Education There is an equal level of access to education between the genders and, in certain cases such as tertiary education, women sometimes outnumber men.90 However, national spending on education is less than half of what is spent on defence, and despite promises in the 30-Year Long-Term Education Plan (2001-2031), almost nothing is known about how the budget is spent.91 The CEDAW Committee expressed its concern at the “lack of information on the specific budgetary allocations for the education sector, including the implementation of the Plan”.92 -B"6>& =+"&():;%$ -B"6>&>?@*3:;% #.%&#@BH$)+>)/Y-H&U '*+/,O6<" #=Å</52%-B"6>&!<B;%.?%-?%#3:% '$+/,&<$H&= '$+/,&<"&4=% $+"&<B%S </5P6<"% -B"6>&'<5A&!>/#%<B% ="=3?%6>&'<5A&!>/#%J 4=%G=%62"=%-:%$>)/6*+S ()!%aG 6>>)B%-B"6>&!H$A=/.%&#3:% =#/!="&$+"& -1>)/6!="$@ D#%N+#% '<5A&!>/#% $B%</5P<5A&!3Q6L=":%&$</>-1S CEDAW6="%$#H= “!H$A=/.%&'6=":% '4B%67"%69":%8*:%& '-1'G:% -B"6>&=K D#%N+#%*3Q6G$M9/5:%>" '*+=%'2=%$+"& $</>)/>8*:%&” '#3=% !/5&>/$%-@-.%$/6L=":%& 68-"*Q;<B% Employment Despite the high levels of girls and women in education, their academic advantage does not translate to their participation in the labour force. Only 50% of women are employed compared with 82% of men.93 The government’s claim that women and men have equal opportunities in employment under law94 is questionable, given that women are still concentrated in the lower ranks and in lower-skilled jobs9596, and that women earn less than men for comparative jobs (statistically, men earn $1,000 while women earn only $640).9798 Much of this disparity is due to the prevalence of traditional beliefs which reinforce attitudes and behaviours that do not favour women99. These include men being regarded as the main providers, the undervaluing of women’s unpaid work and controls on women’s freedom of movement. Myanmar’s laws are also questionable. There is, for example, no evidence of the laws which provide women with maternity leave - either the government’s Leaves and Holidays Act or the Social Security Act - being implemented.100 Indeed, the CEDAW Committee found almost no available information about the status of women’s employment in Myanmar.101 '25 - % ' =/ 5 : % -B"6>&#3:% '$+/,&<$H&R&6> 8$:;%$"&6<"%2B%& -B"6>&#-.%&<"$M6L=":;% 25-%:.%&*3:%-1G:%$M $6#3O>6-S '$+/,&<"& s_% 6#3O>*+/.%#3:% '$+/,&<$H& lG% <"6#3O><B%S '$+/,&<$H&():;% '$+/,&<"&$+"&<B% '25-%<$"&T-60'> #.%&#@'*3:;%'6>&$+"& >>)/6L=":%& '!/5&>J 68-"9/5*+=%<B% 6$&*3.%&45#%!>" 87!%6.<B%S '$+/,&<$H&$+"&<B% >"4@&./$;%():;% !3$%&>B%./$;% '25-%$+"&#3:% -/5$+"&Y-H& '$+/,&<"&$+"&4=% 2!".B%&<B%S (=/.%&NV.%&87:;% 67"%8->2)+:% '$+/,&<"& $`GGG>2)+:% '$+/,&<$H& ${kG<"><B%S) ?:%&</5P $BH$)+$M '6#"%$+"&$+"&$)" ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 28