J. The inquiry

The second procedure established by the Optional Protocol is the inquiry. It allows the Committee to examine reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations of the Convention by a State party. State parties may opt out of this procedure, through a declaration and reservation, and still ratify the Optional Protocol (art. 8). States can decide to lift reservations at a later date.

The main features of an inquiry compared to a complaint are:

A grave violation refers to a severe abuse of one or more provisions of the Convention, such as discrimination that threatens someone's life, integrity or personal security. A systematic violation refers to a pattern of abuse, the scale and frequency of which are significant regardless of intention. The abuse may result from laws, policies or practices. The term “systematic” may include violations which might not be considered “grave”.

The process is as follows:

As with the individual communications procedure, it could be helpful for participants to hear about an inquiry. Unfortunately, there are relatively few public inquiry reports owing to the confidential nature of the procedure. Facilitators might wish to discuss the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women's inquiry into the abduction, rape and murder of women in Cuidad Juárez, Mexico (CEDAW/C/2005/OP.8/ MEXICO).