notsupposed totakepartintheformation ofpolitical parties, buttherewasno restriction ondemands byunionsforbetterconditions ofwork. Headdedthat political parties hadtoseektoachieve theirobjective bypeaceful anddemocratic means. Withregardtothestatusofcharities, hestatedthatapplications hadto bemadetoaCommittee undertheMinistry ofSocialAffairs andthatthe Government's decision couldbeoverruled bythecourts. Concerning refugees, he statedthatEgyptwaspartytothe1951and1956Conventions, thattherewerevery fewrefugees inEgyptandthatEgypthadalwaysfollowed aconsistent policyof granting asylumtoasylum-seekers. Lastly, heemphasized thattherewasno restriction onfreedom ofmovement. Rather, ana~tempt wasbeingmadetocreate jobsinthecountryside, decentralize industry andprovide throughout thecountry thosefacilities whichattracted peopletocapital cities. 158.Withreference toarticle 7oftheConventi~n, therepresentative oftheState partyexplained thatinstruction wasbeinggivenontheConvention itselfaspart ofhumanitarian lawinlawschools, policeacademies andvarious otherinstitutions interested ininternational andlegalmatters. Austria 159.Theseventh andeighthperiodic reports ofAustria, submitted inone consolidated document (CERD/C/l58/Add.l), wereconsidered bytheCommittee atits ~37thmeeting, heldon11August 1989(CERD/C/SR.837). 160.Thereportwasintroduced bytherepresentative oftheStatepartywhosaid thatitwasintended tobeacomprehensive report, butthathewouldprovide any furtherclarification sought bytheCommittee, eitherverbally orinthenext periodic report. 161.Inwelcoming thereport, members wishedtoknowwhy,despite thecountry's Constitutional Lawontheimplementation oftheConvention, thereportstatedthat itwasnotdirectly applicable 1nAustria. Details ofparticular rightsgranted to orobligations imposed onAustrian nationals werealsorequested. 162.Withreference toarticle 2oftheConvention, members wondered whether there couldberealequality oftreatment forapersonseeking aposition ifhewere unabletospeakthelanguage ofthecountry. Theyaskedwhatstepshadbeentaken, orenvisaged, bytheGovernment ~oensureequality ofethnicminorities withother Austrians. -37-163.Turning toarticle 3,members wishedtoknowwhether Austria maintained diplomatic relations withSouthAfrica: theyalsoaskedfordetails ofthe commercial relations existing between thetwocountries, andifsuchrelations had increased ordecreased inrecentyears. 164.Inregardtoarticle 4,further details ontheimplementation ofthisarticle oftheConvention wererequested. Members askedifneo-Nazi associations were allow.d tobeformedinAustria, andiftheGovernment hadtakenanyspecial measures toprevent thecreation ofsuchassociations. 165.Withspecific reference toarticle 5,members requested information onmigrant workers, andwhether tl.~Government supported theirfamilies, particularly inthe fieldofeducation. Itwasaskedwhether dualcitizenship wasallowed inAustria, andhowthisaffected thevarious minorities inthecountry. Members wishedto knowwhether sp6cific guarantees totherighttoworkexisted intheConstitution. Tnequestion wasraisedastowhether theGovernment organized seminars tomake youngpeopleawareoftheneedtorespect humanrightsandtocombatracial discrimination. 166.Underarticle 6,itwasaskedwhether theOmbudsman couldonlybeapproached afteralllegalremedies hadbeenexhausted. Clarification wassoughtonwhether theOmbudsman wasempowered todealwithcomplaints madeagainst private employers orindividuals, andifpenalties wereimposed forrefusal toprovide theOmbudsman withrelevant information. Information wasrequested inthenextperiodic report ontheeffectiveness oftheAustrian systemoflegalprotection andthe accessibility oflegalremedies toallcitizens. 167.Responding toquestions raisedbymembers oftheCommittee, therepresentative statedthattheprovisions oftheConvention werenotdirectly applicable in domestic law,buttherelevant Constitutional Lawadopted in1973enabled the Convention tobeinvoked beforethecourtsoradministrative authorities. Onthe question ofspecific rightsandobligations imposed onAustrian nationals, the rftpresentative mentioned theobligation toundertake military service, whichwas notapplicable toforeigners.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report from a government to a committee, discussing various aspects of the country's laws and policies related to human rights. It touches on topics such as refugees, asylum seekers, freedom of movement, and equality of treatment, which suggests a focus on human rights and social issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Employment, Education