FIFTEENTH SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, NEW YORK, 15 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY

2 February 1996

Press Release
WOM/899

FIFTEENTH SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, NEW YORK, 15 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY

19960202 The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this afternoon concluded its fifteenth session by adopting its final report, which contains suggestions and recommendations for the nine States parties that presented reports during the past three weeks on their compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Chairman of the Committee, Ivanka Corti, expert from Italy, informed members that the Committee had been invited, following discussions with the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to collaborate with the UNFPA to bring together representatives of treaty bodies for discussions on how to monitor implementation of the reproductive and sexual health aspects of the plans of action of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995).

The Committee's final report contains specific recommendations to each State party reviewed during the session. Among the recommendations to Cyprus, the Committee called for immediate action to strengthen the national machinery for Cypriot women to formulate policy to improve their status. The Committee strongly recommended that urgent special temporary measures be adopted to increase the presence of women in all areas of public and political life, and that the Government take additional measures to combat the international trafficking and sexual exploitation of women. It also encouraged Cyprus to enact special legislation on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Regarding Paraguay, the Committee urged the country's Government to revise its penal code with regard to violence against women, to extend bilingual education to all citizens, and to combat the social, economic and cultural factors causing the high drop-out and illiteracy rates among women. It also recommended that Paraguay take measures to deal with the high level of maternal mortality and illegal abortions and to consider reviewing the punitive measures of the law of abortion. In addition, the Committee recommended that the Government provide sufficient family-planning services and information, and increase efforts to guarantee equality in land distribution and ownership.

On Iceland, the Committee urged the Government to continue efforts to achieve pay equity, and to take measures to ensure that women be appointed to decision-making positions. It recommended that the Government develop means to increase men's participation in household tasks and child care, and intensify efforts to ensure the rights and protection of migrant women. It also recommended that Iceland amend its Equal Status Act to ensure representation of at least 40 per cent of each sex in public bodies. The Committee also recommended that equal rights, as well as human rights education, be mandated in the country's schools.

In relation to Ethiopia, the experts recommended that awareness programmes and legal measures be put in place urgently to abolish the practice of female genital mutilation and all other such practices that discriminate against women. It suggested that those who performed mutilation be helped to find other sources of income. The Committee also recommended that there be an increase in the number of women in decision-making positions in public administration, and that special measures be adopted to give girls and women equal access to quality education and training. In addition, it encouraged the Government to provide women with primary health care, and called for an intensive programme to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Committee urged the Government of Cuba to do everything possible, under the difficult economic circumstances caused, in part, by the embargo against that country, to meet the demand for contraceptives, and to make every effort to eliminate the root causes of prostitution. It also called on the Government to develop special information programmes on sexually transmitted diseases for young girls. The Government was also urged to undertake surveys and studies to determine the extent of violence against women in Cuban society, and to review successful programmes to combat sexist prejudices and stereotyping.

With regard to Belgium, the Committee recommended that national machineries for women look into the possibility of a monitoring system to ensure effective coordination and to avoid discrepancies between regions. It called for measures to address the hidden discrimination in social security and taxation between different groups of women, and suggested that the Government explore job re-evaluation and reclassification to address the wage gap between the sexes. The Committee also asked that information on programmes for migrant women and other vulnerable women be made available in Belgium's next report.

To Ukraine, the Committee recommended that equal rights and human rights education should be made mandatory for judges and law enforcement agencies. It urged the Government to review and amend the legislation that allowed the activities of numerous sex services and the practice of hiring women in professions often leading to prostitution, and to take measures to prosecute criminal offenders and to rehabilitate the victims through education, training

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and support services. The Committee also recommended that more detailed information be provided in Ukraine's next report on violence against women, including rape, wife battering, child abuse, incest and other forms of physical and psychological violence against women; and on minorities, particularly Crimean Tartars.

Regarding Hungary, the Committee recommended that the Government institute a high-level national mechanism responsible for defining and coordinating a policy for the advancement of women. It requested the Government to take urgent legislative and structural measures to provide female victims of violence with protection and services, to offer sex education programmes to all young people and to subsidize contraceptives, and to take measures to reintegrate prostitutes into society. In addition, the Committee urged the Hungarian Government to guarantee social protection for minorities and refugees.

On Rwanda, the Committee called on the international community to give massive support for poverty alleviation and education programmes aimed at eliminating human rights violations and rehabilitating the country. It also called for a thorough investigation of rape and sexual assault, a focus on women's rights in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and a witness protection unit in the war crimes prosecutor's office to protect those who testify about rape and other crimes. In addition, the Committee recommended that the Government adopt legislation to advance women's reproductive and sexual rights, land titles to women and the right of women to be their children's legal parent guardian.

During its three-week session, which began on 15 January, the Committee examined measures being taken by eight States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Article 18 of the Convention provides for States parties to submit reports to the Committee on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention, as well as progress made in that regard.

Pursuant to this, the Committee considered combined initial and second periodic reports from Cyprus, Iceland and Paraguay; a second periodic report from Belgium; combined second and third periodic reports from Cuba; combined initial, second and third periodic reports from Ethiopia; and the third periodic reports from Hungary and Ukraine. A report on Rwanda was presented, on an exceptional basis, in response to a prior request by the Committee in the context of its work on violence against women.

The Committee adopted separate reports of its working groups, dealing, respectively, with ways and means of improving the work of the Committee, and the implementation of article 21 of the Convention which provides for the Committee to make suggestions and general recommendations based on the

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examination of information and reports received from States parties. The Committee reports annually to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, and makes suggestions and recommendations based on its examination of the information provided by States.

Acting on the recommendations of its working group on ways of improving the Committee's work, the 23-member expert body decided to revise its guidelines for reports of States parties on compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. States parties were invited to include information on measures to implement the Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995). The Commission on the Status of Women was urged to prepare an optional protocol to the Convention which would allow individuals and groups the right to petition the Committee directly about violations of women's rights.

The Committee agreed on the need for regular consultation with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, and welcomed the assistance of the United Nations specialized agencies in implementing its mandate under the Convention and the Platform for Action. It also urged that adequate meeting time be provided to the Committee so that it could reduce the backlog in State parties' reports awaiting review. The Committee stated that two three-week sessions were needed annually to alleviate its heavy workload.

It decided to consider, at its 1997 session, the initial reports of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovenia, Israel and Zaire; the second periodic reports of Argentina and Turkey; and the third periodic reports of Canada and the Philippines. Should approval be given for the Committee to hold a second three-week session in 1997, it would consider the initial reports of Morocco, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia and an Asian country to be decided; the second periodic reports of the Dominican Republic and Equatorial Guinea; and the third periodic reports of Mexico and Bangladesh.

In adopting the recommendation of its working group on the implementation of article 21, the Committee agreed to call the attention of the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), to be held in June this year, to the discrimination suffered by women in settlements development. It submitted to the attention of governments that a new policy on housing and shelter could be realized by ensuring women's right to own, inherit and control land and housing through improving their access to credit and providing equal ownership rights.

Discussion of Country Reports

During the Committee's consideration of country reports, experts expressed sympathy and solidarity with Rwandan women suffering the effects of the 1994 genocide. Responding to an extraordinary report of that State party, they called for education on human rights, as well as confidence-building

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measures among ethnic groups in the country. The report of Rwanda was the fourth submitted on an exceptional basis, the first three being the reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and Croatia.

With respect to the periodic country reports, experts called for special measures to reduce the concentration of women workers in low-paying jobs and to increase the number of women in decision-making positions. They called on countries to address the issue of pay differences between the sexes and to guarantee credit to women on equal terms with men.

Concern was expressed at the persistence of cultural attitudes that hindered women's rights and perpetuated sexual stereotypes. The importance of education and media campaigns to correct such attitudes was stressed.

Addressing the issue of domestic violence, experts emphasized the importance of gender sensitivity training for judges and law enforcement officials. They insisted that violence against women must be seen as a social health issue.

In discussion of the reports of Paraguay and Ukraine, experts said the high number of abortions in those countries could be reduced by increasing access to family-planning services and affordable contraception. Expressing concern at the high death rate of young women in Paraguay from illegal abortions, experts requested an assessment of the health impact of abortions laws in the country. Respect for the reproductive rights of the women was paramount, and no social pressure ought to be exercised in individual reproductive choices, they said.

The importance of education in eliminating traditional practices harmful to women was stressed. Particular concern was expressed at the situation of Ethiopian women, 90 per cent of whom were stated to be subject to infibulation. Female genital mutilation was not only a health concern, but also a violation of human rights, experts emphasized.

Concerning the transition to a market economy and to democracy in the Eastern European States, experts expressed the hope that it would not be carried out at the expense of women's rights. Concern was voiced at the fact that many of the signatories to the Convention had not taken any steps towards incorporating its provisions into their national legislation.

Regarding the withdrawal of reservations to the Convention by States parties, the Committee welcomed the withdrawal of reservations to articles 7 and 15 by one State party (Belgium). Article 7 states that women shall share on equal terms with men in the political and pubic life of the country, and article 15 says that women shall have equality with men before the law, and shall be able to move freely and choose their place of residence.

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Addressing the Committee during the present session were the following: Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; Rosario Green, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General; Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United nations Population fund; Noeleen Heyzer, Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women; Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund; and a representative of Jose Ayala-Lasso, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

States Parties to the Convention

The following 151 States have either ratified or acceded to the Convention, which entered into force on 3 September 1981: Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Luxembourg.

Also, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Committee Membership

The 23-expert members of the Committee, serving in their personal capacity, are as follows: Charlotte Abaka, Ghana; Emna Aouij, Tunisia; Gul Aykor, Turkey; Tendai Ruth Bare, Zimbabwe; Desiree Patricia Bernard, Guyana; Carlota Bustelo Garcia del Real, Spain; Sylvia Rose Cartwright, New Zealand; Ivanka Corti, Italy; Aurora Javate de Dios, Philippines; Miriam Yolanda Estrada Castillo, Ecuador; Evangelina Garcia-Prince, Venezuela; Liliana Gurdulich de Correa, Argentina; Sunaryati Hartono, Indonesia; Salma Khan,

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Bangladesh; Pirkko Anneli Makinen, Finland; Elsa Victoria Muñoz-Gomez, Colombia; Ahoua Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso; Ginko Sato, Japan; Hanna Beate Schopp-Schilling, Germany; Carmel Shalev, Israel; Lin Shangzhen, China; Kongit Sinegiorgis, Ethiopia; and Mervat Tallawy, Egypt.

The Chairman of the Committee was Ivanka Corti. The Vice-Chairmen were Emna Aouij, Evangelina Garcia-Prince and Lin Shangzhen. The Rapporteur for the session was Hanna Beate Schopp-Schilling.

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