On the occasion of its 49th session, to be held in New York from 11 July to 29 July 2011, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold a general discussion on the protection of women in conflict and post-conflict situations in the context of the following provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):
Articles 2 (a – g) on the core obligations of States parties to the Convention; Article 4 on temporary special measures; Article 5(a) on the modification of social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women;
Article 6 on the suppression of trafficking and exploitation of women; Article 7 & 8 on women’s participation in political and public life and their representation in government and at the international level; Article 9 on women’s rights to a nationality; Article 10 on the right to education; Article 11 on the right to work; Article 12 on the right to health; Article 15 (1) on women’s equality with men before the law.
The purpose of the general discussion is to commence the Committee’s process of elaborating a “General Recommendation on Women in Conflict and Post-conflict Situations”. The purpose of the general recommendation is to provide appropriate and authoritative guidance to States Parties on the measures to be adopted to ensure full compliance with their obligations to protect, respect and fulfil women’s human rights during times of armed conflict and in all peace-building processes, which includes the immediate aftermath of conflict and long-term post-conflict reconstruction.
Date and Venue
The general discussion will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 3, located on the first floor of the North Lawn Building, on 18 July 2011, from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
Participation
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women invites United Nations specialized entities and bodies, United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms, non-governmental organizations and other interested organizations and individuals to participate in the general discussion and to provide written submissions.
Please fill out a Conference Registration Form and send a scanned copy by 4 July 2011 to the following email address: cedaw@ohchr.org.
Written contributions
Organizations wishing to submit written contributions on the theme of the general discussion are welcome to do so. Submissions should be sent electronically in Word format to Ms. Georgina Mendoza (email: gmendozasolorio@ohchr.org) and/or Ms. Janna Iskakova (email:jiskakova@ohchr.org) indicating “General discussion on women in armed conflict and post-conflict situations” in the subject, as well as in 35 hard copies by 10 June 2011 to:
Gaynel Curry (Ms.)
Gender and Women’s Rights Advisor
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
New York Office
Room DC1 – 0511
United Nations, New York 10017, USA
Telephone: 212 963 5931
Fax: 212 963 4097
Further information
For further information on the general discussion, kindly contact the Secretariat of the Committee: gmendozasolorio@ohchr.org / jiskakova@oh
Original Story: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women : General Discussion on “women in conflict and post-conflict situations”
