Greece: UN experts visit to assess efforts and challenges to end discrimination against women

Greek

GENEVA (29 March 2019) – The UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice will make its first official visit to Greece from 1 to 12 April 2019 to assess progress in eliminating discrimination against women and achieving gender equality.

“We are particularly interested in legislative and policy measures and their impact on the realisation of the human rights of women and girls in Greece,” said Elizabeth Broderick, a member of the group of human rights experts. 

The visiting delegation, which also includes Alda Facio, will hold meetings in Athens, Thessaloniki and Lesvos.

“We will be looking at all aspects of life for women. We will examine achievements and good practices, as well as existing gaps and challenges Greece is facing including as a result of the imposed financial austerity measures,” the experts said.

They will examine the situation of all women, including migrants and those who encounter multiple forms of discrimination. They will meet national and local Government officials, representatives of State institutions and civil society organisations, and individuals.

The experts will present their preliminary observations at a press conference at 12:00 noon local time on 12 April at the Electra Hotel, 5 Ermou Str, Athens. Access to the press conference will be strictly limited to accredited journalists.

The Working Group will submit its full report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2020.

ENDS

The UN Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice was created by the Human Rights Council in 2011 to identify, promote and exchange views, in consultation with States and other actors, on good practices related to the elimination of laws that discriminate against women. The Group is also tasked with developing a dialogue with States and other actors on laws that have a discriminatory impact where women are concerned.

The Working Group is composed of five independent experts: Ms Ivana Radačić (Croatia) Chairperson; Ms Alda Facio (Costa Rica), Ms Elizabeth Broderick (Australia); Ms Meskerem Geset Techane (Ethiopia) and Ms Melissa Upreti (Nepal).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 1979.

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Greece

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Ms Hannah Wu (+41 22 917 9152 / hwu@ohchr.org) or Mr. Shawky Seif El Nasr (+41 22 917 92 75 / sseifelnasr@ohchr.org) or write to wgdiscriminationwomen@ohchr.org.

For media inquiries related to other UN experts: Mr. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.

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