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

womenshumanrights@eircom.netwomenshumanrights@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)