Source: Annual Reports of the Women's Home, 2001 to 2005.

The objective of the three-year Interreg project entitled "Crossing boundaries – Setting boundaries" was to compile cross-border data on violence in marriages and partnerships and to educate and raise awareness by providing information. The project was jointly run by the Liechtenstein Office of Equal Opportunity, the Austrian province of Vorarlberg , and the Swiss canton of Graubünden and was concluded in July 2004. The planned measures – a campaign for general awareness-raising of the public, a survey and study on forms of violence and perceptions of violence in the domestic environment, and an information campaign to specifically raise the awareness of multipliers – were successfully implemented.

In 2004, an additional guide was developed for relatives and friends of victims of violence along with an emergency card that was translated into eight languages. The emergency card briefly explains that domestic violence is not a private problem and that various assistance offerings exist in Liechtenstein , Vorarlberg, and Graubünden. The card includes the addresses of the contact office. The card is very popular and has been reordered by various offices. Both of these products have been sent to public offices in Liechtenstein such as all doctors' offices, women's organizations, and municipal administrations, to offices of the National Administration engaged in transactions with the public, the National Hospital , care facilities, kindergartens, and schools. Other initiatives have been undertaken in Liechtenstein by the Office of Equal Opportunity in cooperation with the Liechtenstein Women's Home, such as a training event for nursing staff at the National Hospital .

In cooperation with the Women's Home, infra – the Information and Contact Office for Women, the Violence Protection Commission, the Theater am Kirchplatz, the Office of Social Affairs, and the Office of Equal Opportunity, a study entitled "Because walls cannot speak........they protect perpetrators" , undertaken as part of the Interreg project, was presented in conjunction with a forum theater performance. Another performance preceded by an introduction to the topic was organized for students in continuing schools. All presentations met with a positive response.

For the study "Because walls cannot speak........they protect perpetrators", telephone interviews were conducted in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein, and the Swiss canton of Graubünden, assessing what the population considers to be violence in couples. The representative survey interviewed 608 individuals, half of whom were women and half of whom were men. The selection of questions focused exclusively on events and actions that are considered violence by the current literature. In particular, the study was interested in the "gray zone" of violence, which is why particularly severe forms of physical violence were omitted.

91% of the interviewees believe that violence in couples is never permissible, even if other non-violent means of influence are ineffective. 95% of Liechtenstein residents believe that violence in couples is not permissible at all, while 91% of Vorarlberg residents and 87% of Graubünden residents share this view. The differences among the countries appear to indicate that differing values and norms exist in the three countries included in the survey.

26% of those surveyed indicated that they had experienced violence once or more than once in their own relationships. There was no significant difference between men and women. The survey did not ask, however, whether the interviewees had experienced violence as victims or perpetrators. A difference among the countries also existed with respect to the interviewees' own experience with violence. 29% of Liechtenstein residents indicated that they had experienced violence themselves, while 28% of Vorarlberg residents and 20% of Graubünden residents indicated that they had experienced violence. This result can only be properly interpreted if the subjective definition of violence is taken into account, which depends on the country. People in Graubünden certainly do not experience less violence, but they do not define it as violence. There is also a correlation between the level of education and the interviewees' own experience of violence: The higher the level of education, the more likely were those surveyed to indicate that they had experienced or continue to experience violence in their relationships themselves.

A proper understanding of these figures depends on the definition of violence used in the question concerning the interviewees' own experience with violence: "Violence in couples is the behavior of a partner aimed at controlling the woman/the man or at exercising or establishing power over her/him, and physical and/or psychic integrity is violated." According to the study, the higher percentage of persons in Liechtenstein who have experienced violence themselves is explained by the higher sensitization to violence in Liechtenstein . The outcome of the survey should therefore in no way be simplistically interpreted as if every fourth person in Liechtenstein had experienced or experiences physical violence in a relationship.

In total, eight women in each country were interviewed in detail on their experiences, coping strategies, desires, and suggestions. In addition to questions concerning the duration and living forms of violent relationships, the interviews addressed individual views on ideal relationships, the effects of violence on children, experiences with violence, the partner's reactions to his violent behavior, the external perception of the relationship, strategies to prevent violence, justifications by women for the behavior of the partner, and the utilization of support offerings.

Article 7Equality in political and public life

The Government of Liechtenstein is composed of five Ministers appointed by the Reigning Prince on the proposal of Parliament. From 1993 to 1997, two women served as Ministers; since 1997, one woman has served as a Minister. The Government is the supreme executive authority in charge of approximately 50 offices and units of the National Administration and several diplomatic representations abroad. About 50 commissions and advisory councils support the work of the Administration.

Parliament is elected every four years and is composed of 25 Members. Members of Parliament are elected in universal, equal, direct, and secret elections according to proportional representation. In the current legislative term (2005 – 2009), three parties are represented in Parliament. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) holds 12 seats, the Patriotic Union (VU) holds 10 seats, and the Free List (FL) holds 3 seats. Women hold 6 of 25 seats in Parliament; two of the eight Alternate Members of Parliament are women.

The 11 Liechtenstein municipalities are administered by a Municipal Council elected every four years under the leadership of a directly elected Mayor. In the current term (2003 – 2007), all mayors are men. 28 women (27%) and 77 men (73%) are represented in the municipal councils, while only 17 women (15.5%) were represented in the municipal councils in 1999, compared with 93 men (84.5%).

Table 2 Share of women in the Government, Parliament, and the 11 municipal councils

Body	Members	1985	1995	2005
Government	5	0%	40%	20%
Parliament	25	0%	8%	24%
Municipal councils	106	3%	15%	27%

Source: Websites of the municipalities and the 2005 National Almanac.

Women are a minority in the over 50 commissions and advisory councils, and only 6 commissions are chaired by women. In 2005, 79 women (21%) and 298 men (79%) were members of the national commissions. From 1998 to 2005, the share of women increased by 5.3%.

The share of women in the foundations under public law decreased by 3.3% from 1998 to 2005. In 1998, 28 men (66.7%) and 14 women (33.3%) were members of boards of trustees of foundations. In 2005, a total of 92 persons served in foundations under public law, 64 (70%) of whom were men and 28 (30%) of whom were women.

The share of women in establishments under public law increased by 7.5% from 1998 to 2005. In 1998, 32 men (86.5%) and 5 women (13.5%) were members of boards of trustees of establishments. In 2005, a total of 66 persons served in establishments under public law, 52 (79%) of whom were men and 14 (21%) of whom were women.

The share of women in courts of public law increased by 25% from 1998 to 2005. In 1998, only men – a total of 12 – were members of these courts. In 2005, a total of 20 persons were members of the courts, 15 (75%) of whom were men and 5 (25%) of whom were women. The share of women in civil and criminal courts increased by 13.6% from 1998 to 2005. In 1998, 33 men (78.6%) and 9 women (21.4%) served on civil and criminal courts; in 2005, there were 84 members, 55 (65%) of whom were men and 29 (35%) of whom were women.

The composition of municipal commissions was surveyed in 2003. At the municipal level, an average of 27.2% of the commission members were women. In 6 municipalities, the share of women increased since 1998, and the share of women decreased in 5 municipalities. Overall, the share of women increased by an average of 2.4%.

Just over a third of political party functionaries are women. In 1982, party-internal women's organizations were founded in the two large people's parties ("Women's Union ", "Women in the FBP"), with the goal of enhancing the interest of women in politics and serving an educational function. They aim to raise the awareness of the public, to represent women's interests in politics, and not least of all to prepare women within their respective party for political offices and functions. The share of women in the leadership of the Free List, founded in 1985, is 43%, the highest of the political parties.

Table 3 Share of women in party functions (2006)

Function	Men	Women	Share of women
Party leadership of all three parties	18	9	33%
VU party leadership	5	3	38%
FBP party leadership	9	3	33%
FL party leadership	4	3	43%

Source: www.fbp.li; www.vu-online.li ; www.freieliste.li .

These figures show that the participation of women in politics continues to be relatively low. The development since 1998, especially with regard to the representation of women in Parliament, the municipal councils, and the courts, is grounds for optimism, however, and shows that the active promotion of women in recent years, especially in the run-up to the municipal elections in 2003 and the parliamentary elections in 2005, has borne fruit. The low share of women in politics continues to be regrettable, however, which is why the political participation of women in Liechtenstein will continue to be promoted in the future.

Measures to promote women in recent years

In view of the resolution passed by the Government in 1997 that no gender should be represented by more than two thirds in bodies appointed by the Government, it must be pointed out on the basis of the figures mentioned above that the share of women in commissions and advisory councils continues to be lower than the envisaged quota of one third. On 29 September 2004, the Government took note of the report drafted by the Steering Committee for Gender Mainstreaming on this topic, "The political participation of women and men in public bodies in Liechtenstein – A survey of the mechanisms and actors". The Government decided to become more active in mobilizing women for work in the commission: When appointing commission members, the election authority calls upon the political parties and associations to give preference to women for purposes of a balanced composition. The Ministry of Family and Equal Opportunity has also informed interest groups orally and in writing on the Government's goal and has requested them to take women into account when nominating candidates.

70 women have meanwhile joined the women's pool founded for the purpose of implementing the "two-thirds resolution". The women's pool is a database into which women interested in politics can enter themselves. Through their registration in the database, the women make themselves available to serve in commissions and working groups at the national level. The women's pool is primarily accessed by women's organizations that are looking for women to serve in a leadership function.

To motivate and identify, build up, and support female candidates and to enhance the political education of women in general, the Gender Equality Commission and the Office of Equal Opportunity drafted a checklist for the political parties in 2002. It contains suggestions on the best approach and timing for parties to promote the participation of women in politics. Members of the Gender Equality Commission submitted the checklist to the party leaders. So that the checklist will continue to be used by the parties, it was presented to the leaders of local party groups at a meeting the beginning of 2006.

From March to November 2006, the Gender Equality Commission, the Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Vorarlberg Women's Department are hosting a cross-border politics course, already the third such course since 2004. The aim of the politics course is to prepare women for contributing their abilities in political bodies and in public. They learn basic political knowledge and the rules of the daily political game. The participants are given support in their socio-political engagement or their political work. Their self-confidence is strengthened and they learn the techniques of leading a discussion. The 2006 politics course is composed of the modules "Self-assessment: Is political engagement the right challenge for me?", "The political system of Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein – Theory and reality", "Public speaking and argumentation", "Introduction to political structures", "Conflict management", and "PR and media training". The target audience of the politics course consists of women who are active in institutions, chambers, parties, public bodies, organizations, associations, or initiative groups or who would like to become involved in the future.

In 2004, Liechtenstein celebrated the 20th anniversary of the women's franchise. On the occasion of this anniversary, poster campaigns were conducted in all municipalities from 22 June to 5 July. The municipal posters illustrated the introduction of women's franchise in the municipalities, the first woman in a municipal council, and the current situation. Another poster campaign was presented at the anniversary celebration organized by the Liechtenstein Women's Network on 26 June 2004. This campaign portrayed a reversal of today's distribution of women and men in Parliament, the Government, and the Conference of Mayors and provided impulses to think about whether a gender-reversed political situation would be conceivable and tolerable. A highlight of the event was the introduction of the "DemoGrazia" prize, which is awarded for socio-political civil courage. The prize will be awarded to an organization or a private person for this first time in October 2006. A total of nine persons and organizations have been nominated.

Measures for the advancement of women in the run-up to municipal and parliamentary elections

In the run-up to the 2003 municipal council elections, the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Gender Equality Commission offered two political science courses for politically interested women and two media training courses and a power training course to strengthen the self-confidence of female candidates for the municipal councils. The increase of the share of women in the municipal councils as a result of the 2003 elections is grounds for guarded optimism. At least in the long term, the measures to promote women in politics are having an effect.

In June 2006, the Gender Equality Commission is offering two events for politically interested women. The goal of the events is to motivate women to make themselves available as candidates for the 2007 municipal council elections. For these elections, the Commission has articulated the following objectives: First, an increase of the share of women in the municipal councils from 27% to 40%. Second, election of one female mayor in each of the two Liechtenstein districts, the Lower Country and the Upper Country.

To support the candidates and to raise the awareness of voters, the Liechtenstein Women's Network and the Gender Equality Commission organized several drives in the run-up to the 2005 parliamentary elections. These included a non-partisan endorsement list, which was published in the national newspapers and other media, advertisements by men supporting the election of women, visits by the female candidates to the women's organizations to enhance their media presence, and newspaper articles and advertisements to raise the awareness of voters. In addition, International Women's Day was dedicated to the female candidates with a special evening event. Of the 19 women candidates, 6 were elected to Parliament in the March 2005 elections.

The 2005 parliamentary elections have therefore led to a significant increase in the share of women in Parliament, from three to six seats. The analyses of the election based on official election data and individual data from post-election surveys in 1997, 2001, and 2005 show that this doubling is largely due to favorable circumstances. The doubling therefore did not arise entirely from changed voting behavior or changed attitudes of voters vis-à-vis women in politics. Between 1997 and 2005, the position of women vis-à-vis men in politics has tended to improve, the vote deficit has decreased, woman-friendly voting behavior has increased, and discriminatory attitudes have receded somewhat. Overall, however, men remain in a more favorable position and have a higher chance of getting elected. Given that the woman-friendly attitude of young (male) voters is not particularly pronounced, the attention paid to the topic is waning, and prejudices against women in politics continue to exist, no all-clear signal can be given after the 2005 elections. The 24% share of women in the Liechtenstein Parliament should be viewed as an interim stage on the way toward further progress and as a motivation to engage in more efforts, in order to continue to accompany the political process with new objectives in the future.

Article 8Participation of women in the Government and international organizations

The share of women in the Government and international organizations has increased in recent years, but it still does not fulfill the principle of gender equality. One woman is currently represented in the Liechtenstein Government. She serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cultural Affairs, and Family and Equal Opportunity.

Of the eight embassies and permanent missions of Liechtenstein , two are headed by women. In various delegations of Parliament to the parliamentary assemblies of international organizations, 11 male parliamentarians and 8 parliamentarians are represented.

Article 10Education

Changes in the Liechtenstein education system during the period under review

The new Higher Learning Act entered into force on 25 November 2004 . It is intended to make an important contribution to quality assurance and development in tertiary education in Liechtenstein and takes the internationalization of tertiary education into account, which was expressed in the Bologna Declaration (1999) of the European ministers of education. Due to the small size of the country, however, Liechtenstein 's tertiary education offerings are still limited. Only four recognized institutions offer tertiary education: the Liechtenstein University of Applies Sciences with concentrations in architecture and business sciences, the International Academy of Philosophy, the University of Human Sciences , and the Liechtenstein Institute. Although Liechtenstein has no public universities, a high-quality education of the population is ensured through cooperation with the neighboring States of Switzerland and Austria , as already emphasized in the 2nd periodic report.

Education statistics

Liechtenstein education statistics indicate that significant progress has been made in recent decades with respect to the equality of girls and young women in the education process. While 31 years ago, significantly more girls than boys attended the Realschule (medium-track secondary school) and significantly more boys than girls attended Gymnasium (academic secondary school), the share of girls in the Gymnasium has increased steadily and surpassed the share of boys in 2005. Based on these figures, girls and boys can be considered to have achieved equality in the area of scholastic education.

Table 4 Share of girls in different school levels

Year	Primary school	Oberschule	Realschule	Gymnasium
1975	50%	46%	58%	33%
1980	61%	48%	46%	42%
1990	63%	48%	45%	47%
2000	57%	48%	50%	49%
2005	50%	44%	51%	55%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. Education Statistics 2005.

There has also been a clear trend toward equality in the area of tertiary education, i.e., universities. While only 12 of 128 university students were women in 1975, women constituted almost half (43%) of university students in 2005. Compared with 1990, about 13% more women chose an academic career in 2000. Since then, the share of women among university students has stayed more or less the same. With respect to choice of subjects, Liechtenstein university students continue to follow rather traditional patterns. 43.3% of female students studied humanities and social sciences, 19.6% law, and 10.2% medicine and pharmaceutics. Male colleagues primarily chose economics and business (25.5%), followed by humanities and social sciences (20.4%), law (18.2%), and exact and natural sciences (17.1%).

Table 5 Share of male and female students from Liechtenstein at universities and other institutions of higher learning in Switzerland , Austria , and Germany

	1970	1980	1990	2000	2005
Men	93%	77%	70%	57%	57%
Women	7%	23%	30%	43%	43%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. Education Statistics 2005.

In the field of basic vocational training (apprenticeships), an imbalance between young women and men continues to exists. In 2005, only slightly more than a third (34.9%) of apprentices in Liechtenstein businesses were women. These women also tended to choose female-specific professions. In 2004, a total of 375 apprentices graduated, 42% of whom were women and 58% of whom were men. More than half of the young women completed an apprenticeship in the areas of commerce/services/IT/logistics, most of which were in the commercial field (professional trustees, industry, banking, and office apprenticeships). Most young men completed apprenticeships in skilled trades, such as construction/building services/carpentry and industry/technical crafts. Young men chose from almost twice as many careers as young women. While women chose 32 apprenticeship paths out of 82, men were employed in 64 different apprenticeship paths. Overall, it is striking that the choice of career of both genders is still strongly based on the traditional distribution of female and male careers.

Table 6 Share of girls among apprentices

Year	Total	Girls	Percentage of girls
1970	459	68	14.8%
1980	794	280	35.3%
1987	958	373	38.9%
1994	845	301	35.6%
2000	1011	362	35.8%
2005	1076	375	34.9%

Source: Office of Vocational Training. Number of completed apprenticeships (own count).

Looking at the education of adults in Liechtenstein based on the data from the 2000 Census, both the trend toward improvement of the educational situation of women and the assumption that men generally complete a higher level of education than women are confirmed. In 2000, almost every 5th women between 25 and 44 years of age (18.3%) had only completed primary school and Oberschule (lower-track secondary school) or Realschule (medium-track secondary school), without vocational training. 10 years ago, this share was still significantly higher at 37.8%, but only 14.1% of men between 25 and 44 had merely completed compulsory schooling in 2000.

Table 7 Highest level of education for men/women between 25 and 44 (2000)

Year	Gender	Only compulsory	Vocational training	Higher schooling	Others
2000	Men	14.1%	42.3%	33.8%	9.8%
1990	Men	19.9%	52.5%	26.5%	1.0%
2000	Women	18.3%	51.3%	21.5%	9.0%
1990	Women	37.8 %	47.9%	12.7%	1.6%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 2000 Census.

Over half of all women between 25 and 44 years of age (51.3%) had completed vocational training in 2000, and more than one in five women (21.5%) had completed a higher school in Liechtenstein with a Maturität (academic secondary school diploma). Compared with 1990, the share of women with a Maturität increased by 8.8%, which could lead to a higher level of female academics in the future. However, men continued to complete a higher school more frequently than women (33.8%). in 2000, 10.3% of men and 7.2% of women between 25 and 44 had tertiary education.

Comparing these figures with the data on the education of persons in the age category between 45 and 64, the education level of men hardly differs between the categories. In the case of women, on the other hand, the education level of young women is significantly higher than the education level of older women.

Table 8 Highest level of education for men/women between 45 and 64 (2000)

Year	Gender	Only compulsory	Vocational training	Higher schooling	Others
2000	Men	13.8%	45.1%	30.4%	10.7%
1990	Men	22.0%	51.0%	26.0%	1.0%
2000	Women	36.4%	36.5%	12.6%	14.5%
1990	Women	59.2%	31.3%	7.5%	2.0%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 2000 Census.

Measures to implement the principle of equality

A new curriculum for compulsory schools was introduced as of the 1999/2000 school year. The Office of Education consulted with the Office of Equal Opportunity both with respect to the course offerings and linguistic content of the curriculum. The curriculum takes all gender equality aspects into account and contains the same offerings for girls and boys.

The Office of Education periodically conducts surveys to monitor progress and the need for adjustment with respect to implementation of the goal of gender-appropriate schooling. For the 2002/2003 school year, it conducted assessment surveys in kindergarten, primary school, and the continuing schools on the topic of single-sex education . The results of the survey indicated single-sex education in some subjects at all levels, so that girls and boys would be given the space and the opportunity to talk among themselves. In the summer of 2004, the Office of Education conducted a survey at all school levels concerning detailed objectives for the implementation of gender equality. Detailed objectives are the stages developed at the level of individual schools to achieve rough objectives articulated in the curriculum. The survey identified 46 different detailed objectives on the topic of equal opportunity, which can essentially be classified in the subject areas of "Language" and "Humans and the Environment". The survey will be repeated in the 2006/2007 school year.

The education of children on the topic of gender equality is a social challenge. Teachers in particular are important role models for children when they are growing up. Teachers' reflections on their own personality and gender tend to influence daily instruction in their school classes. On the anniversary of the 1984 introduction of women's franchise in June 2004, the teaching aids for gender-appropriate instruction were updated and presented to the teachers. The teaching aids offer teachers concrete instruction materials and materials to reflect on their own role behavior and role expectations, thereby providing assistance in offering classroom instruction geared toward enhancing gender equality.

In the area of vocational counseling, the motto "All careers for everyone" is an integrating component of information provided at parent/student evenings, introductions to the Career Information Center , and seminars for high school seniors on choosing university studies and careers. The male and female terminology for professions is consistently used side by side.

The Interreg project on "Open career choices for young women and men in Liechtenstein , St. Gallen, and Vorarlberg" aimed to help combat gender-specific polarization on the labor market. In the first half of 2000, a comparative study was conducted on gender-specific measures in school, open youth work, and vocational counseling. In a second step, a workshop cycle with experts was conducted. The project was concluded in May 2001 with the cross-regional expert meeting entitled "Jump in" in Bregenz. This project strengthened cooperation and networking among the three countries on this topic.

16+, the apprenticeship project of the Swiss Conference of Gender Equality Officials, launched Daughter's Day, a national campaign especially for fathers and daughters. As a member of the Swiss Conference of Gender Equality Officials, the Office of Equal Opportunity was invited to participate in the campaign. The Office accepted this invitation, so that fathers and daughters in Liechtenstein were able to take part in Daughter's Day three times from 2001 to 2003. On Daughter's Day, daughters between 10 and 15 accompanied their fathers to work for one day. Each year, the campaign was linked to a competition. Daughter's Day was an efficient way to draw the attention of girls to careers that they normally would ignore when choosing their own career path. As a survey of the Interreg project indicates, four fifths of those surveyed felt that an introduction to a place of work was the important factor in deciding on their educational path. Since 2004, Daughter's Day has been replaced by Fathers' Day.

In its meeting of 12 December 2003, the University Council of the Liechtenstein University of Applied Sciences put a new organizational structure into force. In accordance with this structure, a Commission on Equal Opportunity was created, which represents women's concerns at the University of Applied Sciences and takes positions on women's issues. The Commission works toward a balanced ratio between women and men in teaching and research positions. In particular, it advises staff members of the University of Applied Sciences on gender equality questions and can recommend decisions when women's issues are concerned. The Women's Commission is composed of one female representative of each department and of the National Administration. With the relevant passage in the new organizational structure and the appointment of the Commission, the Liechtenstein University of Applied Sciences has taken an important step toward harmonization with the Swiss and European tertiary education landscape.

Stipends are an important part of educational policy. They are intended to ensure equal opportunities across all strata of the population. The revision of the Stipend Act takes this into account by strengthening the dual educational path. The advance of educational costs by means of stipends and loans constitutes relief especially for women without an income who would like to join the workforce again. The revised Stipend Act entered into force on 1 August 2005. In addition, the Office of Equal Opportunity has been able to advance stipends to four or five women each year from the Fund for Female Career Re-entrants established on the occasion of the 2000 Career Impulse Year.

Liechtenstein also promotes the education of women in the context of international humanitarian cooperation, such as by granting stipends that allow young women to graduate from university. Between 2001 and 2003, Liechtenstein also supported an educational project for municipal nurses in Albania . Of particular note with respect to promoting the access of women to education internationally are the activities of the Liechtenstein Development Service (LDS), which is for the most part funded through a performance agreement with the Liechtenstein Government. In its focus countries in Africa and South America, the LDS each year supports a wide range of projects for the education of girls and women, such as by providing financial support to girls' schools, women's education centers, and projects on agricultural and home economics education (see Contributions by Liechtenstein to Women's Projects, Appendix 2).

Article 11Workplace, maternity, social insurance

The employment of women

Over the last five decades, the economic development of Liechtenstein has been characterized by an almost uninterrupted upswing. The number of jobs increased greatly during this time. Since the 1950's, the domestic labor market has largely dried up, so that the increasing demand for workers could only be satisfied through immigration and the employment of cross-border commuters. According to data from the 2000 Census, the number of workers resident in Liechtenstein increased from slightly more than 4,000 in 1930 to over 18,000 in 2000.

Table 9 Workers resident in Liechtenstein 1930 – 2000

	1930	1941	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
All	4436	4874	6018	7575	10243	12988	15537	18189
Women	1166	1178	1698	2347	3471	4610	5892	8015
Women in %	26.3%	24.2%	28.2%	31.0%	33.9%	35.5%	37.9%	44.1%
Men in %	73.7%	75.8%	71.8%	69.0%	66.1%	64.5%	62.1%	55.9%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. Statistical Yearbook 2005.

While the total number of workers has approximately quadrupled in 70 years, the number of working women has even increased by a factor of seven. In the 1930's, the share of women in the workforce was only about 25%; in 2000, women already constituted 44% of the workforce resident in Liechtenstein . This development was largely independent of the legal equality of women and men and began long before the introduction of women's franchise in parallel with the economic development and the growing number of jobs.

Due to the rapidly increasing number of jobs, the employment of women is economically necessary, well-advanced, socially accepted, and a matter of course. Much less obvious for women is equal access to positions in the top levels of hierarchy, however.

With respect to the classification in various socio-professional categories, i.e., the categorization of workers according to type of work, a clear difference emerges between men and women. Men clearly dominate the decision-making positions. They account for more than 80% of top management positions and constitute nearly 80% of academic professionals and upper management. Compared with the results of the 1990 Census, however, women have caught up somewhat with respect to leadership positions, and they have in particular increased their share in the total number of self-employed persons and intermediary professions. With the increase of the tertiary education quota among young women (see remarks relating to article 10), a comparison of these figures in the coming years will become interesting and meaningful.

Table 10 Socio-professional categories according to gender in 1990 and 2000 (residing in Liechtenstein )

Year	Gender	Employed	Top management	Liberal professions	Other self-employed	Academic, Upper management	Intermediary professions
1990	Men	62%	90%	88%	82%	85%	72%
2000	Men	56%	83%	84%	71%	78%	64%
1990	Women	38%	10%	12%	18%	15%	28%
2000	Women	44%	17%	16%	29%	22%	36%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 1990 and 2000 Census.

In 2000, the ratio between men and women was balanced with respect to unskilled workers, blue-collar workers, and non-classifiable workers. With respect to skilled manual workers, i.e., in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, men constituted a clear majority of 89%. Only in skilled non-manual occupations, i.e., office occupations, there were significantly more women than men. In these categories, the share of women changed only insignificantly since 1990.

Table 11 Socio-professional categories by gender in 1990 and 2000 (residing in Liechte n stein )

Year	Gender	Skilled non-manual occupations	Skilled manual labor	Unskilled and blue-collar workers	Non-classifiable workers
1990	Men	37%	91%	48%	54%
2000	Men	35%	89%	49%	54%
1990	Women	63%	9%	52%	46%
2000	Women	65%	11%	51%	46%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 1990 and 2000 Census.

The spectrum of occupations continues to be divided into typical female and typical male jobs. In the social sector (education, health, and social services), women accounted for 68.3% of positions in 2000 (1990: 61.6%). In agriculture and forestry (primary sector) and in industry and construction (secondary sector), in contrast, only about one quarter (23.3% and 25.8%, respectively) of workers were women. In the service sector (tertiary sector), which includes commerce, the hotel and restaurant industry, banking and insurance, and the abovementioned education, health, and social services as well as all other public and private services, the figures were roughly balanced with a female share of 51.1%. However, 64.0% of all working women but only 45.4% of all working men were employed in the service sector. In 1990, when 78.6% of all women but only 54.1% of all men were working in the service sector, the difference was even more pronounced. Overall, the comparison between 1990 and 2000 shows that the unequal distribution of working women and men across employment sectors has changed only insignificantly.

Table 12 Employment by sector and gender in 1990 and 2000

Year	Gender	Sector 1	Sector 2	Sector 3
1990	Men	87.9%	77.6%	53.2%
2000	Men	76.7%	74.2%	48.9%
1990	Women	12.1%	22.4%	46.8%
2000	Women	23.3%	25.8%	51.1%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 1990 and 2000 Census.

For men, full-time employment is the rule. About 86% of men had full-time employment in 2000, while this was true of only 53% of women. In 1990, considerably more men and women worked full-time, namely 97.6% of men and 67.6% of women. The share of women among part-time workers was 85.3% in 2000 and 90.7% in 1990. These figures show that there is a general trend toward more part-time employment in the Liechtenstein labor market and that an increasing number of men also are working part-time, but that women continue to represent a majority of part-time workers.

Table 13 Employment level of men and women in 2000 (resident in Liechtenstein )

	100%	70% and more	50 - 69%	20 - 49%	up to 20%	others
Men	86%	1.7%	1.2%	0.6%	0.4%	10.1%
Women	52.8%	7.5%	10.7%	8.2%	7.5%	13.3%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 2000 Census.

The share of women among self-employed persons was 27% in 2000, i.e., lower than the share of women among all workers. It is interesting, however, that the share of self-employed women has increased significantly over the past two decades. Women therefore increasingly appear to have the necessary commitment and self-confidence to form their own business or to independently manage an existing business. According to the 2000 Census, 500 women are self-employed.

Table 14 Gender share among self-employed workers (resident in Liechtenstein ) 1930 – 2000

	1930	1941	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
Men	86%	87%	89%	87%	90%	86%	82%	73%
Women	14%	13%	11%	13%	10%	14%	18%	27%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 2000 Census.

There are also significant differences between men and women with respect to the share among jobless and non-working persons. Women represent 89% of persons working in the household. In relative figures, women are affected by unemployment more frequently than men. According to the 2000 Census data, women account for approximately 44% of the working population resident in Liechtenstein , while the share of women among unemployed persons is 61%. The 1990 Census only indicated the number of jobless persons. The share of women among unemployed persons was 58%, while women represented just over 38% of all workers.

Table 15 Gender share among jobless and non-working persons in 2000 (resident in Liechtenstein )

	Total	Unemployed	In school above age of 15	Volunteers	Household	Retirees	Others
Men	32%	39%	52%	40%	11%	51%	31%
Women	68%	61%	48%	60%	89%	49%	69%

Source: Office of Economic Affairs. 2000 Census.

So far, Liechtenstein has not compiled wage statistics, which is why statements on the average wage differences between women and men are not possible. Liechtenstein is planning to introduce wage statistics beginning in 2006. For now, therefore, only the Swiss Wage Structure Survey 2002 by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office for Eastern Switzerland can be used as reference statistics. The social circumstances in Liechtenstein and neighboring Switzerland are similar, so that this reference is justified. According to the Swiss Wage Structure Survey, women in Eastern Switzerland earn considerably less than men. The average monthly wage of a woman, calibrated to a 40-hour work week, was CHF 4,152 in 2002, while the average monthly wage of a man was CHF 5,491. Interesting is that the difference between women's and men's wages increases as the level of the work increases. At the highest level of work, women in Eastern Switzerland earn 27.8% less than men. For the lowest level of work, the wage difference is 20.1%.

In summary, there is a general trend toward increasing employment of women, thereby approaching the employment behavior of men. Nevertheless, pronounced differences still exist, which become clear when employment is analyzed in more detail, especially with respect to workload and hierarchy.

Measures to achieve equality of women in the workplace

The Gender Equality Act issued on 5 May 1999 and revised in 2006 is the Liechtenstein instrument for implementation of de facto equality of women and men in the workplace (see remarks relating to article 2). Since entry into force of the Gender Equality Act, various efforts have been undertaken to bring it closer to the wider public. The draft bill was introduced to the wider public for the first time at the Liechtenstein Industry, Commerce, and Trade Exhibition in 1998. In 1999, a brochure on the Gender Equality Act was published, in which explanations and case examples were included along with the text of the Act. The brochure was sent to all businesses with more than 10 employees, a total of about 300. From August to November 2001, the Office of Equal Opportunity conducted an awareness-raising and information campaign on the Gender Equality Act. As part of the campaign, workshops were conducted for female employees on the topic of equal wages and part-time work, and flyers for employers were sent to businesses. In addition, two lectures were organized especially for human resource officers on diversity management and discrimination-free personnel evaluations. The target groups of the overall campaign were employers and employees.

The Gender Equality Act provides that financial subsidies may be granted for counseling and advancement programs. Accordingly, infra – the Information and Contact Office for Women, received subsidies for counseling and public outreach work on the Gender Equality Act between 2000 and 2004. In addition, the two applications for financial support submitted by the Employees' Association were approved by the Government. The survey by the Women's Educational Work Association on gender-specific differences between young female and male entrepreneurs was supported by subsidies. The Gutenberg Education House received financial support in 2004 and 2005 for continuing education offerings for women in the family phase.

Since entry into force of the Gender Equality Act, which explicitly contains the principle of non-discrimination with respect to wages, allowing legal claims against wage discrimination, one wage claim has been filed in the public sector. The wage discrimination was confirmed by the Government. The case was appealed to the Liechtenstein Administrative Court , which confirmed the Government decision. The employer was required to make retroactive wage payments to the complainant. Based on the current data situation, no certain information can be given on any claims lodged pursuant to the Gender Equality Act in the private sector.

The revision of the General Civil Code (Labor Contract Act) to implement Directive 1997/81/EC of the European Parliament on part-time work entered into force on 14 December 2005. The most important new provisions include the elimination of discrimination against part-time workers, the promotion of part-time work, the guarantee of protection from termination upon switching from full-time work to part-time work or vice-versa, access of part-time employees to promotion measures relating to occupational training and to management positions, and the provision of information to employees on part-time and full-time positions in the place of work. Since 85.3% of part-time workers are women, these amendments primarily benefit the situation of women in the workplace.

In September 2001, the brochure entitled "Not with me! – Sexual harassment in the workplace" was revised and published. Its primary objective is to draw attention to the fact that sexual harassment in the workplace continues to exist, and thereby to support the prevention of sexual harassment. The brochure contains a definition of sexual harassment, lists examples, and explains effects and consequences of harassment as well as successful response measures. The brochure refers to the legal possibilities of defending oneself against sexual harassment in accordance with sexual criminal law and the responsibility of employers laid down in the Gender Equality Act to ensure a working environment free from harassment.

The Liechtenstein National Administration also deals with the question of sexual harassment in the workplace. A working group has compiled draft amendments to the Public Employees Act and draft rules on the topics of "Sexual harassment in the workplace" and "Mobbing in the workplace". The Government took note of these drafts on 8 April 2003. The amendments to the Public Employees Act recommended by the working group will be reviewed and taken into consideration in the framework of the total revision planned for 2006/2007.

From November 2005 to February 2006, the poster campaign "Food for Thought" was conducted in the National Administration. It focuses on the compatibility of family and work, sexual harassment in the workplace, and women in leadership functions. The posters were sent to all offices and divisions in the National Administration, to the municipalities, foundations and establishments under public law, and to private enterprises with State holdings.

At the beginning of December 2003, the Volunteer Work Certificate was introduced to the wider public. Volunteers will be able to use the Volunteer Work Certificate to enter what they have accomplished and how much time they have spent. The certificate serves as a personal job reference and can be useful when applying for employment. In particular when reentering the workforce, evidence of volunteer work and corresponding training can be important, since years of volunteer work convey knowledge and skills that are also useful for paid employment. Since primarily women are engaged in voluntary social work and are confronted with the difficulties of reentering the workforce, the Volunteer Work Certificate both represents social recognition of the unpaid work of women and constitutes an important measure to facilitate reentry of women into the workforce.

In cooperation with infra – the Information and Contact Office for Women and femail Feldkirch, the Office of Equal Opportunity conducted two information evenings for cross-border commuters in 2003. On the first evening, the topic areas of insurance, taxes, and social and family benefits were discussed; on the second evening, old-age provision in Liechtenstein (1st and 2nd pillars) and pension insurance in Austria were presented. Information sheets on these topics were also compiled and distributed.

Workplace and maternity

The question of compatibility of family and career affects women and increasingly also men. Many women in Liechtenstein now have good professional qualifications, so they no longer want to give up their employment completely in favor of household and child-raising. On the other hand, an increasing number of men want to become more heavily engaged in family work. A collaborative distribution of family work and employment is therefore becoming increasingly important. To be able to implement this distribution of family work and employment in everyday life, employers must be willing to offer women and men family-friendly structures in the workplace. An obstacle to the compatibility of family and employment is therefore the limited willingness in the private sector to create better framework conditions. To create incentives for the advancement of women in the workplace, the Equal Opportunity Prize mentioned above has been awarded every second year to woman-friendly and family-friendly businesses.

Since the beginning of 2002, the employees of the National Administration have been able to count on a safe day-nursery within the National Administration. The Day-Care Association of Liechtenstein is responsible for the management, organization, staffing, and administration of the day nursery. The National Administration provides the infrastructure and covers the annual operating deficit. The Office of Education offers job-sharing positions to kindergarten teachers and primary school teachers. These positions were evaluated in the 2001/2002 school year. The results and recommendations were included in a guideline and issued in the spring of 2003. With the establishment of the day nursery and the introduction of job-sharing positions, the National Administration serves as a good example of family-friendly structures for the private sector. Since January 2004, one Liechtenstein company has been offering an internal nursery for 10 children based on the model of the National Administration.

In particular given the hesitant advancement of women in the private sector, care of children outside the home and scholastic support are a key prerequisite for the compatibility of career and family and for equal opportunity in employment. In 2006, the Day-Care Association of Liechtenstein is providing 120 spots in its eight facilities. 218 children in total attend a day-care center run by the association. The average waiting period for a spot in a center is two months. Two other day-care facilities offer a total of 19 spots, which were used by 55 children in May 2006. The Parent-Child Forum trains and places childminders. In May 2006, 52 children were cared for by 24 childminders. The flexible child-care service "Children's Oasis", which opened in the summer of 2004, accepts children without appointments for short care periods. In total, over 320 are being taken care of by third parties in Liechtenstein in 2006. Since the establishment of the Day-Care Association of Liechtenstein and the Parent-Child Forum in 1989, the demand for care outside the home has thus greatly increased.

The Liechtenstein State supports the Day-Care Association with a fixed contribution according to spots and care-days, and bears part of the remaining operational deficit. The Parent-Child Forum also receives public funds. Parents who depend on care of their children by child-care facilities or childminders due to their work may obtain financial support for care indexed to their income.

The Child Care Ordinance was adopted in 2002 to provide a legal basis for ensuring the quality of care outside the home. According to the Ordinance, private care arrangements and child-care facilities must obtain a license. The Office of Social Affairs reviews care facilities and, in general, has found them to be of high quality.

Further progress was made in the reporting period with respect to the implementation of block scheduling in school. The School Organization Ordinance of 2004 provides that instruction in primary schools should last the same amount of time every morning and that kindergarten hours should, to the extent possible, be coordinated with the classroom schedule in primary schools. With one exception, all secondary schools offer lunch. In one municipality, a lunch table is now also being offered for kindergarten and primary school teachers, which has proven to be very popular.

Already since the 1970's, there have been discussions concerning day structures and day schools at the primary school level in Liechtenstein . After an analysis of the PISA results from 2000 and 2003, the topic has again become timely. The Government appointed a commission with representatives of different institutions working in the field of day structures and care outside the home. The commission's mandate was to evaluate existing support systems in the scholastic and family-support area and to perform a needs assessment. As part of the needs assessment , the parents of two thirds of all primary school children and 30 other experts and key persons were interviewed. A considerable share of the surveyed parents indicated a desire to use new support structures. The majority of interviewees also agreed that the need for care offerings outside the home would increase over the short or long run. In its report of August 2005, the commission recommended a dual strategy implementing the models: "Day school with profile" and "Lunch tables and tutoring/care of pupils in the municipalities". With respect to the first model, the Government decided in May 2006 to establish one day school or one part-day school in each of the two Liechtenstein regions by the 2007/08 school year, in cooperation with the municipalities. Both the kindergarten and primary school level will be integrated into these schools. With respect to the second model, the commission recommends that the municipalities undertake coordination and development efforts with a focus on promoting the social, cultural, and linguistic skills of pupils, integration of children from migrant families, and support of single parents and working parents.

Various measures have been taken to facilitate the reentry of women into the workforce. In the summer of 2001, the qualitative survey on "Optimal planning and realization of reentry" was concluded. Based on the recommendations of the survey, the Office of Equal Opportunity developed measures for reentrants, for employees, and for the Administration. It developed guidelines targeting employers on the successful reentry of women into the workforce. For reentrants themselves, a checklist was developed with tips for job applications, which is being provided together with the information brochure "infra special – Reentering the workforce". The Vocational Guidance Center also offers individual, differentiated career counseling free of charge for reentrants. Counseling includes a personal evaluation, including an assessment of psychological preferences and talents.

In cooperation with various project partners, the project group "Images of Men" organized the expert meeting entitled "Family and career: Joint challenges – Joint solutions" on the compatibility of family and career. The target group of the event was primarily composed of human resource officers. The attending experts presented the needs, burdens, and obstacles for employees and employers in promoting the compatibility of family and career. They also showed what advantages arise for employees and employers by dividing family and career work.

With its traveling exhibition "Family and Career in Balance", the Gender Equality Conference of the Cantons of Eastern Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein realized its first joint project. The exhibition presents the status of division of family and career work between partners in Eastern Swiss and Liechtenstein households, why child-care facilities make national economic sense, and what positive experiences businesses have had with family-friendly measures. The exhibition was present in various locations in Liechtenstein in September 2004 and from October 2005 to January 2006.

Social insurances

It is especially important for women to think about their financial situation in old age. Autonomous old-age provision above the subsistence level can only be achieved through a women's own, continuous employment or indirectly via her husband. Financial security arrangements for old age must depend on the family and employment situation. In Liechtenstein , infra – the Information and Contact Office for Women offers personal counseling especially for women. In cooperation with infra, the Office of Equal Opportunity organized two information evenings in 2003 on the topic of "Old Age Provision – What Women Need to Know". On the first evening, State Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV) as the first pillar of the Liechtenstein pension system was presented. On the second evening, occupational pension funds and private savings (2nd and 3rd pillars) were discussed. The brochure "Old Age Provision – What Women Need to Know" introduces the three-pillar model of the State Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV) system and the old-age provision situation for women depending on their phase in life, along with important contact information.

Research activities

In line with the suggestions made by the Committee on the occasion of the presentation of the first period report, Liechtenstein has strengthened its research activities. In the winter semester 2005/2006, the Liechtenstein Institute hosted a lecture series entitled "Men and Women in Education, Career, and Politics". The following research papers were presented: "Changes in Women's Employment: Serving or Earning" by lic. phil. Julia Frick, "Professional Development after the Realschule : Wishes and Reality" by lic. phil. cand. Martina Sochin, "Women Managers in Liechtenstein : Children or Career?" by mag a . phil. Sonja Hersche, and "Woman, Man, Person: Perspectives on Equality" by Dr. Wilfried Marxer.

Article 12Health

Revision of the Health Insurance Act

During the reporting period, the Liechtenstein Health Insurance Act was again revised in 2003, and further amendments are planned for 2006/2007. Since the 2003 revision, only a specific number of domestic and international physicians, determined by a needs analysis, are admitted to bill through the compulsory health insurance schemes. Several cost-control and cost-reduction measures in the health insurance sector have been introduced.

The waiver of premiums for children and the contributions to low-income policyholders have been extended to the entire compulsory health insurance system. Policyholders may submit an application for reduction of premiums on an official form to the municipal administration of the municipality of residence or work. The reduction of premiums is based on taxable income and the premium for compulsory health insurance calculated according to the national average. The applicable State contributions have remained unchanged. The waiver of cost participation for children and the reduction of cost participation for pensioners and the chronically ill have also been maintained.

With the planned further amendments to the Health Insurance Act, recommendations of the Data Protection Commissioner will be implemented to provide more precise rules concerning the position and responsibilities of medical examiners in Liechtenstein . Related rules will govern the disclosure of medication information by the service providers to the insurance schemes or the medical examiners. Provisions concerning the processing and communication of personal data will also be supplemented.

Preventive care and family planning

Every five years, persons between the age of 17 and 70 receive a written invitation from the Office of Public Health for a preventive check-up. Women receive an additional invitation every 2 1/2 years for a gynecological preventive check-up. If needed, this check-up also includes consultation on family planning. The doctor's office will arrange any follow-up examinations. Upon request, persons over the age of 70 may continue to participate in the preventive check-ups. Preventive check-ups are voluntary and free of charge.

Access to family planning is guaranteed for everyone as part of the public health system. The Pregnancy Counseling Service offers professional and personal advice in the event of unwanted pregnancy, along with support for mothers during and after pregnancy. In addition, women receive medical and psychological help from doctors and therapists. The costs of these measures are partially covered by the health insurance schemes. Public funds do not cover legal contraception in Liechtenstein .

The Liechtenstein Cancer Society offers a monthly meeting for those affected by breast cancer.

Abortion

Except for serious endangerment of the pregnant woman or pregnancies of women under the age of 14, abortion is subject to strict punishment in Liechtenstein . According to doctors' estimates, approximately 50 abortions are performed abroad each year. There is a widespread view that punishment is not an effective protection of nascent life. A working group composed of doctors, the Professional Association of Psychologists, the Evangelical-Reformed Church, the Women's Union, the Women in the FBP, the Free List, the Bureau for Sexual Matters and HIV Prevention, and infra – the Information and Contact Office for Women has dealt intensively over the last two years with the subject of pregnancy conflicts and is searching for sustainable solutions. The focus is on the protection of unborn life, the protection of the pregnant woman, and decriminalization.

The recommendations on Liechtenstein 's first periodic report include the call to investigate the connection between the strict abortion legislation and the supposedly high number of children born out of wedlock. There is no indication of a causal connection between the legislative situation and the number of children born out of wedlock. In the last five years, just over one fifth of children were born out of wedlock in Liechtenstein . A comparison with neighboring countries shows that this figure is not alarmingly high and can likely be attributed to the general rise in tolerance for non-marital partnerships in recent decades: In 2001, 17.5% of children were born out of wedlock in Liechtenstein , 11% in Switzerland , 33% in Austria , 23% in Germany , and 22% in Luxembourg .

In August 2005, the "For Life" initiative was submitted with 1,891 signatures. The initiative called for the comprehensive "protection of human life from contraception to natural death" to be laid down in the Constitution as a responsibility of the State. The parliamentary groups of all three political parties elaborated a counterproposal with the argument that the formulation chosen by the drafters of the initiative left too many questions open. The counterproposal provided a new article 27bis of the Constitution under the heading "General Rights and Obligations of Liechtenstein Citizens" enshrining respect for and protection of human dignity, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the right of every person to life, and the prohibition of the death penalty. In the popular vote on both proposals on 25/27 November 2005, 18.7% of voters supported the "For Life" initiative, while the counterproposal of Parliament was adopted by 79.3% of voters. The Constitution was amended by the Constitutional Act of 27 November 2005 .

Contraception and AIDS prevention

In addition to counseling on sexuality and HIV/AIDS, the Bureau for Sexual Matters and HIV Prevention offers various information programs. The Bureau provides gender-specific counseling in schools and youth centers for young women going through puberty. The content of its youth work includes sex education topics such as first menstruation, partner relationships, masturbation, first sexual intercourse, homosexuality, and pornography. Under the heading of "More desire than frustration", courses on the development of female sexuality are offered. A course for couples on "Sensuality and sex in long-term relationships" offers information and gender-specific work for women and men.

In cooperation with the youth information office "aha – Tips and Info for Young People" and the Gutenberg House, the Bureau for Sexual Matters and HIV Prevention offers "Girl Power Days" and "Boy Power Days". These are gender-specific offerings for girls and boys going through puberty. The Boy Power Days for 12 to 13-year-old boys cover the four areas of body knowledge and changes in puberty; dealing with aggression; male role images; and sexuality, contraception, and protection in relationships. During the Girl Power Days, girls between 11 and 13 deal with topics such as friendship, "My Body", puberty, menstruation, and ejaculation. The goals are to promote awareness, improve communication abilities, and expand behavioral competence. The Girl Power Days/Boy Power Days project was runner-up for the 2004 Gender Equality Prize.

Liechtenstein supports the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS through annual contributions to UNAIDS and voluntary contributions to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS. Liechtenstein Foreign Minister Rita Kieber-Beck confirmed Liechtenstein's continuing commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS at the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS on 1/2 June 2006 in New York. In addition, the Liechtenstein Development Service supports a wide range of projects to curb the spread of AIDS in African countries, but it also funds other projects relating to women's health, such as nutrition campaigns and campaigns on mothers' and children's health (see Contributions by Liechtenstein to Women's Projects, Appendix 2).

Drugs and rehabilitation programs

No changes of fundamental trends took place during the reporting period with respect to drug consumption. The share of smokers continues to rise, however, especially among young people between 15 and 16. Alcohol consumption and abuse as well as narcotics abuse are considerably higher among young men than among young women, while prescription drug abuse tends to be more widespread among young women. Outpatient rehabilitation programs are offered in hospitals and therapeutic institutions. In addition, Liechtenstein patients have access to rehabilitation programs in the neighboring countries.

Article 13Other areas of economic and social life

Although Liechtenstein is a wealthy country, low-income population groups exist. In particular single parents (especially single mothers) with children, but also families with multiple children and only one working parent are often confronted with financial challenges. Families in Liechtenstein are therefore supported by various measures (see remarks relating to article 5(b)).

If, despite the relief mentioned under article 5(b), the income of the parents is not sufficient to cover the costs of living for family members, the affected persons may apply for income support (welfare) from the Liechtenstein State . Financial support is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a reasonable expenditure of the family's own efforts and resources.

Participation in cultural life and the achievements of scientific progress is guaranteed equally in Liechtenstein to women and men. As an advisory commission to the Government, the Cultural Advisory Council plays an important role in the State promotion of culture, supporting the promotion and coordination, information and documentation of cultural activities and assuming responsibility for the administration and use of the foundation assets of "Pro Liechtenstein", a non-autonomous foundation under public law. The main activity of the Cultural Advisory Council consists in reviewing applications for State support. The Office of Cultural Affairs, established in 1999, advises the Minister of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Advisory Council on the fulfillment of their responsibilities. Additionally, it implements diverse cultural projects. The Office of Cultural Affairs is represented in the Steering Committee for Gender Mainstreaming and thereby actively participates in the implementation of Liechtenstein gender equality policy. The Office of Cultural Affairs is participating in the cross-border project "LänderGender" on implementation of gender mainstreaming in public administrations (see remarks relating to article 2) with the implementation example "Opening and Operating an Artists' Studio in Berlin ". The goal is to establish an artists' studio that offers an optimal environment to both women and men. In this way, artists from Liechtenstein are to be given the opportunity to create and present works abroad. In 2006, a needs assessment among artists will be conducted by means of a questionnaire. In particular, the survey aims to determine whether women and men have different demands on studios. Different desires would be conceivable with respect to the location and accessibility of the studio, the rules of the house, possibilities for taking care of children in the studio or its surroundings, and differing views on the rental costs due to the different backgrounds of women and men. The survey used for the needs assessment will take these aspects into account.

Article 14Promotion of women in rural areas

While there is no specific promotion of women in rural areas within Liechtenstein due to the small size and structural uniformity of the country, Liechtenstein is heavily involved in this area at the international level. The Liechtenstein Development Service (LDS) primarily works in rural areas in education, health, and rural development. As part of the focus on rural development, the LDS conducts projects specifically aimed at women. In 2005, for instance, the LDS promoted women in Senegal with respect to fishing and in the region of Thies, supported women's projects of the Indian aid organization in Halkarni in India , and promoted several well-construction projects in Asia and Africa (see Contributions by Liechtenstein to Women's Projects, Appendix 2).

Appendices

All Liechtenstein legal texts can be accessed on the website www.gesetze.li (only in German).

2005 Implementation Plan for the Beijing Platform for Action (1995).

Contributions by Liechtenstein to Women's Projects 2003 – 2005.

Geser-Engleitner, Erika: Weil Wände nicht reden können … schützen sie die Täter. Gewalt in Paarbeziehungen. Eine empirische Untersuchung in Vorarlberg (Österreich), Fürstentum Liechtenstein und Kanton Graubünden (Schweiz), Bregenz 2003.

Contributions by Liechtenstein to Women's Projects 2003 - 2005
2003
Country	Contribution in CHF	Project
Armenia	11,625	Project for advancing women's rights and network building
Georgia	11,625	Project for advancing women's rights
Caucasus	11,625	Project on prevention of violence against women
Albania	10,000	Training of local nurses
Bosnia-Herzegovina	80,000	Psychotherapeutic care of war-traumatized women and children
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia	23,000	3rd World Congress of "Home Care Connect", financial support of participants from Eastern Europe
	10,000	Voluntary contribution to UN Development Fund for Women
Bolivia	200,000	CIMES: Reciprocal health care scheme in Sucre and surroundings
Bolivia	71,904	Advancement of women through literacy and medical care in Sucre
Peru	292,691	EDUCA, Improvement of education at State schools in Peru
Peru	56,955	APROBIF: Day-care center "Corazón de Jesús"
Colombia	120,000	Prevention of malnutrition of infants and pregnant and nursing women
Mozambique	61,000	Education and training for women
Zimbabwe	146,597	Training program and irrigation project
Malawi	400,000	Integral health project in Malawian structures in Lilongwe and Zomba
Burkina Faso	100,000	AFED: Literacy, education, and economic integration of women
Bolivia	129,505	OCCA: Basic and advanced vocational training in Barrio Plan 3000/Santa Cruz
Bolivia	60,000	Bolivia national program
Bolivia	31,871	Salaries for CEFOI education center
Nicaragua	43,200	Health education in the El Rama district
Mozambique	285,000	Chiure district health-care service
Mozambique	246,126	AMREF: Local malaria examinations in the Buzi district
Zambia	257,317	Kara Counselling: Outpatient care of people with AIDS in Choma
Zambia	64,363	People's Action Forum: CABLAC education center in Nega-Nega
Burkina Faso	130,000	Nutrition, maternal and children's health in Tougan and Kénéedougou
Burkina Faso	37,000	ADDI: Literacy and rural development
Burkina Faso	70,000	MBDHP: Human rights work for women
Burkina Faso	37,500	Zaka: Literacy and rural development
Burkina Faso	54,000	Literacy and education campaign
Burkina Faso	64,000	SNEA-B Support of teachers' union
Mali	22,922	Small project fund EO/LED II
Mali	145,174	Confidence house for prostitutes
Senegal	41,360	SIDA-Service: AIDS prevention
Senegal	219,854	Improvement of agricultural production in Kissane
Peru	40,000	EDUVIDA - Education for life
Mali	110,000	Promotion of the cultivation of bio-cotton
Mali	36,035	Small project fund EO/LED
Senegal	31,563	PADORF: Sustainable agriculture
Senegal	85,192	PEFEM: Support of women in the area of fishing
Bolivia	317,610	Middle school for girls in San Ignacio de Velasco
TOTAL	4,166,614
2004
Country	Contribution in CHF	Project
Afghanistan	47,400	Day-care center in police academy
Afghanistan	35,422	Day-care center in police academy (additional contribution)
Afghanistan	1,000	Bamiyan protective home for women
Ukraine	30,800	Pilot program for combating human trafficking in Ukraine
-	10,000	Annual contribution to UN Development Fund for Women
Bolivia	130,000	OCCA: Basic and advanced vocation training in Barrio Plan 3000
Bolivia	92,000	CIMES: Reciprocal health care scheme in Sucre and surroundings
Bolivia	60,000	Bolivia national program
Bolivia	20,966	Salaries for CEFOI education center
Peru	216,667	Tarea, Institutional support
Peru	250,000	EDUCA, Improvement of education at State schools in Peru
Peru	112,153	EDUVIDA - Education for a healthy life
Costa Rica	225,000	El Maestro en Casa and small cultural channels
Haiti	36,960	Rehabilitation of undernourished children
Mozambique	940,000	Chiure district health care
Mozambique	200,100	Education program in Maputo and Cabo Delgado
Zimbabwe	67,470	Lupane women's center
Zimbabwe	103,950	Learning center for women in distress
Zambia	13,176	Education program in Nega Nega
Malawi	328,250	Integral health project
Burkina Faso	130,000	Nutrition, maternal and children's health
Burkina Faso	53,000	ADDI - Literacy and rural development
Burkina Faso	50,000	Human rights work for women
Burkina Faso	37,500	ZAKA - Literacy and rural development
Burkina Faso	54,000	Literacy and education campaign
Burkina Faso	60,000	Support of teachers' union
Mali	90,000	Promotion of the cultivation of bio-cotton in Mali
Mali	26,870	Small project fund EO/LED
Niger	115,800	Food security in the village of Boura
Senegal	80,052	Sustainable agriculture in the region of Fimela
Senegal	143,829	Nature-friendly use of coastal waters by women
Senegal	69,488	Program for the promotion of herbal medicine
Senegal	56,940	Advancement of women in the region of Thiès
Senegal	150,000	Promotion of bio-cotton in Senegal
TOTAL	4,038,793
2005
Country	Contribution in CHF	Project
	10,000	Annual contribution to UN Population Fund
	10,000	Annual contribution to UN Development Fund for Women
	15,400	Combating violence against women in order to prevent trafficking in women
	4,620	First annual OSCE Special Unit for Combating Human Trafficking
Guatemala	20,000	Assistance for hurricane victims; project relating to human hygiene
Bolivia	118,613	OCCA: Basic and advanced vocation training in Barrio Plan 3000
Bolivia	86,684	CIMES: Reciprocal health care scheme in Sucre and surroundings
Bolivia	131,486	Granja Hogar women's education center
Bolivia	70,000	Bolivia national program, education and health
Bolivia	70,000	Bolivia national program, education and health
Bolivia	12,675	Salaries for CEFOI education center
Bolivia	72,312	Women's lives without domestic and sexual violence
Bolivia	102,927	Women's lives without domestic and sexual violence
Peru	216,667	Tarea: Institutional support
Peru	222,222	EDUCA, Improvement of education at State schools in Peru
Peru	156,100	EDUVIDA - Education for a healthy life
Central America	81,275	"El Maestro en Casa" synergies, Central America
Haiti	34,505	Rehabilitation of undernourished children
Brazil	120,000	Renovation of Amparo Social (M)
Mozambique	500,000	Chiure district health care
Mozambique	186,771	AIDS prevention, positive life and empowerment
Mozambique	256,500	Education program in Maputo and Cabo Delgado
Zimbabwe	88,760	Training program and irrigation
Zambia	65,178	Education center in the southern province of Zambia
Malawi	360,000	Integral health project
Burkina Faso	202,950	Health and nutrition for mother and child
Burkina Faso	275,017	Rural area development program
Mali	68,400	Promotion of the cultivation of bio-cotton
Mali	80,000	Strengthening of civil society organizations
Niger	115,800	Food security in the village of Boura
Senegal	32,023	Sustainable development in the region of Fimela
Senegal	138,127	Support of women in the area of fishing
Senegal	193,445	Medicinal plants and traditional herbal medicine
Senegal	63,715	Advancement of women in the region of Thiès
Senegal	150,000	Promotion of bio-cotton
Senegal	75,000	Sustainable resource management in Notto and Tassette
Tajikistan	50,000	Odamaiyat home-care service
TOTAL	4,457,173
TOTAL 2003 - 2005: CHF 12,662,580