text: 137. Ms. NOVIKOVA asked what criteria guided the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in its selection of women to represent the country in international posts. 138. Mrs, LEHR (Federal Republic of Germany) said that the criteria which her Government used to select women for international posts would always be professional skills and competence. 139. With regard to the policies being pursued to make it possible for women and men to share their family responsibilities, her Government endeavoured, at every appropriate opportunity, to make it clear to fathers that they too were responsible for their children's upbringing. In that regard, research in the field of developmental psychology was of great assistance. The Federal Republic of Germany was also trying to change people's view that women were responsible for taking care of the elderly. "Family care" must not mean care provided by a daughter or daughter-in-law. 140. A question had been raised about programmes for young girls who were to be trained in spheres of employment previously dominated by men. In the early 1980s, her country had conducted a few pilot projects to train girls for such male-dominated occupations as auto mechanic and vehicle driver, Although the girls had obtained better test results, it had been difficult for them to obtain employment because people were unused to seeing women performing men's jobs, and they tended to have much more confidence in men. That showed that such programmes must go much further and promote the image of women as having the same competence as men in traditionally male professions. 141. The Federal Republic of Germany was studying the question of immigrant women very carefully, and information on that issue would be included in its next report. I • • • 
analysis: The text discusses the representation of women in international posts, policies to promote gender equality, and training programs for young girls in male-dominated occupations. These topics suggest a focus on employment and education, with some overlap with human rights and social issues.