Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Fifty-fifth session
Summary record (partial)* of the 1156th meeting**
Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on Friday, 26 July 2013, at 10 a.m.
Chairperson:Ms. Ameline (Vice-Chairperson)
Contents
Adoption of the report of the Committee on its fifty-fifth session
Provisional agenda for the fifty-sixth session of the Committee
Statement by the Chairperson
Closure of the session
The discussion covered in the summary record began at 12.55 p.m.
Adoption of the report of the Committee on its fifty-fifth session (CEDAW/C/AFG/CO/1-2; CEDAW/C/BIH/CO/4-5; CEDAW/C/CPV/CO/7-8; CEDAW/C/CUB/CO/7-8; CEDAW/C/DOM/CO/6-7; CEDAW/C/COD/CO/6-7; CEDAW/C/SRB/CO/2-3; CEDAW/C/GBR/CO/7; and CEDAW/C/2013/II/CRP.1)
Ms. Bailey (Rapporteur) introduced the Committee’s draft report, which was contained in document CEDAW/C/2013/II/CRP.1. She drew attention to chapter IV of the draft report concerning the draft concluding observations on the eight reports by States parties that the Committee had considered during its fifty-fifth session, which were contained in documents CEDAW/C/AFG/CO/1-2, CEDAW/C/BIH/CO/4-5, CEDAW/C/CPV/CO/7-8, CEDAW/C/CUB/CO/7-8, CEDAW/C/DOM/CO/6-7, CEDAW/C/COD/CO/6-7, CEDAW/C/SRB/CO/2-3 and CEDAW/C/GBR/CO/7.
The Chairperson said that she took it that the Committee wished to adopt the documents containing the draft concluding observations.
It was so decided.
Ms. Bailey (Rapporteur) introduced the draft report of the Working Group of the Whole, contained in chapters VI and VII of the draft report, which described the actions taken by the Committee under items 6 and 7 of the agenda.
The Chairperson said that she took it that the Committee wished to adopt the draft report of the Working Group of the Whole.
It was so decided.
Provisional agenda for the fifty-sixth session of the Committee
Ms. Bailey (Rapporteur) drew attention to the provisional agenda for the fifty-sixth session, contained in chapter VIII of the draft report.
The provisional agenda for the fifty-sixth session was adopted.
The draft report of the Committee on its fifty-fifth session was adopted as a whole, subject to finalization by the Rapporteur.
Statement by the Chairperson
The Chairperson expressed appreciation of the work done during the session and acknowledged the contribution of NGOs, national human rights institutions and United Nations entities. It was essential for the Committee to receive information from such bodies in addition to that provided by States parties in order to ensure a constructive dialogue during the review of States parties’ reports. Those partners must be free from threats, intimidation and other forms of reprisals before, during and after their cooperation with the Committee.
In addition to considering the reports of States parties and adopting concluding observations, the Committee had reviewed information received from States parties on priority recommendations as part of its follow-up procedure. Under article 2 of the Optional Protocol it had taken admissibility decisions in respect of four individual communications. Under article 8 of the Optional Protocol it had adopted findings and recommendations with regard to Inquiry No. 210/01.
The Committee had completed its first reading of the draft general recommendation on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations and had continued its review in working groups of other draft general recommendations. A day of general discussion on rural women had been scheduled for the session. The Committee had adopted statements on the role of women in the process of political transition in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia and on strengthened cooperation with UN-Women.
On the basis of private consultations held with Ms. Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Puri, Acting Head of UN-Women, and Ms. Jabre from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, she felt reassured that the Committee was on the right track in asserting its role in the post-2015 debate and in reinforcing its partnership with relevant United Nations entities to strengthen the implementation of the Convention. At the same time, the Working Group on Working Methods had continued to set priorities to rationalize the Committee’s procedures and practices in the context of treaty body strengthening.
One of the highlights of the session had been the panel discussion on HIV and women’s human rights, which had helped to increase the visibility of the Committee. Committee Experts had also participated in the meetings of the 2013 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council held in Geneva, in particular its discussions on using human rights instruments and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and recommendations to achieve decent work for all, as well as on the United Nations System-wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-SWAP).
Closure of the session
Following an exchange of courtesies, the Chairperson declared the fifty-fifth session closed.
The discussion covered in the summary record ended at 1.15 p.m.