ACHIEVING FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF CEDAW

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Taking Action on the CEDAW Committee’s concluding comments

on the Zealand Government’s 6th Periodic Report considered on 2 August 2007 Before the next report is made in September 2010 ….

A huge amount of work to be done – largely due to NGO reporting NGOs reports were valued and the Committee listened to our concerns in New York

The concluding comments are a tribute to NGO efforts but ….

Carry the responsibility of ensuring we push for further implementation

The measure of our success will be positive action shown by the Government in its next report in 2010

Principal areas of concern and recommendations are on three levels

1. Principles and means by which further

implementation can be achieved

2. Education and advocacy

3. Critical issues of concern on which

implementation is still to be achieved

1. Principles and means ….

Tracking trends over time on the actual situation of different groups of women

Monitoring of progress through measurable indicators - use of benchmarks, targets, incentives

and quotas, recruitment and support programmes Advocating for temporary special measures to

accelerate achievement Strengthening of data collection

2. Education and advocacy ….

Ask Ministers and MPs if they are familiar with the Committee’s concluding comments

Advocacy for strengthening prohibitions against direct and indirect discrimination against women

Education on comprehensive scope of CEDAW, especially equality between women and men

Education and advocacy cont.

Updates of action plans for women should be based on CEDAW – and linked

Publicise Optional Protocol to CEDAW as a means of redress

Enhancement of legal education and training for all lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officers recommended

3. Critical issues of concern for further implementation

Media portrayal – stereotyping, negativity Employment – equal pay, equal opportunity,

occupational segregation, wage gap Labour market – minorities disadvantaged Violence against women – special groups,

refugee and migrant women; trafficking Education – voluntary school payments

Critical Issues

Decision-making positions – inconsistency Seasonal workers – paid parental leave Rural health care Women’s access to justice Sex education, prevention of STDs Property (Relationships) Act – research and

analysis of impacts of new property division

CEDAW as a catalyst for comprehensive action

Full and effective implementation of CEDAW is

indispensable to achieving the Millennium

Development Goals and action on the Beijing

Platform NGOs must push for New Zealand to ratify the

Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families