A/HRC/41/33/Add.1 education. Due to education-related costs, which apparently vary, access to education is restricted in a country where most of the population lives in poverty. Illiteracy remains a problem, at 18.7 per cent of women in rural areas and 7.6 per cent in urban areas. 21 The education sector has been increasingly privatized, and the closure or inaccessibility of public educational institutions limits access to education for rural women and women living in poverty. According to information received, the quality of education provided in public schools is also unsatisfactory. 45. The Equal Opportunities for Women Act sets solid ground for gender-sensitive education, but according to the information received, the reality is quite different. While there are certain civic education programmes, the teachers themselves acknowledged that there should be more comprehensive programmes on gender equality in schools. Other interlocutors also expressed the view that awareness-raising about gender equality should start in schools. The experts concur with this view: the topics of gender equality, stereotypes and violence against women should be integrated in core curricula, and a safe and respectful educational environment should be ensured for girls in schools free from military or religious influence. 46. In view of the very high rates of adolescent pregnancy, the Government should ensure that comprehensive and science-based sexuality education is systematically provided in schools. Adolescent pregnancy remains a major factor leading to maternal and child mortality, and to intergenerational cycles of ill health and poverty. Adolescent pregnancy can also have a negative social and economic impact on girls, their families and communities, limiting girls’ access to education and employment opportunities. 22 The experts were informed that pregnant girls often cannot pursue their education; the Government should deploy all possible efforts to secure school enrolment of pregnant girls and ensure they have support after giving birth. The experts also express concerns about the security of girls on their way to school. Many parents reportedly hesitate to send their daughters to school for fear of violence, including sexual violence, particularly around mining areas. D. Health 1. General access to health care 47. Despite the National Health Plan (2014–2018), which is aimed at improving access to health-care services, the coverage of public health remains weak. According to the Office of the National Commissioner for Human Rights, 23 hospitals do not have the capacity to attend to the large number of patients or provide for the necessary services, including medicines. The privatization of health services has reduced access to health care for many women. According to the latest National Population and Health Survey, only 10 per cent of Honduran women are affiliated to the Honduran Social Security Institute, which provides health insurance. The most common causes of death in women are breast and uterine cancer,24 but there are no free prevention programmes. 48. The experts welcome the establishment of a government commission to examine gaps in the health-care system, which disproportionately affect women. Access to health care varies for women around the country, with women living in poverty and rural women having less access than others. The experts were informed that in rural areas, hospitals were too far away, of poor quality or lacking medication. Further, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex women, women engaged in sex work/prostitution and women living with HIV have reportedly less access to quality health care due to stigmatization and discriminatory attitudes. Women have reported severe cases of discrimination against women living with HIV, including forced sterilization. The experts were also informed that 21 22 23 24 Centro de Estudios de la Mujer–Honduras, “Agenda política de las mujeres y feministas”, November 2017. World Health Organization (WHO), “Adolescent pregnancy”, 23 February 2018. Preliminary report on the health sector submitted to the Working Group. Honduras, “Programa presidencial Ciudad Mujer”. 11