Statement
by
Charlotte Abaka, Chairperson
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
at the Exceptional session of CEDAW
New York, 5 August 2002
Distinguished members, colleagues and friend,
I am pleased to report on my activities since the twenty-seventh session of the Committee.
I attended the
fourteenth meeting of the Chairpersons of the Treaty bodies in Geneva
from the 24 to 1 p.m. of the 26 of June 2002. The meeting was opened by the
High Commissioner for Human Rights. In her opening statement, she stressed
the importance of the meeting, being the first one after the World Conference
against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related Intolerance (WCAR) and
in terms of providing opportunities for dialogue between the Treaty bodies
themselves, between the Treaty bodies and OHCHR and between the treaty bodies
and the Commission on Human Rights and its special procedures. The High Commissioner
also outlined events and developments since the thirteenth Meeting, including
the September 11 attacks and the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
territories.
The Chairperson of CEDAW was elected Chairperson/Rapporteur of the Meeting and Mr. Doek, the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child the Vice-Chairperson. Among the items on the Agenda were: Follow-up to the 13th Meeting of the Chairpersons, update of Treaty bodies since the 13th meeting, follow-up to the WCAR meeting with States parties, meeting with UN Agencies and NGOs and meeting with Special mandate Holders. Representatives of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) and the Committee Against Torture (CAT) indicated that these Committees have appointed follow-up Rapporteurs since the last Meeting. The General Assembly's Resolution on Honorarium was also raised and the Chairpersons, expressing their disappointment, simply declined to discuss the matter further.
The meeting with the States parties and the Chairpersons was very well attended and took the form of frank and constructive dialogue. States parties welcomed the various revisions of the working methods of the Treaty bodies and were particularly interested in the outcome of the Inter-Committee Meeting. Several delegates raised concerns about the involvement of NGOs in the reporting process and also concerning the accuracy of the Press Releases in Geneva. At the meeting with the specialized UN Agencies, a representative from UNESCO informed the meeting about the Agency's on-going Restructuring, which will result in better collaborative work with the treaty bodies. At a later meeting with UNESCO, I recalled CEDAW's close relationship with this agency and expressed regret that the past few years had been different. I mentioned the Committee's focal point on UNESCO and hoped that things will improve. NGOs express the desire to participate in the Inter-Committee Meeting. Chairpersons however decided that this could be a reality at a later Inter-Committee Meeting.
At the 4th Joint Meeting with Special Mandate Holders, which was addressed by the High Commissioner on Human Rights, it was recommended to advocate for increased resources to facilitate "face -to face exchanges of views" between mandate holders and treaty bodies. In this regard it was suggested that special effort be made to raise funds for such activities in the annual appeal of the OHCHR. As a follow-up to WCAR, it was recommended that an elaboration by the special procedure holders of one document outlining their follow-up activities to the WCAR be undertaken or the OHCHR develop a document which provides guidance to Special procedure holders on reporting to treaty bodies on follow-up to WCAR to avoid duplications. It was also suggested that the 5th joint meeting focus on the phenomenon of globalization as it impacts on the various mandates and treaty instruments. In conclusion, the 2½ days duration of the Chairpersons' meeting was found to be inadequate and recommended for a 5-day meeting as had always been.
The first Inter-Committee meeting took place immediately after the Chairpersons’ meeting from 3 p.m. of the 26t to 28 June 2002. The meeting was opened by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. He stressed the importance and the interest of the meeting to all stakeholders, particularly OHCHR, States parties and NGOs. The Chairperson of CEDAW was elected to chair the meeting. 26 June being the International Day for Victims of Torture, a minute silence was held in solidarity with all victims of tortures. The meeting adopted the provisional agenda, which was proposed by the Chairpersons during their meeting after slight amendments had been effected. A copy of the agenda will be circulated by the secretariat. After the 2½ days of deliberations, several recommendations were made on issues that enjoyed consensus. There were also issues, which were discussed, but did not receive agreement by all experts, as well as issues in the background document that the meeting could not discuss because of time constraints. The meeting decided that the Inter-Committee meeting in 2 years' time shall take on those issues. It was also decided that the next meeting focus on a thematic issue such as Non-Discrimination. Every expert expressed satisfaction with the meting and its outcome as well as the support received from the Secretariat. I wish in this regard, to mention particularly the very efficient and prompt contribution made by the Chief of the Women Rights Section of the Division for the Advancement of Women, Ms Jane Connors.
The Inter-Committee meeting has indeed achieved the objective of better understanding by the Experts of the (6) six human Rights Instruments, their diversity and yet common interest of achieving a just society based on the principle of respect for human rights of all people helped to secure success. Although this session will be very busy, I hope that we will have an opportunity to discuss the recommendations of the Inter-Committee meeting which will be provided to members today.
I realize that this will be a busy session, and I wish us all the best.
Thank you.