Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to hold sixty-seventh session in Geneva from 3 to 21 July

Committee on the Elimination of
Discriminationagainst Women

29 June 2017

BACKGROUND RELEASE

Committee to Consider Situation in Italy, Thailand, Romania, Costa Rica, Montenegro, Barbados, Niger and Nigeria

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold its sixty-seventh session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 3 to 21 July, during which it will review reports presented by Italy, Thailand, Romania, Costa Rica, Montenegro, Barbados, Niger and Nigeria on how they implement the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 

At the opening meeting on Monday, 3 July, the Committee will hear an address by a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and adopt its agenda and programme of work.  During the session, the Committee will consider the reports of eight States parties, and hold public informal meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions to discuss the situation in the countries whose reports will be considered.

Italy is presenting its seventh periodic report CEDAW/C/ITA/7.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the sixth periodic report, considered in July 2011, can be found in CEDAW/C/ITA/CO/6.

Thailand is presenting its combined sixth and seventh periodic reports CEDAW/C/THA/6-7.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fourth and fifth periodic reports, considered in January 2006, can be found in CEDAW/C/THA/CO/4-5.

Romania is presenting its combined seventh and eighth periodic reports CEDAW/C/ROU/7-8.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the sixth periodic report, considered in May 2006, can be found in CEDAW/C/ROU/CO/6.

Costa Rica is presenting its seventh periodic report CEDAW/C/CRI/7.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports, considered in July 2011, can be found in CEDAW/C/CRI/CO/5-6.

Montenegro is presenting its second periodic report CEDAW/C/MNE/2.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the initial report, considered in October 2011, can be found in CEDAW/C/MNE/CO/1.

Barbados is presenting its combined fifth to eighth periodic reports CEDAW/C/BRB/5-8.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the fourth periodic report, considered in 2002, can be found in A/57/38(SUPP)paras.209-255.

Niger is presenting its combined third and fourth periodic reports CEDAW/C/NER/3-4.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the second periodic report, considered in May 2007, can be found in CEDAW/C/NER/CO/2.

Nigeria is presenting its combined seventh and eighth periodic reports CEDAW/C/NGA/7-8.  The Committee’s concluding observations and recommendations on the sixth periodic report, considered in July 2008, can be found in CEDAW/C/NGA/CO/6.

Detailed meetings coverage can be found in English and French on the United Nations Information Service’s webpage and further information, including copies of the States parties’ reports, all related documentation and the programme of work, are available on the session’s webpage.

The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings will be available via the following link: http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, and entered into force on 3 September 1981. Often described as an international bill of rights for women, the Convention both defines discrimination against women and sets an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. Since its entry into force, the Convention has achieved near-universal acceptance, with 189 States parties.

The Convention defines discrimination against women as "... any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field".

By accepting the Convention, States parties commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including: incorporating the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system; abolishing all discriminatory laws and adopting appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; establishing public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and ensuring the elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

Optional Protocol to the Convention

On 22 December 2000, the Optional Protocol to the Convention entered into force, by which States parties recognize the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications submitted by individuals or groups of individuals claiming to be victims of a violation of their rights under the Convention.

To date, 109 of the Convention's 189 States parties have accepted the Optional Protocol. Before the Committee considers a complaint, it first must establish its admissibility under the terms of the Optional Protocol. The Optional Protocol also enables the Committee, upon the fulfilment of certain criteria, to undertake inquiries into possible grave or systematic violations of women's rights.

Membership

The Committee is made up of 23 experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of women's rights.  Members are nominated and elected by the States parties and serve in their personal capacity.

The Committee Members are: Ayse Feride Acar (Turkey); Gladys Acosta Vargas (Peru); Nicole Ameline (France); Magalys Arocha Dominguez (Cuba); Gunnar Bergby (Norway); Marion Bethel (Bahamas); Louiza Chalal (Algeria); Naéla Mohamed Gabr (Egypt); Hilary Gbedemah (Ghana); Nahla Haidar (Lebanon); Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (Israel); Yoko Hayashi (Japan); Lilian Hofmeister (Austria); Ismat Jahan (Bangladesh); Dalia Leinarte (Lithuania); Rosario Manalo (Philippines); Lia Nadaraia (Georgia); Theodora Oby Nwankwo (Nigeria); Pramila Patten (Mauritius); Bandana Rana (Nepal); Patricia Schulz (Switzerland); Wenyan Song (China); and Aicha Vall Verges (Mauritania).

Ms. Leinarte is the Committee Chairperson.  The Vice-Chairs are Ms. Oby Nwankwo, Ms. Halperin-Kaddari, and Ms. Arocha Dominguez.  Ms. Manalo is the Committee Rapporteur.

Programme of Work

Monday, 3 July
 
10 a.m.         Opening of the session, adoption of the agenda

11:30 a.m.    Closed meeting

3. p.m.         Informal meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions from Italy, Thailand, Romania and Costa Rica
 
Tuesday, 4 July

10 a.m.         Seventh periodic report of Italy CEDAW/C/ITA/7

3 p.m.          Italy (continued)
 
Wednesday, 5 July

10 a.m.         Combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Thailand  CEDAW/C/THA/6-7

3 p.m.          Thailand (continued)
 
Thursday, 6 July

10 a.m.         Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Romania CEDAW/C/ROU/7-8

3 p.m.          Romania (continued)
 
Friday, 7 July

10 a.m.         Seventh periodic report of Costa Rica CEDAW/C/CRI/7

3 p.m.          Costa Rica (continued)
 
Monday, 10 July

10 a.m.         Closed meeting

4 p.m. Informal meetings with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions from Montenegro, Barbados, Niger and Nigeria

Tuesday, 11 July

10 a.m.         Second periodic report of Montenegro CEDAW/C/MNE/2

3 p.m.          Montenegro (continued)
 
Wednesday, 12 February

10 a.m.         Combined fifth to eighth periodic reports of Barbados CEDAW/C/BRB/5-8

3 p.m.            Barbados (continued)
 
Thursday, 13 July

10 a.m.         Combined third and fourth periodic reports of Niger CEDAW/C/NER/3-4

3 p.m.           Niger (continued)

 
Friday, 14 July

10 a.m.         Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Nigeria CEDAW/C/NGA/7-8

3 p.m.          Nigeria (continued)

Monday, 17 July

Closed meetings
 
Tuesday, 18 July

Closed meetings
 
Wednesday, 19 July

Closed meetings
 
Thursday, 20 July

Closed meetings
 
Friday, 21 July

10 a.m.         Closed meeting

4 p.m.          Public closing of the session

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For use of the information media; not an official record

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