Credit: OHCHR
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) is holding its 60th session from February 16th to March 6th in Geneva, Switzerland. The Committee is reviewing State reports from Azerbaijan, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, and Tuvalu regarding their implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). During this session, the CEDAW Committee will engage in a constructive dialogue with each State based on the government’s national report and responses to the list of issues the Committee has asked the State to address. The Committee also takes into account any additional reports from civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. The session agenda includes discussion of matters relating to the Committee’s follow-up procedure, which has States provide information on their implementation of two recommendations from the Committee’s concluding observations within two years. To watch a live webcast or video of the CEDAW’s dialogue with each State, visit UN Treaty Body Webcast.
Azerbaijan
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Azerbaijan to provide examples of cases where the Convention has been invoked in domestic courts, and to describe protections afforded to women in various domestic laws. The Committee asked Azerbaijan to explain the measures taken to: address violence against women; eliminate stereotypes that impede women’s access to politics, education, and employment; ensure equal representation of women and men in State agencies; combat trafficking in women; close the gender pay gap; address high abortion rates; provide internally displaced females with identity documents and social services; and empower rural women with more decision-making in rural development plans. The CEDAW Committee asked Azerbaijan to provide information on why maternal mortality rates had increased and on the number of protection orders issued and convictions in domestic violence cases, noting that Azerbaijan favors mediation and reconciliation over prosecution.
Azerbaijan replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which was held on February 18th. See also Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Azerbaijan, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/AZE/5, 11 March 2013. Watch video of Azerbaijan’s review on UN Treaty Body Webcast.
Several civil society organizations and the Institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which is the national human rights institution (NHRI) in Azerbaijan, submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Denmark
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Denmark to indicate whether the Convention’s provisions would be incorporated into domestic law in the Faroe Islands and Greenland, as well as in Denmark. The Committee asked Denmark to address measures it has taken to facilitate women’s access to employment and politics, requested data on asylum-seekers, and asked if gender-based persecution has been introduced as a ground for refugee status determination. The CEDAW Committee requested data on forced marriages, and on the number of investigations and convictions in rape, trafficking, and domestic violence cases. The Committee asked Denmark if it anticipates adopting a law regarding violence against women, and critiqued Greenland’s action plan on domestic violence for being framed neutrally, rather than targeting violence against women specifically. The Committee asked for additional data from the Faroe Islands regarding trafficking, women’s access to education, and domestic violence.
Denmark replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which will be held on February 25th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Denmark, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/DNK/8, 1 July 2013.
Several civil society organizations and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, which is the NHRI in Denmark, submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Ecuador
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Ecuador to explain whether the bodies that investigate violence against women have measures in place to work with indigenous women, Afro-descendant women, Montubio women, and women with disabilities. The Committee requested information on how Ecuador has addressed “de-homosexualization” clinics, including data on the number of hate crimes against women due to sexual orientation. The CEDAW Committee asked Ecuador to describe the measures taken to: prevent trafficking in women; ensure access to education for females living in rural areas; create job opportunities for women; provide women with access to social security; reduce maternal mortality; address teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS; and support females seeking refugee status. The Committee requested data on: the representation of women in the foreign service; prosecutions and convictions regarding sexual violence in education; monitoring mechanisms to prevent the torture of women in detention; and minority women’s access to economic and social benefits, including credit and grants for projects.
Ecuador replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which was held on February 19th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Ecuador, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/ECU/8-9, 11 December 2012. Watch video of Ecuador’s review on UN Treaty Body Webcast.
Multiple civil society organizations submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Eritrea
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Eritrea to explain what measures it has taken to: increase access to redress for female victims of violence or trafficking; ensure that women can vote and serve as candidates in elections; ensure women journalists and human rights defenders have access to information and may exercise the freedom of expression; ensure women’s rights organizations are permitted to access funding; increase the number of female teachers; and close the gender wage gap. The Committee asked Eritrea to explain the reasons for low enrollment of females in secondary education, and to describe the support available to ensure that mothers under the age of 18 may continue their secondary education and obtain employment. The Committee also asked Eritrea to provide data on the number of complaints regarding lack of access to reproductive health services, and the number of women held in detention, including those that were subjected to violence.
Eritrea replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which will be held on February 26th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Eritrea, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/ERI/5, 5 May 2014.
Three civil society organizations submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Gabon
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Gabon to address the measures it has taken to: provide women with access to justice; implement the domestic law that combats female genital mutilation; protect victims of trafficking; increase the number of women elected to political positions; ensure that all children are registered upon birth; reduce the school drop-out rate for females; address high maternal mortality rates and lack of access to reproductive care; and ensure that rural and disadvantaged groups of women have access to basic services. The Committee requested data on the literacy rate of females in urban and rural areas, and the benefits available to women employees in the informal labor sector, including maternity leave. The Committee also asked Gabon to indicate whether it anticipates establishing a data analysis system to monitor rape and violence against women.
Gabon replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which was held on February 17th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Gabon, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/GAB/6, 19 January 2012. Watch video of Gabon’s review on UN Treaty Body Webcast.
Two civil society organizations submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Kyrgyzstan
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Kyrgyzstan to discuss the measures taken to: eliminate gender-based stereotypes; develop training programs for State officials on violence against women; ensure female participation in politics, especially in rural areas; address the prevalence of stateless women; ensure that all females have access to free and quality education; close the gender wage gap; increase awareness of contraceptive availability; and eradicate bride kidnapping (kidnapping women to coerce them into marriage). The Committee asked Kyrgyzstan to clarify what circumstances warrant a restraining order, and requested data on: the number of shelters available to victims of domestic violence; the patterns of human trafficking; and the reasons why females were dropping out of school.
Kyrgyzstan replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which will be held on February 25th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Kyrgyzstan, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/KGZ/4, 18 January 2013.
Several civil society organizations submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Maldives
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked the Maldives to discuss the measures taken to: train judges and lawyers on gender equality; eliminate violence against women, including marital rape and sexual abuse faced by female migrant workers; address trafficking in women while avoiding revictimization; increase the representation of women in politics, especially rural women; remove gender stereotypes from education so that females may study traditionally male-dominated courses; close the gender wage gap; ensure teenage and unmarried women have access to contraception; and prohibit polygamy. Noting that the Maldives reported that a non-Muslim may not become a citizen, the Committee asked how many non-Muslim women were living in the Maldives, and what measures were taken to ensure that women who marry foreigners can transfer their citizenship regardless of their religion. The CEDAW Committee asked the Maldives what steps have been taken to address the practice that only husbands may divorce their wives, and wives cannot divorce their husbands.
Maldives replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which will be held on February 27th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Maldives, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/MDV/4-5, 13 December 2012.
Multiple civil society organizations and the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, which is the NHRI in the Maldives, submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Tuvalu
In its list of issues, the CEDAW Committee asked Tuvalu to report the status of pending legislation that addresses gender equality, and to indicate whether the State plans on repealing or amending discriminatory domestic legislation. The Committee asked Tuvalu to explain how it is spreading awareness of women’s rights among disadvantaged groups including rural women, elderly women, and women with disabilities. The Committee acknowledged that temporary special measures for women were perceived in Tuvalu as disadvantaging men, and requested information on what Tuvalu has done to educate the public on the importance of these measures. The Committee requested information on measures taken to: increase women’s access to legal assistance; address discriminatory stereotypes; prohibit corporal punishment; ensure victims of violence have access to shelters and protection; identify and rehabilitate trafficking victims; increase access to political life, safe drinking water, and education; and close the gender wage gap. The CEDAW Committee requested data on the percentage of females enrolled in school, the maternal mortality rate, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
Tuvalu replied to the list of issues prior to its constructive dialogue with the Committee, which was held on February 20th. See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention: Tuvalu, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/TUV/3-4, 6 November 2012.
Two civil society organizations submitted supplementary reports for the Committee’s review.
Additional Information
To learn more about the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, visit IJRC’s Online Resource Hub.