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COMMITTEE ON THE
ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN (CEDAW)
Participation by
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
49th session (11 to 29
July 2011) and
Pre-session for the 51st
session (1 to 5 August 2011)
United Nations Headquarters, New York
I. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS BY STATE PARTIES
The Committee will examine the reports of the
following eight States parties during its 49th session: Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ethiopia,
Italy, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Zambia,
with respect to the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the
Convention).
II. DOCUMENTATION
The reports of the eight States parties to be
considered at the 49th session, the provisional agenda
(CEDAW/C/2011/49/1) and other documents pertaining to the session are
available online at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws49.htm
III. VENUE
The 49th session of the Committee will take
place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in room 3 NLB (North
Lawn Building). The pre-session working group for the 51st session will
also take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in room 10
NLB (second floor).
IV. NGO REPORTS
In order to ensure that it is as best informed
as is possible, the Committee and the pre-session working group welcome
representatives of national and international NGOs to provide
country-specific information on issues relevant to the implementation of
the Convention by the State parties under consideration. This can be done
orally and/or in writing. The Committee encourages international NGOs and
United Nations agencies, funds, programmes, and specialized agencies to
facilitate attendance at Committee and pre-session working group sessions
by representatives of national NGOs.
V. REPORTS FOR THE SESSION (11 TO 29 JULY 2011)
NGOs wishing to submit reports to the Committee
are required to:
· Identify the full name of the NGO;
· Indicate the country to which the information
relates;
· Indicate whether or not the submission can be
posted on the CEDAW website for public information purposes; and
· Submit the report in pdf format (not Word) by
e-mail and thereafter submit 30 copies in hard copy format.
All submissions should arrive two weeks prior to
the beginning of the session to the Secretariat of the Committee, i.e.,
no later than 27 June 2011. The pdf version of the report should be
sent to the following e-mail address: cedaw@ohchr.org. Hard copy
submissions should be mailed to:
NGO Documents for CEDAW Meeting
c/o OHCHR/Gaynel Curry
One United Nations Plaza, Room 511
New York, NY 10017
NGOs not attending a session are urged to ensure
that the requisite number of hard copies of their reports/information
reach OHCHR in time for the respective session. Due to the large volume of
information received from NGOs and other stakeholders, OHCHR does not
photocopy reports received from NGOs.
NGOs can also avail themselves of the support of
IWRAW Asia Pacific to submit their alternative reports or information,
electronically and/or in hard copy, to the Secretariat. For details and
deadlines, please contact IWRAW Asia Pacific:
80-B, Jalan Bangsar
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 322 822 255
Fax: +60 322 832 552
Email: iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org
or iwraw_ap@yahoo.com
In regard to the above, it is noted that the
Committee has the prerogative to take into account all information
submitted to it until the consideration of a report by a State party has
been concluded.
VI. REPORTS FOR THE PRE-SESSION WORKING GROUP (1
TO 5 AUGUST 2011)
NGOs wishing to submit reports to the
pre-session working group should follow the same requirements for
submission of reports for the session as indicated above. NGOs
should send 10 copies of their reports two weeks prior to the beginning
of the pre-session working group, i.e., no later than 18 July 2011. (The
pre-session working group prepares lists of issues and questions for the
States scheduled to be reviewed two sessions subsequent to the current
session.) The pdf version of the report should be sent to the
following e-mail address: cedaw@ohchr.org. Hard copy submissions
should be mailed to:
NGO Documents for CEDAW Meeting
c/o OHCHR/Gaynel Curry
One United Nations Plaza, Room
New York, NY 10017
VII. INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH NGOS
The Committee has set aside time at its 49th
session for NGOs to provide oral information in respect of countries
being considered during the session. These informal meetings are
scheduled on 11 July 2011 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm for countries that will be
considered the first week, and on 18 July 2011 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm for
countries that will be considered the second week. The meetings will take
place in room 3 NLB. For the schedule of considerations of State parties'
reports, please contact the Secretariat.
Oral interventions by NGOs must be concise. On
average, not more than 10 minutes are allocated for all NGOs wishing to
intervene on one particular country. Efforts to share the available time
amongst the NGOs wishing to speak on a country are encouraged and
appreciated. NGOs making oral interventions should ensure that they bring
35 copies of their oral statements on the morning of the presentation for
circulation to the Committee and for interpretation purposes in addition
to any reports. Prior to the presentation, NGOs are requested to
send an electronic version of their statements in pdf format to: cedaw@ohchr.org
The pre-session working group also provides an
opportunity for NGOs to address it concerning all countries that will be
taken up at the 51st session, including Algeria, Brazil, Comoros, Congo,
Grenada, Jordan, Norway and Zimbabwe. This informal meeting will take
place from 11:30 to 12:30 am in room 10 NLB. The paragraph above relating
to the oral interventions by NGOs is applicable to the pre-session
working group as well, except that NGOs need only bring 15 copies of
their oral statement on the morning of the presentation for circulation
to the Committee and for interpretation purposes in addition to any
reports. Prior to the presentation, NGOs are requested to send an
electronic version of their statements in pdf format to: cedaw@ohchr.org.
VIII. ACCREDITATION
NGO representatives who wish to attend any
sessions of the Committee or pre-session working group are required to be
duly accredited. In order to obtain accreditation, all NGOs
representatives must fill-out and submit the "Conference
Registration Form". This form must include the full title of
their NGO, the name of the representative (as the name appears on the
national passport), and the proposed dates of attendance. The form
must be submitted by e-mail to cedaw@ohchr.org no later than a week prior
to the beginning of the session, i.e., 4 July 2011, so that arrangements
can be made for the issuance of United Nations ground passes to enter
United Nations premises. Representatives who submit forms that are
illegible, incomplete or after the deadline may not be accredited.
To receive the ground pass, all applicants, in
addition to sending the form by e-mail to cedaw@ohchr.org, are required
to bring the signed original of the Conference Registration Form, a valid
national passport or government issued photo ID bearing a photograph, and
appear in person at United Nations Pass and Identification Unit, located
at 801 United Nations Plaza at the corner of 1st Avenue and East 45th
Street. The office hours are 9.00 am to 4.30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Please note that NGO representatives must bring their passports (or
government issued photo ID) every time they wish to enter UN premises.
Please note that OHCHR will not provide letters
of invitation to NGOs to attend CEDAW sessions for the purposes of
obtaining visas. In addition, OHCHR is unable to assist with travel
and/or accommodation costs relating thereto.
IX. SIDE EVENTS
NGOs have access to a separate room for one hour
briefing sessions for the Committee during lunch. NGOs wishing to
participate in such lunch briefings should contact IWRAW Asia Pacific or
may also contact the Secretariat in this regard at cedaw@ohchr.org. NGOs
wishing to organize side events must contact the Secretariat at least
four weeks in advance of the session at least four weeks in advance of
the session indicating the focus of the side event. The secretariat will
inform you if it is possible to accommodate your request in light of all
requests received as well as the availability of Committee members.
X. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For further information about the treaties
bodies in general, specific information on CEDAW and on the participation
and role of civil society with respect to human rights instruments,
please consult the following links:
· http://www2.ohchr.org;
and
· http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx
CEDAW website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm
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