Gabon GAB

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon) said that Gabon had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention in 2004.

Abstaining Armenia, Gabon, Guatemala, Mexico.

(Libreville, Gabon 15 19 May 1995)

I now call on the representative of Gabon.

Abstaining Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Swaziland, Togo.

The reports would also be disseminated in Gabon.

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon) said that most of the legal texts in Gabon needed to be strengthened to ensure that there were no differences between legal texts and practices.

Abstaining Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Gabon, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka.

Combined second, third, fourth and fifth periodic reports of Gabon

Combined second, third, fourth and fifth periodic reports of Gabon (continued)

Mr. Moungara Moussotsi (Gabon) (spoke in French) The delegation of Gabon, through me, congratulates Benin on its initiative to convene this debate on the sensitive topic of children and armed conflict.

Ms. Zou Xiaoqiao welcomed the efforts being made by the Government of Gabon to assume its responsibilities under the Convention, even though, as a developing country, Gabon faced special problems and challenges.

She hoped that new population figures for Gabon would be available in 2005.

Abstaining Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka.

The 2004 Human Development Report also contained no female employment indicators for Gabon.

She informed the Committee that Gabon had ratified the relevant International Labour Organization conventions.

Abstaining Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Togo.

5. The training course was attended by 25 participants, 12 of whom were from Gabon.

Abstaining Burkina Faso, Congo, Cuba, Gabon, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka.

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon), referring to the practice of polygamy, acknowledged that it might be difficult to convince the Committee's experts that women in Gabon did indeed have the right to choose and to have recourse to the judicial system.

The Government of Gabon provided secretarial support and local transportation for the benefit of the participants.

Furthermore, she wished to know whether women had the right to ask for divorce in Gabon.

The President of the General Assembly, Jean Ping (Gabon), served as Chairperson of the Working Group.

The Co Chairperson (Gabon) (spoke in French) We have heard the last speaker for this meeting.

At the invitation of the Chairperson, the delegation of Gabon took places at the Committee table.

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon) said that couples had the choice of opting for monogamous or polygamous marriages.

Ms. Mboga (Gabon) said that the Act introducing the new Nationality Code had now been adopted.

Concerning the MTR of the Gabon programme, a delegation expressed satisfaction that child trafficking was now considered a criminal offence in Gabon, and supported the MTR suggestion that the Government consider the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Ms. Mboga (Gabon) said that all international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination against Women, became part of national law following their ratification, and the legal remedies that they provided became available to women in Gabon.

(c) Holding the Biyongho 2003 military peacekeeping exercise at Franceville, Gabon, from 21 to 28 July 2003

Women must be given full equality, and Gabon must endeavour to find a way to guarantee it.

The next report should clearly address the issue of female genital mutilation, if it existed in Gabon.

She enquired whether the Government of Gabon had such plans and how it would abolish discriminatory laws.

While the relevant texts had not yet been amended, the issue was of major concern to Gabon.

Statements were made by the representatives of the United Kingdom (on behalf of the European Union) and Gabon.

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon) said that public and private nurseries were available for the children of all working women.

Some Parties, such as Chad, Gabon and Haiti, have implemented activities that have climate change and biodiversity components.

At the invitation of the Chairperson, the members of the delegation of Gabon took places at the Committee table.

Ms. Mboga (Gabon) said that, despite some difficulties stemming from traditional customs, women and children enjoyed guaranteed inheritance rights.

Abstaining Burkina Faso, Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo.

Abstaining Argentina, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gabon, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Togo.

Abstaining Bhutan, Burkina Faso, China, Egypt, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Togo.

President Venetiaan My delegation is pleased to see the delegations of Gabon and Sweden presiding over this very important meeting.

Ms. Makaya Fayette (Gabon) said that early pregnancy was one of the main causes of declining school attendance among girls.