WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE

1. WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE CEDAW as a Tool for Achieving Equality Equality & Social Inclusion in the 21st Century 1st – 3rd February 2006

2. Presentation • What is CEDAW? • The Reporting Process to the UN • The 33rd CEDAW Session July 2005 • The Concluding Comments • The Role of NGOs

3. Within the UN Structure

4. The CEDAW Convention • Adopted in 1979 by UN General Assembly – 180 countries have signed it • International Bill of Rights for Women • “Defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets out an agenda for national action to end such discrimination”

5. CEDAW A radical treaty that aims to: transform the structural barriers to equality address multifaceted nature of problems women face

6. CEDAW –core principles • Equality • Non-discrimination

7. Substantive Equality Promoting • Equality of opportunity through law, policy, programmes and institutional arrangements • Equality of access by eliminating all obstacles that prevent access to the opportunities & taking positive steps to ensure goal of equality is achieved • Equality of results

8. Non-discrimination Based on the principal that discrimination: • is socially constructed • Is not a natural principal of human interaction Recognition of the need for concerted action against inequality and the institutional mechanisms that perpetuate it

9. Discrimination Special measures Cultural practices Trafficking Politics Nationality Health Employment Education Law Marriage Family benefits Rural women What CEDAW says…The Articles

10. Article 1- Definition of Discrimination “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 and fundamental freedoms, in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field”

11. Article 5 – cultural practices “A change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society is needed to achieve full equality between men and women”

12. Article 12 - Health • 1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure…access to health care services, including those related to family planning

13. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS Deal with issues related to specific articles • GR 19 Violence against women • GR 21 Marriage & family relations • GR 23 Women in public life • GR 24 Health • GR 25 Temporary special measures For information on CEDAW visit I W R A W – www.iwraw-ap.org

14. When a a government ratifies CEDAW, it commits to put in place legislation & policy to ensure women’s equality Every 4 years government submit a ‘progress’ report to the CEDAW Committee Government is then examined at a session of the CEDAW Committee How does CEDAW work? the reporting process

15. The CEDAW Committee • 23 experts on women’s issues from around the world • Meet twice annually at UN in New York • 8 governments report at a session • After a government has been examined the Committee produce ‘Concluding Comments’ outlining concerns & recommendations

16. Role of NGOs • Submit ‘alternative’ or Shadow Report – a critique of the government report • Attend CEDAW session in NY to lobby Committee members • Observe government examination • Carry out follow up work to monitor recommendations

17. Irish Government examination13th July 2005 – all day • Delegation led by Minister of State, Frank Fahey - presented ‘Ireland’s Statement’ • Government commended on progress, challenged on lack of progress in range of areas…….. • ‘Concluding Comments’ issued - highlighting concerns and making recommendations

18. Violence against women Stereotyping Poverty & social exclusion Under-representation of women in politics Trafficking Employment Reproductive Health National Women’s Strategy The Concluding CommentsAreas of concern

19. Stereotyping Concerns: • Persistence of traditional stereotypical views of women & men in family & society, reflected in: - Article 41.2 of the Constitution. - Women’s educational choices. - Women’s employment patterns. - Women’s low participation in politics

20. Stereotyping – recommendations: • Eliminate traditional stereotypical attitudes through education, training, & sustained awareness-raising campaigns directed at men and women. • Take CEDAW fully into account in considering amendments to Article 41.2, & include obligation of State to actively pursue substantive equality. • Replace male-orientated language in the Constitution. • Encourage the media to represent women more positively, to help foster cultural change.

21. Role of NGOs….Holding the government accountable Using the Concluding Comments: • In policy documents, submissions, research, action plans • In funding proposals • In lobbying and campaigning work – letters, meetings with TDs and in media work • In training & education programmes LOCAL …REGIONAL….NATIONAL levels

22. CHALLENGES ahead • Lack of information on CEDAW • Lack of understanding of and resistance to principal of ‘substantive equality’ • Resistance to human rights based approaches • Managing the backlash and keeping women’s issues on the agenda

23. It’s not…. What can CEDAW really do for women? But… What do you plan to do with the CEDAW? WHRA womenshumanrights@eircom.net www.whra-ireland.org CEDAW is a powerful too to articulate , advocate and monitor women’s human rights

24. CONFERENCE “TAKING CEDAW SERIOUSLY” Thursday, 23rd March, 2006 GALWAY

25. UK and CEDAW… • UK Government signed CEDAW in 1981 • Submitted 5th periodic report June 2003 • Waiting to be examined Download copy of report: • United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women Homepagewww.un.org/womenwatch/daw/ (country reports)