[OHCHR, New York, 27 June 2011] On the occasion of its 49th session, to be held in New York from 11 July to 29 July 2011, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold a general discussion on the protection of women in conflict and post-conflict situations in the context of the following provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):
- Articles 2 (a – g) on the core obligations of States parties to the Convention; Article 4 on temporary special measures; Article 5(a) on the modification of social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women;
- Article 6 on the suppression of trafficking and exploitation of women; Article 7 & 8 on women’s participation in political and public life and their representation in government and at the international level; Article 9 on women’s rights to a nationality; Article 10 on the right to education; Article 11 on the right to work; Article 12 on the right to health; Article 15 (1) on women’s equality with men before the law.
The purpose of the general discussion is to commence the Committee’s process of elaborating a “General Recommendation on Women in Conflict and Post-conflict Situations”. The purpose of the general recommendation is to provide appropriate and authoritative guidance to States Parties on the measures to be adopted to ensure full compliance with their obligations to protect, respect and fulfill women’s human rights during times of armed conflict and in all peace-building processes, which includes the immediate aftermath of conflict and long-term post-conflict reconstruction.
