedContents:CRC was deeply concerned about the high rate of adolescent pregnancies, especially on the island of Principe. It recommended that Sao Tome and Principe, inter alia, adopt a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health policy for adolescents. [Para 29] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:BrazilBrazilRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the treaties already signed, such as ICERD, ICESCR, ICCPR, and CAT. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:SudanSudanRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Accede to the OP-CRC-SC. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:ChileChileRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIIssue:
- Gender equality
- Gender perspective in policies, programmes
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Redouble efforts to ensure gender equality in the country's political, social, economic and cultural activities, and generate strategies that allow obtaining data for all the indicators to be used to monitor the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals from a gender perspective. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:LuxembourgLuxembourgRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOIFIssue:
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Strengthen the capacities of the domestic violence-counselling centres and the reception and support structures for victims of domestic violence. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Russian FederationRussian FederationRegional groupEEGPolitical groupCISIssue:
- Marginalized groups of women
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Ensure the protection in law and in practice of the rights of vulnerable groups of the population, in particular women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and ethnic minorities. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:N/AContents:... In the artisanal fisheries sector, the [Infrastructure Rehabilitation for Food Security Support Project] contributed to increasing security at sea and to the professionalization of fishermen and women fish vendors. [Para 78] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Gender equality
- Domestic violence
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:N/AContents:"This general principle is included in the Constitution in several articles and in
particular in article 15 on the principle of equality, article 26/3 on the family, marriage and
paternity, article 32 on freedom of the choice of a profession, article 42/3 on the right to
work, article 55 on the right to education, article 57 on participation in public affairs and
article 64/2 on the duty to defend the country. Several laws aimed at guaranteeing the
defence and promotion of gender equality have been adopted, and there are other legal
provisions and other norms, such as the law on the family (Law No. 2/77), the law on social
security (Law No. l/92); the law governing labour conditions (Law No. 6/92), the law on
national defence (Law No. 2/94), the law creating the National Institute for the Promotion
of Gender Equality and Equity (INPG) (Law No. 18/2007), the law on domestic violence
(Law No. 11/2008) and the law on reinforcing legal protection mechanisms covering
victims of crimes of domestic violence (Law No. 12/2008). [Para 56]" -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Step up its efforts to protect the rights of the child, especially those living in situations of poverty, victims of child prostitution, and children with disabilities. In this regard, conduct a comprehensive review of its national legislation to guarantee the full application of the principle of non-discrimination and adopt a national strategy to remedy this situation as recommended by the CRC in 2004.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 133) It should be highlighted that these legal measures have been consolidated in the new Criminal Code, which has numerous articles aimed at protecting the rights of children, as set out in international standards, in particular the following: ...
(m) Article 175 on sexual abuse of children;
(n) Article 176 on sexual abuse of adolescents;
(o) Article 177 on sexual acts with adolescents;
(p) Article 178 on homosexual acts with adolescents;
(q) Article 179 on prostitution of minors;
(r) Article 180 on child pornography;
Para 137) The exploitation, sexual violence and prostitution of children are social phenomena which are becoming increasingly important globally and Sao Tome is not exempt. Internal measures have thus been implemented to prevent and combat the development of these phenomena. The measures involve numerous public and private organizations, such as INPG, the Support Centre for Domestic Violence, education centres, social communication and the Association of Women Jurists, in national awareness-raising campaigns to prevent and combat exploitation, sexual violence and child prostitution.
UN Compilation:
Para 13) The CRC welcomed the revision by Sao Tome and Principe of its Penal Code in 2012 to explicitly include provisions on sexual abuse, exploitation of minors and child trafficking ... -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:TurkeyTurkeyRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOICIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Accelerate the process of ratification of the ICCPR and ICESCR ...ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … In 2017, it ratified: the ICCPR, the OP-ICCPR; … the ICESCR;
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:AustraliaAustraliaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Sign and ratify the OP-CRC-SC.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … It has also ratified the OP-CRC-SC, …
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 18) Just Atonement Inc … regretted that Sao Tome and Principe had not ratified the OP-CRC-SC. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:FranceFranceRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOIFIssue:
- Gender equality
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Strengthen the effective implementation of the measures aiming at combatting discriminations and violence against women.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 14) … Women are equal to men in rights and duties and are guaranteed full participation in political, economic, social and cultural life, in accordance with the provisions set out in articles 6 and 15 of the Constitution. Consequently, all forms of discrimination are prohibited in Sao Tome and Principe.
Para 16) In order to enforce this constitutional measure, a number of laws and decrees have been introduced containing legal provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination against and ill-treatment of children. They include: • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence, which provides for the establishment of mechanisms to prevent and punish domestic and family violence … • Act No. 19/2018, the Family Code, which regulates, inter alia, the system of equality between spouses, leadership and representation of the family, the duties of spouses, addresses of family homes, the duty of care between spouses and children and the duty to contribute to family life.
Para 19) With specific reference to bodily harm and physical violence, article 7 (a) defines physical violence as follows: “Physical violence is understood as any behaviour that damages bodily integrity or health, such as slapping, pulling, pushing, hitting, pinching, biting, scratching, kicking and assaulting with weapons or objects”. Article 19 of the Act provides for penalties for offences of causing bodily harm, in the following terms: “Any person who, by committing abuse in a domestic or family setting, harms the body or health of another person, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of from 3 to 8 years”. The penalties for aggravated offences of causing bodily harm are set out in article 20 of the Act. Para 20) Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, also provides for the punishment of offences of bodily harm in general, in articles 141 to 151, and against minors in particular, in article 152. It cannot therefore be said that any legislation exists in Sao Tome and Principe that permits bodily harm against children or any other persons.
Para 25) The Counselling Centre against Domestic Violence has improved certain aspects of its internal conditions and acquired computer equipment to enable its offices to communicate with District Commands and the National Police Department in the Principe Autonomous Region. It has also set up a shelter for victims, produced behaviour change communication materials, conducted local outreach campaigns and a participatory baseline study on domestic violence, and evaluated the implementation of the Gender-based Violence Strategy and its respective update for the period 2019–2023.
Para 26) However, it should be noted that the Centre still faces many difficulties in ensuring its proper functioning.
Para 28) Also in the context of capacity-building for the judicial system, a process to modernize the entire justice system has been launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The aim of the process is to modernize the system’s organization, management, human resources and physical and information technology infrastructure, as well as the provision of equipment and materials. To this end, a series of actions are planned, including: … The establishment of a directorate general for crime prevention dedicated to tackling domestic violence …
Para 81) Recommendations 108.36, 108.37 and 108.39 essentially call for measures to counter all forms of discrimination and violence against women. Sao Tome and Principe has adopted a series of legislative and other measures to combat this evil, which is taking root in society: • Social Security Act No. 1/90 establishes the right to maternity leave. Women are entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave, or 75 days in the event of a multiple birth. The Act sets the retirement age for both men and women at 62 years. • Articles 23 and 27 of Social Security Act No. 7/2004 establish the right of self-employed workers to join a social security scheme, thus filling a gap left by Act No. 1/90 and giving a large percentage of women workers in this category (self-employed, informal and domestic workers) the opportunity to join an integrated social protection scheme that provides them with a pension, among other things. • Act No. 11/2008 on Domestic and Family Violence provides for the creation of mechanisms for the prevention and punishment of domestic and family violence, in line with the commitments made under the CEDAW, and for the establishment of courts specializing in cases of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. It also provides for measures to assist and protect victims of domestic violence. It defines the concept of domestic violence as “any act or omission occurring within the family or household that causes death, injury, physical, sexual or psychological suffering and material or non-material damage or deprivation of liberty in the following situations”. The Act also identifies and defines six forms of domestic and family violence, namely, physical, psychological and sexual violence and financial and emotional abuse. The penalties for offences that fall within these categories of violence are established in articles 13, 15, 17, 18 and 19 of the Act. • Act No. 12/2008 on Strengthening Legal Protection Mechanisms for Victims of Domestic and Family Violence Offences raises national awareness of violence of this kind, which constitutes a flagrant violation of women’s rights, and helps women themselves to break the silence on the subject and to draw attention to the problem by reporting cases of domestic and family violence, which was previously not considered an offence. • Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, was adopted in order to protect against and prohibit all forms of discrimination and violence against women, ill-treatment and exploitation of minors and subordinates, domestic violence and so on. Articles 129 to 256 of the Code establish penalties for these offences. • Article 242 (2) of Act No. 2/2018, the Civil Service Act and Regulations, establishes the right to maternity leave of 98 days, which may be combined with annual leave and may begin 30 days before the baby is due. • Articles 15 to 22 of Act No. 62/2019, the Labour Code, stipulate that pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth and breastfeeding workers are prohibited from performing certain activities and establish the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination in the field of employment by defining and expressly prohibiting gender discrimination, among other kinds of discrimination. • Act No. 19/2018, the Family Code, covers all the legal situations that affect families and are addressed in constitutional principles, the CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. • Article 4 of Presidential Decree No. 3/2004, ratifying an ILO convention, stipulates that women are entitled to 14 weeks’ maternity leave, from 8 weeks before the birth to 6 weeks after the birth, and that this leave may be combined with annual leave. • It should be noted that, in addition to passing these laws, the Government, with the support of its development partners, has organized training and capacity-building activities for the officials responsible for their application and for members of civil society organizations, in order to raise awareness of their content.
UN Compilation:
Para 12) UNICEF stated that the districts of Mé-Zóchi and Lembá were among those with the highest rates of domestic violence, according to the national police. Mé-Zóchi included some of the most populated rural communities in the country. The preliminary results of the study financed by UNICEF in 2018 on the impact of interventions against domestic violence showed that awareness of domestic violence as a crime had increased in communities in the most remote areas of the country, such as those in the districts of MéZóchi and Lembá. That knowledge resulted from awareness-raising activities supported by United Nations and other organizations. Nevertheless, existing gender dynamics affected the translation of the knowledge into new behaviours.
Para 13) UNICEF noted the critical situation of women in the country, and that worrying phenomena continued to be observed in the area of child protection, including child labour, violence against children (corporal punishment was common), sexual violence and early marriage.
Para 14) UNICEF also noted that some of the most critical barriers to eliminating violence against children and women included strong gender stereotypes and discrimination, as well as multiple-partner dynamics out of wedlock, leading to an absence of social and economic responsibility by males, and the use of corporal punishment by caregivers.
Para 48) The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) noted that some progress on women’s rights had been achieved in Sao Tome and Principe. However, work still needed to be done to achieve gender equality. As at February 2019, only 14.5 per cent of Parliament seats were held by women.
Para 49) UN-Women also referred to concerns regarding the proportion of women aged 20– 24 years old who were married or in a union before age 18, the adolescent birth rate, and the proportion of women aged 15–49 years who had reported that they had been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. Women aged 15–49 years often faced barriers with respect to their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Para 50) UN-Women further noted that, in Sao Tome and Principe, data was available for only 22.5 per cent of the indicators used to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals from a gender perspective, with gaps in key areas such as unpaid care and domestic work, and for key labour market indicators such as unemployment rate, gender pay gaps and skills in information and communications technology. Many areas, such as gender and poverty, women’s access to assets, including land, physical and sexual harassment, and gender and the environment, lacked comparable methodologies for comprehensive and periodic monitoring. Addressing those gender data gaps was a prerequisite for understanding the situation of women and girls in Sao Tome and Principe and for achieving the gender-related Sustainable Development Goal commitments.
Para 51) ILO stated that, in the economic sphere, it had been found that, although women in Sao Tome and Principe were more active than men, particularly in the informal sector, they still had little economic power, according to a poverty profile study. Accordingly, one of the country’s development challenges was to ensure equal enjoyment for men and women of favourable conditions and opportunities to achieve self-reliance.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 12) The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights noted, as a step forward, the holistic efforts of Sao Tome and Principe to combat gender-based domestic violence and child abuse. The Commission noted in particular the introduction of appropriate legislation and the establishment of entities and institutions to that effect, including the Counselling Centre against Domestic and Spousal Violence. The Commission also appreciated the awareness-raising campaigns, including the “green ribbon” campaign against child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes, among other violations of women’s and children’s rights.
Para 13) Despite notable advances, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights remained concerned about the high prevalence of child abuse, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use and related gender-based crimes.
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual exploitation / slavery
Type:Review DocumentationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:Reference AddressedContents:... The CRC recommended that the State, inter alia, ensure mandatory reporting of cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and develop programmes and policies for the prevention, recovery and social reintegration of child victims. [Para 13] -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify ICCPR and ICESCR, which it signed in 1995. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:GermanyGermanyRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the OP-CRC-SC. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:FranceFranceRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOIFIssue:
- Intersex persons' rights
- Rights of same-sex desiring persons
- Transgender persons' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Continue efforts to combat discrimination against LGBTI persons. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:CameroonCameroonRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Continue the progress made in promoting the right of women and girls. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:IranIranRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupOICIssue:
- Domestic violence
Type:RecommendationSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Develop necessary legislation measures to combat domestic violence in particular in areas with high rate of domestic violence. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:AlgeriaAlgeriaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Adopt plans for the promotion and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 120) The Government has also adopted numerous legislative provisions in the national legal order: ... Act No. 6/2012, which approves the new Criminal Code, defines certain crimes against women and children, in order to accelerate proceedings in respect of them ...
Para 121) In respect of the participation of women in public life, in 2009, the National Assembly adopted a resolution on parity which establishes a quota of 30 per cent for female representation in the Parliament (R74/08/2009).
Para 122) Also in the context of measures to protect women and children, in February and March of 2013, the Government, in partnership with the country's Association of Women Jurists and with financing from the embassy of the United States of America, carried out a large-scale campaign to prevent human trafficking in rural areas. Its objectives were to disseminate information on the phenomenon of human trafficking, to encourage more active citizenship and to strengthen the capacity of citizens and institutions in ways of taking action in the context of human trafficking.
Para 123) Another noteworthy measure is the implementation of article 4 (on maternity leave) of the Maternity Protection Convention through Presidential Decree No. 3/2004 of 4 February, published in Official Gazette No. 3 on 6 April 2004, which provides that: "A woman to whom this Convention applies shall be entitled to a period of maternity leave of not less than 14 weeks, on production of a medical certificate or other appropriate certification, as determined by national law and practice, stating the presumed date of childbirth." This measure represents an additional achievement in advancing the rights of women and children.
Para 124) In addition to the measures mentioned above, it should be noted that the Government, in its various public policy programmes, has introduced actions to promote gender equality, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:MaldivesMaldivesRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupOICCommonwealthIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
Type:RecommendationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Work with WHO and ILO to improve levels of sanitation, hygiene and maternal health care in order to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.ImplementationUN Compilation:
Para 27) The Committee noted as positive that the primary health-care services provided free consultations and medication for children under 5 years of age, pregnant women ... -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Harmful practices based on cultural / traditional values
Type:QuestionSession:37th Session, January 2021Status:Not Followed up with a RecommendationContents:Just Atonement Inc recommended to adopt and implement an educational programme to prevent harmful practices of witchcraft. [Para 14]
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:10th session, February 2011Status:Reference AddressedContents:"CRC recommended that Sao Tome and Principe: keep implementing measures to
guarantee universal access to primary health care, especially maternal and child health-care
services and facilities, including in rural areas … [Para 23]" -
State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:CanadaCanadaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Complete the ratification of key international instruments that Sao Tome and Principe has signed, including the ICCPR and ICESCR.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … In 2017, it ratified: the ICCPR, the OP-ICCPR; … the ICESCR;
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify the six core international human rights instruments, including ... ICESCR.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 11) … In 2017, it ratified: … the ICESCR;
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State Under Review:Sao Tome & PrincipeSao Tome & PrincipeRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFSource Of Reference:MexicoMexicoRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:23rd session, November 2015Status:AcceptedContents:Reform the relevant legal framework to fully ensure the application of the principles of non-discrimination and equality in the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for persons in vulnerable situations, especially women ...ImplementationNational Report:
Para 14) … Women are equal to men in rights and duties and are guaranteed full participation in political, economic, social and cultural life, in accordance with the provisions set out in articles 6 and 15 of the Constitution. Consequently, all forms of discrimination are prohibited in Sao Tome and Principe.
Para 16) In order to enforce this constitutional measure, a number of laws and decrees have been introduced containing legal provisions prohibiting all forms of discrimination against and ill-treatment of children. They include: • Act No. 19/2018, the Family Code, which regulates, inter alia, the system of equality between spouses, leadership and representation of the family, the duties of spouses, addresses of family homes, the duty of care between spouses and children and the duty to contribute to family life.
Para 81) Recommendations 108.36, 108.37 and 108.39 essentially call for measures to counter all forms of discrimination and violence against women. Sao Tome and Principe has adopted a series of legislative and other measures to combat this evil, which is taking root in society: • Social Security Act No. 1/90 establishes the right to maternity leave. Women are entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave, or 75 days in the event of a multiple birth. The Act sets the retirement age for both men and women at 62 years. • Articles 23 and 27 of Social Security Act No. 7/2004 establish the right of self-employed workers to join a social security scheme, thus filling a gap left by Act No. 1/90 and giving a large percentage of women workers in this category (self-employed, informal and domestic workers) the opportunity to join an integrated social protection scheme that provides them with a pension, among other things. • Act No. 6/2012, the Criminal Code, was adopted in order to protect against and prohibit all forms of discrimination and violence against women, ill-treatment and exploitation of minors and subordinates, domestic violence and so on. Articles 129 to 256 of the Code establish penalties for these offences. • Article 242 (2) of Act No. 2/2018, the Civil Service Act and Regulations, establishes the right to maternity leave of 98 days, which may be combined with annual leave and may begin 30 days before the baby is due. • Articles 15 to 22 of Act No. 62/2019, the Labour Code, stipulate that pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth and breastfeeding workers are prohibited from performing certain activities and establish the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination in the field of employment by defining and expressly prohibiting gender discrimination, among other kinds of discrimination. • Act No. 19/2018, the Family Code, covers all the legal situations that affect families and are addressed in constitutional principles, the CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. • Article 4 of Presidential Decree No. 3/2004, ratifying an ILO convention, stipulates that women are entitled to 14 weeks’ maternity leave, from 8 weeks before the birth to 6 weeks after the birth, and that this leave may be combined with annual leave. • It should be noted that, in addition to passing these laws, the Government, with the support of its development partners, has organized training and capacity-building activities for the officials responsible for their application and for members of civil society organizations, in order to raise awareness of their content.
UN Compilation:
Para 13) UNICEF noted the critical situation of women in the country, …
Para 48) The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) noted that some progress on women’s rights had been achieved in Sao Tome and Principe. However, work still needed to be done to achieve gender equality. As at February 2019, only 14.5 per cent of Parliament seats were held by women.
Para 49) UN-Women also referred to concerns regarding the proportion of women aged 20– 24 years old who were married or in a union before age 18, the adolescent birth rate, and the proportion of women aged 15–49 years who had reported that they had been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. Women aged 15–49 years often faced barriers with respect to their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Para 50) UN-Women further noted that, in Sao Tome and Principe, data was available for only 22.5 per cent of the indicators used to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals from a gender perspective, with gaps in key areas such as unpaid care and domestic work, and for key labour market indicators such as unemployment rate, gender pay gaps and skills in information and communications technology. Many areas, such as gender and poverty, women’s access to assets, including land, physical and sexual harassment, and gender and the environment, lacked comparable methodologies for comprehensive and periodic monitoring. Addressing those gender data gaps was a prerequisite for understanding the situation of women and girls in Sao Tome and Principe and for achieving the gender-related Sustainable Development Goal commitments.
Para 51) ILO stated that, in the economic sphere, it had been found that, although women in Sao Tome and Principe were more active than men, particularly in the informal sector, they still had little economic power, according to a poverty profile study. Accordingly, one of the country’s development challenges was to ensure equal enjoyment for men and women of favourable conditions and opportunities to achieve self-reliance