* Unlawful Sexual Intercourse

(Source: Chief Constable’s Annual Report 2005-2006)

13. The Sex Offenders Act 2006 introduced Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs), which are preventative orders designed to protect children, vulnerable persons and the general public from the risk of sexual harm. A SOPO, imposed by the courts and maintained by the police, can place restrictions on the behaviour of offenders convicted of certain sexual offences. A SOPO will aim to prohibit offenders from contacting their victims.

14. A new prison is presently under construction (due for completion in autumn 2007) which will improve the conditions for both women and men who are sentenced to custody by the Courts.

Article 7

15. Following the November 2006 General Election there are two women out of twenty four members in the popularly elected House of Keys. In addition, two members of the Legislative Council (eight members elected by the House of Keys plus HM Attorney General and the Lord Bishop) are female. One member of the Council of Ministers (the Chief Minister with the Ministers of the nine Government Departments) is a woman.

16. In the November 2006 General Election from the total of 55 candidates across the 15 constituencies, 6 were women. Despite the apparently low engagement of women in national politics in the Island , the Isle of Man Government is not aware of any barriers to female participation.

17. At Local Authority level (4 Town authorities, 2 District authorities, 3 Village authorities and 15 parish authorities) participation by women is higher.

18. The Isle of Man Government continues to promote an equal opportunities policy. A new Employee Handbook was issued in February 2007.

Article 8

19. No new information to report.

Article 9

20. No new information to report.

Article 10

21. Updated legislation in respect of educational provision in the Isle of Man (the Education Act 2001) was brought into operation in September 2004. The new legislation applies equally to all pupils, regardless of their gender, in schools provided or maintained by the Department of Education.

22. The Department of Education continues to actively support equal opportunities and in order to achieve centre approval for GNVQ programmes, schools are obliged to demonstrate the existence of equal opportunities policies.

Article 11

23. The table below provides information on employment in the Isle of Man at the time of the 2006 Interim Census.

Occupation	Total	Females	Males
Corporate Managers	5,039	1,550	3,489
Managers and Proprietors in Agricultural Services	1,567	648	919
Science and Technology Professionals	917	92	825
Health Professionals	371	121	250
Teaching and Research Professionals	1,385	941	444
Business and Public Service Professionals	1,779	703	1,076
Science and Technology Associate Professionals	595	97	498
Health and Social Welfare Associate Professionals	1,305	1,097	208
Protective Service Occupations	433	66	367
Culture, Media and Sports Occupations	469	192	277
Business and Public Service Associate Professionals	1,766	745	1,021
Administrative Occupations	6,667	4,629	2,038
Secretarial and Related Occupations	1,494	1,431	63
Skilled Agricultural Trades	933	110	823
Skilled Metal and Electrical Trades	1,466	19	1,447
Skilled Construction and Building Trades	2,491	23	2,468
Textiles, Printing and Other Skilled Trades	741	260	481
Caring Personal Service Occupations	2,198	1,957	241
Leisure and Other Personal Service Occupations	971	706	265
Sales Occupations	2,164	1,488	676
Customer Service Occupations	325	233	92
Process, Plant and Machine Operatives	849	124	725
Transport and Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives	1,332	78	1,254
Elementary Trades, Plant and Storage Occupations	930	78	852
Elementary Administration and Service Occupations	2,578	1,372	1,206
Unidentified	18	3	15
Total employed	40,783	18,763	22,020
Unemployed, seeking work	1,010	376	634
Total economically active	41,793	19,139	22,654

24. In relation to training schemes with which the Department of Trade and Industry has a direct involvement, current figures indicate that in construction related apprenticeship schemes 206 participants are male and 3 female; in non construction related schemes (e.g. engineering, hairdressing, information technology) 156 participants are male and 36 female; and in office technology courses there are 8 male and 15 female participants.

25. The Employment (Sex Discrimination) Act 2000 continues to be the Island ’s main legislation for the prevention of discrimination in employment. The Department of Trade and Industry employs an Equality Advisor to promote the Act and other anti-discrimination good practice in the field of employment.

26. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2003 (SD 877/03) which came into operation on 1st October 2004 include, inter alia , a requirement for a risk assessment in respect of the health and safety of new or expectant mothers.

27. The Employment Act 2006 has consolidated, with amendments, existing enactments and conferred new rights on employees and workers. A number of items of relevant subordinate legislation made under the 2006 Act were approved by Tynwald in March 2007:

Maternity Leave Regulations 2007 [SD No 76/07]

Adoption Leave Regulations 2007 [SD No 77/07]

Suspension from Work on Maternity Grounds Order [SD No 98/07]

Parental Leave (Disabled Child) Regulations 2007 [SD No 97/07]

Flexible Working Regulations 2007 [SD No 96/07]

Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2007 [SD No 104/07]

28. At present the state pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men. But the state pension age for women will be increased gradually from 2010. By 2020 the state pension age will be 65 for both men and women. This change, which is in line with provision in the United Kingdom , has the following effect:

Women born before 6 April 1950 are not affected and will still get their state pension at age 60;

Women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1955 will have a set date when they can claim their state pension. Their state pension age will be between 60 and 65 depending on their date of birth;

Women born on or after 6 April 1955 will get their state pension at age 65.

Article 12

29. The Isle of Man Government continues to provide the widest range of health services, to the highest practical standard, to all Island residents, regardless of their gender. Hospital based services are now largely provided in the new Noble’s Hospital, situated on the outskirts of the Island ’s capital, which opened in July 2003.

30. The Department of Health and Social Security has commissioned a breast screening call and recall service. From February 2007 women aged between 50-70 years, registered with GP in the Isle of Man , will be invited for breast screening every two years. A letter, including an appointment and information leaflet will be sent direct to women at their registered address.

31. Women over the age of 70 will still be able to self-refer themselves for screening if they so wish and women under the age of 50 worried about any breast problems can contact their GP who will refer for a specialist opinion.

32. The average infant mortality rate (number of deaths of children aged less than one year per 1,000 live births) during the period 2000 to 2004 was 3.67.

Article 13

33. The Isle of Man still maintains a reservation under this article concerning the tax status of married women. However, with effect from 6 April 2006 (tax year 2006/2007) married couples who elect to be jointly taxed will be jointly and severally liable for their income tax affairs. Both spouses will be jointly liable for any amounts of income tax that may become due and both spouses will be required to sign the annual tax return and other forms that may be issued by the Income Tax Division.

34. In addition, a married person who has previously been jointly taxed with their spouse may revoke this treatment and elect to be taxed separately.

35. Consideration will therefore be given in the near future to the withdrawal of the Island ’s reservation under this article.

36. The rates of maternity benefit, child benefit and other benefits have been increased annually and information on the most relevant benefits is provided with this report. Information on the full range of social security benefits available in the Isle of Man can be found on the website of the Department of Health and Social Security at: http://www.gov.im/dhss/security/

Article 14

37. No new information to report.

Article 15

38. No new information to report.

Article 16

39. The Matrimonial Proceedings Act 2003 has been enacted. This Act, which was brought into force on 1st April 2004, updates and re-enacts with amendments a number of earlier enactments relating to matrimonial proceedings. The Act includes provisions in respect of: proceedings for divorce and annulment; proceedings for maintenance; family homes and domestic violence; and property of married persons.

Optional Protocol to the Convention

40. The Isle of Man Government agreed that the Island should be included within the scope the United Kingdom ’s accession to the Optional Protocol to CEDAW. Accompanying the UK ’s instrument of accession to the Optional Protocol, deposited on 17th December 2004, was a declaration confirming territorial extension to the Isle of Man. In accordance with article 16(2), the Optional Protocol has therefore applied to the Isle of Man with effect from three months following that date.

Appendix

Documentation provided to the Committee with this Report

Acts

Education Act 2001

Employment Act 2006

Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2006

Matrimonial Proceedings Act 2003

Sex Offenders Act 2006

Secondary legislation

Maternity Leave Regulations 2007 [SD No 76/07]

Adoption Leave Regulations 2007 [SD No 77/07]

Suspension from Work on Maternity Grounds Order [SD No 98/07]

Parental Leave (Disabled Child) Regulations 2007 [SD No 97/07]

Flexible Working Regulations 2007 [SD No 96/07]

Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2007 [SD No 104/07]

Matrimonial Proceeding (Pensions) Regulations 2004 [SD 225/04]

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2003 [SD 877/03]

The Education (Curriculum) (No.2) Order 2004 [SD 555/04]

Guidance and other documentation

Isle of Man Census Report 2006

Isle of Man Government Equal Opportunities Handbook

DTI Guide to employers on genuine occupational qualifications

DTI Guide to employers on fair advertising

DHSS Which Benefit? Guide (FB2 (IOM))

DHSS Guide to Maternity Benefits (NI17A (IOM))

DHSS Guide to Child Benefit and Guardian Allowance (CH1 (IOM))

DHSS Guide to Family Income Supplement (FIS5 (IOM))

DHSS Benefits for persons in work (Section 2)

DHSS Benefits for children (Section 4)

DHSS Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Benefits (Section 3)

Human Rights Act 2001 – A Brief Introduction (Guide – October 2006)

Note by the Secretariat: Annexes to the report will be made available to the Committee in the language in which it was received.