the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination

against Women

Eighteenth meeting

New York, 26 June 2014

Report of the meeting of States parties

1.The eighteenth meeting of States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was held on 26 June 2014.

2.A representative of the Secretary-General opened the meeting, delivered an opening statement on behalf of the Secretary-General and presided over the election of the Chair. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of Legal Affairs provided Secretariat support. The Permanent Representative of Spain, Juan Manuel González de Linares Palou, was elected Chair of the meeting, and Jeanne d’Arc Byaje (Rwanda) and Dragana Andelić (Bosnia and Herzegovina) were elected Vice-Chairs, all by acclamation. The provisional agenda (CEDAW/SP/2014/1) was adopted.

3.In accordance with article 17, paragraphs 4 and 5, of the Convention, the States parties elected 12 members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women by secret ballot in the first round of voting. Seven current members proposed for re-election received new terms: Ayşe Feride Acar (Turkey); Naéla Gabr (Egypt); Ruth Halperin-Kaddari (Israel); Yoko Hayashi (Japan); Ismat Jahan (Bangladesh); Pramila Patten (Mauritius); and Patricia Schulz (Switzerland). Five candidates were elected to the Committee for the first time: Gladys Acosta Vargas (Peru); Magalys Arocha Domínguez (Cuba); Lilian Hofmeister (Austria); Kheira Mahdjoub-Ouiguini (Algeria); and Lia Nadaraia (Georgia). The list of candidates and their curricula vitae are contained in document CEDAW/SP/2014/2.

4.Sapana Pradhan-Malla (Nepal) withdrew her candidature prior to the elections.

5.No issues were raised under agenda item 6, “Other matters”.