Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Commenting on the country report submitted by Iceland for its 41st Session, the Committee commends Iceland for positive amendments to its penal code, the reappointment of the government's Committee on VAW and the re-launch of a national domestic violence projected entitled "Male Responsibility". The Committee does, however, note several areas of concern, including light penalties for crimes of sexual violence, the lack of detailed information regarding the use and effectiveness of restraining orders, obstacles faced by immigrant women and women of vulnerable groups when

In its General Recommendation 12, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) states that articles 2 (policy measures), 5 (guarantee of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms), 11 (employment), 12 (health), and 16 (marriage and family life) of CEDAW require States to act to protect women against violence of any kind through the use of legislation and other appropriate measures, the provision of support services for victims, and the aggregation of statistical data on the incidence of VAW. States should also

In its General Recommendation 14, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) notes that action must be taken to eliminate the practice of female circumcision (female genital mutilation) and other practices harmful to women's health and well-being. Such action may include the collection of data about such traditional practices, the encouragement of all political and community leaders to influence attitudes towards the eradication of FGM, the introduction of appropriate public-awareness programs and health policies, and coordination with

General Recommendation 19 is the CEDAW's key recommendation on violence against women. The Committee notes that gender- based violence in all forms "impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of human rights and fundamental freedoms" and that States are responsible for violence perpetrated by public authorities and for private acts with respect to which they have failed to act with due diligence to prevent, investigate and/or punish the violation of rights. Thus, laws against family violence and other forms of VAW must reflect the seriousness of such

The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) issued General Recommendation 24 to address women's health. The Committee emphasizes that States have a duty to take appropriate measures "to the maximum extent of their available resources" to ensure that women have access to health care. Transferring State health functions to private agencies does not absolve State parties of responsibility in these areas. Because of unequal power relations, women and adolescent girls are often subjected to harmful traditional practices and

In Yildirim v Austria, the authors alleged that the State failed to protect their deceased mother from her abusive former husband. The authors alleged that Austria violated articles 1 (discrimination), 2 (policy measures), 3 (guarantee of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms), and 5 (sex role stereotyping and prejudice) of the Convention by failing to take positive measures to protect the deceased's right to life and personal security. They argued that women are disproportionately and negatively affected by the inappropriate prosecution and

This general recommendation released by the Committee for CEDAW focuses on outlining more concrete and detailed steps that states can take in their legislation and policies to stop gender-based violence and promote gender equality in conflict and post-conflict societies. The recommendation focuses on the necessary participation of women in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration phase after conflict. It is important to include women in this process to guarantee their rights in new Constitutions being drafted and to ensure peace and help prevent

In A.T. v Hungary, the complainant ("author") alleges that Hungary has violated articles 2(a) (equality in legislation), (b) (legislative measures prohibiting discrimination), and (e) ("all appropriate measures" to eliminate discrimination), 5(a) (modification of social and cultural patterns) and 16 (marriage and family life) of the Convention by failing to take all positive measures to provide her with effective protection from her common-law husband, who was allowed to return to their apartment based on arguments regarding his right to property, notwithstanding pending

The Rules of procedure of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the "CEDAW Committee") etablish the composition and functions of the Committee (Parts I & II). Second, the Committee's Rules set out the procedures governing the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Women's Convention") (Part III) and list the Committee's policy on interpretation (Part IV).