UK present to UN on implementation of CEDAW
10 July 2008
The United Kingdom and representatives of its Devolved
Administrations and Overseas Territories were examined on the
implementation of CEDAW by the UN committee on 10th July
2008. The examination lasted five and a half hours and one hundred
and two questions were asked by committee members.
A simultaneous video conference link was established between New
York and London to provide access to cross government departments.
This link proved very successful and the committee commented upon
its added value. NGOs were allowed into the London conference to
observe the proceedings which provided a cost effective and
environmentally friendly option.
The UK delegation was headed by Minister Barbara Follett with
assistance from officials representing the UK, Devolved
Administrations and the Overseas Territories.
The UK has presented its report to the Committee, the report can
be seen at
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1694.doc.htm
A number of other organisations have also presented shadow
reports which are their own reports on progress and challenges as
they view the implementation of CEDAW in the UK. The Women’s
National Commission has been a key player in this and produced a
comprehensive report.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/ngos/WNC_UK41.pdf
What is CEDAW?
CEDAW is often described as an international bill of rights for
women. CEDAW sets out what constitutes discrimination against women
and sets a framework for national action to end discrimination.
CEDAW is the most authoritative UN human rights instrument to
protect women from discrimination. It is the first international
treaty to comprehensively address fundamental rights for women in
politics, health care, education, economics, employment, law,
property, and marriage and family relations.
CEDAW was drawn up after decades of work by the United Nations,
governments and women’s rights activists. The First World
Conference on Women held in Mexico City in 1975 resulted in a call
for a treaty for women’s rights. On December 18, 1979, the UN
General Assembly adopted CEDAW. Currently, 185
countries - over ninety percent of the members of the United
Nations - are party to the Convention.
CEDAW is important for all women globally. Women in developed
countries usually have a range of ways in which they can obtain
their rights but many in developing countries still face enormous
difficulties in achieving even the most fundamental rights.
Therefore solidarity between women in developed and developing
countries is important in ensuring that CEDAW is implemented
effectively in all countries.
What is CEDAW’s Optional Protocol; Why is it important ?
The Optional Protocol to CEDAW provides individual women and
groups whose rights are violated with a way to seek international
remedy. This is again especially important for women in countries
who have no other means for gaining redress when their rights have
been violated. The Optional Protocol came into force in 2000
and offers two mechanisms for holding governments accountable
for their obligations under CEDAW:
- A communications procedure that provides individuals and groups
the right to lodge complaints with the CEDAW committee.
- An enquiry procedure which enables the CEDAW committee to
conduct inquiries into serious and systematic abuses of women’s
rights.
These mechanisms are only applicable in countries that are
states parties to the Optional Protocol.
Women in the UK can also take their case to the CEDAW committee.
However, this would generally only be after they have exhausted all
channels and procedures of United Kingdom law.
How does the CEDAW committee work?
All countries that have become states parties to CEDAW are
examined periodically in New York or Geneva by the CEDAW
Committee.
The Committee is currently made up of 23 members from different
parts of the world ( Bangladesh, Cuba, Algeria, Thailand, Ghana,
Malaysia, Netherlands, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, Slovenia,
Mauritius, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Korea, Croatia , Portugal).
As well as being an examination of a country’s progress, the
diverse nature of the Committee ensures a useful dialogue on
progress being made and challenges being faced in many parts of the
world. It is a good opportunity to hear about best practice.