members of Parliament out of a total of 650, or 6.3 per cent. Some groups had set themselves the target of achieving 50 per cent representation. 3. In the judiciary, 43.8 per cent of the magistrates were women, but there were almost none among the senior judges. The situation should, however, improve with time, as more and more women were entering the legal profession and acquiring experience and would therefore be qualified to fill senior posts. 4. The proportion of women in the Civil Service was 49 per cent, but they were mostly concentrated in the lower grades ; the Action Programme in effect since 1984 had led to improvement in the representation of women at senior management levels as well as in the scientific and technical branches, where they were underrepresented but their numbers were increasing steadily. 5. The number of persons working part time - of whom the majority were women - was also increasing at all levels. Departments v/ere now able to offer up to five years' unpaid leave to staff wishing to take a career break in order to care for their children; since February 1989 the Departments were able to provide financial support for workplace nursery facilities. In addition, the number of holiday playschemes for the children of civil servants was increasing. In some places child care was also facilitated by the existence of child-minding schemes. Maternity leave had recently been increased to 14 weeks, and those concerned could, if they wished, take up to 52 consecutive weeks; a paternity leave of 2 days had also been introduced, 6. In order to accelerate the promotion of women, the length of service required in each grade to be eligible for promotion had been reduced to two years in 1989, 
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the representation and empowerment of women in various professions and workplaces, including Parliament, judiciary, Civil Service, and part-time work. It highlights initiatives and policies aimed at promoting women's participation and improving work-life balance, such as maternity leave, paternity leave, and childcare support.

**Category**
Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief