CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE committees instituted by these instruments. The Deputy Minister responsible for the Family and the Condition of Women is working in collaboration with public institutions, universities, research centres and unions to carry out evaluative studies and surveys. The survey undertaken in June 2006, “Women and socio-economic integration”, highlights major trends in the employment of women. 315. The CSAR indicates that a National Strategy for the Fight against Violence against Women is in the process of being elaborated on by the services of the Deputy Minister responsible for the Family and the Condition of Women, in cooperation with the ministerial departments concerned, the national union movement and certain UN agencies, notably the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children‟s Fund (UNICEF). 316. The political rights of women were strengthened by Algeria‟s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Political Rights of Women on 20 December 1952. Furthermore, the past five years have seen efforts undertaken in the sphere of access to political responsibilities and senior functions of the state, thanks to the action of public authorities and political parties. Women candidates for the Popular National Assembly (the lower chamber of the parliament) were 18 times as high in 2002 than in 1997. Women candidates in the 2002 local elections tripled compared with the number in 1997. Moreover, the appointment of women to senior posts is constantly increasing. 317. The CSAR notes that, despite the manifest will demonstrated at the highest levels of the state to promote the participation of women in all sectors of activity urgently and consistently, obstacles persist. Principal impediments to progress in this area are the same as those experienced by developed and developing countries alike, namely historical factors, family constraints and social resistance. In order to reduce the gap resulting from anachronistic behaviour, there is a need for recourse to persuasive or encouraging measures to overcome these obstacles. The state is paying special attention to these aspects. One of the practical examples of good practice in this area is the implementation of the Observatory on Female Employment by the Minister of Energy and Mines, aimed at monitoring the equitable integration of gender. 318. A national study has been undertaken by the Deputy Minister for the Family and the Condition of Women to refine the analysis of factors responsible for the inadequate participation of women in public life, and to formulate recommendations on actions to be taken. 319. On the basis of recommendations made in a draft version of this study, the Ministry of Education has decided to promote preschool establishments, which would remove one of the obstacles to balancing family life with professional and political life. Political parties have initiated debate within their structures on ways and means to promote the participation of women and their access to political office. 104