refusal of a fair trial to political opponents and prisoners, and the use of forced exile. The Working Group was also specifically concerned at the abusive treatment of women with impunity by security forces, including military and police forces, and by other governmental authorities. That abusive treatment included rape and sexual abuse of women in detention and in camps for detained migrant workers. "6. The Working Group also expressed its deep concern over the mass punishment of women residents in areas targeted by security forces and the cruel and degrading treatment of women by soldiers, including gang rape and sexual slavery. "7. The Working Group was gravely concerned about the allegedly increasing gross violations of the human rights of women, including patterns of arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, disappearances and disappearances after arrest, death in police custody, and also trafficking in women and girls. "8. The Working Group noted with concern the widespread repression in the context of conflict situations which resulted in gross human rights violations that sometimes amounted to genocide, leading to physical and psychological abuses of women, including rape. "9. The Working Group expressed its concern at harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, which continued in certain States, and also noted with concern the practices of forced abortion and sterilization. "10. The Working Group further noted the alleged harassment to which human rights defenders had been subjected by members of the police and other authority figures. "11. The Working Group noted with concern the continued discrimination against indigenous families, including women and children who had been forcefully evicted from their homes and land and moved to unknown places. It also noted with concern the discrimination against minorities, in particular the denial of their rights to education and to the enjoyment of their religious and cultural life. "12. The Working Group noted with grave concern the gross and consistent violations of the social, economic and cultural rights of women as reflected in the continued discrimination against women in the spheres of employment, education and health, including malnutrition. "13. The Working Group further noted with concern the continuing de facto discriminatory treatment of women as reflected in limited employment opportunities, forced retirement during pregnancy and after childbirth, and the absence of child-care leave for part-time workers with time-limited employment - a majority of whom were women. "14. The Working Group took note of the alleged specific cases of discrimination and harassment, including physical and sexual assault, verbal and non-verbal abuse, unprovoked and improper obscene comments, psychological abuse, intimidation and threats of bodily harm, shunning and exclusion from employee gatherings. -58-