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[15 January 2007] – States who have signed on to the United Nations international bill of rights for women must continue to press for an end to gender-based violence, a senior UN official today told experts gathering in New York to evaluate compliance with the treaty. “Regrettably, violence against women and girls remains unabated in whatever form and manifestation, depriving them of the full enjoyment of their human rights,” said Rachel Mayanja, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, according to the text of her remarks. Ms. Mayanja was addressing the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, a panel comprising 23 international experts on women’s issues, which opened a two-week session at UN Headquarters in New York. Established in 1982, the Committee tracks the status of women in countries that have ratified the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Currently, the Convention has 185 States parties. Ms. Mayanja also welcomed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s appointment of three women in top posts within the Organisation. “His tenure as Secretary-General has started very auspiciously for women,” she said. “Of the five appointments he has made so far three are women, translating into 60 per cent.” She pointed out that Deputy Secretary-General designate Asha-Rose Migiro previously served as Committee member. During this session, the Committee’s 37th, panel members will examine the reports of 15 countries – Austria, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Greece, India, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, Suriname, Tajikistan and Viet Nam – regarding their implementation of measures to eliminate discrimination against women. Youth report to the 51st annual Commission on the Status of Women The Working Group on Girls and UNICEF's Voices of Youth, are calling for children and young people's feedback on the Youth Version of the Report of The Expert Group Meeting on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and Violence Against the Girl Child. The report talks about which girls are in danger of violence and unfair treatment and suggests ways governments, and their citizens, can protect them. Children and young people's recommendations and suggestions will be presented at the 51st annual Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations headquarters in February-March 2007 and will influence how the world works to stop discrimination and violence against girls. In addition, the Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee on UNICEF and UNICEF's Voices of Youth have set up a forum at www.unicef.org/voy. The forum, which ends on 31st January 2007, provides the opportunity for girls to share their thoughts and suggestions about what must be done to end discrimination and violence against the girl child. The results will also be used in the Youth Report to be presented at the 2007 meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. For more information on the forum "Stop discrimination and violence against girls", contact: Carolyn Donovan, Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee on UNICEF: [email protected]. Further information
pdf: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21238&Cr=women&Cr1=