However, in the actual implementation, these measures are not addressing the issues quickly enough due to various obstacles being encountered, such as gender insensitivity, ineffective mechanisms and institutions, among other things.

With regard to alleviating the impact of social disadvantage, racism and cultural insensitivity experienced by indigenous women, indigenous Women's Projects and the Family Violence Prevention Legal Service programme are the most relevant.

By contrast, those countries in which firms compete on price may have felt more pressure to move production abroad as domestic wages rose. Germany s relative insensitivity to rising costs could also explain why its government is comfortable with a strong euro, whereas France and Italy have been calling on the European Central Bank to weaken the currency.

While it is true that this Treaty does not now have any great practical effect, given the primacy of the principle of equality at both national and international levels, the majority position of the Court and its insensitivity on this issue are striking when compared with other issues on which it decided in favour of the rights of women.