Committee on
the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
is the body of independent experts that monitors
implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women.
CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around
the world.
Countries who have become party to the treaty (States parties) are
obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights of the
Convention are implemented. During its sessions the Committee considers
each State party report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to
the State party in the form of concluding observations.
In accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention, the
Committee is mandated to : (1) receive communications from individuals or groups
of individuals submitting claims of violations of rights protected under
the Convention to the Committee and (2) initiate inquiries into
situations of grave or systematic violations of women’s rights. These
procedures are optional and are only available where the State concerned
has accepted them.
The Committee also formulates general recommendations and
suggestions. General recommendations are directed to States and concern
articles or themes in the Conventions.
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