Women’s right to equal employment opportunity has been recognized virtually worldwide. In fact, one-third of the total world labor force consists of women.’ As the higher echelons in employment are reached, however, the number of positions occupied by women tapers off dramatically.2 Thus, while the right to equal employment opportunity is acknowledged, enforcement remains a formidable challenge. Although facially similar laws prohibiting discrimination in the recruitment, promotion and working conditions of women have been enacted by United Nations member countries, the United States, the European Community and Japan, the difference between equality in law and equality in fact lies with their implementation.
