Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Session 50

Summary: The 50th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will take place from 3 - 21 October 2011.

Opportunities for child rights advocates

In addition to providing information on upcoming reviews by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (and indeed on the subsequent Concluding Observations issued), CRIN encourages children's rights advocates to use the full range of opportunities within the UN and regional human rights mechanisms to pursue children's rights advocacy.

Reporting to treaty bodies beyond the Committee on the Rights of the Child presents an opportunity for advocates to raise and press home children's rights issues.

States under Review

The following States will be examined on the progress made in implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):

• Chad
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Kuwait
• Lesotho
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• Oman
• Paraguay

Deadline for submitting reports

NGOs wishing to submit reports to the Committee are required to:

• Identify the full name of the NGO;
• Indicate the country to which the information relates;
• Indicate whether or not the submission can be posted on the CEDAW website for public information purposes; and
• Submit the report in Word and pdf format by e-mail and thereafter submit 30 copies in hard copy format.

In order to assist the Committee in its work and due to the volume of submissions, NGOs are requested to submit reports of no more than 10 pages and to provide executive summaries highlighting the main priorities for the State concerned and providing specific recommendations.

All submissions should arrive two weeks prior to the beginning of the session to the Secretariat of the Committee, i.e., no later than 19 September 2011. The Word and pdf versions of the report should be sent to the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Hard copy submissions should be mailed to:

CEDAW Secretariat

OHCHR - Palais Wilson

52, rue des Pâquis

CH-1201 Geneva

Switzerland

•  Read more about how to submit reports (See the reporting guidelines on the left hand side)

Opportunities for NGOs to meet the Committee

The Committee has set aside time at its 50th session for NGOs to provide oral information in respect of countries being considered during the session.

These formal meetings are scheduled on 3 October 2011 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm for countries that will be considered the first week (Oman, Paraguay, Montenegro and Mauritius), and on 10 October 2011 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm for countries that will be considered the second week (Lesotho, Chad, Kuwait and Cote d'Ivoire).

The meetings will take place in room XVI. For the schedule of considerations of State parties' reports, please contact the Secretariat.

Further Information

• Visit OHCHR's page on the 50th Session, including details and reports