UN Committee to review Bhutan’s record on women’s rights

GENEVA (26 October 2016)  – Bhutan’s record on women’s rights will be examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 27 October. Bhutan has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and so is reviewed regularly by the Committee on how it is implementing the Convention. 

Among the possible issues for discussion between CEDAW and a delegation from the Bhutanese Government are: 
·    High number of women who believe domestic violence is justified;
·    Measures taken to eradicate child marriage;
·    Protection and rehabilitation of women and girls previously trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation;
·    Steps taken to promote gender parity in elected government positions;
·    Limited job opportunities for women in sectors other than  agricultural and domestic work;
·    High incidence of maternal and infant mortality;
·    Measures taken to curb increased rates of HIV/AIDS among young women and girls;
·    Provision of welfare services to older women and women with disabilities;

The review will take place in Room XVI at Palais des Nations in Geneva from 10:00 – 13:00 (14:00 – 17:00 in Thimphu) and 15:00 - 17:00 (19:00 – 21:00) and will be webcast at http://webtv.un.org/.

The Committee will also hear from NGO representatives. More information about the review, including Bhutan’s written report, here:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1027&Lang=en

The Committee’s findings, officially known as concluding observations, on Bhutan and the other countries being reviewed – Canada, Burundi, Belarus, Argentina, Switzerland, Honduras, Armenia, Bangladesh, Estonia, Netherlands– will be published on 21 November here:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1027&Lang=en

ENDS

More information: Jakob Schneider - + 41 (0) 22 917 9301 /  jschneider@ohchr.org
Media requests: Liz Throssell +41 (0) 22 917 9466/ +41 79 752 0488 ethrossell@ohchr.org
Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:   http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument

Read the media advisory online: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20711&LangID=E

Background

CEDAW is composed of 23 independent human rights experts drawn from around the world. They serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/cedawindex.aspx

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