movement has also started in the North Red Sea Region and a similar declaration has been issued already in the Nakfa and Afabet sub regions. Marriage and Family Relations 318. The institutional and legal framework of the State ensures the rights of both men and women upon their consent to marry and to found a family freely without any discrimination and shall have equal rights and duties as to all family affairs. Article 837 of the Transitional Civil Code states that „The sex, age, nationality of heir shall not affect in anyway the ascertainment of the right to succession‟. All family members get inheritance without any distinction based on sex. The law has also ensured equal responsibilities with regard to guardianship, trusteeship and adoption of children. The best interests of the child take precedence in this respect. Failure to perform such duties also leads to criminal charges under the provisions of the law. Legislation provides equal rights and opportunities in this respect. But sometimes, attitudes and cultural practices pose obstacles and slow the possibilities of change. The Government, however, remains commitment to enforce equality and eliminate any remaining discriminatory practices within the family. Trafficking in Women and Exploitation of Prostitution 319. Traffic in women is an alien concept to the Eritrean society, and there are no such reported cases inside the sovereign Eritrean territory. Nonetheless, women are legally protected against such offenses. The Transitional Codes (as well as the new national codes) provide a broad basis for the protection of human dignity that also embraces the prohibition of sexual exploitation and trafficking of women under the transitional criminal code (Art. 605) with subsequent severe punishment under Articles 606 and 607. (iii) The Role of the NUEW One of the organizations established by the Eritrean Peoples‟ Liberation Front during the liberation struggle in 1979 was the National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW). It was established with the aim of empowering Eritrean women and fostering their participation in the struggle. Currently NUEW is a successful autonomous grassroots women‟s organization mandated to work as women‟s establishment in the advancement of gender equality. NUEW organizational basis includes 163 branches, 481 sub-branches and 4343 basic (local level) groups. Membership is open to all Eritrean women of all ethnic groups and religions above the age of 16. The Union has more than 323,420 members, offices in the six regions, 58 subregions, and 2460 (out of 2800) villages as well as in the Diaspora. The average yearly increase of membership is currently estimated at 7%. In terms of age 34% are in the age range of 16 – 30 and about 22% in the range of 31 - 40. Women farmers are also about 43%. 320. 321. To raise awareness and strengthen participation, every year meetings, seminars and public consultations have been going on. In 2016, about 1471 meetings and public Page 81 of 100