single parent is also required for a child born out of wedlock. The Immigration and Nationality Department has effectively implemented and monitored the above provisions. Affirmative Action and Policy Implications Affirmative Action is introduced as a temporary measure to raise women‟s participation in the social, political and economic progress. It also promotes the inclusion of women in important government decision making bodies. In essence, it is taken as a means of closing the prevailing gap in the level of women‟s participation. Affirmative action to ensure fair gender representation has thus been respected and protected on the basis of Article 10(2) of Proclamation No. 86/1996 that deals on the establishment of Local Governments. Accordingly, their right for 30% seats in the assemblies at all levels is implemented. They also compete in the remaining 70% seats. However, due to the national constraints described earlier, only local and regional elections have taken place during the reporting period. NUEW was also represented in the consultation forums of the Law Reform Committee that revised all transitional codes and developed the recently published National Codes. Experience also attests that the Eritrean Constitution Commission (ECC), a body mandated to draft the first National Constitution in 1994, also had 40% women members. 300. 301. The affirmative action on women is also apparent in other institutional measures and development projects and women‟s visibility is ensured in vital structures. At least one member is a female in the land tenure committees at all levels. They also constitute 45-50% in similar water management committees. One of the three community magistrates elected by the local assembly is necessarily a woman. Any community development project or activity is approved only when it addresses the women‟s issue. All Sport Federations also reserve seats for women. They are given prominence in employment driven vocational training courses. In consideration of the prevailing reality, slightly lower entry requirements have been implemented in university, college, technical and vocational training enrolment. (ii) Women Empowerment Politics and Public Life 302. The participation of women in politics and public life is thus evident. In general, recent Government data show that, women have occupied 28.5% of the posts in political and public life. The representation at local level assemblies and administration is also significant and stands at 34% and constitute 37% of the elected community magistrates. Furthermore, 26% 31% members of the regional assemblies and 22% in the last National assembly are women. In the judiciary women encompass 22% of the High Court and 14% of the Regional Court Judges. Recent estimates also show that women encompass 16.7% as Governors (one of the six Regional Governors), 17.6% Ministers (Ministers of Justice, Health and Tourism), and 6.9%, 10.6% and 35.4% of director generals, directors and unit heads respectively in government posts. Although women seem to be more visible at local levels and lower ranks Page 76 of 100