Monthly Archives: July 2009

44th Session of CEDAW July 20 – August 7, 2009 in New York

The 44th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women opened in New York on Monday last, July 20th, 2009

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/membership.htm     that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cedaw.htm  

The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/membership.htm

During its sessions the Committee considers each State party report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of concluding observations.

During the 44th session the following countries where Good Shepherd has a presence are being considered: Japan, Spain and Switzerland.  If you visit this site you can read the Government report, questions posed by the experts, written responses by the Government and the NGO Statements. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws44.htm

The committee members are very busy while in session.  Full days are provided for each country being considered.  There are informal meetings for Non Government Organizations (NGO).

At this current session a general recommendation on older women is being proposed and a second on the economic consequences of divorce.  What is a general recommendation?  Visit this web site: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/comments.htm

Procedures for NGO participation in CEDAW can be read here.   http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/NGO_Participation.final.pdf

The 45th session will be held in Geneva in January 2010 and the following countries where Good Shepherd is present will be presented:  Egypt, Netherlands and Central America – Panama http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws45.htm   Already the government reports have been submitted and the CEDAW experts have formulated their questions.  NGO have also presented their statements.

The 46th session will be in July 2010 when Albania, Argentina and Australia will be considered.  Here is an opportunity for the new community going to Albania to follow proceedings.  The country reports are already available http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws46.htm

The countries for a future session are already listed and reports recived in June /July 2009 are available in their original language.  http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws_future.htm

Countries include the Czech Republic, Kenya, Malta and Singapore.

Stop Trafficking! Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter July 2009

This is a very informative newsletter.  You can access it at  http://www.stopenslavement.org/index.html and click on July 2009  or go directly to   http://www.stopenslavement.org/stoptraff707.pdf

The Trafficking in Persons Report 2009 is available on this link  http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/ and you can read it in sections and find the country you are interested in reviewing.  The newsletter will help you to read it.

WUNRN – Womens UN Report Network.

2 articles on trafficking can be accessed on WUNRN.    Go to the site http://www.wunrn.com/   Click on WUNRN news on the right hand side and you will find the articles in the news of the weeks of 07 -06 -2007

Combating Sex Trafficking – A Perpetrator-Focused Approach by Donna M Hughes

Chapter 6  ‘Victim Identification’  an On Line Tool Kit to Combat Trafficking in person can be read here.  There is an option to down the load the full tool kit.

Violence Against Women

 The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDAW/DESA) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) convened an expert group meeting on good practices in legislation to address harmful practices, was held at the United Nations at Addis Ababa, from 25 to 28 May 2009.  Click on this line and read all about it.  http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/v-egms-gplahpaw.htm    Background papers and expert papers are included.  If you would like to share some observations why not click on comment just below and send it to me.

To the left hand side is a very interesting tool – a country by country data base.  You may find some very interesting information here about your country.  Why not check it out.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

From July 20th to August 7th 2009 the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women will meet in New York for its 44th Session.  Good Shepherd has a presence in the following countries being heard – Japan, Spain and Switzerland.  

If you click on this link  http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws44.htm                                                                       you can read the provisional agenda for the session together with the reports of the various countries.    You can see the dates and proposed countries for the 45th and 46th sessions (2010)  and the proposed countries for a future session by clicking on   http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/sessions.htm     

Argentina was named for the 44th session in July but now I read that it has been postponed.   Sr Monica Scavuzzo Osquiguil from Argentina had received her visa and planned to attend the session on behalf of Good Shepherd in New York.