United Nations · New York, 2024

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Eighty-fifth session

(8–26 May 2023)

Eighty-sixth session

(9–27 October 2023)

Eighty-seventh session

(29 January–16 February 2024)

ISSN 0255-0970

Note

Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.

[4 April 2024]

Contents

Chapter			Page
Letter of transmittal	6
Part One Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-fifth session	7
Decisions adopted by the Committee	8
Organizational and other matters	10
States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol	10
Opening of the session	10
Adoption of the agenda	10
Report of the pre-sessional working group	10
Organization of work	10
Membership of the Committee	11
Report of the Chair on intersessional activities	12
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention	13
Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol	14
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol	14
Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications	14
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol	14
Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee	16
Implementation of article 21 of the Convention	17
Provisional agenda for the eighty-sixth session	19
Adoption of the report	20
Annex
Documents before the Committee at its eighty-fifth session	21
Part Two Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-sixth session	22
Decisions adopted by the Committee	23
Organizational and other matters	25
States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol	25
Opening of the session	25
Adoption of the agenda	25
Report of the pre-sessional working group	25
Organization of work	25
Membership of the Committee	26
Report of the Chair on intersessional activities	27
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention	28
Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol	29
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol	29
Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications	29
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol	29
Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee	32
Implementation of article 21 of the Convention	33
Provisional agenda for the eighty-seventh session	35
Adoption of the report	36
Annex
Documents before the Committee at its eighty-sixth session	37
Part Three Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-seventh session	38
Decisions adopted by the Committee	39
Organizational and other matters	41
States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol	41
Opening of the session	41
Adoption of the agenda	41
Report of the pre-sessional working group	41
Organization of work	41
Membership of the Committee	42
Report of the Chair on intersessional activities	43
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention	44
Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol	45
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol	45
Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications	45
Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol	45
Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee	47
Implementation of article 21 of the Convention	48
Provisional agenda for the eighty-eighth session	50
Adoption of the report	51
Annexes
Documents before the Committee at its eighty-seventh session	52
Membership of the Committee as at 16 February 2024	53

Letter of transmittal

4 April 2024

I have the honour to refer to article 21 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, according to which the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, established pursuant to the Convention, is to, through the Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assembly on its activities.

The Committee held its eighty-fifth session from 8 to 26 May 2023, its eighty-sixth session from 9 to 27 October 2023 and its eighty-seventh session from 29 January to 16 February 2024, at the United Nations Office at Geneva. It adopted its reports on the sessions at its 1998th meeting, on 26 May 2023, its 2028th meeting, on 27 October 2023, and its 2058th meeting, on 16 February 2024. The reports are herewith submitted for transmission to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session.

(Signed) Ana Peláez Narváez

Chair

Part One

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-fifth session

8–26 May 2023

Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee

Decision 85/I

The Committee decided that during the examination of a State party report in the absence of representatives of the State party concerned, in accordance with rule51 (5) of its rules of procedure, the country rapporteur would have the overall responsibility for presenting the main concerns and preliminary findings of the Committee, the members of the country task force would briefly explain the relevant context before asking their questions, and other Committee members would be allowed to ask additional questions. It also decided that such reviews would be held during a single public meeting, with live webcast, and that the permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva of the State party concerned would be invited to attend.

Decision 85/II

Having conducted a preliminary assessment of its pilot project aimed at structuring constructive dialogues with States parties thematically rather than by clusters of articles, the Committee decided to continue the pilot project and that country task forces would decide on the structure of each constructive dialogue on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the specific situation of the State party concerned.

Decision 85/III

With regard to the selection of the four subparagraphs in the concluding observations that are subject to the follow-up procedure, the Committee decided that, after consulting with the Rapporteur, the country rapporteur would identify the four subparagraphs to be included in the draft concluding observations that are circulated to the Committee for comments prior to their adoption of the concluding observations. It also decided that if no agreement could be reached, the proposal of the country rapporteur would prevail.

Decision 85/IV

The Committee decided that, apart from the State party delegation, which may request the permission of the Chair to submit written answers within one working day from the end of the constructive dialogue to questions raised by the Committee that cannot be answered immediately, only the Chair has the prerogative to decide when a question of the Committee may be answered by the delegation in writing, for reasons of time management.

Decision 85/V

The Committee decided to appoint Ana Peláez Narváez, Marianne Mikko and Maya Morsy as focal points for cooperation with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women).

Decision 85/VI

The Committee decided that its officers would act as focal points for cooperation with regional organizations, to be supported by one alternate focal point per region.

Decision 85/VII

The Committee decided to establish a task force on sex/gender self-identification, to be chaired by Daphna Hacker, with open membership, and to review the proposed mandate of the task force between each session.

Decision 85/VIII

The Committee confirmed the members of the pre-sessional working group for the eighty-seventh session: Nicole Ameline, Marion Bethel, Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia and Dalia Leinarte.

Chapter II

Organizational and other matters

A.States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol

1.As at 26 May 2023, the closing date of the eighty-fifth session of the Committee, there were 189 States parties to the Convention. In addition, 81 States parties had accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee. A total of 126 States parties to the Convention are currently required to accept the amendment in order to bring it into force.

2.As at the same date, there were 115 States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

B.Opening of the session

3.The Committee held its eighty-fifth session in Geneva from 8 to 26 May 2023. The Committee held 20 plenary meetings and 10 meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in the annex to part one of the present report.

4.At the 1969th meeting, on 8 May, the session was opened by the Chair.

C.Adoption of the agenda

5.The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/85/1) at its 1969th meeting, on 8 May.

D.Report of the pre-sessional working group

6.The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/85/1), which had met from 31 October to 4 November 2022, was introduced by Nicole Ameline at the 1969th meeting, on 8 May.

E.Organization of work

7.On 8 and 15 May 2023, the Committee held closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, who provided country-specific information and information on the efforts of those bodies in support of the implementation of the Convention.

8.Also on 8 and 15 May, the Committee held informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, who provided information on the implementation of the Convention in the States parties whose reports were being considered by the Committee at its eighty-fifth session.

9.On 12 May, the Committee attended a reception hosted by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva on the occasion of the launch of the second edition of a commentary on the Convention.

10.On 22 May, the Committee held a remote informal closed meeting with the Executive Director of UN-Women, Sima Sami Bahous, to discuss ways and means of further strengthening the collaboration between the Committee and UN-Women, the role of the Committee at the annual sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women and global developments of common concern.

11.On 24 May, Antonella Lavelanet, Medical Officer, and Åsa Nihlen, Human Rights Adviser, from the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research of the World Health Organization (WHO), gave a briefing to the Committee on the WHO abortion care guidelines, in a closed meeting.

12.Also on 24 May, the Committee met informally with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, to discuss child custody decisions in cases involving gender-based violence against women, gender/sex self-identification and access to sex-based and gender-based safe spaces, among other issues. The meeting was hosted by the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

F.Membership of the Committee

Attendance at the eighty-fifth session

13.All members attended the eighty-fifth session. The following members did not attend the session on the indicated dates: Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen from 24 to 26 May; Hilary Gbedemah on 16 May; Genoveva Tisheva on 8 May; and Jie Xia on 26 May. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part three of the present report.

Chapter III

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities

14.At the 1969th meeting, on 8 May 2023, the Chair presented a report on her activities since the eighty-fourth session.

Chapter IV

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention

15.The Committee considered the reports of eight States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention and prepared the following concluding observations thereon:

China (including Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, China)	(CEDAW/C/CHN/CO/9)
Germany	(CEDAW/C/DEU/CO/9)
Iceland	(CEDAW/C/ISL/CO/9)
Sao Tome and Principe	(CEDAW/C/STP/CO/1-5)
Slovakia	(CEDAW/C/SVK/CO/7)
Spain	(CEDAW/C/ESP/CO/9)
Timor-Leste	(CEDAW/C/TLS/CO/4)
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	(CEDAW/C/VEN/CO/9)

Follow-up procedure relating to concluding observations

16.The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties:

Bosnia and Herzegovina	(CEDAW/C/BIH/FCO/6)
Denmark	(CEDAW/C/DNK/FCO/9)
Republic of Moldova	(CEDAW/C/MDA/FCO/6)

Chapter V

Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol

17.Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol

18.The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional Protocol on 15 and 19 May 2023.

19.The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol on its fifty-sixth session.

20.The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to four individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted views finding violations in X. v. Cambodia (CEDAW/C/85/D/146/2019) and in Bandboni et al. v. Switzerland (CEDAW/C/85/D/173/2021) and finding no violation in N.M. v. Belarus (CEDAW/C/85/D/150/2019). The Committee also decided to discontinue its consideration of H.O. v. Kingdom of the Netherlands (CEDAW/C/85/D/178/2022). All final decisions were adopted by consensus.

B.Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications

21.The Committee was informed that the Working Group on Communications had postponed its examination of information on follow-up to views on individual communications and the adoption of its report on follow-up to views.

C.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol

22.The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol on 24 May. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol on its twenty-fifth session.

23.The Committee approved the following recommendations made by the Working Group:

(a)In relation to inquiry No. 2016/1, to send a response to the note verbale dated 12 April 2023 from the State party concerning the request for an inquiry visit by the designated members;

(b)In relation to inquiries Nos. 2014/3 and 2014/2, to undertake an inquiry visit to one of the two States parties concerned before the end of 2023, subject to the consent of the respective State party;

(c)In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1 concerning South Africa, to send a follow-up assessment letter to the State party on main concerns, together with an annex containing a detailed assessment table;

(d)In relation to inquiry No. 2012/1, that the designated members propose dates for an inquiry visit and that said dates be communicated to the State party concerned;

(e)In relation to inquiry No. 2011/1 concerning Canada, that the secretariat arrange for a meeting of the Chair of the Working Group with the State party during the eighty-fifth session of the Committee to discuss follow-up to the report of the inquiry.

Chapter VI

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee

24.The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7

Dates of future sessions

25.In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were confirmed for the Committee’s eighty-sixth session and related meetings:

Eighty-sixth session (Geneva)

(a)Fifty-seventh session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 4–6 October 2023;

(b)Twenty-sixth session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 5 and 6 October 2023;

(c)Eighty-sixth session: 9–27 October 2023;

(d)Pre-sessional working group for the eighty-eighth session: 30 October–3 November 2023.

Reports to be considered at future sessions

26.The Committee confirmed that, at its eighty-sixth session, it would consider the reports of Albania, Bhutan, France, Guatemala, Jamaica, Malawi, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Uruguay.

Chapter VII

Implementation of article 21 of the Convention

Working group on working methods

27.The working group met during the session. It discussed and submitted four draft decisions to the Committee, concerning the examination of reports of States parties in the absence of a delegation (see decision 85/I), the preliminary assessment of its pilot project to revise the structure of constructive dialogues with States parties (see decision 85/II), the role of the country rapporteur and the Rapporteur in the selection of the four subparagraphs in the concluding observations that are subject to the follow-up procedure (see decision 85/III) and requests for additional written information during constructive dialogues with States parties (see decision 85/IV).

Working group on gender-based violence against women

28.The working group met during the session. It discussed work on gender-based violence against women human rights defenders, in particular women environmental rights defenders, and against women in political life and women journalists, as well as the preparation of a draft general recommendation on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems. It also considered new topics to be covered in the draft guidance note for States parties on the implementation of their obligations and their accountability, as set out in general recommendation No.35 (2017) on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19. The working group further discussed the Committee’s potential presidency in 2024 of the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women; the impact of the proposedEvery Woman Treaty on the mandate of the Committee; and the most recent version of the draft United Nations convention on cyberviolence.

Working group on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems

29.The working group met twice during the session. It continued to discuss thematic priorities for the draft general recommendation on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems, as well as focus areas for the planned expert group meetings, which would provide inputs for the initial draft general recommendation, scheduled to be endorsed by the working group at the eighty-sixth session of the Committee.

Task force on gender stereotyping

30.The task force met during the session to discuss the preparation of a draft concept note for a general recommendation on gender stereotyping during the intersessional period. The draft concept note is scheduled to be presented for endorsement during the eighty-sixth session of the Committee.

Task force on Afghanistan

31.The task force on Afghanistan met during the session. The Chair of the task force informed the members that, as decided by the Committee, the information received on 30 January 2023 from the de facto authorities in Kabul in response to the Committee’s request for information on the situation of women and girls in the country since 15 August 2021 had been published on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights under “activities” of the Committee.

32.During the session, the Chair of the task force also attended a debriefing by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls on their recent visit to Afghanistan in preparation for their joint report mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 51/20, to be submitted to the Council at its fifty-third session (19 June to 14 July 2023).

Task force on Ukraine

33.The task force on Ukraine did not meet during the session. On 4 May 2023, the Committee responded to the note verbale dated 16 December 2022 from the Government of Ukraine in which it invited the Committee to conduct a technical visit to Ukraine. In its response, the Committee confirmed its availability to carry out such a visit once it had been able to secure the necessary financial and logistical support, with a view to providing technical assistance to Ukraine for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the concluding observations of the Committee in relation to the ninth periodic report of Ukraine (CEDAW/C/UKR/CO/9), which the Committee had adopted at its eighty-third session, in October 2022.

Chapter VIII

Provisional agenda for the eighty-sixth session

34.At its 1998th meeting, on 26 May 2023, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its eighty-sixth session.

Chapter IX

Adoption of the report

35.At its 1998th meeting, on 26 May 2023, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its eighty-fifth session.

Annex

Documents before the Committee at its eighty-fifth session

Symbol	Title or description
CEDAW/C/85/1	Annotated provisional agenda
Reports of States parties
CEDAW/C/CHN/9	Ninth periodic report of China
CEDAW/C/CHN-HKG/9	Ninth periodic report of China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
CEDAW/C/CHN-MAC/9	Ninth periodic report of China, Macao Special Administrative Region
CEDAW/C/DEU/9	Ninth periodic report of Germany (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/ISL/9	Ninth periodic report of Iceland
CEDAW/C/STP/1-5	Combined initial to fifth periodic reports of Sao Tome and Principe
CEDAW/C/SVK/7	Seventh periodic report of Slovakia (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/ESP/9	Ninth periodic report of Spain (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/TLS/4	Fourth periodic report of Timor-Leste
CEDAW/C/VEN/9	Ninth periodic report of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Part Two

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-sixth session

9–27 October 2023

Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee

Decision 86/I

On 10 October 2023, the Committee adopted a statement titled “Safeguarding girls’ lives, health and future through minimizing unintended pregnancies and guaranteeing access to safe abortion”, which was issued on the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October.

Decision 86/II

On 25 October, the Committee issued a statement titled “UN women’s rights committee deplores withdrawal of Nicaraguan Ambassador from public review”.

Decision 86/III

On 27 October, the Committee adopted a statement titled “The cause of peace is the cause of women”.

Decision 86/IV

The Committee decided to amend its decision 50/I concerning the enhanced constructive dialogue with State parties by adding the following paragraphs:

9.Prior to the constructive dialogue, the Committee shall schedule an early coordination meeting of the country task force to identify the general themes to be raised during the dialogue, which shall be sent to the State party.

10.In the closed meeting directly following the constructive dialogue, the country rapporteur should highlight the main issues discussed and identify issues to be covered in the concluding observations.

Decision 86/V

Having conducted an assessment of its pilot project for structuring constructive dialogues with States parties thematically, the Committee decided to maintain the traditional structure by clusters of articles, while retaining the following elements of the pilot project: (a) if possible, annex a table on the implementation of articles to the briefing note of the country rapporteur; (b) avoid overlap by organizing the themes on the lists of questions on articles to be raised during the dialogue; and (c) reduce the number of questions to be asked by focusing on country-specific questions, omitting articles that need not be covered and requesting that statistical data be provided in writing.

Decision 86/VI

The Committee decided to amend its rules of procedure to insert the following new rule 53 (3):

“If a State party has submitted a report under article 18 (1) (b) of the Convention but fails to send a representative to attend the meeting at which it has been notified that its report will be examined and the Committee has decided, in accordance with rule 51 (5) of the present rules of procedure, to proceed with the examination of the report in the absence of the representative of the State party, the Committee may, at its discretion, submit to the State party its provisional concluding comments and indicate a time limit within which the State party may submit observations on the provisional concluding comments.”

Decision 86/VII

In accordance with article 18 (1) (b) of the Convention and decision 21/I, the Committee decided to request the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to submit an exceptional report, within six months, on conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in its eastern provinces.

Decision 86/VIII

The Committee confirmed the members of its pre-sessional working group for the eighty-eighth session: Brenda Akia, Yamila González Ferrer, Nahla Haidar, Marianne Mikko and Natasha Stott Despoja.

Chapter II

Organizational and other matters

A.States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol

1.As at 27 October 2023, the closing date of the eighty-sixth session of the Committee, the ratification status of the Convention (189 States parties) and the number of States parties having accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee (81) were as they had been on 26 May, the closing date of the eighty-fifth session.

2.The ratification status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention (115 States parties) was as it had been on 26 May, the closing date of the eighty-fifth session.

B.Opening of the session

3.The eighty-sixth session of the Committee was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 9 to 27 October 2023. The Committee held 21 plenary meetings and 9 meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in the annex to part two of the present report.

4.At the 1999th meeting, on 9 October, the session was opened by the Chair.

C.Adoption of the agenda

5.The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/86/1) at its 1999th meeting, on 9 October.

D.Report of the pre-sessional working group

6.The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/86/1), which had met from 27 February to 3 March, was introduced by Leticia Bonifaz Alfonzo at the 1999th meeting, on 9 October.

E.Organization of work

7.On 9 and 16 October, the Committee held closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, who provided country-specific information and information on the efforts of those bodies in support of the implementation of the Convention.

8.In addition, the Committee held informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, who provided information on the implementation of the Convention in the States parties whose reports were being considered by the Committee at its eighty-sixth session.

9.On 11 October, the Committee held a closed meeting with the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls to exchange on priorities and discuss future harmonization of work and cooperation between the two bodies.

10.On 16 October, the Committee held an informal closed meeting with the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz, who gave a briefing to the Committee on his work at the end of his term as mandate holder.

11.Also on 16 October, the Committee met informally with Sven Pfeiffer, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Division for Treaty Affairs, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who gave a briefing to the Committee on a UNODC background paper on national femicide review committees.

12.On 26 October, the Committee held a remote informal closed meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, who gave a briefing to the Committee on the findings of a recent country visit that she had undertaken.

F.Membership of the Committee

Attendance at the eighty-sixth session

13.All members attended the eighty-sixth session. The following members did not attend the session on the indicated dates: Daphna Hacker on 9 and 27 October; and Natasha Stott Despoja from 9 to 13 October. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part three of the present report.

Chapter III

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities

14.At the 1999th meeting, on 9 October 2023, the Chair presented a report on her activities since the eighty-fifth session.

Chapter IV

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention

15.The Committee considered the reports of nine States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention and prepared the following concluding observations thereon, as well as provisional concluding observations on Nicaragua:

Albania	(CEDAW/C/ALB/CO/5)
Bhutan	(CEDAW/C/BTN/CO/10)
France	(CEDAW/C/FRA/CO/9)
Guatemala	(CEDAW/C/GTM/CO/10)
Jamaica	(CEDAW/C/JAM/CO/8)
Malawi	(CEDAW/C/MWI/CO/8)
Nicaragua	(CEDAW/C/NIC/PCO/7-10)
Philippines	(CEDAW/C/PHL/CO/9)
Uruguay	(CEDAW/C/URY/CO/10)

Follow-up procedure relating to concluding observations

16.The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties:

Kyrgyzstan	(CEDAW/C/KGZ/FCO/5)
Pakistan	(CEDAW/C/PAK/FCO/5)

Chapter V

Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol

17.Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol

18.The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional Protocol on 24 October 2023.

19.The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol on its fifty-seventh session.

20.The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to three individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted a decision of inadmissibility in S.I. v. Czechia (CEDAW/C/86/D/152/2019). It also adopted views finding violations in A.L.P., A.M.E. and F.F.B. v. Republic of Korea (CEDAW/C/86/D/139/2018). It further decided to discontinue its consideration of O.R.D. v. Argentina (CEDAW/C/86/D/127/2018). All final decisions were adopted by consensus.

B.Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications

21.The Committee was informed that the Working Group had examined information on follow-up to views on individual communications and had adopted its report on follow-up to views during its fifty-seventh session, held from 4 to 6 October 2023. The Committee endorsed the recommendations of the Working Group that the follow-up dialogue in relation to Trujillo Reyes and Arguello Morales v. Mexico (CEDAW/C/67/D/75/2014) remain ongoing and that the follow-up dialogue in relation to Medvedeva v. Russian Federation (CEDAW/C/63/D/60/2013) be closed in the light of the inaction of the author and counsel. It also endorsed the recommendations of the Working Group to institutionalize the practice of raising follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications during the consideration by the Committee of the periodic reports of the respective States parties. It requested the secretariat to arrange for a meeting with the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva to discuss follow-up to the views of the Committee in relation to E.S. and S.C. v. United Republic of Tanzania (CEDAW/C/60/D/48/2013).

C.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol

22.The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol on 26 October. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol on its twenty-sixth session.

23.On 25 October, the Committee held its first reading of the draft report on inquiry No. 2019/1.

24.The Committee approved the following recommendations made by the Working Group:

(a)In relation to inquiry No. 2017/3, that the secretariat send a reminder to the State party concerned to respond to its correspondence, and seek additional information to recommend a final decision on the status of the inquiry at the twenty-seventh session of the Working Group;

(b)In relation to inquiry No. 2016/1, that the secretariat explore the remote methodology for conducting an inquiry used by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to inform the methodology of the Committee; develop a strategy and institutional mechanisms to engage with States parties in challenging political or other contexts and initiate communication with relevant United Nations agencies on the ground for possible cooperation; and explore modalities for enhancing engagement with the capacity-building programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;

(c)In relation to inquiry No. 2014/3, that the designated members propose possible dates for an inquiry visit in 2024 or 2025 and inform the State party concerned accordingly;

(d)In relation to inquiry No. 2014/2, subject to the consent of the State party to an inquiry visit, that new dates for such a visit during the first half of December 2023 be explored;

(e)In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1 concerning South Africa, that the two designated members agree to the template of a follow-up assessment table discussed by the Working Group as a pilot, to be attached to an assessment letter; that the template be considered by the Committee for future use; and that the secretariat put forward a request to include such a template in its entitlements for translation as an official document, when finalized and accepted;

(f)In relation to inquiry No. 2012/1, that the State party concerned be considered next in line for an inquiry visit following the planned visits in relation to inquiries Nos. 2014/2 and 2014/3;

(g)In relation to inquiry No. 2011/4 concerning Mali, that the Chair of the Working Group request a Committee member to join a follow-up call with the Permanent Mission of the State party to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva;

(h)In relation to inquiry No. 2011/2 concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that upon receipt of follow-up information from the sources of information and the national human rights commission, the designated member presents to the Committee a follow-up assessment in the format of the template discussed in response to each of the recommendations at the eighty-seventh session of the Committee;

(i)In relation to submission No. 2023/3, that the secretariat contact the source of information to acknowledge receipt and request an electronic version of the submission to enable automated translation;

(j)In relation to submission No. 2023/2, that the secretariat consult with the secretariat of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on possible forms of cooperation;

(k)In relation to submission No. 2022/2, that the secretariat consult with relevant United Nations special procedure mandate holders on possible forms of cooperation;

(l)In relation to submission No. 2021/1, that the secretariat request additional information from relevant United Nations entities and specialized agencies.

Chapter VI

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee

25.The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7

Dates of future sessions

26.In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were tentatively confirmed for the Committee’s eighty-seventh and eighty-eighth sessions and related meetings:

Eighty-seventh session (Geneva)

(a)Fifty-eighth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 24–26 January 2024;

(b)Twenty-seventh session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 25 and 26 January 2024;

(c)Eighty-seventh session: 29 January–16 February 2024;

(d)Pre-sessional working group for the eighty-ninth session: 19–23 February 2024;

Eighty-eighth session (Geneva)

(e)Fifty-ninth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 9 and 10 May 2024;

(f)Twenty-eighth session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 9 and 10 May 2024;

(g)Eighty-eighth session: 13–31 May 2024;

(h)Pre-sessional working group for the ninetieth session: 3–7 June 2024.

Reports to be considered at future sessions

27.The Committee confirmed that, at its eighty-seventh session, it would consider the reports of the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Greece, Italy, the Niger (the latter three under the simplified reporting procedure), Oman, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and that, at its eighty-eighth session, it would consider those of Brazil, Estonia (both under the simplified reporting procedure), Kuwait, Malaysia, Montenegro, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda and Singapore.

Chapter VII

Implementation of article 21 of the Convention

Working group on working methods

28.The working group met during the session. It discussed and submitted to the Committee three draft decisions, concerning enhanced constructive dialogues (see decision 86/IV), the assessment of its pilot project to revise the structure of constructive dialogues with States parties (see decision 86/V) and an amendment to its rules of procedure on provisional concluding observations (see decision 86/VI).

Working group on gender-based violence against women

29.The working group met twice during the session. It discussed the candidacy of the Committee to chair the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women in 2024, as well as the mandate of the Committee in relation to gender-based violence against women.

Working group on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems

30.The working group met during the session. It discussed the outcomes of recent expert group meetings that had provided inputs for the draft general recommendation on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems, as well as intersessional side events on the draft general recommendation that had taken place. The working group also discussed the next steps in the process leading to the adoption of the general recommendation, scheduled to take place at the eighty-ninth session of the Committee, in October 2024, including the publication online of the initial draft of the general recommendation, with a call for comments, and the convening of five regional meetings.

Task force on gender stereotyping

31.The task force met with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) during the session to discuss possible support for the preparation of a draft general recommendation on gender stereotyping. The task force is also exploring the possibility of financial support from States parties. The draft concept note for the general recommendation is scheduled to be presented to the plenary during the eighty-seventh session of the Committee for endorsement.

Task force on Afghanistan

32.The task force on Afghanistan met twice during the session. It discussed the possibility of elaborating a position paper on gender persecution and gender apartheid. The Committee endorsed the recommendation of the task force to elaborate a statement on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, to be adopted at its eighty-seventh session.

Task force on Ukraine

33.The task force on Ukraine met during the session. It decided to request a briefing by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and UNHCR during the eighty-seventh session of the Committee. The Committee endorsed the recommendation of the task force to elaborate a statement on the situation of women and girls in Ukraine, to be adopted at its eighty-seventh session.

Task force on sex/gender self-identification

34.The task force met during the session to discuss next steps, including the invitation of key experts, researchers and stakeholders to give briefings to the Committee on the issue of sex/gender self-identification. The Committee decided to invite one speaker to each of its sessions in 2024. In addition, the task force decided to arrange intersessional online briefings.

Chapter VIII

Provisional agenda for the eighty-seventh session

35.At its 2028th meeting, on 27 October 2023, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its eighty-seventh session.

Chapter IX

Adoption of the report

36.At its 2028th meeting, on 27 October 2023, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its eighty-sixth session.

Annex

Documents before the Committee at its eighty-sixth session

Symbol	Title or description
CEDAW/C/86/1	Annotated provisional agenda
Reports of States parties
CEDAW/C/ALB/5	Fifth periodic report of Albania
CEDAW/C/BTN/10	Tenth periodic report of Bhutan (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/FRA/9	Ninth periodic report of France
CEDAW/C/GTM/10	Tenth periodic report of Guatemala
CEDAW/C/JAM/8	Eighth periodic report of Jamaica
CEDAW/C/MWI/8	Eighth periodic report of Malawi
CEDAW/C/NIC/7-10	Combined seventh to tenth periodic reports of Nicaragua
CEDAW/C/PHL/9	Ninth periodic report of the Philippines
CEDAW/C/URY/10	Tenth periodic report of Uruguay (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)

Part Three

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its eighty-seventh session

29 January–16 February 2024

Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee

Decision 87/I

On 14 February 2024, the Committee adopted a statement titled “Gender persecution: institutionalized violations of women’s human rights in Afghanistan”.

Decision 87/II

On 30 January, the Committee endorsed a statement titled “Afghanistan: Taliban’s arbitrary arrests and detention of women and girls over dress code must end immediately”, issued jointly by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Committee on 2 February 2024.

Decision 87/III

On 16 February, the Committee adopted a statement calling for a ceasefire and a peaceful and lasting resolution to the war in Gaza/the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

Decision 87/IV

On 16 February, the Committee adopted a joint statement titled “Awareness and action – poverty, inequality and gender-based violence against women”, issued by the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women on International Women’s Day, on 8 March 2024.

Decision 87/V

On 13 February, the Committee decided to make final its provisional concluding observations on the combined seventh to tenth periodic reports of Nicaragua (CEDAW/C/NIC/PCO/7-10) and to issue them as an official document (CEDAW/C/NIC/CO/7-10).

Decision 87/VI

In accordance with article 18 (1) (b) of the Convention and further to its decision 87/VII, the Committee endorsed a list of issues and questions prior to the submission of the report (CEDAW/C/COD/QPR/EP/1) concerning the exceptional report that it had requested from the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in its eastern provinces (see decision 86/VII).

Decision 87/VII

To operationalize the Addis Ababa guidelines on the independence and impartiality of members of the human rights treaty bodies (A/67/222, annex I), the Committee decided that its draft concluding observations would no longer be shared with members of the Committee who are nationals of the State party concerned and that confidential submissions by United Nations country teams, non-governmental organizations and other sources of information would not be posted on the confidential extranet for the members of the Committee if the source of the information so requested. In that case, they would be circulated to the members of the country task force only.

Decision 87/VIII

On 16 February, the Committee endorsed the concept note for a draft general recommendation on gender stereotyping.

Decision 87/IX

On 16 February, the Committee endorsed its contribution to the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2024.

Decision 87/X

The Committee decided to convene its biennial informal meeting with States parties to the Convention during its eighty-ninth session, in October 2024, in a public meeting, and requested the secretariat to make the necessary arrangements.

Decision 87/XI

The Committee confirmed the members of the pre-sessional working group for the eighty-ninth session: Hiroko Akizuki, Leticia Bonifaz Alfonzo, Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia and Genoveva Tisheva.

Chapter II

Organizational and other matters

A.States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol

1.As at 16 February 2024, the closing date of the eighty-seventh session of the Committee, the ratification status of the Convention (189 States parties) and the number of States parties having accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee (81) were as they had been on 27 October 2023, the closing date of the eighty-sixth session.

2.The ratification status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention (115 States parties) was as it had been on 27 October, the closing date of the eighty-sixth session.

B.Opening of the session

3.The eighty-seventh session of the Committee was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 29 January to 16 February 2024. The Committee held 20 plenary meetings and ten meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in annex I to part three of the present report.

4.At the 2029th meeting, on 29 January, the session was opened by the Chair, Ana Peláez Narváez.

C.Adoption of the agenda

5.The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/87/1) at its 2029th meeting, on 29 January.

D.Report of the pre-sessional working group

6.The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/87/1), which had met from 30 May to 2 June 2023, was introduced by Marion Bethel at the 2029th meeting, on 29 January.

E.Organization of work

7.On 29 January and 5 February 2024, the Committee held remote closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, who provided country-specific information and information on the efforts of those bodies in support of the implementation of the Convention.

8.In addition, the Committee held remote informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, who provided information on the implementation of the Convention in the States parties whose reports were being considered by the Committee at its eighty-seventh session.

9.On 8 February, the Committee met informally with the Chief, Pernille Fenger, and the Deputy Chief, Alfonso Barragues, of the UNFPA Office in Geneva, who gave a briefing to the Committee on data on Sustainable Development Goal target 5.6 and provided updated information on the 30-year review of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

10.On 5 February, Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, and Domenico Zipoli, Project Coordinator, of the Geneva Human Rights Platform, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, gave a briefing to the Committee on a recent follow-up review pilot held in Fiji to test a method of follow-up to recommendations by treaty bodies at the regional level.

11.On 6 February, the Committee held an online closed meeting with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, who gave a briefing to the Committee on the risk of erasure of sex-based rights and language and on her report to the Human Rights Council on child custody, violence against women and violence against children.

12.On 7 February, the Committee attended a reception and high-level technical meeting on a proposed second Optional Protocol to the Convention concerning gender-based violence against women, hosted by the Permanent Missions of Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone.

13.On 12 February, the Committee held an online closed meeting with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, who gave a briefing to the Committee on the situation of women and girls in Myanmar.

14.On 13 February, the Committee met informally with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to discuss the draft general comment of the latter on the impact of drug policies on economic social and cultural rights. The meeting was hosted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights under the Geneva Human Rights Platform.

F.Membership of the Committee

Attendance at the eighty-seventh session

15.All members attended the eighty-seventh session. The following members did not attend on the indicated dates: Rosario Manalo on 16 February; Rhoda Reddock on 1 and 2 February; and Natasha Stott Despoja on 16 February 2024. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part three of the present report.

Chapter III

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities

16.At the 2029th meeting, on 29 January 2024, the Chair, Ana Peláez Narváez, presented a report on her activities since the eighty-sixth session.

Chapter IV

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention

17.The Committee considered the reports of eight States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention, prepared the following concluding observations thereon and made final the provisional concluding observations on the combined seventh to tenth periodic reports of Nicaragua (CEDAW/C/NIC/PCO/7-10) adopted at its eighty-sixth session:

Central African Republic	(CEDAW/C/CAF/CO/6)
Djibouti	(CEDAW/C/DJI/CO/4-5)
Greece	(CEDAW/C/GRC/CO/8-9)
Italy	(CEDAW/C/ITA/CO/8)
Nicaragua	(CEDAW/C/NIC/CO/7-10)
Niger	(CEDAW/C/NER/CO/5)
Oman	(CEDAW/C/OMN/CO/4)
Tajikistan	(CEDAW/C/TJK/CO/7)

18. The Committee also adopted a list of issues and questions prior to the submission of the report ( CEDAW/C/COD/QPR/EP/1 ) concerning the exceptional report that it had requested from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in its eastern provinces (see decision 86/VII).

Follow-up procedure relating to concluding observations

19.The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties:

Ecuador	(CEDAW/C/ECU/FCO/10)
Egypt	(CEDAW/C/EGY/FCO/8-10)
Maldives	(CEDAW/C/MDV/FCO/6)

Chapter V

Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol

20.Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol

21.The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional Protocol on 12 and 16 February 2024.

22.The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol on its fifty-eighth session.

23.The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to three individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted decisions of inadmissibility in S.S. v. Austria (CEDAW/C/87/D/158/2020) and S.T.H. v. Switzerland (CEDAW/C/87/D/165/2021) and views finding violations in E.D. and M.D. v. Belarus (CEDAW/C/87/D/157/2020). All final decisions were adopted by consensus.

B.Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications

24.The Committee was informed that the Working Group had continued its discussion on ways and means to strengthen the procedure for follow-up to views and that it had held a meeting with the Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to discuss follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee in E.S. and S.C. v. United Republic of Tanzania (CEDAW/C/60/D/48/2013). The Committee endorsed the recommendations of the Working Group that the follow-up dialogue in relation to the aforementioned communication should remain ongoing pending receipt of the follow-up observations from the State party. It took note of the recommendation of the Working Group to systematically raise follow-up to views on individual communications during the consideration of the periodic reports of the respective States parties.

C.Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol

25.The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol on 13 February 2024. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol on its twenty-seventh session.

26. On 13 February, the Committee adopted its findings, comments and recommendations on inquiry No. 2019/1 . It decided to transmit them to the State party concerned for observations within six months and to publish the report regarding the inquiry after the aforementioned period.

27.The Committee approved the following recommendations made by the Working Group:

(a)In relation to inquiry No. 2017/3, that the secretariat send a reminder to the State party concerned to respond to its correspondence;

(b)In relation to inquiry No. 2016/1, that the secretariat continue to collaborate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights country office in the State party concerned to arrange for a possible invitation of one of the members designated to conduct the inquiry to a regional event, and explore the possibility of meetings with relevant stakeholders on this occasion;

(c)In relation to inquiry No. 2014/3, that the secretariat send a response to the note verbale dated 12 December 2023 from the State party concerned proposing dates for an inquiry visit;

(d)In relation to inquiry No. 2014/2, that the members of the Committee designated to conduct the inquiry provide a briefing to the Committee on their inquiry visit to the State party concerned undertaken in December 2023;

(e)In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1 concerning South Africa, that the two designated members having agreed to the template of a follow-up assessment table discussed by the Working Group as a pilot, the secretariat attach the follow-up assessment table to the assessment letter to be sent to the State party; that the piloted template, including the new assessment categories, be considered by the Committee for adoption and future use; and that the secretariat put forward a request to include such a template in its entitlements for translation as an official document, when finalized and accepted by the Committee;

(f)In relation to inquiry No. 2012/1, that the secretariat send a note verbale to the State party concerned to seek its consent to an inquiry visit during the last quarter of 2024;

(g)In relation to inquiry No. 2011/2 concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that, following receipt of additional information from the sources of information and the national human rights institution, the designated member present her follow-up assessment to the Committee at its eighty-eighth session;

(h)In relation to inquiry No. 2011/1 concerning Canada, that the secretariat transmit the follow-up report of the State party to the sources of information and, if relevant, the national human rights institution, for observations; and that the Committee designate Ms. Eghobamien-Mshelia to assess the follow-up information received and present a follow-up assessment to the Committee;

(i)In relation to submission No. 2023/3, that the secretariat request additional information from relevant United Nations entities and specialized agencies and national human rights institutions, maintaining confidentiality throughout the process;

(j)In relation to submission No. 2023/2, that the secretariat explore the possibility and requirements for the Committee to conduct inquiries jointly with other human rights treaty bodies;

(k)In relation to submission No. 2022/2, that the secretariat prepare a detailed request for information from the fact-finding body in charge of the human rights situation in the State party concerned, and continue its research into the use by special procedure mandate holders for specific countries of funds for visits to the country covered by their mandate for visits to third countries, when necessary;

(l)In relation to submission No. 2021/1, that the secretariat request additional information from the relevant United Nations entity.

Chapter VI

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee

28.The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7

Dates of future sessions

29.In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were tentatively confirmed for the Committee’s eighty-eighth and eighty-ninth sessions and related meetings:

Eighty-eighth session (Geneva)

(a)As indicated in paragraph 26 of part two of the present report;

Eighty-ninth session (Geneva)

(b)Sixtieth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 3 and 4 October 2024;

(c)Twenty-ninth session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 3 and 4 October 2024;

(d)Eighty-ninth session: 7–25 October 2024;

(e)Pre-sessional working group for the ninety-first session: 28 October–1 November 2024.

Reports to be considered at future sessions

30.The Committee confirmed that, at its eighty-eighth session, it would consider the reports of the States parties listed in paragraph 27 of part two of the present report and that, at its eighty-ninth session, it would consider eight reports from among those of Benin, Canada, Chile (the latter two under the simplified reporting procedure), Cuba, Japan (under the simplified reporting procedure), the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, New Zealand, Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (the latter two under the simplified reporting procedure) and Saudi Arabia.

Chapter VII

Implementation of article 21 of the Convention

Working group on working methods

31.The working group met during the session. It discussed and submitted a draft decision to the Committee, concerning the confidentiality of documentation (see decision 87/VII). It also discussed the transparency of the composition of task forces and the format of non-exhaustive lists of general themes to be sent to the State party concerned prior to a constructive dialogue (see decision 86/IV).

Working group on gender-based violence against women

32.The working group met twice the session. It discussed the side events and meetings planned by the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women during the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women and finalized the preparation of a draft joint statement to be issued by the Platform on 8 March 2024 (see decision 87/IV). It also discussed the mandate of the Committee in relation to gender-based violence against women, including selected topics for research and analysis.

Working group on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems

33.The working group met twice during the session. It discussed the initial draft of the general recommendation on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems, which was to be published online, with a call for comments. It also discussed the next steps leading to the adoption of the general recommendation, scheduled to take place at the eighty-ninth session of the Committee, in October 2024, including regional expert consultations and the first reading of the draft general recommendation during the eighty-eighth session of the Committee, in May 2024.

Task force on gender stereotyping

34.The task force met with UNFPA during the session to discuss progress in preparing a draft general recommendation on gender stereotyping and possible forms of collaboration with UNFPA in 2024, as well as in 2025, when the official process for the preparation of the general recommendation will be launched. The task force indicated that it would share the concept note for the general recommendation with UNFPA, scheduled to be presented to the Committee during the eighty-seventh session, once it had been endorsed. Task force members agreed to continue the discussions with UNFPA in New York during the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Task force on Afghanistan

35.The task force met during the session. It finalized a draft statement on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan for adoption by the Committee (see decision 87/I).

Task force on Ukraine

36.The task force met during the session to convene a virtual meeting with a Commissioner and the coordinator of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, who gave a briefing to the task force on the situation of women and girls in Ukraine.

Task force on sex/gender self-identification

37.The task force met during the session and convened a virtual meeting of the Committee with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, who gave a briefing to the Committee on the risk of erasure of sex-based rights and language and on her report to the Human Rights Council on child custody, violence against women and violence against children. The task force had also held intersessional online meetings with other experts.

Chapter VIII

Provisional agenda for the eighty-eighth session

38.At its 2058th meeting, on 16 February 2024, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its eighty-eighth session.

Chapter IX

Adoption of the report

39.At its 2058th meeting, on 16 February 2024, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its eighty-seventh session.

Annex I

Documents before the Committee at its eighty-seventh session

Symbol	Title or description
CEDAW/C/87/1	Annotated provisional agenda
Reports of States parties
CEDAW/C/CAF/6	Sixth periodic report of the Central African Republic
CEDAW/C/DJI/4-5	Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Djibouti
CEDAW/C/GRC/8-9	Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Greece (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/ITA/8	Eighth periodic report of Italy (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/NER/5	Fifth periodic report of the Niger (submitted under the simplified reporting procedure)
CEDAW/C/OMN/4	Fourth periodic report of Oman
CEDAW/C/TJK/7	Seventh periodic report of Tajikistan
CEDAW/C/TKM/6	Sixth periodic report of Turkmenistan

Annex II

Membership of the Committee as at 16 February 2024

Name of member	Country of nationality	Term of office expires on 31 December
Brenda Akia	Uganda	2026
Hiroko Akizuki (Vice-Chair)	Japan	2026
Nicole Ameline	France	2024
Marion Bethel (Rapporteur)	Bahamas	2024
Leticia Bonifaz Alfonzo	Mexico	2024
Rangita de Silva de Alwis	Sri Lanka	2026
Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen	Netherlands (Kingdom of the)	2024
Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia (Vice-Chair)	Nigeria	2026
Hilary Gbedemah	Ghana	2024
Yamila González Ferrer	Cuba	2026
Daphna Hacker	Israel	2026
Nahla Haidar	Lebanon	2024
Dalia Leinarte	Lithuania	2024
Rosario G. Manalo	Philippines	2024
Marianne Mikko	Estonia	2026
Maya Morsy	Egypt	2026
Ana Peláez Narváez (Chair)	Spain	2026
Bandana Rana	Nepal	2024
Rhoda Reddock	Trinidad and Tobago	2026
Elgun Safarov	Azerbaijan	2026
Natasha Stott Despoja	Australia	2024
Genoveva Tisheva (Vice-Chair)	Bulgaria	2026
Jie Xia	China	2024

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