owingtoalackofpolitical awareness amongwomenortotheirpersonal preoccupations. Theparticipation ofwomenintheelectoral process varied from oneelection toanother andfromoneleveltoanother. Atthelocallevel,itwas higher because ofvigorous competition amongcandidates, whileitwaslowerin general elections owingtolackofinterest. Following the1987elections, there were10womenamongthe248members oftheAdvisory Council and16amongthe /...• CEDAW/C/SR.164 English Page11 (Mr.Galal, Egypt) 453members ofthePeople's Assembly. Thatnumber waslowerthanitshouldbe, although itrepresented anadvance overthesituation in1976,whentherehadbeen only7womeninthePeople's Assembly. 56.Therewerenumerous women's organizations: theorganizations affiliated with eachofthesixpolitical parties; sectoral women's organizations; andnational women's organizations suchastheNational Commission for'Womensponsored bythe Ministry ofSocialAffairs. Theobjectives ofthoseorganizations differed, but allofthemsoughttopromote theadvancement ofwomen,theroleofwomenin society andequality between menandwomen, andtheyundertook topublicize the Convention onsuchoccasions asWomen's Day,Mothers' DayandChildren's Day. 57.Egyptdidnothavetwowomenministers, asstatedintheEnglish version of itssecondreport, butonewomanminister withtwoportfolios, namelysocial affairs andsocialinsurance. Thatrepresented ameasure ofprogress, although morewasrequired. Article 9 58.Thematterofthereservations madetoarticle 9oftheConvention was,as previously stated, beingconsidered bylawyers, theMinistry oftheInterior and politicians. Article 10 59.Womenweremovingintonewfieldsofwork,including thepolice, the judiciary, law,engineering, medicine, science, civilaviation andthearmed forces, allofwhichwerenon-traditional areas. Theirnumbers, however, remained smallincomparison withthoseofmen.Thedrop-out rateforgirlswashigherthan thatforboys,andthatwasduetoeconomic andsocialreasons, inclUding early marriage amonggirls. Norelevant statistics wereyetavailable, andanendeavour wouldbemadetoprovide thematalaterstage. Therewasstillacertain amount ofilliteracy amongyoungpersons ofbothsexes. Although elementary education was freeandcompulsory andtherewasanenrolment rateof80percent,economic circumstances prompted pupilstodropoutandseekworkatanearlyage. Article 11 60.Theunemployment rateformalesinthetotalwork-force wasabout 8.5percent,thatforfemales about6.2percentandthatforbothsexesabout 14.7percent. Workintheprivate sector wasgoverned bysupplyanddemand, and theGovernment couldnotimpose onthatsector employees ofaparticular kind, whether menorwomen. Theprivate sector was,however, obligated toobserve certain rulestoensurethegranting ofthesameentitlements available towomenin government jobs,suchasthreemonths' maternity leaveandleavetoaccompany a husband, andenterprises employing morethan100womenwererequired toprovide day-care facilities. I..•CEDAW/C/SR.164 English Page12 (Mr.Galal. Egypt) 61.The.recommendation onhalf-time workwithhalfpayhadbeenimplemented ona limited scaleincertain Stateagencies, although itwasstillasubject ofgeneral discussion. Inviewofthefactthattherecommendation hadbeenmadeonan optional basis, nostatistics onitsimplementation wereavailable. 62.Thelimitation placed onmaternity leavetoonlythreetimesduring awoman's working lifewasrequired byeconomic considerations andalsobylawsoasto encourage f~ilyplanning inacountry suffering fromoverpopulation. Womencould obtaincontraceptives freeofchargeatfamilyplanning centres, butabortion was punished bylawsinceitwasincompatible withIslam. Article 12 63.Theinfantmortality ratewasfalling because ofimproved healthcare,andthe samewastrueinrelation tomothers. Theannualbirthrateremained highbecause ofalackofawareness inthecountry ofthegravity ofthepopulation problem. The651familyplanning centres remained i~sufficient. Egyptian legislation prohibited abortion induced byanymeansandwithorwithout theconsent ofthe woman, andthepractice waspunished byhardlabour, imprisonment orhardlabour forlifeaccording tothecircumstances. 64.Juvenile delinquency amonggirlsdidexistinEgypt,although itwasnota serious problem. Thecohesion ofthefamilyensured thatgirlswereconservative
**Analysis**
The text discusses various aspects of women's rights and participation in Egyptian society, including their representation in government, employment, and education. It also touches on healthcare, family planning, and juvenile delinquency. Given the focus on social and human rights issues, it is likely that the text falls under the categories related to human development and social welfare.

**Category**
Education, Employment, Health