|
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women held an informal meeting with NGOs on 19 January 2010 to discuss their interactions with the Committee, including in relation to NGO submissions to the pre-session working group and the plenary sessions, to the new follow-up procedure, to the Optional Protocol, and to participation in briefings. Committee member Ms Siminovic informed NGOs that the Committee hoped to receive more submissions and representation in the future at the pre-sessional and follow-up stages.
NGOs proceeded to present useful recommendations drawn from experience, including: the need for secretarial support in securing visas (IWRAW-AP, CCPR); that the Committee recognise personal risks and hold closed briefings with human rights defenders, including having briefings directly before the State examination (IWRAW-AP, AI, HRW, OMCT); the need for predictability and clarity in requesting information, including through publishing a master calendar and improving the website (CCPR, AI, HRW); webcasting of examinations and the use of video conferencing for briefings to improve representation and security, and reduce NGO costs (ISHR, CCPR, AI); and public rather than closed working methods and drafting meetings (ISHR).
Committee members, with the exception of Ms Zerdani, commended NGO participation and were generally responsive to contributions. Ms Patten and Mr Flintermann both recognised the dangers in submitting communications and noted that NGOs had still underutilized the unique opportunity for submitting communications on behalf of individuals, particularly from Africa. Ms Bagum noted that little information was received relating to rural and older women, and called on NGOs to undertake national language translation of CEDAW recommendations. Ms Rasekh advised that NGOs give credit to States where genuine efforts have been made, in order that the Committee can make positive recommendations for continued efforts in certain fields, while Mr Bruun urged that NGOs collectively identify priority issues in order to ease the work of the Committee. The meeting was marred by comments from the Chair Ms Gabr related to non-representation of African NGOs at the meeting, which apparently ‘spoke volumes’, although the expectation that national NGOs from Africa travel to Geneva for an informal meeting on CEDAW working methods seemed divorced from reality. Allegations were also made by Committee member Ms. Zerdani that there was a conspiracy among European NGOs to dominate the work of CEDAW. The Chairperson concluded by thanking NGOs present for their participation, and informed them that all points would be considered in closed session as the basis for a public statement on the Committee's engagement with NGOs.
The outcome statement by the Committee on its relationship with NGOs is available here.
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
The Committee held an informal meeting with NGOs on 19 January 2010 to discuss their interactions with the Committee. The Committee sought inputs in relation to NGO submissions to the pre-session working group and the plenary sessions, to the follow-up procedure, to the Optional Protocol, and to participation in briefings. Committee member Ms Siminovic informed NGOs that the Committee hoped to receive more submissions and representation in the future at the pre-sessional and follow-up stages.
NGOs proceeded to present useful recommendations drawn from experience, including: the need for secretarial support in securing visas; that the Committee recognise personal risks and hold closed briefings with human rights defenders, including having briefings directly before the State examination; the need for predictability and clarity in requesting information, including through publishing a master calendar and improving the website; webcasting of examinations and the use of video conferencing for briefings to improve representation and security, and reduce NGO costs; and public rather than closed working methods and drafting meetings.
Committee members, with the exception of Ms Zerdani, commended NGO participation and were generally responsive to contributions. Ms Patten and Mr Flintermann both recognised the dangers in submitting communications and noted that NGOs had still underutilized the unique opportunity for submitting communications on behalf of individuals, particularly from Africa. Ms Bagum noted that little information was received relating to rural and older women, and called on NGOs to undertake national language translation of CEDAW recommendations. Ms Rasekh advised that NGOs give credit to States where genuine efforts have been made, in order that the Committee can make positive recommendations for continued efforts in certain fields, while Mr Bruun urged that NGOs collectively identify priority issues in order to ease the work of the Committee.
The meeting was marred by comments from the Chair Ms Gabr related to non-representation of African NGOs at the meeting, which apparently ‘spoke volumes’, although no explanation was given as to why national NGOs from African should be expected to spend vast sums of money on travelling to Geneva to speak to CEDAW for two minutes about its working methods. Allegations were also made by Committee member Ms. Zerdani that there was a conspiracy among European NGOs to dominate the work of CEDAW, that they are silent in denouncing Israeli violations, and that their primary focus should be on getting the United States to ratify the Convention.
The Chairperson concluded the meeting by thanking NGOs for their participation, and informing them that all points would be considered in closed session as the basis for the Committee’s public statement on NGO engagement.
|
