E/CN.4/2002/73/Add.2 page 60 21 Yadh Ben Achour, Rapport de synthèse, Symposium on non-discrimination against women, Tunis, 13-16 January 1988, CEREP, UNESCO, 1989, p. 382. 22 The fact remains that, even in European societies, because of dominant patriarchal patterns, it is only relatively recently that women acquired certain rights, including legal capacity, freedom to pursue a profession, the right to vote, the exercise of parental authority on the same basis as men, the pursuit of trades or occupations traditionally reserved for men, equal treatment in regard to adultery, etc. 23 See Samuel (note 14 above), p. 13. 24 Preliminary report of the Special Rapporteur on traditional practices affecting the health of women and children (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1995/6, para. 18). 25 In Mexico, for example, a practice according to which the fiancé abducts his future wife can save families the sometimes vast expense of a formal wedding. See report on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/11, para. 68). 26 See chapter I, section C, paragraphs 81 to 87. 27 World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna 1993, opening address by Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, United Nations, New York, 1993, p. 7. 28 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, 25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, I, para. 1). 29 See Héctor Gros Espiell, “Universality of Human Rights and Cultural Diversity”, International Social Science Journal, vol. 50, No. 158, December 1998, p. 584. 30 On this aspect in general, see Thomas Gil, “La diversité culturelle et la rationalité des droits de l’homme”, Droits fondamentaux et spécificités culturelles (note 18 above), pp. 142 ff. 31 Boutros-Ghali (note 27 above), p. 15. 32 Ibid., p. 11. 33 Loc. cit. (note 28 above), chap. I, paras. 5, 10 and 18. 34 Ibid., paras. 18, 20 and 38. 35 In particular, the Proclamation of Teheran of 13 May 1968 by the International Conference on Human Rights (para. 2), the American Convention on Human Rights of 1969 and the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950. 36 In its general comment 18, the Human Rights Committee notes that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights does not define the term “discrimination” and refers, inter alia, to the definition of discrimination contained in article 1 of the Convention on the Elimination of All