Decisions of the Fourtheenth session : . 03/02/95.
A/50/38,pgs.12-14. (Decision)

Convention Abbreviation: CEDAW
Decisions of the Fourteenth Session

Decision 14/I

1. The Committee decides that its concluding comments developed on the basis of a constructive dialogue with each State party should be sent in the language of adoption to each State party separately from the report and immediately after the conclusion of each session of the Committee.

2. The Committee notes that the summary records of the Committee's thirteenth session were only received at the fourteenth session and were incorrect and incomplete. Therefore, the Committee decides to request the Secretariat to ensure that the summary records are complete and issued in a timely manner in order to facilitate correction.

3. The Committee notes that the Spanish translation of the Convention issued by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat is inaccurate, in particular article 10 (h) thereof. The Committee decides to request the Secretariat to review all translations issued by the Department of Public Information to ensure their accuracy.

4. The Committee expresses its wish to review as soon as possible the draft Platform for Action, which will be discussed at the Fourth World Conference on Women. It requests the Secretariat to send copies to the members of the Committee.

Decision 14/II

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,

Recalling that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, 1/ adopted in June 1993, recognizes that the human rights of women and of the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, and stressing that, as a consequence, the human rights of women should form an integral part of United Nations human rights activities, including the promotion of all human rights instruments relating to women,

Taking into account the recommendation of the meeting of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies at their third, fourth and fifth meetings, 2/ that the Committee be located at Geneva with servicing provided by the Centre for Human Rights of the Secretariat,

Recalling that, at its last few sessions, the Committee has considered the advantages for women's human rights if they are integrated into the mainstream of the United Nations treaty bodies,

Recalling also resolution 38/2 of 18 March 1994 of the Commission on the Status of Women 3/ on the mainstreaming of women's human rights, and resolution 1994/45 of 4 March 1994 of the Commission on Human Rights 4/ on integrating the rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations,

Noting that the Committee at its annual meetings considers issues which have expanded both in number and in substance, and which therefore reflect the increasing relevance of women's human rights,

Bearing in mind that article 20.2 of the Convention should be applied in such a way that States parties could be encouraged to present their reports on schedule,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to locate the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at Geneva with servicing provided by the Centre for Human Rights;

2. Also requests that the Secretary-General provide the Committee with the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee in accordance with article 17.9 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and keeping in mind the link with the Division for the Advancement of Women;

3. Declares that the roles that the Commission on the Status of Women and the Committee play are important in making the general human rights work of the United Nations more gender conscious and in promoting the universal and indivisible human rights of women, and therefore requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the link between the Commission on the Status of Women and the Committee be maintained, the continued implementation of article 21.2 of the Convention being one such link;

4. Urges the Secretary-General to expedite the implementation of the present decision without delay.

Decision 14/III

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,

Bearing in mind that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women,

Reaffirming the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as the only human rights instrument for the promotion and protection of women's human rights,

Recalling that the articles of the Convention address the fundamental human rights of women in all aspects of their daily lives and in all areas of society and the State,

Noting the key role that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has to play in making the general human rights work of the United Nations more gender conscious and in promoting the universal and indivisible human rights of women,

Recognizing the function of the Committee in elaborating a jurisprudence of international standards for women's human rights,

Recognizing also the Committee's responsibility to develop and foster a relationship with specialized agencies which share common areas of concern affecting women,

Noting that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights emphasized that the human rights of women and the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights and stressed that these rights should be integrated into the mainstream of United Nations system-wide activities,

Convinced of the need to ensure its active participation in activities of relevance to its work which are taking place within the framework of United Nations system-wide action,

Recalling its previous decision to be represented at, and actively contribute to, the overall work of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, to be held in Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995,

1. Reaffirms its decision to participate in the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace and requests the Secretariat to take all necessary measures to facilitate and ensure the participation of the Committee;

2. Requests the Secretariat to be the focal point for organizing a thematic meeting, to the extent possible, with members of other treaty bodies and specialized agencies attending the Fourth World Conference on Women, and to implement the technical and administrative arrangements set forth in this report;

3. Decides to transmit, as its contribution to the Fourth World Conference on Women, its report on the progress achieved in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and requests the secretariat of the Conference to ensure wide dissemination of the report;

4. Declares that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is an essential mechanism within the framework of the international machinery that should be entrusted with the task of monitoring and periodically reviewing the implementation of the Platform for Action concerning the human rights of women.

Notes

1/ Report of the World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 14-25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I)), chap. III.

2/ See A/45/636, annex; A/47/628, annex; and A/49/537, annex.

3/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 7 (E/1994/27), chap. I.C.

4/ Ibid., Supplement No. 4 (E/1994/24), chap. II.A.