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UnitedNations  N  W_ !  #aPddxbydxbyyxbReportoftheCommitteeonthe W EliminationofDiscriminatioǹagainstWomendydxbd#dPaP(Fifteenthsession)   GeneralAssemblydOfficialRecordsdTdTdTTdԀFiftyfirstSession i  SupplementNo.38(A/51/38)  ! dTdTdT    MA/51/38      E) `CG TimesEReportoftheCommitteeonthèEliminationofDiscriminatioǹagainstWomen#dPEd* `CG TimesE(Fifteenthsession)GeneralAssembly  OfficialRecordsE) `CG TimesEEd* `CG TimesEFiftyfirstSessionSupplementNo.38(A/51/38) * b=fQA=z (  ` @@b - UnitedNationsE) `CG TimesEEd* `CG TimesEԀNewYork,1996  E) `CG TimesERl 4  4    @.. NOTE .. SymbolsofUnitedNationsdocumentsarecomposedofcapitalletterscombinedwithfigures.MentionofsuchasymbolindicatesareferencetoaUnitedNationsdocument. .. ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofthematerialinthisdocumentdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheSecretariatoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,cityorareaorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries. #/ @..ISSN0255-0970#dd A UK     \R3'\ X      + 8  8 C?<6X9`(CourierC    ( @ $(g882       [Original:English/French/Spanish]  [9May1996]@..\CONTENTS 88tChaptert..tParagraphsPage   , )8 8,  P"), ., .LETTEROFTRANSMITTAL...........................................P" .!vi, .dI. .MATTERSBROUGHTTOTHEATTENTIONOFSTATESPARTIES..............P" .!1, ., .A. .Decisions...................................................P" .!1, ., . .Decision15/I...............................................P" .!1, ., . .Decision15/II..............................................P" .!1, ., . .Decision15/III.............................................P" .!1, ., . .Decision15/IV..............................................P" .!1, ., .B. .Suggestions.................................................P" .!2, ., . .Suggestion15/1.............................................P" .!2, ., . .Suggestion15/2.............................................P" .!2, ., . .Suggestion15/3.............................................P" .!2, .II. .ORGANIZATIONALANDOTHERMATTERS.................... .<123P" .!3, ., .A. .StatespartiestotheConvention................ .<12P" .!3, ., .B. .Openingofthesession.......................... .<314P" .!3, ., .C. .Attendance......................................15P" .!5, ., .D. .Adoptionoftheagendaandorganizationofwork.16P" .!5, ., .E. .Reportofthepresessionworkinggroup......... .1720P" .!6, ., .F. .Compositionandorganizationofworkofthe, ., . .workinggroups.................................. .2123P" .!6, .III. .REPORTOFTHECHAIRPERSONONTHEACTIVITIES, ., .UNDERTAKENBETWEENTHEFOURTEENTHANDFIFTEENTH, ., .SESSIONSOFTHECOMMITTEE........................... .2433P" .!7, .IV. .CONSIDERATIONOFREPORTSSUBMITTEDBYSTATESPARTIES, ., .UNDERARTICLE18OFTHECONVENTION.................. .34331P" .!9, ., .A. .Introduction.................................... .3436P" .!9@ .CONTENTS(continued) 88tChaptert .tParagraphsPage   , )8 8,  p"), ., .B. .Considerationofreports.........................p .p .837331" .L"9, ., . .1. . Initialandsecondperiodicreports..........p .p .837133" .L"9, ., . . . Cyprus.......................................p .p .83766" .L"9, ., . . . Iceland......................................p .p .867104" .!12, ., . . . Paraguay.....................................p .p .105133" .!16, ., . .2. . Initial,secondandthirdperiodicreports...p .p .134163" .!19, ., . . . Ethiopia.....................................p .p .134163" .!19, ., . .3. . Secondperiodicreports......................p .p .164196" .!22, ., . . . Belgium......................................p .p .164196" .!22, ., . .4. . Secondandthirdperiodicreports............p .p .197228" .!26, ., . . . Cuba.........................................p .p .197228" .!26, ., . .5. . Thirdperiodicreports.......................p .p .229300" .!29, ., . . . Hungary......................................p .p .229264" .!29, ., . . . Ukraine......................................p .p .265300" .!32, ., . .6. . Reportssubmittedonanexceptionalbasis....p .p .301331" .!36, ., . . . Rwanda.......................................p .p .301331" .!36, .dV. .WAYSANDMEANSOFEXPEDITINGTHEWORKOFTHECOMMITTEEp .p .332349" .!39, ., .ActiontakenbytheCommitteeonthereportofWorking, ., .GroupI..............................................p .p .334349" .!39, .VI. .IMPLEMENTATIONOFARTICLE21OFTHECONVENTION.......p .p .350366" .!44, ., .A. .ActiontakenbytheCommitteeonthereportof, ., . .WorkingGroupII.................................p .p .352353" .!44, ., .B. .StatementsbyseniorUnitedNationsofficials....p .p .354366" .!44, .VII. .RESULTSOFTHEFOURTHWORLDCONFERENCEONWOMEN......p .p .367373" .!47VIII. .PROVISIONALAGENDAFORTHESIXTEENTHSESSION......... .374375" .!48, .IX. .ADOPTIONOFTHEREPORT...............................p .p .376" .!49@ .CONTENTS(continued) 88tt .tPage   , )8 8 P")@ .Annexes .I. .StatespartiestotheConventionontheEliminationofAllForms . .ofDiscriminationagainstWomenasat2February1996............P" .!50 .II. .MembershipoftheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscrimination . .againstWomen....................................................P" .!54 .4III. .DocumentsbeforetheCommitteeatitsfifteenthsession..........P" .!55 .IV. .Statusofsubmissionandconsiderationofreportssubmittedby . .Statespartiesunderarticle18oftheConventiononthe . .EliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenasat . .2February1996..................................................P" .!57 . .A. .Initialreports..............................................P" .!57 . .B. .Secondperiodicreports......................................P" .!63 . .C. .Thirdperiodicreports.......................................P" .!68 . .D. .Fourthperiodicreports......................................P" .!72 . .E. .Reportssubmittedonanexceptionalbasis....................P" .!74882^ @ .LETTEROFTRANSMITTAL̀# .2February1996Sir,2 .2Ihavethehonourtorefertoarticle21oftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,accordingtowhichtheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen,establishedpursuanttotheConvention,"shall,throughtheEconomicandSocialCouncil,reportannuallytotheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNationsonitsactivities".2 .2TheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomenhelditsfifteenthsessionfrom15Januaryto2February1996atUnitedNationsHeadquarters.Itadoptedthereportonthesessionatits309thmeeting,on2February.ThereportisherewithsubmittedtoyoufortransmissiontotheGeneralAssemblyatitsfifty-firstsession.2 .2Accept,Sir,theassurancesofmyhighestconsideration. 888 .(Signed)Q8 .IvankaCORTI .Q8 .Chairperson .Q8 .CommitteeontheElimination .Q8 .*ofDiscriminationagainstWomenHisExcellencyMr.BoutrosBoutros-GhaliSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsNewYork   A UK     \R3'\ X      +C?<6X9`(CourierC( @ $(h882   @ .` I.MATTERSBROUGHTTOTHEATTENTIONOFSTATESPARTIES@ .bA.Decisions@ .bDecision15/I1.2 .2TheCommitteeexpressesitsappreciationtotheStatespartiestotheConventionforthedecisionadoptedattheeighthmeetingofStatespartiesandforGeneralAssemblyresolution49/164anddecision49/448,bothof23December1994,andresolution50/202of22December1995,concerningtheamendmenttoarticle20,paragraph1,oftheConvention.2.2 .2TheCommitteelooksforwardtotheratificationoftheamendmentbyStatespartiesasquicklyaspossible.3.2 .2Fortheinterimperiod,theCommitteeurgestheappropriateintergovernmentalbodiestoauthorizeadequatemeetingtimetoenabletheCommitteetocontinuetoreducetheincreasingbackloginStatesparties'reportsawaitingreview.4.2 .2TheCommitteeconsidersthatatleasttwo3weeksessionsannually,eachprecededbyapresessionworkinggroup,areneededtoalleviatetheheavyworkloadoftheCommittee.5.2 .2TheCommitteerequeststheSecretariattoinformtheCommitteeatitssixteenthsessiononactiontakenattheninthmeetingofStatespartiesconcerningarticle20,paragraph1,oftheConvention,pursuanttoGeneralAssemblyresolution50/202.@ .0Decision15/II2 .2TheCommitteedecidestorequesttheSecretariattoprepareforitssixteenthsessionananalysisofthepracticeofotherhumanrightstreatybodiesinreceivinginformationfromnongovernmentalorganizationsandparticipationofthelatterinthemeetingsofthosebodies.@ .Decision15/III2 .2TheCommitteedecidestodispenseinitsreportwiththepublisheddetailedsummaryofthediscussiononreportssubmittedbyStatespartiesinconformitywitharticle18oftheConvention.Summaryrecordswill,however,beretainedandtheconcludingcommentsandrecommendationsoftheCommitteewillbeprecededbyabriefsummaryofthepresentationoftheStatesparties.TheCommitteereiteratesitsdecisionthattheconcludingcommentsbetransmittedtotheStatespartiesconcernedimmediatelyafterthecloseofthesession.@ .0Decision15/IV2 .2TheCommitteewishestodrawtheattentionoftheCommissionontheStatusofWomentotheCommittee'ssuggestion7onelementsforanoptionalprotocoltotheConvention,whichhadbeenagreeduponatthefourteenthsessionoftheCommitteeandwascontainedinthereportonthatsession.TheCommitteeurgestheCommissiontopreparetheoptionalprotocolatitsfortiethsession,inMarch1996,andrecallsthatattheFourthWorldConferenceonWomenconsensuswasreachedto"supporttheprocessinitiatedbytheCommissionontheStatusofWomenwithaviewtoelaboratingadraftoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenthatcouldenterintoforceassoonaspossible...".@ .B.Suggestions  Suggestion15/1.OptionalprotocoltotheConventiononthèEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminatioǹagainstWomenontherighttopetition󀀀  2 .2Notingthatagendaitem5oftheCommissionontheStatusofWomenincludesdiscussiononanoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,theCommitteesuggests:2 .2(a) .ThattheCommissionontheStatusofWomenconsiderinvitingtwoexpertsoftheCommitteetoparticipateasresourcepersonsinthedeliberationsoftheopenendedworkinggroupoftheCommissionontheStatusofWomenconcerningtheelaborationofanoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen;2 .2(b) .ThatduringthedeliberationsoftheCommissionontheStatusofWomenoritsopenendedworkinggroup,ifquestionsconcerningtheworkingmethods,anddecisionsoftheCommitteearise,andnoexpertoftheCommitteeisinattendance,thosequestionsbetransmittedformallytotheChairperson,whowillrespondimmediately.  Suggestion15/2.ClosercooperationandcoordinationbetweeǹtheCommitteeandtheUnitedNations󀀀̀Children'sFund󀀀  2 .2HavingnotedwithapprovaltheemphasisplacedonthegirlchildattheFourthWorldConferenceonWomen,heldatBeijing,andbearinginmindtheroleoftheUnitedNationsChildren'sFundinprotectingandsafeguardingthelivesofchildrenandtheCommittee'smandateinpromotingtheadvancementofwomen,theCommitteeconsidersitimportantanddesirabletostrengthenitscollaborationwiththeUnitedNationsChildren'sFundinordertogiveeffecttotheimplementationoftheprovisionsoftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenandtheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.Consequently,theCommitteeinvitestheUnitedNationsChildren'sFundtogivedueconsiderationtostrengtheningcollaborationwiththeCommitteeinordertoachievetheobjectivesoftheabovementionedConventions.  Suggestion15/3.AnappealtoallStatespartiesthathavèratifiedtheConventionbutnotyet󀀀̀submittedtheirperiodicreports󀀀  2 .2TheCommitteecommendsallStatespartiesthathaveratifiedtheConvention,buthavingregardtotheincreasingnumberofoutstandinginitialreports(48),secondperiodicreports(41),thirdperiodicreports(55)andfourthperiodicreports(38),theCommitteesuggeststhatStatespartiescomplywitharticle18oftheConventionbysubmittingtheirreportspromptlyinordertoensurethattheCommitteecarriesouteffectivelyitsmandateundertheConvention.+&  @ . II.ORGANIZATIONALANDOTHERMATTERS  A.StatespartiestotheConventionontheElimination󀀀ofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen󀀀  1.2 .2On2February1996,theclosingdateofthefifteenthsessionofthe'  CommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen,therewere151StatespartiestotheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,whichwasadoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyinitsresolution34/180of18December1979andopenedforsignature,ratificationandaccessioninNewYorkinMarch1980.Inaccordancewitharticle27,theConventionenteredintoforceon3September1981.2.2 .2AlistofStatespartiestotheConventioniscontainedinannexItothepresentreport.@ .B.Openingofthesession3.2 .2TheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomenhelditsfifteenthsessionatUnitedNationsHeadquartersfrom15Januaryto2February1996.TheCommitteeheld24plenarymeetings(285thto309th)anditstwoworkinggroupseachheld6meetings.4.2 .2ThesessionwasopenedbytheChairpersonoftheCommittee,Ms.IvankaCorti(Italy),whohadbeenelectedatthefourteenthsessionoftheCommittee,inJanuary1995.5.2 .2Inhisopeningstatement,madeonbehalfoftheSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNations,theUnder-SecretaryGeneralforPolicyCoordinationandSustainableDevelopment,Mr.NitinDesai,stressedthattheviewsofthemembersoftheCommitteeasmembersoftheUnitedNationstreatybodymostdirectlyconcernedwiththestatusofwomenwouldbeextremelyvaluableinfollowuptotheFourthWorldConferenceonWomen.6.2 .2HerecalledthattheBeijingDeclarationandPlatformforActionadoptedattheConferencereaffirmedthefundamentalprinciplesetforthintheViennaDeclarationandProgrammeofAction,adoptedbytheWorldConferenceonHumanRights,thatthehumanrightsofwomenandthegirlchildareaninalienable,integralandindivisiblepartofuniversalhumanrights.Asanagendaforaction,thePlatformforActionsoughttopromoteandprotectthefullenjoymentofallhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsofwomenthroughouttheirlifecycles.7.2 .2HedrewattentiontofourrecommendationsofthePlatformforActionwhichweremadeontheworkoftheCommittee.TheConferenceurgedtheeradicationofallformsofdiscriminationagainstwomenandsetagoalofuniversalratificationoftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenbytheyear2000.ItalsourgedallGovernmentstolimittheextentofreservationsthatarecontrarytotheobjectandpurposeoftheConventionorwhichareotherwiseincompatiblewithinternationaltreatylaw.Itrecommendedthatgenderaspectsbeincludedinreportingonallhumanrightsconventionsandinstruments,includingConventionsoftheInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO),toensureanalysisandreviewofthehumanrightsofwomen.TheConferencealsostressedthattheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen,inimplementingitsresponsibilitiesundertheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,should,withinitsmandate,takeintoaccountthePlatformforActionwhenconsideringthereportssubmittedbyStatesparties.8.2 .2TheUnderSecretaryGeneralsuggestedthattheguidelinesforpresentationofreportsunderarticle18oftheConventioncouldbeausefultoolforencouragingStatespartiestoidentifyelementsoftheirimplementationoftheConventionthattheyalsosawasservingasfollowuptothePlatformforAction.9.2 .2HeinformedtheCommitteethattheSecretaryGeneralhadappointedMs.RosarioGreentoactashisSpecialAdviserongenderissuesandhelpensuresystemwideimplementationofthePlatformforAction,inclosecooperationwiththeDivisionfortheAdvancementofWomen,inkeepingwitharecommendationoftheFourthWorldConferenceonWomen.ShealsoassiststheSecretaryGeneralinassuringthatagenderperspectiveisintegratedintopoliciesandprogrammesinallareasofthesystemandisfullytakenintoaccountinfurtheringtheOrganization'slinkageswithcivilsociety.Ms.Greenwilldrawupontheexpertiseandassistanceofallexistingentitiesworkinginthisarea,includingtheDepartmentforPolicyCoordinationandSustainableDevelopment,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentFundforWomen(UNIFEM),theInternationalResearchandTrainingInstitutefortheAdvancementofWomen,thefocalpointonwomenintheDepartmentofAdministrationandManagementandallotherentitiesintheUnitedNationssystem.10.2 .2TheUnderSecretaryGeneralnotedthattheincreaseinratificationoracceptanceoftheConvention,withtheaccessionofLiechtensteininDecember1995,signalledmoreworkfortheCommittee.11.2 .2Inthisconnection,hereferredtoGeneralAssemblyresolution49/164of23December1994,inwhichtheAssemblyrequestedStatespartiestomeettoconsiderthequestionofamendingarticle20,paragraph1,oftheConventiontoprovideforadequatemeetingtimefortheCommittee.HeinformedtheCommitteethatsubsequenttotheStatespartiesmeetingheldon22May1995,theGeneralAssemblyhadadoptedresolution50/202of22December1995,inwhichtheAssemblyurgedStatespartiestotakeappropriatemeasuressothatacceptancebyatwo-thirdsmajorityofStatespartiescouldbeachievedassoonaspossibleinorderfortheamendmenttoenterintoforce.12.2 .2TheUnder-SecretaryGeneraldrewtotheCommittee'sattentiontheSecretariat'sreportonwaysandmeansofexpeditingtheworkoftheCommittee(CEDAW/C/1996/6),inwhichitwasproposedtoadoptthepracticeofotherhumanrightstreatybodiesofpreparingaconcisereportemphasizingconcludingcommentsonStatespartiesreportswhileretainingsummaryrecordstoreflecttheconstructivedialogue.13.2 .2TheUnder-Secretary-GeneralinformedtheCommitteethat,basedontheCommittee'ssuggestionNo.7,theEconomicandSocialCounciladoptedresolution1995/29of24July1995,entitled"ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen",inwhichtheCouncilrequestedtheSecretary-GeneraltoinviteGovernments,intergovernmentalorganizationsandnongovernmentalorganizationstosubmittheirviewsonanoptionalprotocoltotheConvention,includingthoserelatedtofeasibility,takingintoaccounttheelementssuggestedbytheCommitteeatitsfourteenthsession.Inresponsetothatrequest,anoteverbalewassentbytheSecretaryGeneraltoallGovernmentsinformingthemofthedecisionoftheGeneralAssembly.Repliesarebeingreceived,andtheCommissionontheStatusofWomen,whichwillmeetfrom11to22March,willbeginworkontheprotocol.14.2 .2AlsoaddressingtheCommittee,theAssistantSecretaryGeneralandSpecialAdvisertotheSecretaryGeneralsaidshewashonouredtobecoordinatingtheUnitedNationssystemwidefollowuptotheWorldConferenceonWomen,andhopedthat,infulfillinghertasks,shecouldcountontheexpertsintheCommitteefortheirassistance.@ .0C.Attendance  15.2 .2AllmembersoftheCommitteeattendedthefifteenthsession.However,Ms.TendaiRuthBareattendedfrom17Januaryto2February,Ms.CarlotaBusteloGarcadelRealfrom15Januaryto1February,Ms.AuroraJavatedeDiosfrom23Januaryto2February,Ms.SalmaKhanfrom16Januaryto2February,Ms.ElsaV.MuozG;mezfrom16Januaryto2February,Ms.GinkoSatofrom22Januaryto2February,Ms.LinShangzhenfrom22Januaryto2February,andMs.MervatTallwayfrom22Januaryto2February1996(forthemembershipoftheCommittee,seeannexII).@ . D.Adoptionoftheagendaandorganizationofwork  16.2 .2TheCommitteeconsideredtheprovisionalagendaandorganizationofwork(CEDAW/C/1996/1)atits285thmeeting,on15January1996.Theagendaasadoptedwasasfollows:02 .21. .Openingofthesession.02 .22. .Adoptionoftheagendaandorganizationofwork.02 .23.0 .ReportoftheChairpersonontheactivitiesundertakenbetweenthefourteenthandthefifteenthsessionsoftheCommitteeandconsiderationofthereportofthesixthmeetingofpersonschairingthehumanrightstreatybodiesandactiontakenbytheGeneralAssemblyconcerningtreatybodies.02 .24.0 .ConsiderationofreportssubmittedbyStatespartiesunderarticle18oftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen.02 .25.0 .Implementationofarticle21oftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen.02 .26.0 .WaysandmeansofexpeditingtheworkoftheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen.02 .27. .ResultsoftheFourthWorldConferenceonWomen.02 .28. .Provisionalagendaforthesixteenthsession.02 .29.0 .AdoptionofthereportoftheCommitteeonitsfifteenthsession.@ . E.Reportofthepresessionworkinggroup  17.2 .2TheCommitteehaddecidedatitsninthsession1/toconveneapresessionworkinggroupforfivedaysbeforeeachsessiontopreparelistsofquestionsrelatingtothesecondandsubsequentperiodicreportsthatwouldbeconsideredbytheCommitteeatthesession.TheCommitteedecidedthatmembersoftheCommitteeshouldcontinuetosubmittotheSecretariatdraftquestionsonspecificcountriesandarticlesoftheConventionpriortothemeetingoftheworkinggroup.InaccordancewiththedecisionoftheCommitteeatitsthirteenthsession,thepresessionworkinggroupmetatUnitedNationsHeadquarters.Owingtotheweatherconditions,thepresessionworkinggroupmetfrom8to12January1996.18.2 .2InaccordancewiththeprovisionalagendaoftheCommittee(CEDAW/C/1996/1),theworkinggrouppreparedalistofquestionsforfourcountries:Belgium,Cuba,HungaryandUkraine.19.2 .2TheCommitteehadoriginallyproposedthatfivemembersshouldbepartofthepresessionworkinggroup.AstherewasnomemberontheCommitteefromeasternEurope,andowingtoillnessoftwoofthedesignatedmembers,theworkinggroupconsistedinitiallyofonlytwodesignatedmembers,whowerelaterjoinedbytheChairpersonoftheCommittee,Ms.IvankaCorti.ThemembersofthepresessionworkinggroupwereIvankaCorti,CarmelShalev(Chairperson)andKongitSinegiorgis.20.2 .2Atthe291stmeeting,on18January1996,theChairpersonofthepre-sessionworkinggroupintroducedthereportoftheworkinggroup(CEDAW/C/1996/CRP.1).Membersadoptedthereportcontainingthelistofquestions,whichwassenttotheStatepartiesconcerned.@ .F.Compositionandorganizationofworkoftheworkinggroups  21.2 .2Atits286thmeeting,on15January1996,theCommitteeagreedonthecompositionofitstwostandingworkinggroups:WorkingGroupItoconsiderwaysandmeansofexpeditingtheworkoftheCommitteeandWorkingGroupIItoconsiderwaysandmeansofimplementingarticle21oftheConvention.22.2 .2WorkingGroupIwascomposedofthefollowingmembersoftheCommittee:DesireePatriciaBernard,TendaiRuthBare,CarlotaBusteloGarcadelReal,IvankaCorti,LilianaGurdulichdeCorrea,SalmaKhan,LinShangzhen,ElsaVictoriaMuoz-G;mez,HannaBeateSchppSchilling,KongitSinegiorgis,MervatTallawy,CharlotteAbaka,GlAykor,MiriamYolandaEstradaCastillo.23.2 .2WorkingGroupIIwascomposedofthefollowingmembersoftheCommittee:CharlotteAbaka,EmnaAouij,SilviaRoseCartwright,AuroraJavatedeDios,MiriamYolandaEstradaCastillo,EvangelinaGarcaPrince,SunaryatiHartono,SalmaKhan,PirkkoAnneliMkinen,AhouaOuedgraogo,GinkoSato,CarmelShalev,LinShangzhen,KongitSinegiorgis,MervatTallawy.  III.REPORTOFTHECHAIRPERSONONTHEACTIVITIES̀UNDERTAKENBETWEENTHEFOURTEENTHAND̀FIFTEENTHSESSIONSOFTHECOMMITTEE  24.2 .2Atthe285thmeeting,theChairpersonoftheCommittee,inherintroductorystatement,saidthat1995hadbeenaparticularlyimportantyearinthehistoryoftheCommittee.ThenumberofratificationsoftheConventionhadincreasedfrom136to150.InApril1995,theCommitteehadheldaoneweekmeetingatMadrid,hostedbytheGovernmentofSpain.ThatwasthefirsttimethattheCommitteehadheldanextraordinarymeetingsupportedfinanciallybyaGovernment.ThemembersoftheCommitteealsoattendedtheFourthWorldConferenceonWomenatBeijing.25.2 .2TheChairpersonoutlinedthemeetingsattendedbytheChairpersonandothermembersoftheCommittee.SheinformedtheCommitteeaboutthesixthmeetingofpersonschairingthehumanrightstreatybodies.Shenotedthatparagraph20ofthereportofthatmeeting(A/50/505)highlightedtheimportanceofthehumanrightstreatybodiesfortheimplementationofthePlanofActionfortheUnitedNationsDecadeforHumanRightsEducationandalsorecommendedthateachtreatybody,initsexaminationofreportsofStatesparties,investigatetheircompliancewithobligationsrelatingtoeducationandpublicinformationonhumanrights.26.2 .2TheChairpersonindicatedthatthesixthmeetingofpersonschairingthehumanrightstreatybodieshadreiteratedtheimportanceofcollaborationwithnon-governmentalorganizations.In1995shehadsuggestedwaysandmeansofstrengtheninglinksbetweentheCommitteeandnon-governmentalorganizationssothattheycouldassistinlobbyingforratificationandimplementationoftheConventionandprovide"shadow"reportsonaregularbasis.TheCommitteeshouldconsiderorganizingexchangesofviewswithnon-governmentalorganizations.27.2 .2Withreferencetoparagraph22oftheabovementionedreport,theChairpersonsaidthatshehadraisedtheissueoftheroleoftreatybodiesinpreparationforworldconferencesinthehopeofavoidinginfuturethesenseoffrustrationfeltbytheCommitteeatnothavinghadanopportunitytotakepartintheformulationofthePlatformforAction.Shealsonotedthatthechairpersonshaddiscussedthequestionofcooperationwithspecialrapporteurs.TheCommitteeshouldexplorewaysandmeansofestablishingclosercooperationatleastwiththeSpecialRapporteuronViolenceagainstWomen.AnothertopiccoveredwastheneedforconcreteproposalsforincreasedparticipationbyUnitedNationsspecializedagenciesintheworkofthehumanrightstreatybodies.TheChairpersonoftheCommitteeproposedthattheCommitteeshouldconsiderproposalstothatendduringitscurrentsession.28.2 .2TheChairpersonexplainedthat,althoughtheCommitteehadnotyetestablishedrelationswithallthespecializedagencies,ithadachievedconcreteresultswiththosewithwhichithadundertakencooperation,suchastheUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization(UNESCO),theUnitedNationsChildren'sFund(UNICEF),theUnitedNationsDevelopmentFundforWomen(UNIFEM),theFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO),theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)andtheInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO).29.2 .2TheChairpersonalsonotedrecommendation25thattreatybodiesshouldfullyintegrateagenderperspectiveintotheirprofessionalandsessionalworkingmethods,includingidentificationofissuesandpreparationofquestionsforcountryreviewsandgeneralcommentsandrecommendations.ThiswasabigstepforwardintheimplementationoftheViennaDeclarationandProgrammeofActionandtheBeijingDeclarationandPlatformforAction.30.2 .2ThechairpersonsoftreatybodiesconsideredtheSecretariatsupporttotreatybodiesandunderlinedthepersistentproblemsofunderstaffingofthetreatybodysecretariats,includingthatservicingtheCommitteeontheEliminationofDiscriminationagainstWomen.TheysupportedtheintegrationofthatCommitteeintothemainstreamofUnitedNationssystemwideactivitythroughitsrelocationtotheCentreforHumanRights.31.2 .2ReferringtoGeneralAssemblyresolution49/164of23December1994concerningtheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomenandthedecisiontakenbytheeighthmeetingofStatespartiestotheConventioninMay1995,sheindicatedthattwothirdsofStatespartieswouldhavetoratifytheamendmentproposedbytheCommitteeonmeetingtimefortheCommittee.32.2 .2TheChairpersonpointedoutthattheCommitteehadpresentedtotheFourthWorldConferenceonWomenacomprehensivereportcontainingaseriousanalysisofitswork,theobstaclestotheimplementationoftheConventionandthechallengesthatwouldhavetobefacedinthefuture(A/CONF.177/77).In1995,therewere12newratificationsoftheConvention.TheCommittee'sroleandimportancehadbeenreflectedfullyintheBeijingDeclarationandPlatformforAction.Paragraph8oftheDeclarationplacedtheConventiononthesamelevelastheCharteroftheUnitedNationsandtheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,asfarastheequalrightsandinherenthumandignityofwomenwereconcerned.Inparagraphs322and323ofthePlatformforAction,theCommitteewasdescribedasanessentialmechanismformonitoringtheimplementationofthePlatformforAction.TheChairpersonindicatedthatthePlatformalsounderlinedtheneedforwomen'sparticipationindecisionmakingbodiesbystressingtheneedforuniversalratificationoftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,bycallingforrestraintintheenteringofreservationstotheConventionandbyexaminingtheneedforanoptionalprotocoltostrengthentheimplementationoftheConvention.33.2 .2TheChairpersonconcludedthatthePlatformhadrecognizedthecentralroleoftheConventionasadocumentthatwaslegallybindingonGovernments,therebystrengtheningtheroleoftheCommitteeitself. A UK     \R3'\ X      +C?<6X9`(CourierC( @ $(i882   ݀IV.CONSIDERATIONOFREPORTSSUBMITTEDBYSTATESPARTIES̀UNDERARTICLE18OFTHECONVENTION@ .A.Introduction34.2 .2Atitsfifteenthsession,theCommitteeconsideredthereportssubmittedbyeightStatespartiesunderarticle18oftheConvention:threecombinedinitialandsecondreports,onecombinedinitial,secondandthirdreport,onesecondreport,onecombinedsecondandthirdreport,andtwothirdreports.TheCommitteealsoconsideredonereportsubmittedonanexceptionalbasis.35.2 .2Asdecidedatitsthirteenthsession,theCommitteepreparedconcludingcommentsoneachreportconsidered.ForthestatusofthesubmissionofreportsbyStatesparties,seeannexIVtothepresentreport.36.2 .2TheCommittee'sconcludingcommentsonthereportsofStatesparties,aspreparedrespectivelybythemembersoftheCommittee,andasummaryoftheintroductorypresentationsbytherepresentativesoftheStatespartiesareprovidedbelow.ThesummaryrecordsprovidemoredetailedinformationontheCommittee'sconsiderationofreportsoftheStatesparties.@ .tB.Considerationofreports@ .N 1.Initialandsecondperiodicreports@ .Cyprus37.2 .2TheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialandsecondperiodicreportsofCyprus(CEDAW/C/CYP/12)atits287thmeeting,on15January,andatits287thmeeting,on23January1996(seeCEDAW/C/SR.287).38.2 .2InhisintroductorystatementtherepresentativeofCyprusreviewedprogressachievedinpromotingthestatusofwomensincetheratificationoftheConventionin1985,takingintoconsiderationeconomic,politicalandsocialchangesresultingfromtheoccupationofpartsoftheterritorysince1974.LegalandothermeasureshadbeenadoptedandobstaclestoimplementationoftheConventionaddressed.Sincethesubmissionofthereport,anewnationalmachineryforwomen'srightshadbeensetupandlegislativechangesinanumberofareashadoccurred,inparticularintheareasoffamilylawandlabourlegislation.Traditionalandstereotypedgenderideasconstitutedanimpedimenttothefullandequalparticipationofwomenindecisionmakingandemployment,andinfluencededucationalchoices.39.2 .2Programmesandmeasureshadbeenadoptedtoassistwomentocombinefamilyandemployment.Emphasishadbeengiventotheexpansionandimprovementofchildcarefacilities.Vocationaleducationdesignedforwomenhadbeenintroduced.40.2 .2Educationalprogrammeshadbeenrevisedtopromoteequalitybetweenmenandwomen.Programmesforruralwomenhadbeenintroducedtopromotetheirroleinagricultureandencouragetheirparticipationindecisionmaking.Womenhadaccesstohealthcareandinfantmortalityhadbeenreducedtolowlevels.Maternalhealthcarewasapriorityandinformationwasavailableondiseasesandhealthhazardsforwomen.41.2 .2TherepresentativereportedontheGovernment'sprioritiesandfutureplansinimplementingtheConvention,includingstrengtheningthenationalmachineryforwomen;vocationaltrainingforwomenandeducationalandawarenessraisingeffortsamongteachers;expansionofchildcare;supplementingtherecentlyreformedfamilylawandtheremaininglegalinstrumentsthatinvolvedunequaltreatmentofwomen;improvementsforruralwomen;preventionofviolenceagainstwomen;women'sparticipationindecisionmaking;andpossiblecreationofanequalopportunitiescommission.Hestated,however,thatowingtothecontinuingTurkishoccupationofpartoftheterritory,theGovernmentofCypruswasunabletoensuretheenjoymentbywomenoftheirrightsintheoccupiedpartoftheisland.ConcludingcommentsoftheCommittee2 .2Introduction42.2 .2TheCommitteewelcomedthehighlevelrepresentationoftheCyprusGovernmentandthewelldraftedreportspresentedbyit,whichcontaineddetailedinformationontheimplementationoftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomeninaccordancewiththeCommittee'sreportingguidelines.Itexpresseditsappreciation,inparticular,forthefrankidentificationofobstaclesandproblemsandofthemajorpolicyissuesofconcerntowomeninCyprus.TheCommitteealsowelcomedtheongoingefforts,policiesandplanstoeliminatediscriminationagainstwomeninCyprusandthesincereanddetailedresponsesoftherepresentativeoftheGovernmentofCyprustotheCommittee'squestions.2 .2FactorsanddifficultiesaffectingtheimplementationoftheConvention43.2 .2TheCommitteenotedwithconcernthereservationoftheGovernmentastotheexclusionofwomenfromthemilitary.44.2 .2TheCommitteeacknowledgedtheStateparty'sstatementthatowingtotheoccupationofapartoftheterritoryofCyprus,itcouldnotgiveanyinformationastotheimplementationoftheConventioninareasnotunderitsjurisdiction.45.2 .2TheCommitteenotedtheobservationinthereportthatthemostseriousobstaclestoimplementationoftheConventionweresocialattitudesandpracticesbasedontraditionalandstereotypedideasregardingtherolesofmenandwomen.2 .2Positiveaspects46.2 .2TheCommitteewelcomedthereport'sassertionthattheimpactoftheratificationoftheConventionhadbeensignificant,inparticular,thattheConventionhadservedasaframeworkforgovernmentpolicytoreduceinequality,hadhelpedtostimulatemajorchangesinpolicyandhadbeenausefultoolforwomen'sorganizationspressingforchange.47.2 .2TheCommitteecommendedtheeffortsoftheGovernmenttoimplementtheConventioninrelationtoequalpayforworkofequalvalueandtoexpandchilddaycarefacilitiesandconsidersocialsecurityforhomemakers.48.2 .2TheCommitteewelcomedtheamendmentmadebytheGovernmenttotheConstitutionestablishingspecialcivilcourtsastheonlycourtsforfamilymatters.̇49.2 .2ItcommendedthestepstakenbytheGovernmenttosubsidizemeasuresundertakenbyenterprisestoprovidechildcare.TheCommitteenotedwithsatisfactionthehighlevelofeducationattainedbywomenandgirlsinCyprusandappreciatedtheeducationalprogrammestoraiseawarenessofequalityandtheeliminationoftraditionalgenderstereotypes,especiallyamongruralwomen,andtoaddresshealthandsexualhealth.50.2 .2TheCommitteewelcomedtheintroductionoflegislationonviolenceagainstwomenwithinthefamily,inparticularclarifyingthatmaritalrapeisacriminaloffence.Inaddition,thelawgivesfullprotectiontovictimswhileimposingseverepenaltiesupontheperpetrators,andfacilitatesthereportingofviolencethroughprimaryhealthcareproviders.TheCommitteealsowelcomedtheestablishmentofcounsellingservicesandtheGovernment'scontributiontosupportacrisiscentreforvictimsofviolencerunbyavoluntaryassociation.51.2 .2TheCommitteenotedwithappreciationtheeffortsoftheGovernmenttoaddressissuesofwomen'sdiscriminationintelevision,radioandadvertising,includingprogrammesdealingwithwomen'sissues,women'sparticipationinbroadcastingandtheportrayalofwomen'simage.52.2 .2TheCommitteewelcomedtheinitiativetosupportandprovideincentivestotheestablishmentofwomen'sagriculturalcooperatives.2 .2Principalsubjectsofconcern53.2 .2TheCommitteenotedwithgreatconcerntheinformationoninternationaltraffickingofwomenandoftheirsexualexploitation,includingwomenfromothercountries,inviolationofarticle6oftheConvention.54.2 .2TheCommitteealsonotedthelowrepresentationofwomeninthelegislatureandinpoliticallife,andtheirabsencefromhigherlevelsofgovernment.55.2 .2TheCommitteeexpresseditsconcernthattheGovernmenttreatsthelowfertilityrateinCyprusasareasonforretainingtheexistingcriminallawrestrictionsonabortion.2 .2Suggestionsandrecommendations56.2 .2TheCommitteerecommendsthattheGovernmenttakeimmediateactiononitscommit