Gabon GAB

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

Ms. Mboga (Gabon) said that, as a result of the advocacy of human rights groups, the death penalty could not be handed down for the crime of trafficking in children.

In November, Gabon had also hosted the sixth conference of the Network of Gabonese Women Ministers and Parliamentarians, which aimed to increase women's representation.

I now call on the representative of Gabon.

The reports would also be disseminated in Gabon.

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.

The Drafting Committee held a total of six meetings on the two topics indicated above.

Therefore, a clarification was sought from the Gabonese Government.

Ms. Ngoma (Gabon) said that, following the submission of the report, a population census had been conducted in 2003, the findings of which were currently being analysed.

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.

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

There was also the problem of a dowry being paid upon marriage, which the report stated was banned under Gabonese law, but which persisted as a custom in the country.

Mr. Mezeme Mba (Gabon) said that his delegation categorically condemned terrorism and called on Member States to reach speedy agreement on the two draft conventions under consideration.

(Libreville, Gabon 15 19 May 1995)

She was convinced that such achievements were fully within Gabon's reach.

Gabonese men were also strictly prohibited from hitting their wives.

Abstaining Armenia, Gabon, Guatemala, Mexico.

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.

The Chairperson said that the exchange with the delegation, focusing on issues that were crucial for women in Gabon, had been intensive and constructive.

The information in the report submitted by Gabon and the follow up questions raised the issue as to how that machinery tied in with other Gabonese institutions.

Ms. Šimonović said that, given Gabon's recent ratification of the Optional Protocol, women in Gabon would have an additional tool to challenge the implementation of the Convention at the national level.

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

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

Joseph Serugendo, former technical director and founding member of the notorious Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), was arrested in Gabon with the assistance of the Gabonese law enforcement authorities.

In its report, the Committee had expressed concern at the statement made in the conclusion of Gabon's initial report, to the effect that the situation of women in Gabon remained a comfortable one.

She was convinced that by introducing electoral quotas, Gabon could significantly improve women's participation, especially now that it had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

The situation of Gabonese women had improved in several ways.

Lastly, the delegation had stated that there was a prohibition against women exercising their professions outside their homes.

In June 2004, the Evian approach was applied to examine the debt of Gabon, and the Debt Sustainability Analysis concluded that Gabon's debt is sustainable in the short term.

The periodic report had received much media attention in the country and had been discussed with civil society organizations and development partners before it had been presented to women in the country.

Mr. Flinterman said that Gabon's statement and the reports had referred to article 2 of the Constitution of Gabon, which ensured all citizens equality before the law without regard to sex, race, opinion or religion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Under the law, a woman married to a Gabonese man could not work outside the home.

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

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