Procedure

The Committee follows a similar procedure to that of other UN human rights treaty bodies: it makes recommendations based on its examination of country reports, though these suggestions are not binding on the concerned State.

The States party to the Convention must submit a report to the Committee one year after the treaty enters into force for that country and then “at least every four years” (Art. 18.2 of CEDAW).

The Committee meets only once a year for “a period of not more than two weeks” (Art. 20 of CEDAW). To complete the work necessary to examine the reports, the Committee established a working group that prepares a list of issues and questions, which are sent in advance to the reporting States. It also has two standing working groups, which meet during the regular sessions and study ways to expedite and reinforce the work of the Committee. Every year, the Committee submits a report of its activities to the UN General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council.

Article 22 of CEDAW states that the specialized agencies of the UN are entitled to be present at the consideration of the reports, and the Committee “may invite the specialized agencies to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities.” No reference is made to a direct role for NGOs; however, the Committee has recommended that governments cooperate with NGOs in preparing their reports, and, in practice, information received from NGOs and independent agencies is an important factor in the Committee’s assessment of the condition of women in the different States.

On 6 October 1999, the United Nations adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which entered into force on 22 December 2000. This Protocol, ratified in June 2015 by 106 States, recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and examine individual communications. These communications are subject to two conditions: they must not be anonymous, and the individual or group of individuals must have exhausted all local remedies, except where the application of the remedies has been unreasonably prolonged.

The Mandatory Country Reports

The Committee carries control that is of a non-judicial nature. It is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention. Its mandate is binding on States Parties, which are under the obligation to comply with its procedures (Art. 18.1 of CEDAW).

The country reports submitted by the member States Parties inform the Committee of the measures each State has taken to incorporate the provisions of the Convention into its laws and customs and the possible difficulties encountered.

The “suggestions and general recommendations” made by the Committee after the meetings—generally held in public—are included in the Committee’s report to the General Assembly, along with any comments from States Parties.

▸ Human rights ▸ Individual recourse ▸ Women

▸ List of States Party to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Conventions (no. 24)

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

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