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Summary: The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have decided to elaborate a joint General Recommendation/Comment on harmful practices. Civil society are invited to submit information before August 31st. Background The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child both contain legally binding obligations in relation to the elimination of harmful practices affecting girls under eighteen that are based on gender stereotypes and prejudices emanating from the socially established inferior/superior dichotomy between females and males. Joint Recommendation / Comment By virtue of this overlapping mandate, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have decided to elaborate a joint General Recommendation/Comment on harmful practices with the aim to provide the authoritative interpretation of the actions required by State Parties to fulfil these obligations. This General Recommendation/Comment will also be an authoritative interpretation of the obligations of States Parties to CEDAW with respect to the elimination of harmful practices (as defined in the General Recommendation/Comment) that affect the rights of adult women either directly or as effects of practices performed when they were children and of States Parties to CRC with respect to harmful practices that affect the enjoyment of the rights of boys in a discriminatory manner. The harmful practices covered by this General Recommendation/Comment whether traditional or emerging are prescribed by social norms, which are often embedded in culture and are perceived to have beneficial effects for the victim, family and/or community. As female genital mutilation, early marriage and forced marriage are practices that often come before the Committees, are well studied and have been gradually reduced with certain legislative and programmatic approaches; this General Recommendation/General Comment will use them as key illustrative examples. However, the General Recommendation/Comment will provide a conceptual framework and recommendations for State Party action that are applicable to all harmful practices (currently known or unknown) that fall within its scope. Civil Society Input CEDAW and CRC Committees welcome papers on harmful practices affecting girls under eighteen years old, in English, French or Spanish, particularly from those interested organizations and individuals who have extensive experience or information on harmful practices affecting girls under eighteen years old. The papers should be as concise as possible and submitted to the following email address in Word format by no later than 31 August 2011: [email protected]. Lengthy submissions should include a table of contents and an executive summary. Further Information: