E/1999/27 E/CN.6/1999/10 conflict situations. The Working Group also noted with concern discrimination against women in access to international humanitarian aid. “7. The Working Group noted with concern the failure of Governments in times of political instability to protect civilians, including women and children, who were victims of massacre and violations of human rights, including death threats, torture, rape, disappearances, hostage-taking and arbitrary detention. The Working Group also noted with concern the failure of Governments to punish those responsible for the violations. “8. The Working Group noted with concern the failure of Governments to protect the rights of ethnic and religious minority women, particularly during times of civil unrest, riot and in post-conflict situations. It also noted with concern the discrimination against minorities, in particular the denial of their rights to political participation, the denial of language rights and the denial of rights to equal access to governmental employment, education and health care. “9. The Working Group was concerned at the allegations of the violations of the human rights of women, including widespread arbitrary arrest, use of excessive force during arrests, incommunicado detention, prolonged administrative detention, detention of minors, torture and ill-treatment, unfair trial and forcible exile of political opponents and prisoners. In addition, the Working Group noted with concern abusive treatment of the wives, children and relatives of political opponents and prisoners. “10. The Working Group was deeply concerned about ongoing and large-scale trafficking in women and girls, and noted with concern the lack of effective national and international measures against forcible trafficking in women and girls. “11. The Working Group noted with concern the continued discrimination against indigenous families, including women and children. The Working Group also expressed its concern about the harassment of indigenous organizations and the death threats they received. “12. The Working Group also expressed its concern about alleged cases of violation of the right to freedom of expression, particularly concerning women journalists who had suffered the threat of arbitrary arrest and detention as a consequence of their work. The Working Group expressed concern about cases of arrest, harassment, detention and the disappearance of journalists. “13. The Working Group further noted with concern the ongoing harassment, including acts of violence, intimidation and death threats, of human rights defenders by members of the police and other authority figures. The Working Group was also concerned by the lack of investigation from authorities in cases where the safety and freedom of human rights defenders, members of non-governmental organizations and women activists had been threatened. “14. The Working Group noted with concern violations of the civil and economic rights of migrant women workers, including foreign contract workers, who were subjected to ill-treatment, limited personal freedom and inadequate or no payment for their work, without the possibility of recourse to the legal system of the receiving country for justice. “15. The Working Group is deeply concerned about the continuing de facto discriminatory treatment of certain social groups, including women, reflected by limitations on their full participation in public life, educational choices and employment opportunities and by alleged child slavery and prostitution. 42