CEDAW and Women, Peace and Security: Strengthening the Synergies for Better Implementation and Accountability

 

CEDAW and WPS together with other human rights treaties and International Humanitarian Law, provide a comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of women’s rights, including in armed conflict. To ensure their effective implementation and strong accountability it is important to examine the synergies as well as the possible overlaps among the different legal frameworks, and ensure they mutually reinforce each other. This need for greater synergy was recognized in the General Recommendation 30 (GR 30), on women in conflict-prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations, which instructs all 189 States parties to CEDAW to report on the implementation of the WPS resolutions, and has been increasingly recognized.

 

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and GNWP are organizing a panel discussion to explore these synergies.

 

Opening remarks will be delivered by Mr. Ibrahim Salama, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Ambassador Daniel Klingele, Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

 

The distinguished panelists include:

– Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in conflict (joining via video message)

– Bandana Rana, Chair of the CEDAW Task Force on WPS women, peace and security

– Hanaa Edwar, Co-founder, Iraqi Women’s Network

– Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (moderator)

– And other speakers, to be confirmed

 

Closing remarks will be delivered by Christine Loew, Director of UN Women Liaison Office Geneva.

 

Full event flyer here.