Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Fifty-first session

13 February – 2 March 2012

Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Mongolia

Addendum

Information provided in follow up to the concluding observations (CEDAW/C/MNG/CO/7) *

Response to the recommendation in paragraph 12

Adoption of the Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality

1.The Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality was developed by the Government of Mongolia with both financial and technical support from international organizations; the Parliament of Mongolia adopted the Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality on 13 February 2011. Thus it has created a legal framework to eliminate gender-based discrimination as well as to ensure equal access and participation of men and women in political, economic, social, cultural and family relations within the society. The Law guarantees equal rights for men and women to employment, industrial relations, culture and education and prohibits any gender-based discrimination in various spheres including hiring and firing, training and education, pay and promotion, and granting a scholarship.

2.The Law regulates the challenges faced with regard to the wide range of relations within the society, including work in the home, which is not remunerated, such as household production, caring for babies and the elderly, as well as social wealth and the elimination of age/gender-based discrimination in job registration, job announcement, quota for entering school, college or university and maternal protection.

3.For instance, the Law successfully established a quota – no less than 40% of men and 40% of women can serve in managerial positions across the public administration. It is intended to reverse male dominance in high-level decision-making positions with higher pay. It is hoped that this will positively contribute to achieving the MDG to increase women’s representation to 30 percent among women candidates and members in Parliament. The Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality provides an opportunity to maintain the progress Mongolia has made in achieving the MDG targets with regard to ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women so as to achieve the appropriate gender ratio at all levels of education institutions, ensure gender equality in wage employment in all sectors, except for agriculture, and improve maternal health.

4.The Government of Mongolia has approved a programme to implement periodically the quota specified in the Law, and an action plan for ensuring the implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality. The action plan and programme are valid up to 2016.

Response to the recommendation in paragraph 22

Capacity building for the National Committee on Gender Equality

5.The Law on the Promotion of Gender Equality provides for the establishment of a specific unit in charge of gender equality and strengthening of the national structure and system on gender equality and empowerment of women. For example, the issue of gender equality is now under the Prime Minister’s responsibility. It is going to be an important step in achieving an action plan target and the issue of gender equality and empowerment of women will be regulated at national level.

6.Under the Law concerned, the Prime Minister shall be the Head of the National Committee on Gender Equality and shall manage its coordination. Furthermore, the law specifies that the National Committee on Gender Equality shall have subordinating boards in local areas and Government organizations with their obligations and responsibilities in ensuring gender equality.