equal share of places for men and women in formal educational institutions. 63. Thailand would be able to withdraw its reservation to article 11 (1) (b) (employment) now that its laws provided for equality in that area. 64. The Government was also planning to withdraw its reservation to article 15 (3) (legal capacity), since men and women now had equal rights to enter into contractual relations. (Ms. Suorata Masdit. Thailand) 65. The reservation to article 16 (matrimonial matters) took account of certain laws and practices which were incompatible with the Convention. The Government was taking a step-by-step approach in that area. The National Commission on Women's Affairs had recently suggested that it become compulsory to stipulate marital status on identification cards, in order to prevent bigamy. 66. The last reservation, concerning article 29 (1) (International Court of Justice), was in conformity with international practice. 67. The prospects for progress in eliminating discrimination were encouraging from several standpoints. In addition to the desire to withdraw at least two reservations, there was a very clear trend towards amending the law on prostitution so that, rather than branding prostitutes as criminals, the emphasis would be on prevention and rehabilitation. There was also a proposal to expand maternity leave and to introduce paternity leave. 68. There was also increasing awareness of the need to see the development of women and children in the broader context of the protection of the family system. The Government had just designated a national family day and was exploring the possibility of more concrete strategies in that area. 69. In conclusion, the political and social will for more law reform and for changes in policy and practice was gaining ground. The challenges were many; women's rights must be shown to be compatible with national security, suggestions for reform must be put into action, the necessary resources must be allocated and 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be discussing the efforts of the Thai government to promote gender equality and implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The text highlights various initiatives, such as withdrawing reservations, amending laws, and introducing new policies, to address discrimination against women. The focus is on promoting women's rights and addressing gender disparities in areas such as education, employment, and family life.

**Category**
Education, Employment