As mentioned earlier, all state parties to the convention submit initial and periodic reports every four years on their implementation of the treaty to the so-called CEDAW committee. The committee is composed of 23 independent experts, and it monitors the implementation of the convention, basing its work on reports received from state parties. It is helpful to understand the steps in the process:
1. Preparation of State Party Report / Shadow Report
All state parties to the convention submit initial and periodic reports on implementation.
2. Pre-session (List of Issues and Questions)
A pre-session working group, composed of between 5 and 10 Committee members, reviews the report and prepares a list of critical issues and questions.
3. Reply to the List of Issues and Questions
This list is sent to the state party, with a request to respond within 6 weeks.
4. Constructive Dialogue
The CEDAW session begins reviewing the report and response to the list of critical issues and questions, then the committee and state parties discuss in plenary.
5. Concluding Observations
These include concerns and recommendations from the CEDAW Committee. The committee also produces general recommendations, by which it draws attention to a specific issue at the global level.
It is possible to influence the CEDAW review process in three main ways:
1. By submitting reports or country specific information to the pre-session working group.
2. By attending pre-session or session working groups and providing information in plenary.
3. By submitting alternative reports (so called shadow reports) for the CEDAW session.[1]
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To be reflected upon: CEDAW and an ordinary woman All this talk of a convention, which was written far away, by lawyers from unknown countries, may sound puzzling. How does it bear on life in Myanmar? Try to think of an example of how the CEDAW convention has effected the life of a woman or a girl in Myanmar! |