WUNRN
The Attached File and the second
part of this WUNRN release refer to the CEDAW Committee process in the absence
of OVERDUE Member State Reports to the UN CEDAW Committee:
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DOMINICA EXAMPLE
UN CEDAW COMMITTEE
UNITED NATIONS Press
Release
Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
21 January 2009
The Committee on
the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women today considered the
implementation of the Convention on the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in Dominica, in the absence of a
report.
Ruth Allport, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development,
Culture, Gender Affairs and Information of Dominica, said the Constitution of
Dominica prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex, and guaranteed equality
under the law and the equal protection of the law. In relation to gender-based
violence, emphasis had been given to law reform, social services for survivors
of domestic violence, and public education. A number of policies had been
pursued, including boosting women's participation in the labour force and
increasing both productivity and earnings. Dominica was, despite an adverse
economic situation, committed to the immediate enforcement of
non-discrimination norms and the progressive realisation of economic and social
rights. It was within this framework that Dominica undertook to prepare a
complete initial and periodic report on compliance and implementation of the
Covenant to be presented to the Committee in 2010.
Among questions and
issues raised by Experts were why the report had not yet been presented,
despite the fact that according to article 18 of the Convention this was a
legal obligation to the States Parties, and whether Dominica had thought of seeking or had
sought technical assistance from the United Nations machinery; what type of
protection orders were available to women suffering from domestic violence and
whether there was statistical information on this matter; what measures were
being taken to promote the equal participation of women in highly-skilled jobs
and management positions and what would stimulate upward mobility in the labour
market and stimulate the diversity of occupational positions for women; and
what laws existed to protect the individual's property in the case of marriage.
Naela Gabr, Chairperson of the
Committee, in concluding remarks, said she hoped that the report, when
submitted, would follow the Committee's guidelines and would include statistics
that were gender-disaggregated. It should also be formulated with the
participation of civil society, as the organizations in the region could be of
great help. The subject required political will. The Constitution of Dominica
provided for equality - this was excellent, but this needed to be enforced. The
dialogue had been useful to the Committee, and it was hoped it would be of use
to Dominica as well.
Also in concluding remarks,
Ms. Allport said she wished to thank the Committee for providing the
opportunity to discuss the situation and present Dominica's case, and hoped the
Committee would give Dominica the time to discuss the report with UNIFEM in
order to prepare it and present it in 2010. It was hoped the information provided
had been of service in presenting Dominica's situation.
Also representing Dominica was
Alix Boyd-Knights, Honourable Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica.
_______________________________________________________________________
Document is Attached re: CEDAW
Committee
PROCEDURES IF STATE/COUNTRY CEDAW
REPORT IS LONG OVERDUE.
CEDAW COMMITTEE MAY DECIDE TO REVIEW
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION IN THE ABSENCE OF A STATE REPORT.
______________________________________________________________________
Ways and Means of Expediting the
Work of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women -
CEDAW
16 May 2008
Excerpts - From Page 5 & Page 6
IV. Consideration of State Parties
in the Absence of Reports
14. "At its thrity-seventh session held from 15 January
to 2 February 2006, the Committee (CEDAW Committee) deicded to send letters to
12 States parties whose initial reports are more than 10 years overdue:
Bahamas
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Dominica
Grenada
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Lesotho
Liberia
Papua New Guinea
Seychelles
requesting that they submit their reports by a given date.
It also decided to request the four States parties whose
initial reports are more than 20 years overdue to submit all their overdue
reports as combined reports by March 2008, for consideration at its forty-third
session in January 2009
Dominica
Buinea-Bissau
Haiti
Liberia
Failing receipt of the reports within the suggested time-frame,
and as a measure of the last resort, the Committee decided to proceed with
considration of the implementation of the Convention in these States parties in
the absence of a report.
Similarly, the Committee identified a time-frame for the
submission of the overdue reports of the other States parties, nominating the
sessions at which they would consider these States parties in the absence of a
report in the event these reports were not submitted."
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Via IWRAW AP - International
Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
"Please direct your attention in particular to the
Committee's position with regards to the consideration of States parties whose
reports are long overdue (page 5 onwards). The Committee is taking steps to
encourage States parties to submit long overdue reports and this report
highlights the circumstances in which the Committee may decide to review the
implementation of the Convention in the absence of a State report."
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