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

GENEVA (28 June 2016)  – The record of the Philippines’ on women’s rights will be examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 5 July. The Philippines 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 Philippines Government are: 

• Discrimination against Muslim women, indigenous women, women with disabilities;
• Culture of sexual violence and impunity;
• Wage gaps, gender segregation in labour market, harassment of women in the work place;
• Restrictive abortion law, increase in early pregnancies and HIV/AIDs infection among adolescent girls and young women;
• Protection of Filipino women migrant workers abroad as well as on their return;
• Impact of armed conflict on women, including violence and trafficking
• Land-grabbing and forced eviction by extractive industries and large-scale development projects;
• Impact on natural disasters (Typhoons and earthquakes) on women.

The review will take place in Room XVIII at Palais des Nations in Geneva from 10:00 – 13:00 (16:00 – 19:00 in Manila) and 15:00 - 17:00 (21.00 – 23:00).

The Committee will also hear from NGO representatives. More information about the review, including the Philippines’ written report, here:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1019&Lang=en

The Committee’s findings, officially known as concluding observations, on the Philippines and the other countries being reviewed – Myanmar, France, Albania, Turkey, Uruguay, Mali, and Trinidad and Tobago – will be published on 25 July here:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1019&Lang=en

ENDS

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

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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