whether the boundaries of electoral districts were drawn in a manner that ensured equitable representation of different political parties in the Government; how the requirement to vote was enforced; whether the Government operated under a policy of openness: whether government workers who bad participated in a demonstration in December 1990 had been dismissed by virtue of Law No. 25 of 1990; whether any conclusions had been reached in the review of the constitutionality of that law: and whether there were any possibilities that exceptions to the right to strike would be eliminated. Furthermore, observing that the banning of peaceful demonstrations as well as the sanctions imposed on their participants might violate the rights guaranteed under the Covenant, members wished to know whether orders expelling persons who dissented from the Government from public or trade union office were going to he lifted. 449. In reply, the representative said that in order to be recognised as a political party, a grouping had to have a minimum support base of some 3.5 per cent of the electorate and a democratic internal structure, with decisions taken by vote. No political parties had been banned since the consideration of the initial report, end six political parties currently met the legal requirements to be recognised as such. Trade union rights applied to private enterprises but not to public sector organieations. Owing to the transfer of private enterprises to the public sector, an anomalous situation had arisen since the Government had allowed the trade unions in those enterprises to remain in existence. The financing of political parties was governed by article 135 of the Constitution , which had remained without effect as a result of failure to agree on provisions to translate it into practice, The electoral system comprised elements of district and proportional representation. The Constitution recognized the right to strike, except that the law could impose restrictions in the case of public service employees. There was no general policy of dismissing public employees from their posts for participating in political activities that criticised the Government; the matter was a constitutional issue. Protection . of the fu . tTulfu- 450. With reference to that issue, members of the Committee asked whether the draft Family Code had been enacted and what were its main provisions. They sought information on the activities and accomplishments of the Authority for the Child and the Family: on practical measures taken to enhance the enjoyment by womenof their equal rights during marriage; and on any plans to remove the discriminatory provisions in respect of divorce contained in the Civil Codes. Members also wished to know whether Panamanian law provided safeguards against child abuse and why the State did not make allowances to large families. 451. Answering questions posed by members of the Committee, the representative said that the draft Family Code was under review and the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labour was devising an ambitious plan in various spheres of concern to the child and the family. Discrimination on the basis of sex was unconstitutional, but many cultural problems still SUbSiSted. In that connection, an education campaign was being formulated to make women more aware of their legal rights. All discriminatory provisions in respect of divorce had been abolished, and recent legislation also gave women the right to keep their own 6urnames upon marriage. -113-