WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCEALLIANCE
CEDAW as a Tool for Achieving CEDAW as a Tool for Achieving Equality Equality
Equality & Social Inclusion in the Equality & Social Inclusion in the 2121stst Century Century
11stst – 3 – 3rdrd February 2006 February 2006
PresentationPresentation
What is CEDAW?What is CEDAW? The Reporting Process to the UNThe Reporting Process to the UN The 33The 33rdrd CEDAW Session July 2005 CEDAW Session July 2005 The Concluding Comments The Concluding Comments The Role of NGOs The Role of NGOs
Within the UN StructureWithin the UN Structure
C E D A WW om en
C E R DR a c ism
C A TT or tu re
C R CC hild ren
H R CC iv i l & P o li t ica l
C E S C RE con , S oc ia l
& C u ltu ra l
C M WM ig ran tW o rke rs
O ffice o f th e H igh C o m m issio n er fo r H um an R ig h ts(O H C H R )
w w w .u nh chr .ch
U n ite d N a tio ns
The CEDAW ConventionThe CEDAW Convention
Adopted in 1979 by UN General Adopted in 1979 by UN General Assembly – 180 countries have signed itAssembly – 180 countries have signed it
International Bill of Rights for WomenInternational Bill of Rights for Women
““Defines what constitutes discrimination Defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets out an agenda against women and sets out an agenda for national action to end such for national action to end such discrimination”discrimination”
CEDAWCEDAW A radical treaty that aims to:A radical treaty that aims to:
transform the structural transform the structural barriers to barriers to equalityequalityaddress multifaceted nature of address multifaceted nature of problems women faceproblems women face
CEDAW –CEDAW – core principlescore principles
Equality Equality
Non-discriminationNon-discrimination
Substantive EqualitySubstantive Equality
PromotingPromoting
- Equality of Equality of opportunityopportunity through law, policy, through law, policy, programmes and institutional arrangementsprogrammes and institutional arrangements
- Equality of Equality of accessaccess by eliminating all obstacles that by eliminating all obstacles that prevent access to the opportunities & taking prevent access to the opportunities & taking positive steps to ensure goal of equality is achievedpositive steps to ensure goal of equality is achieved
- Equality of Equality of resultsresults
Non-discriminationNon-discrimination
Based on the principal that Based on the principal that discrimination:discrimination:
is socially constructedis socially constructed Is not a natural principal of human Is not a natural principal of human
interactioninteraction
Recognition of the need for concerted Recognition of the need for concerted actionaction
against inequality and the institutionalagainst inequality and the institutional
mechanisms that perpetuate itmechanisms that perpetuate it
What CEDAW says…What CEDAW says…The ArticlesThe Articles
DiscriminationDiscrimination Special measuresSpecial measures Cultural practicesCultural practices TraffickingTrafficking PoliticsPolitics NationalityNationality
HealthHealth EmploymentEmployment EducationEducation LawLaw MarriageMarriage Family benefitsFamily benefits Rural womenRural women
Article 1- Definition of Article 1- Definition of DiscriminationDiscrimination
““Any distinction, exclusion or restriction, Any distinction, exclusion or restriction, made on the basis of sex, which has the made on the basis of sex, which has the effect or purpose of impairing or effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human and men and women, of human and fundamental freedoms, in the political, fundamental freedoms, in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or economic, social, cultural, civil or any any other fieldother field””
Article 5 – cultural practices Article 5 – cultural practices
““A change in the traditional A change in the traditional role of men as well as the role role of men as well as the role of women in society is of women in society is needed to achieve full needed to achieve full equality between men and equality between men and women”women”
Article 12 - HealthArticle 12 - Health
1. States Parties shall take all 1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to field of health care in order to ensure…access to health care ensure…access to health care services, including those related to services, including those related to family planningfamily planning
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONSGENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Deal with issues related to specific Deal with issues related to specific articlesarticles
GR 19 GR 19 Violence against womenViolence against women GR 21GR 21 Marriage & family relationsMarriage & family relations GR 23GR 23 Women in public lifeWomen in public life GR 24GR 24 HealthHealth GR 25GR 25 Temporary special measuresTemporary special measures
For information on CEDAW visitFor information on CEDAW visitI W R A W – www.iwraw-ap.orgI W R A W – www.iwraw-ap.org
How does CEDAW work? How does CEDAW work? the reporting processthe reporting process
When a a government ratifies CEDAW, When a a government ratifies CEDAW, it commits to put in place legislation & it commits to put in place legislation & policy to ensure women’s equalitypolicy to ensure women’s equality
Every 4 years government submit a Every 4 years government submit a ‘progress’ report to the CEDAW ‘progress’ report to the CEDAW CommitteeCommittee
Government is then examined at a Government is then examined at a session of the CEDAW Committeesession of the CEDAW Committee
The CEDAW CommitteeThe CEDAW Committee
23 experts on women’s issues from 23 experts on women’s issues from around the worldaround the world
Meet twice annually at UN in New York Meet twice annually at UN in New York 8 governments report at a session 8 governments report at a session After a government has been After a government has been
examined the Committee produce examined the Committee produce ‘Concluding Comments’ outlining ‘Concluding Comments’ outlining concerns & recommendationsconcerns & recommendations
Role of NGOsRole of NGOs
Submit ‘alternative’ or Shadow Submit ‘alternative’ or Shadow Report – a critique of the government Report – a critique of the government reportreport
Attend CEDAW session in NY to lobby Attend CEDAW session in NY to lobby Committee membersCommittee members
Observe government examinationObserve government examination Carry out follow up work to monitor Carry out follow up work to monitor
recommendationsrecommendations
Irish Government examinationIrish Government examination1313thth July 2005 – all day July 2005 – all day
Delegation led by Minister of State, Delegation led by Minister of State, Frank Fahey - presented ‘Ireland’s Frank Fahey - presented ‘Ireland’s Statement’Statement’
Government commended on Government commended on progress, challenged on lack of progress, challenged on lack of progress in range of areas……..progress in range of areas……..
‘‘Concluding Comments’Concluding Comments’ issued - issued - highlighting concerns and making highlighting concerns and making recommendationsrecommendations
The Concluding CommentsThe Concluding CommentsAreas of concernAreas of concern
Violence against Violence against womenwomen
StereotypingStereotyping Poverty & social Poverty & social
exclusionexclusion Under-Under-
representation of representation of women in politicswomen in politics
TraffickingTrafficking EmploymentEmployment Reproductive Reproductive
HealthHealth National Women’s National Women’s
StrategyStrategy
StereotypingStereotyping
Concerns:Concerns: Persistence of traditional stereotypical Persistence of traditional stereotypical
views of women & men in family & views of women & men in family & society, reflected in:society, reflected in:
- Article 41.2 of the Constitution.- Article 41.2 of the Constitution.
- Women’s educational choices.- Women’s educational choices.
- Women’s employment patterns.- Women’s employment patterns.
- Women’s low participation in politics- Women’s low participation in politics
Stereotyping – recommendations:Stereotyping – recommendations:•Eliminate traditional stereotypical attitudes through education, training, & sustained awareness-raising campaigns directed at men and women.
•Take CEDAW fully into account in considering amendments to Article 41.2, & include obligation of State to actively pursue substantive equality.
•Replace male-orientated language in the Constitution.
•Encourage the media to represent women more positively, to help foster cultural change.
Role of NGOs….Holding the government Role of NGOs….Holding the government accountableaccountable
Using the Concluding Comments:Using the Concluding Comments: In policy documents, submissions, In policy documents, submissions,
research, action plansresearch, action plans In funding proposalsIn funding proposals In lobbying and campaigning work – In lobbying and campaigning work –
letters, meetings with TDs and in media letters, meetings with TDs and in media workwork
In training & education programmesIn training & education programmes LOCAL …REGIONAL….NATIONAL LOCAL …REGIONAL….NATIONAL
levelslevels
CHALLENGES aheadCHALLENGES ahead
Lack of information on CEDAWLack of information on CEDAW Lack of understanding of and Lack of understanding of and
resistance to principal of ‘substantive resistance to principal of ‘substantive equality’equality’
Resistance to human rights based Resistance to human rights based approachesapproaches
Managing the backlash and keeping Managing the backlash and keeping women’s issues on the agenda women’s issues on the agenda
CEDAW is a powerful too to articulate , CEDAW is a powerful too to articulate , advocate and monitor women’s human rights advocate and monitor women’s human rights
It’s not….It’s not….
What can CEDAW really do for women?What can CEDAW really do for women?
But…But…
What do What do you you plan to do with the CEDAW?plan to do with the CEDAW?
WHRAWHRA
[email protected]@eircom.net
www.whra-ireland.orgwww.whra-ireland.org
CONFERENCECONFERENCE
““TAKING CEDAW SERIOUSLY”TAKING CEDAW SERIOUSLY”
Thursday, 23Thursday, 23rdrd March, 2006 March, 2006
GALWAYGALWAY
UK and CEDAW…UK and CEDAW…
UK Government signed CEDAW in 1981UK Government signed CEDAW in 1981 Submitted 5Submitted 5thth periodic report June 2003 periodic report June 2003 Waiting to be examinedWaiting to be examined
Download copy of report: Download copy of report: United Nations United Nations DivisionDivision for the for the
AdvancementAdvancement of of WomenWomen Homepage Homepagewww.un.org/www.un.org/womenwomenwatch/daw/ watch/daw/ (country reports)(country reports)