against Women
Forty-third session
Summary record of the 869th meeting
Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on Tuesday, 20 January 2009, at 12.35 p.m.
Temporary Chair person:Ms. Šimonović
Chair person: Ms. Gabr
Contents
Election of officers (continued)
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
Implementation of article 21 of the Convention
Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee
The meeting was called to order at 12.35 p.m.
Election of officers (continued)
1.The Temporary Chairperson said it had been agreed that the group of African States would nominate the Chairperson on the present occasion and that at the next election the nomination would be made by the group of Latin American and Caribbean States. Subsequent rotation would be in line with geographical distribution. She took it that there was a consensus to elect Ms. Gabr, who had been nominated by the group of African States for the office of Chairperson.
2. Ms. Gabr was elected Chairperson by acclamation.
3. Ms. Gabr took the Chair.
4.The Chairperson thanked the Committee for the trust that it had placed in her and invited members to proceed with the election of three Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur.
5.Mr. Flinterman, speaking on behalf of the group of Western European and other States, nominated Ms. Halperin-Kaddari for the office of Vice-Chairperson.
6.Ms. Arocha Dominguez, on behalf of the group of Latin American and Caribbean States, nominated Ms. Pimentel for the office of Vice-Chairperson.
7.Ms. Patten, speaking on behalf of the group of Asian States, nominated Ms. Zou Xiaoqiao for the office of Vice-Chairperson.
8. Ms. Halperin-Kaddari, Ms. Pimentel and Ms. Zou Xiaoqiao were elected Vice-Chairpersons by acclamation.
9.Ms. Šimonovi ć, speaking on behalf of the group of Eastern European States, nominated Ms. Neubauer for office as Rapporteur.
10. Ms. Neubauer was elected Rapporteur by acclamation.
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
11.Ms. Neubauer, speaking as Chairperson of the pre-session working group, said that the group had drawn up lists of issues and questions for nine States parties, seven of which would be reporting at the current session and two at the forty-fourth session. United Nations bodies and specialized agencies had provided written and oral information and, for the first time, the group had received United Nations country team reports at the pre-session stage. It had also received written information from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and one NGO network had made an oral presentation.
Implementation of article 21 of the Convention (CEDAW/C/2009/I/3 and Add.4)
Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee (CEDAW/C/2009/IV/4)
12.Ms. Connors (Secretary of the Committee) said that work had continued on the draft general recommendation on article 2 of the Convention and a working paper had been prepared on the draft general recommendation on older women. A report from the International Labour Organization on the implementation of such provisions of the Convention as fell within the scope of its activities was available (CEDAW/C/2009/I/3/Add.4). Other specialized agencies were reconsidering the content of their reports, in the light of the growing practice of submitting joint United Nations country team reports.
13.The note on ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee (CEDAW/C/2009/IV/4) discussed developments relating to human rights treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council and contained information on the eighth inter-committee meeting and its recommendations. The note also provided information on States parties whose reports would be considered at future sessions and on the approaches of other treaty bodies to comments submitted by States parties on concluding observations. The Committee might wish to consider how to make such comments on its own concluding observations generally available. Finally, an update had been provided on States which had not ratified or acceded to the Convention and States parties whose reports had been submitted but not yet considered. Subsequent to the issuance of that document, periodic reports had been received from Australia and Fiji.