General Assembly Official Records Seventy-first Session Supplement No. 38

A/71/38

Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Sixty-first session (6-24 July 2015) Sixty-second session (26 October-20 November 2015) Sixty-third session (15 February-4 March 2016)

United Nations  New York, 2016

Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.

ISSN 0255-0970

[22 March 2016]

Contents
Chapter Page

Letter of transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part One Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-first session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. II. Decisions adopted by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organizational and other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. B. C. D. E. F. III. IV. V. States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Report of the pre-sessional working group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

7 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 12 13 14 14 14 14 16 18 20 21

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention . . . . . Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. B. C. Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VI. VII. VIII. IX. Annex

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Implementation of article 21 of the Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provisional agenda for the sixty-second session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Documents before the Committee at its sixty-first session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part Two Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-second session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. II. Decisions adopted by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organizational and other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

23 24 26

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A. B. C. D. E. F. III. IV. V.

States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Report of the pre-sessional working group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26 26 26 26 26 27 28 29 30 30 30 30 32 33 35 36

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention . . . . . Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. B. C. Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VI. VII. VIII. IX. Annexes I. II.

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Implementation of article 21 of the Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provisional agenda for the sixty-third session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Documents before the Committee at its sixty-second session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership of the Committee as at 20 November 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part Three Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-third session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

37 38

39 40 42 42 42 42 42 42 43 44 45 46

I. II.

Decisions adopted by the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organizational and other matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. B. C. D. E. F. States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Report of the pre-sessional working group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organization of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

III. IV. V.

Report of the Chair on intersessional activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention . . . . . Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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A. B. C. VI. VII. VIII. IX. Annex

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46 46 46 48 49 51 52

Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Implementation of article 21 of the Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provisional agenda for the sixty-fourth session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adoption of the report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Documents before the Committee at its sixty-third session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Letter of transmittal
[22 March 2016] I have the honour to refer to article 21 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, according to which the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, established pursuant to the Convention, is to, through the Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assembly on its activities. The Committee held its sixty-first session from 6 to 24 July 2015, its sixtysecond session from 26 October to 20 November 2015 and its sixty-third session from 15 February to 4 March 2016, at the United Nations Office at Geneva. It adopted its reports on the sessions at its 1332nd meeting, on 24 Jul y 2015, its 1372nd meeting, on 20 November 2015, and its 1402nd meeting, on 4 March 2016. The reports are herewith submitted to you for transmission to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session. (Signed) Yoko Hayashi Chair

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Part One Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-first session 6-24 July 2015

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Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee
Decision 61/I On 24 July 2015, the Committee adopted general recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women's access to justice, by consensus (CEDAW/C/GC/33). Decision 61/II The Committee took note of the Guidelines against Intimidation or Reprisals endorsed by the Chairs of the human rights treaty bodies at their twen ty-seventh meeting, held in San José from 22 to 26 June 2015, (see HRI/MC/2015/6) and decided: (a) That the Bureau of the Committee would continue to act as focal point on intimidation or reprisals, including intersessionally; (b) That the Bureau would determine, by consensus and in consultation with the Committee in plenary meeting, the appropriate course of action to be taken in response to substantiated allegations of intimidation or reprisals aga inst individuals or groups for seeking to cooperate or cooperating with the Committee. Intersessionally, the Bureau would keep the Committee members duly informed; (c) That the Committee would further consider the guidelines with a view to adapting and developing them to best reflect its particular context, mandate and experience. Decision 61/III The Committee took note of the elements for the elaboration of and consultations on general comments/general recommendations endorsed by the Chairs of the human rights treaty bodies at their twenty-seventh meeting (see A/70/302, paras. 91 (a)-(h)) and decided: (a) That the elements contained in subparagraphs (a), (b), (d) and (h) were in line with the Committee's existing practice; (b) To adopt the element contained in subparagraph (c);

(c) To further look into the implications of the elements contained in subparagraphs (e) and (g); (d) To adopt the elements contained in subparagraph (f), on the understanding that the advance version of a draft general recommendation would be posted on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at a stage to be decided by the relevant working group of the Committee. Decision 61/IV The Committee decided that the growing number of individual communications registered for examination under article 2 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention and the backlog of cases ready for adoption were a cause of concern, given the lack of capacity on the part of the Petitions and Inquiries Section of the Human Rights Treaties Division to prepare more than three or four drafts per

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session. Bearing in mind its own time constraints, the Committee decided to invite OHCHR to urgently explore ways and means to effectively address that situation in order to avoid delays in the adoption of decisions in cases ready for adoption and the creation of an extensive backlog of pending cases. Decision 61/V The Committee decided to request its secretariat to send reminders to all States parties whose reports were more than five years overdue. Decision 61/VI In accordance with its decision 51/I, the Committee decided to send a final reminder to Antigua and Barbuda to submit its combined fourth to seventh pe riodic reports by 31 January 2016 and, should the reports not be received, to schedule the consideration of Antigua and Barbuda in the absence of a report at its sixty -fifth session, in October/November 2016. Decision 61/VII The Committee decided to mandate its working group on the Convention and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) to explore ways and means for further developing and monitoring indicators for target 5.1 of the Sustainable Development Go als, in collaboration with UN-Women. It also decided that the working group would be renamed "working group on the Convention, UN-Women and the Sustainable Development Goals" and have open membership. Decision 61/VIII The Committee decided to merge its focal point on gender and HIV/AIDS and its focal point on sexual and reproductive rights into one focal point on gender, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to confirm Louiza Chalal, Theodora Oby Nwankwo and Patricia Schulz as co -focal points.

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Chapter II Organizational and other matters
A. States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol
1. On 24 July 2015, the closing date of the sixty-first session of the Committee, there were 189 States parties to the Convention. In addition, 70 States parties had accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the Committee's meeting time. A total of 126 States parties to the Convention are currently required to accept the amendment in order to bring it into force. 2. As at the same date, there were 106 States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention.

B.

Opening of the session
3. The Committee held its sixty-first session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 6 to 24 July 2015. The Committee held 19 plenary meetings and also held eight meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in the annex to part one of the present report. 4. At the 1305th meeting, on 6 July 2015, the session was opened by the Chair.

C.

Adoption of the agenda
5. The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/61/1) at its 1305th meeting, on 6 July 2015.

D.

Report of the pre-sessional working group
6. The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/61/1), which met from 10 to 14 November 2014, was introduced by Patricia Schulz at the 1305th meeting, on 6 July 2015.

E.

Organization of work
7. On 6 and 13 July 2015, the Committee held closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, during which those bodies provided country-specific information and information on their efforts to support the implementation of the Convention. 8. In addition, the Committee held informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, who provided information on the implementation of the Convention in the States parties whose reports the Committee considered at its session. 9. On 15 July 2015, the Committee met for an informal discussion on the changing scenario in international development practice and its possible

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consequences for the assessment of the economic, social and cultural rights of women during constructive dialogues. The meeting was hosted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and sponsored by the Geneva treaty body platform. 10. On 23 July 2015, the Committee held a meeting with the Chair and gender focal point of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Megan Davis, who provided a briefing on issues relating to indigenous women's rights.

F.

Membership of the Committee
11. All members attended the sixty-first session. The following members did not attend on the indicated dates: Bakhita Al-Dosari, from 20 to 24 July; Nicole Ameline, from 6 to 9 July; Barbara Bailey, from 6 to 10 July; Niklas Bruun, on 24 July; Louiza Chalal, on 24 July; Naéla Gabr, on 20 July; Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, on 10 and 24 July; and Theodora Oby Nwankwo, from 6 to 10 July. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part two of the present report.

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Chapter III Report of the Chair on intersessional activities
12. At the 1305th meeting, on 6 July 2015, the Chair presented a report on her activities since the sixtieth session.

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Chapter IV Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
13. The Committee considered the reports of eight States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention and prepared the following conc luding observations thereon: Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Croatia Gambia Namibia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Senegal Spain Viet Nam (CEDAW/C/BOL/CO/5-6) (CEDAW/C/HRV/CO/4-5) (CEDAW/C/GMB/CO/4-5) (CEDAW/C/NAM/CO/4-5) (CEDAW/C/VCT/CO/4-8) (CEDAW/C/SEN/CO/3-7) (CEDAW/C/ESP/CO/7-8) (CEDAW/C/VNM/CO/7-8)

Follow-up procedures relating to concluding observations 14. The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties: Chile Cyprus Hungary Kuwait Malta Mexico The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Turkmenistan (CEDAW/C/CHL/CO/5-6/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/CYP/CO/6-7/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/HUN/CO/7-8/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/KWT/CO/3-4/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/MLT/CO/4/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/MEX/CO/7-8/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/MKD/CO/4-5/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/TKM/CO/3-4/Add.1)

15. The Committee sent a first reminder to Pakistan and second reminders to Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica and Samoa, whose follow-up reports were overdue. 16. The Committee sent a reminder to Lesotho regarding the submission of overdue additional information. 17. The Rapporteur on follow-up met representatives of Uganda, given that its follow-up report was overdue.

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Chapter V Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol
18. Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol
19. The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional P rotocol on 13 and 23 July 2015. 20. The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol on its thirty-second session (see http://goo.gl/9y5BjJ). 21. The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to four individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted views finding a violation with regard to communication No. 24/2009 ( X and Y v. Georgia) (CEDAW/C/61/D/24/2009) and communication No. 45/2012 (Belousova v. Kazakhstan) (CEDAW/C/61/D/45/2012). It also adopted decisions of inadmissibility with regard to communications No. 50/2013 (O.V.J. v. Denmark) (CEDAW/C/61/D/50/2013) and No. 52/2013 (D.G. v. the Netherlands) (CEDAW/C/61/D/52/2013). All decisions were adopted by consensus.

B.

Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications
22. The Committee was informed that the Working Group, during its thirty -second session, had discussed the follow-up situation in each case where the follow-up dialogue was continuing and agreed on the action to be taken. Of the nine cases currently under follow-up examination, one relates to Brazil, three to Bulgaria, one to Canada, one to the Netherlands, one to Peru, one to the Philippines and one to Spain. In another case (No. 28/2010, R.K.B. v. Turkey), the Committee decided to put the follow-up dialogue to a close with a finding of a partially satisfactory resolution of its recommendations.

C.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol
23. The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol on 23 July 2015. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on its first session (see http://goo.gl/9y5BjJ). 24. The Committee adopted the following recommendations of the Working Group in relation to pending inquiry proceedings: (a) In relation to inquiry No. 2010/1 concerning the Philippines, to raise questions on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee in the list of issues and questions to be established by the pre-sessional working group for the sixty-fourth session;

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(b) In relation to inquiry No. 2011/1 concerning Canada, to launch a follow up process; (c) In relation to submission No. 2011/2, to conduct an inquiry and to transmit its decision to the State party concerned; (d) In relation to submission No. 2011/4, to request the State party concerned to submit, within two months, observations with regard to the information received by the Committee under article 8 of the Optional Protocol; (e) 25. In relation to submission No. 2013/2, not to conduct an inquiry.

The Committee ratified the following decisions made by the Working Group:

(a) In relation to submission No. 2011/3, to defer to the second session of the Working Group its consideration of whether to recommend that the Committee conduct an inquiry; (b) In relation to submission No. 2012/1, to send a reminder to the source of information asking it to provide additional information; (c) In relation to submission No. 2014/2, to arrange a meeting during the sixty-first session with representatives of the Permanent Mission of the State party concerned to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva to follow up on the Committee's request for the State party's observati ons with regard to the information received by the Committee under article 8 of the Optional Protocol. 26. In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1 and inquiry No. 2014/1, the Committee decided in each case to send a reminder to the State party concerned requesti ng its consent to a visit to its territory. 27. In relation to submission No. 2014/3, the Committee decided to extend until 1 October 2015 the time limit for the State party concerned to submit observations with regard to the information received by the Committee under article 8 of the Optional Protocol.

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Chapter VI Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee
28. The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention. 29. On 6 July 2015, the secretariat provided a briefing to the Committee on the twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Chairs of the human rights treaty bodies, held in San José from 22 to 26 June 2015.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7
Dates of future sessions 30. In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were confirmed for the Committee's sixty-second and sixty-third sessions and related meetings: Sixty-second session (Geneva) (a) (b) (c) (d) Thirty-third session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 20-23 October 2015; Second session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 21-23 October 2015; Sixty-second session: 26 October-20 November 2015; Pre-sessional working 23-27 November 2015; group for the sixty-fourth session:

Sixty-third session (Geneva) (e) (f) (g) (h) Thirty-fourth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 9-12 February 2016; Third session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 11 and 12 February 2016; Sixty-third session: 15 February-4 March 2016; Pre-sessional working group for the sixty-fifth session: 7-11 March 2016.

Reports to be considered at future sessions 31. The Committee confirmed that it would consider the reports of the following States parties at its sixty-second and sixty-third sessions: Sixty-second session: Lebanon Liberia Madagascar Malawi Portugal Russian Federation Slovakia

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Slovenia Timor-Leste United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Sixty-third session: Czech Republic Iceland Japan Haiti Mongolia Sweden United Republic of Tanzania Vanuatu

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Chapter VII Implementation of article 21 of the Convention
Task force on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations 32. The task force met during the session.

Working group on access to justice 33. The working group met during the session. On 21 July 2015, the Committee adopted general recommendation No. 33 (2015) on women's access to justice (CEDAW/C/GC/33) by consensus, 1 in accordance with rule 31 of the Committee's rules of procedure. Working group on rural women 34. The working group met during the session and improved the draft general recommendation on the rights of rural women. Working group on gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction and climate change 35. The working group met during the session.

Working group on the right to education 36. The working group met during the session and discussed a first draft of the general recommendation on the right of girls and women to education. Working group on working methods 37. The working group met during the session and considered and submitted to the Committee draft decisions concerning guidelines on reprisals and elements for the elaboration of and consultations on general recommendations (see decisions 61/II and 61/III). Working group on the Inter-Parliamentary Union 38. The working group met during the session.

Working group on the Convention, UN-Women and the Sustainable Development Goals 39. The working group met during the session.

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1

The following members were present during the adoption: Ayse Feride Acar, Gladys Acosta Vargas, Nicole Ameline, Magalys Arocha Domínguez, Barbara Bailey, Naéla Gabr, Hilary Gbedemah, Nahla Haidar, Yoko Hayashi, Lilian Hofmeister, Ismat Jahan, Dalia Leinarte, Lia Nadaraia, Theodora Oby Nwankwo, Pramila Patten, Silvia Pimentel, Biancamaria Pomeranzi, Patricia Schulz and Xiaoqiao Zou.

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Working group on gender-based violence against women 40. The working group met during the session and discussed an outline and the process for the elaboration of the draft general recommendation updating general recommendation No. 19 (1992) on violence against women.

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Chapter VIII Provisional agenda for the sixty-second session
41. At its 1332nd meeting, on 24 July 2015, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its sixty-second session.

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Chapter IX Adoption of the report
42. At its 1332nd meeting, on 24 July 2015, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its sixty-first session

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Annex Documents before the Committee at its sixty-first session
Document number Title or description

CEDAW/C/61/1 CEDAW/C/61/2 CEDAW/C/61/3 CEDAW/C/61/4 Reports of States parties CEDAW/C/BOL/5-6 CEDAW/C/HRV/4-5 CEDAW/C/GMB/4-5 CEDAW/C/NAM/4-5 CEDAW/C/VCT/4-8 CEDAW/C/SEN/3-7 CEDAW/C/ESP/7-8 CEDAW/C/VNM/7-8

Provisional agenda and annotations Note by the secretariat on ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee Report of the International Labour Organization Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of the Plurinational State of Bolivia Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Croatia Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of the Gambia Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Namibia Combined fourth to eighth periodic reports of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Combined third to seventh periodic reports of Senegal Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Spain Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Viet Nam

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Part Two Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-second session
26 October-20 November 2015

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Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee
Decision 62/I On 20 November 2015, the Committee adopted a statement on the refugee crises and the protection of women and girls (see www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/ CEDAW/Pages/Statements.aspx). Decision 62/II The Committee decided to replace the standard paragraph on the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development framework in its concluding observations with the following new standard paragraph on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: "The Committee calls for the realization of substantive gender equality, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, throughout the process of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Decision 62/III The Committee decided to amend decision 50/II as follows: (a) Paragraph 1 is amended by inserting the following sentences at the end: "During the dialogue with the State party concerned, the country rapporteur shall ensure that all relevant issues are covered by systematically asking follow -up questions to raise issues not hitherto addressed. Directly following the dialogue, in closed meeting, the country rapporteur shall briefly highlight the main concerns to be reflected in the concluding observations and receive concise feedback from experts."; (b) The first sentence of paragraph 2 is amended to read as follows: "Country rapporteurs shall conduct informal bilateral consultations with the members and, if necessary, convene a coordination meeting of the country task force, in order to ensure full coverage of the main areas of concern in the country and prevent any overlap, and make a proposal on the distribution of articles among the members of the county task force prior to the private lunchtime briefing on the State party concerned."; (c) The first sentence of paragraph 4 is amended to read as follows: "The country rapporteurs shall also provide the country briefing notes as early as possible to the Secretariat, no later than one week prior to the dialogue with the State party concerned. The notes should include a list of references and references to the relevant paragraphs of the State party's report, its common core document, its written replies to the Committee's list of issues and questions and other sources of information." Decision 62/IV The Committee decided that the length of concluding observations must not exceed 6,000 words.

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Decision 62/V The Committee decided that the length of written information from States parties on follow-up to concluding observations must not exceed 4,000 words. Decision 62/VI The Committee decided to amend decision 52/VIII to read as follows (thereby also amending the first sentence of paragraph 3 of decision 50/I): "Country task forces shall be composed of a minimum of nine experts (including the country rapporteur) and shall not exceed 12 experts." Decision 62/VII The Committee decided to request the Division of Conference Management of the United Nations Office at Geneva to prepare summary records with restricted distribution for closed plenary meetings of the Committee where activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol (inquiry procedure) were being considered.

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Chapter II Organizational and other matters
A. States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol
1. On 20 November 2015, the closing date of the sixty-second session of the Committee, the ratification status of the Convention (189 States parties) and the number of States parties (70) having accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee were as they were on 24 July 2015, the closing date of the sixty-first session. 2. The ratification status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention (106 States parties) was also unchanged.

B.

Opening of the session
3. The Committee held its sixty-second session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 26 October to 20 November 2015. The Committee held 26 plenary meetings and also held 14 meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in annex I to part two of the present report. 4. At the 1333rd meeting, on 26 October 2015, the session was opened by the Chair.

C.

Adoption of the agenda
5. The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/62/1) at its 1333rd meeting, on 26 October 2015.

D.

Report of the pre-sessional working group
6. The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/62/1), which met from 9 to 13 March 2015, was introduced by Patricia Schulz at the 1333rd meeting, on 26 October 2015.

E.

Organization of work
7. On 26 October and 2 and 9 November 2015, the Committee held closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, during which those bodies provided country-specific information and information on their efforts to support the implementation of the Convention. 8. In addition, the Committee held informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, who provided information on the implementation of the Convention in the States parties whose reports the Committee considered at its session.

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9. On 29 October 2015, the Committee met the Human Rights Committee for an informal consultation. Both committees continued their discussion on abortion that they had begun at their previous joint meeting, on 16 July 2014. The meeting was hosted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and sponsored by the Geneva treaty body platform. 10. On 30 October 2015, Pramila Patten provided a briefing to the Committee on the launch of the global study on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on 14 October 2015 during the high-level review convened by the Council to assess 15 years of progress in implementing the resolution at the global, regional and national levels. The global study had been led by Radhika Coomaraswamy, with the support of a high-level advisory group of which Ms. Patten had formed part. 11. On 9 November 2015, the Director, Global Indicators Group, Development Economics, World Bank, Augusto Lopez-Claros, provided a briefing to the Committee on the women, business and the law data set and related indicators of the Bank. 12. On 12 and 19 November 2015, the Committee held videoconferences with the Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director for the Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships Bureau of UN-Women, Lakshmi Puri, to discuss the Committee's possible involvement in the follow-up to and review of target 5.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals. 13. On 13 November 2015, the Committee held an informal meeting with the recently appointed Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dubravka Simonovi, to exchange information on the work of both mechanisms in tackling violence against women. 14. On 17 November 2015, the Committee hosted the launch in Geneva of the Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action, prepared by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, organized by OHCHR and the Standing Committee secretariat.

F.

Membership of the Committee
15. All members attended the sixty-second session, with the exception of Louiza Chalal. The following members did not attend on the indicated dates: Ayse Feride Acar, from 26 October to 2 November and from 17 to 20 November; Nicole Ameline, from 26 to 30 October, on 6 November and from 16 to 20 November; Niklas Bruun, on 5, 6 and 20 November; Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, from 30 October to 6 November and on 20 November; Ismat Jahan, on 5 and 6 November; Dalia Leinarte, on 9 and 10 November; and Silvia Pimentel, from 26 to 30 October. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part two of the present report.

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Chapter III Report of the Chair on intersessional activities
16. At the 1333rd meeting, on 26 October 2015, the Chair presented a report on her activities since the sixty-first session.

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Chapter IV Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
17. The Committee considered the reports of 11 States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention and adopted the following concluding observations thereon: Lebanon Liberia Madagascar Malawi Portugal Russian Federation Slovakia Slovenia Timor-Leste United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan (CEDAW/C/LBN/CO/4-5) (CEDAW/C/LBR/CO/7-8) (CEDAW/C/MDG/CO/6-7) (CEDAW/C/MWI/CO/7) (CEDAW/C/PRT/CO/8-9) (CEDAW/C/RUS/CO/8) (CEDAW/C/SVK/CO/5-6) (CEDAW/C/SVN/CO/5-6) (CEDAW/C/TLS/CO/2-3) CEDAW/C/ARE/CO/2-3) (CEDAW/C/UZB/CO/5)

Follow-up procedures relating to concluding observations 18. The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties: Algeria Angola Austria Nepal Togo (CEDAW/C/DZA/CO/3-4/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/AGO/CO/6/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/AUT/CO/7-8/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/NPL/CO/4-5/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/TGO/CO/6-7/Add.1)

19. The Committee sent first reminders to Afghanistan, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Serbia and the Syrian Arab Republic and second reminders to the Comoros and Equatorial Guinea, whose follow-up reports were overdue. 20. The Rapporteur on follow-up met a representative of South Africa, given that its follow-up report was overdue.

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Chapter V Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol
21. Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol
22. The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional Protocol on 2 and 9 November 2015. 23. The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol on its thirty-third session (see http://goo.gl/6L6fUK). 24. The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to three individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted views finding a violation with regard to communication No. 53/2013 ( A. v. Denmark) (CEDAW/C/62/D/53/2013). It also adopted decisions of inadmissibility with regard to communications No. 55/2013 (C.D. v. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (CEDAW/C/62/D/55/2013) and No. 56/2013 (M.C. v. Denmark) (CEDAW/C/62/D/56/2013). All decisions were adopted by consensus.

B.

Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications
25. The Committee was informed that the Working Group, during its thirty -third session, had discussed the follow-up situation in each case where the follow-up dialogue was continuing and agreed on the action to be taken. Of the 11 cases currently under follow-up examination, 1 relates to Brazil, 2 to Bulgaria and 1 to each of Canada, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Spain and the United Republic of Tanzania. In another case (No. 32/2011, Jallow v. Bulgaria), the Committee decided to put the follow-up dialogue to a close with a finding of a satisfactory resolution of its recommendations in the light of the compensation paid to the author (7,000 lev, equivalent to 3,500 euros).

C.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol
26. The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protocol on 13 and 18 November 2015. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on its second session (see http://goo.gl/6L6fUK). 27. The Committee adopted the following recommendations of the Working Group in relation to pending inquiry proceedings: (a) In relation to submission No. 2011/3, not to conduct an inquiry;

(b) In relation to submission No. 2014/3, to defer to the third session of the Working Group its consideration of whether to recommend that the Committee conduct an inquiry.

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28.

The Committee ratified the following decisions made by the Working Group:

(a) In relation to inquiry No. 2010/1 concerning the Philippines, to entrust the pre-sessional working group for the sixty-fourth session to include in the list of issues and questions in relation to the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the Philippines questions on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee in its report of the inquiry; (b) In relation to inquiry No. 2011/1 concerning Canada, to await the State party's report on the measures taken in response to the inquiry, which was due on 1 February 2016; (c) In relation to inquiry No. 2011/2, for the designated members to continue to engage with the State party on the proposed visit to the territory of the State party concerned, following a meeting with representatives of the Permanent Mission; (d) In relation to submission No. 2011/4, to request the sources of information for a translation of their submissions into the language of the State party, an official language of the United Nations, to transmit the translated documents to the State party and to request it to submit its observations within two months from the date of receipt; (e) In relation to submission No. 2012/1, to grant an extension to the sources of information to provide additional information to the Committee; (f) In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1, to defer the decision on the action to be taken to the third session of the Working Group; (g) In relation to inquiry No. 2014/1, to request the designated members to propose new dates for a visit to the territory of the State party concerned in 2 016; (h) In relation to submission No. 2014/2, to arrange a meeting during the session of the pre-sessional working group for the sixty-fourth session with representatives of the Permanent Mission of the State party concerned to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva to follow up on the Committee's request for observations; (i) In relation to a communication that was referred to it by the Working Group on Communications, to remit it to the Working Group on Communication s.

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Chapter VI Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee
29. The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention. 30. On 26 October 2015, the Chair provided a briefing to the Committee about her presentation of the report of the Committee on its fifty-eighth to sixtieth sessions to the Third Committee on 13 October 2015.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7
Dates of future sessions 31. In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were confirmed for the Committee's sixty-third and sixty-fourth sessions and related meetings: Sixty-third session (Geneva) (a) As indicated in paragraph 30 of part one of the present report;

Sixty-fourth session (Geneva) (b) Thirty-fifth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 29 June-1 July 2016; (c) Fourth session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 30 June and 1 July 2016; (d) (e) Sixty-fourth session: 4-22 July 2016; Pre-sessional working group for the sixty-sixth session: 25-29 July 2016.

Reports to be considered at future sessions 32. The Committee confirmed that at its sixty-third session it would consider the reports of the States parties listed in paragraph 31 of part one of the present report and that at its sixty-fourth session it would consider those of Albania, France, Mali, Myanmar, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey and Uruguay.

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Chapter VII Implementation of article 21 of the Convention
Task force on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations 33. On 19 November 2015, the Committee convened a panel discussion on connecting the Convention and the women and peace and security agenda, organized by OHCHR in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security. The panellists included a member of the Committee and of the High-level Advisory Group for the Global Study on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), Pramila Patten; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura; the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani; and a member of the Syrian Women's League, Sarah Abu Assali. The Chair of the Committee, Yoko Hayashi, and the Vice-Director of the Directorate of International Law of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Pascale Baeriswyl, made welcoming remarks. The then United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Flavia Pansieri, opened the discussion. 34. A total of 28 States parties to the Convention (Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay) and one non-State party (Islamic Republic of Iran) were represented at the event. In addition, nine United Nations entities, specialized agencies and international and regional organizations (European Union, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, International Development Law Organization, International Organization for Migration, International Organization of la Francophonie, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Children's Fund, Unit ed Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and United Nations Population Fund), as well as one non-governmental organization (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom), attended the event. Working group on rural women 35. The working group met during the session, and the Committee began to adopt its draft general recommendation on the rights of rural women. Working group on gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction and climate change 36. The working group met during the session. It presented a draft concept note, which was endorsed by the Committee. Working group on the right to education 37. The working group met during the session.

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Working group on working methods 38. The working group met during the session and considered and submitted to the Committee draft decisions concerning a new standard paragraph on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the role of country rapporteurs, membership of country task forces and the maximum length of concluding observations and of follow-up information from States parties (see decisions 62/II to 62/VII). The Committee took note of an indicative checklist on responsibilities of country rapporteurs prepared by the working group. Working group on the Inter-Parliamentary Union 39. The working group met during the session.

Working group on the Convention, UN-Women and the Sustainable Development Goals 40. The working group met during the session and considered a proposal by UN Women concerning the Committee's involvement in the follow-up to and review of a proposed indicator for target 5.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Working group on gender-based violence against women 41. The working group met during the session, discussed a first draft of the general recommendation updating general recommendation No. 19 and decided to hold an expert meeting at the Centre for Women, Peace and Security, London School of Economics and Political Science, in February 2016 to refine the draft.

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Chapter VIII Provisional agenda for the sixty-third session
42. At its 1372nd meeting, on 20 November 2015, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its sixty-third session.

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Chapter IX Adoption of the report
43. At its 1372nd meeting, on 20 November 2015, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its sixty-second session.

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Annex I Documents before the Committee at its sixty-second session
Document number Title or description

CEDAW/C/62/1 CEDAW/C/62/2 Reports of States parties CEDAW/C/LBN/4-5 CEDAW/C/LBR/7-8 CEDAW/C/MDG/6-7 CEDAW/C/MWI/7 CEDAW/C/PRT/8-9 CEDAW/C/RUS/8 CEDAW/C/SVK/5-6 CEDAW/C/SVN/5-6 CEDAW/C/TLS/2-3 CEDAW/C/ARE/2-3 CEDAW/C/UZB/5

Annotated provisional agenda Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Lebanon Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Liberia Combined sixth and seventh periodic reports of Madagascar Seventh periodic report of Malawi Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Portugal Eighth periodic report of the Russian Federation Combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Slovakia Combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Slovenia Combined second and third periodic reports of Timor -Leste Combined second and third periodic reports of the United Arab Emirates Fifth periodic report of Uzbekistan

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Annex II Membership of the Committee as at 20 November 2015
Name of member Country of nationality Term of office expires on 31 December

Ayse Feride Acar Gladys Acosta Vargas Bakhita Al-Dosari a Nicole Ameline Magalys Arocha Dominguez Barbara Evelyn Bailey Niklas Bruun Louiza Chalal Naéla Mohamed Gabr Hilary Gbedemah Nahla Haidar Ruth Halperin-Kaddari Yoko Hayashi Lilian Hofmeister Ismat Jahan Dalia Leinarte Lia Nadaraia Theodora Oby Nwankwo Pramila Patten Silvia Pimentel Biancamaria Pomeranzi Patricia Schulz Xiaoqiao Zou
a

Turkey Peru Qatar France Cuba Jamaica Finland Algeria Egypt Ghana Lebanon Israel Japan Austria Bangladesh Lithuania Georgia Nigeria Mauritius Brazil Italy Switzerland China

2018 2018 2016 2016 2018 2016 2016 2018 2018 2016 2016 2018 2018 2018 2018 2016 2018 2016 2018 2016 2016 2018 2016

On 4 November 2014, Bakhita Mohammed Al-Dosari was appointed to serve as a member of the Committee for the remainder of the term of Noor Al -Jehani, who had resigned from the Committee on 2 September 2014.

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Part Three Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its sixty-third session
15 February-4 March 2016

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Chapter I

Decisions adopted by the Committee
Decision 63/I On 4 March 2016, the Committee adopted general recommendation No. 34 (2016) on the rights of rural women, by consensus ( CEDAW/C/GC/34). Decision 63/II On 4 March 2016, the Committee issued a statement on the occasion of International Women's Day 2016 (see www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CEDAW/ Pages/Statements.aspx). Decision 63/III The Committee decided to amend the time allocation for interventions during the constructive dialogue as follows, thereby amending paragraph 4 of its decision 50/I: "Five minutes shall be allocated for interventions on gender -based violence against women, to be made under article 5 of the Convention directly after `Stereotypes'." Decision 63/IV The Committee decided to systematically use the word "recommends" in the recommendations in its concluding observations. Decision 63/V The Committee decided to shorten the standard paragraph entitled "Dissemination" in its concluding observations as follows: "The Committee requests the State party to ensure the timely dissemination of the present concluding observations, in the official language(s) of the State party, to the relevant State institutions at all levels (national, regional and local), in particular to the Government, the ministries, the parliament and the judiciary, to enable their full implementation." Decision 63/VI The Committee decided to replace the subheading "Violence against women" in its concluding observations with "Gender-based violence against women". Decision 63/VII The Committee decided to include references to the Sustainable Development Goals in its lists of issues and questions and concluding ob servations, where appropriate and without prejudice to the legally binding nature of States parties' obligations under the Convention, as well as in lists of issues and questions prior to reporting adopted under the simplified reporting procedure, where re levant. Decision 63/VIII The Committee decided to review and streamline the process of assessing States parties' follow-up reports by establishing a system through which country

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rapporteurs would be able to provide their comments on draft assessments electronically to the Rapporteur on follow-up, the alternate Rapporteur on follow-up and the secretariat focal point for follow-up rather than systematically organizing meetings between them. Decision 63/IX The Committee decided to request its secretariat (Petitions and Inquiries Section) to post and regularly update on the Committee's public web page on the OHCHR website a list of all individual communications registered under the Optional Protocol, by registration number and State party, including a short description of the subject matter of each case, with a view to facilitating the submission of interventions by third parties. Decision 63/X The Committee decided to request its secretariat to send reminders to all States parties whose reports were more than five years overdue.

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Chapter II Organizational and other matters
A. States parties to the Convention and to the Optional Protocol
1. On 4 March 2016, the closing date of the sixty-third session of the Committee, the ratification status of the Convention (189 States parties) and the number of States parties (70) having accepted the amendment to article 20 (1) of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee were as they were on 20 November 2015, the closing date of the sixty-second session. 2. The ratification status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention (106 States parties) was also unchanged.

B.

Opening of the session
3. The Committee held its sixty-third session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 15 February to 4 March 2016. The Committee held 21 plenary meetings and also held 9 meetings to discuss agenda items 5 to 8. A list of the documents before the Committee is contained in annex I to part three of the present report. 4. At the 1373rd meeting, on 15 February 2016, the session was opened by the Chair.

C.

Adoption of the agenda
5. The Committee adopted the provisional agenda (CEDAW/C/63/1) at its 1373rd meeting, on 15 February 2016.

D.

Report of the pre-sessional working group
6. The report of the pre-sessional working group (CEDAW/C/PSWG/63/1), which met from 27 to 30 July 2015, was introduced by Ismat Jahan at the 1373rd meeting, on 15 February 2016.

E.

Organization of work
7. On 15 and 22 February 2016, the Committee held closed meetings with representatives of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, during which those bodies provided country-specific information and information on their efforts to support the implementation of the Convention. 8. In addition, the Committee held informal public meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations, who provided information about the implementation of the Convention in the States parties considered by the Committee at its sixty-third session.

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9. On 24 February, the Committee held a private meeting with Mary Honeyball, a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and of the Labour Party of the United Kingdom, and Patrick Eba, Human Rights and Law Adviser, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, to discuss approaches to trafficking, exploitation of prostitution and prostitution. The meeting was hosted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and sponsored by the Geneva treaty body platform.

F.

Membership of the Committee
10. All members attended the sixty-third session. The following members did not attend on the indicated dates: Ayse Feride Acar, from 15 to 19 February and from 2 to 4 March; Nicole Ameline, on 15 February; Niklas Bruun, on 1 March; Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, on 19 and from 22 to 26 February and on 4 March; and Pramila Patten, from 2 to 4 March. A list of the members of the Committee, indicating the duration of their terms of office, is contained in annex II to part two of the present report.

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Chapter III Report of the Chair on intersessional activities
11. At the 1373rd meeting, on 15 February 2016, the Chair presented a report on her activities since the sixty-second session.

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Chapter IV Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
12. The Committee considered the reports of eight States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention and adopted the following concl uding observations thereon: Czech Republic Haiti Iceland Japan Mongolia Sweden United Republic of Tanzania Vanuatu (CEDAW/C/CZE/CO/6) (CEDAW/C/HTI/CO/8-9) (CEDAW/C/ISL/CO/7-8) (CEDAW/C/JPN/CO/7-8) (CEDAW/C/MNG/CO/8-9) (CEDAW/C/SWE/CO/8-9) (CEDAW/C/TZA/CO/7-8) (CEDAW/C/VUT/CO/4-5)

Follow-up procedures relating to concluding observations 13. The Committee considered the follow-up reports received from the following States parties: Bosnia and Herzegovina Cuba Greece Panama Samoa South Africa Tajikistan (CEDAW/C/BIH/CO/4-5/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/CUB/CO/7-8/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/GRC/CO/7/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/PAN/CO/7/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/WSM/CO/4-5/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/ZAF/CO/4/Add.1) (CEDAW/C/TJK/CO/4-5/Add.1)

14. The Committee also considered additional follow-up information received from Lesotho (CEDAW/C/LSO/CO/1-4/Add.2). 15. The Committee sent first reminders to Andorra and Benin, whose follow-up reports were overdue. 16. The Rapporteur on follow-up met representatives of Indonesia, whose followup report was overdue.

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Chapter V Activities carried out under the Optional Protocol
17. Article 12 of the Optional Protocol provides that the Committee is to include in its annual report a summary of its activities under the Optional Protocol.

A.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 2 of the Optional Protocol
18. The Committee discussed activities under article 2 of the Optional Protocol on 22 and 25 February 2016. 19. The Committee endorsed the report of the Working Group on its thirty -fourth session (see http://goo.gl/XNcxZF). 20. The Committee adopted final decisions with regard to three individual communications submitted under article 2 of the Optional Protocol. It adopted views finding a violation with regard to communication No. 46/2012 ( M.W. v. Denmark) (CEDAW/C/63/D/46/2012), with one member appending a dissenting opinion, and communication No. 60/2013 (Medvedeva v. Russian Federation) (CEDAW/C/63/D/60/2013), by consensus. It also adopted, again by consensus, a decision of inadmissibility with regard to communication No. 62/2013 ( N.Q. v. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (CEDAW/C/63/D/62/2013).

B.

Follow-up to views of the Committee on individual communications
21. The Committee was informed that the Working Group, during its thirty -fourth session, had discussed the follow-up situation in each case where the follow-up dialogue was continuing and agreed on the action to be taken. Of the 10 cases currently under follow-up examination, 1 relates to each of Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Spain and the United Republic of Tanzania. In two other cases (No. 20/2008, V.K. v. Bulgaria, and No. 31/2011, V.P. v. Bulgaria), the Committee decided to put the follow-up dialogue to a close with findings of a satisfactory resolution of its recommendations in the light of the compensation paid to the authors (5,000 lev, equivalent to 2,50 0 euros, and 10,000 lev, equivalent to 5,000 euros, respectively).

C.

Action taken by the Committee in respect of issues arising under article 8 of the Optional Protocol
22. The Committee discussed its activities under article 8 of the Optional Protoc ol on 1 and 2 March 2016. It endorsed the report of the Working Group on its third session (see http://goo.gl/XNcxZF). 23. The Committee adopted the following recommendations of the Working Group in relation to pending inquiry proceedings: (a) In relation to submission No. 2011/3, to respond to a request from the sources of information to be informed of the grounds on which the Committee had

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based its decision not to designate members to conduct an inquiry and of whether such a decision was confidential; (b) In relation to submission No. 2014/3, to defer to the seventh session of the Working Group its decision on whether to recommend that the Committee designate members to conduct an inquiry. 24. The Committee ratified the following decisions made by the Working Group:

(a) In relation to inquiry No. 2011/1 concerning Canada, to grant a two month extension of the time limit to the State party concerned to submit information on the measures taken in response to the inquiry; (b) In relation to inquiry No. 2011/2, further to a meeting of the designated members with representatives of the Permanent Mission of the State party concerned to discuss the modalities of a visit to its territory, that the designated members should continue to engage with the State party on such modalities; (c) In relation to submission No. 2011/4, to grant a one -month extension of the time limit to the State party concerned to submit its observations with regard to the information received by the Committee under article 8 of the Opti onal Protocol; (d) In relation to submission No. 2012/1, to grant a final extension until 30 April 2016 to the sources of information to provide additional information, failing which the Working Group would proceed on the basis of the information at its disposal; (e) In relation to inquiry No. 2013/1, to defer the decision on whether to visit the territory of the State party concerned to the fourth session of the Working Group so as to enable the Working Group first to analyse the visit report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, to be published in June 2016; (f) In relation to inquiry No. 2014/1, to request the designated members to propose new dates for a visit to the territory of the State party concerned in September 2016; (g) In relation to submission No. 2014/2, to grant, on an exceptional basis, a one-month extension of the time limit to the State party concerned to submit its observations with regard to the information received by the Committee under a rticle 8 of the Optional Protocol.

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Chapter VI Ways and means of expediting the work of the Committee
25. The secretariat informed the Committee about the status of submission of overdue reports by States parties under article 18 of the Convention.

Action taken by the Committee under agenda item 7
Dates of future sessions 26. In accordance with the calendar of conferences, the following dates were confirmed for the Committee's sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth sessions and related meetings: Sixty-fourth session (Geneva) (a) As indicated in paragraph 31 of part two of the present report;

Sixty-fifth session (Geneva) (b) (c) (d) (e) Thirty-sixth session of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol: 19-21 October 2016; Fifth session of the Working Group on Inquiries under the Optional Protocol: 20 and 21 October 2016; Sixty-fifth session: 24 October-18 November 2016; Pre-sessional working 21-25 November 2016. group for the sixty-seventh session:

Reports to be considered at future sessions 27. The Committee confirmed that at its sixty-fourth session it would consider the reports of the States parties listed in paragraph 32 of part two of the present report and that at its sixty-fifth session it would consider those of Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burundi, Canada, Estonia, Honduras, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In addition, it would consider Antigua and Barbuda in the absence of a report.

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Chapter VII Implementation of article 21 of the Convention
Working group on rural women 28. The working group met during the session. On 4 March 2016, the Committee adopted general recommendation No. 34 (2016) on the rights of rural women (CEDAW/C/GC/34) by consensus, 2 in accordance with rule 31 of the Committee's rules of procedure. Working group on gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction and climate change 29. The working group met during the session. On 29 February 2016, the Committee held a half-day of general discussion on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction and climate change, with support from the United Nations Office on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Geneva office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, as part of the first phase in the development of a general recommendation on the topic. The discussion was opened by the Chair of the Committee. Opening remarks were delivered by the Director of the Human Rights Treaties Division, OHCHR, Ibrahim Salama; the Special Repre sentative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser; and the Director of the Geneva office of the Foundation, Hubert René Schillinger. The envisaged general recommendation was introduced by the Chair of the working group, Nahla Haidar. 30. The following five expert speakers explored the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction and climate change, including from various regional perspectives: the former Special Representative of the Secretary -General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström; the Assistant Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization, Elena Manaenkova; a professor and expert on earthquake disasters and gender, Shizuoka University, Japan, Keiko Ikeda; a public policy expert, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, Trinidad and Tobago, Asha Kambon; and a representative of CARE Bangladesh, Palash Mondal. 31. Statements were then made by the following States parties: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Gabon, Japan and Peru. Further statements were made by eight civil society organizations (Amnesty International; Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Landesa Center for Women's Land Rights (joint statement); Human Rights Watch; International Baby Food Action Network; International Disability Alliance; and Sightsavers). The representatives of the following 18 States parties attended the general discussion: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile , Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland and Zambia.

__________________
2

The following members were present during the adoption: Gladys Acosta Vargas, Bakhita Al-Dosari, Nicole Ameline, Magalys Arocha Domínguez, Barbara Bailey, Niklas Bruun, Louiza Chalal, Naéla Gabr, Hilary Gbedemah, Nahla Haidar, Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Yoko Hayashi, Lilian Hofmeister, Ismat Jahan, Dalia Leinarte, Lia Nadaraia, Theodora Oby Nwankwo, Silvia Pimentel, Biancamaria Pomeranzi, Patricia Schulz and Xiaoqiao Zou .

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Working Group on the right to education 32. The working group met during the session.

Working group on working methods 33. The working group met during the session and submitted to the Committee draft decisions concerning an enhanced structure of the constructive dialogue and uniform language for the concerns and recommendations, as well as a revised standard paragraph and subheading in concluding observations (see decisions 63/III to 63/VI). Working group on the Inter-Parliamentary Union 34. The working group met during the session.

Working group on the Convention, UN-Women and the Sustainable Development Goals 35. The working group met during the session. It continued its consideration of possible ways and means for the Committee to engage in the follow -up to and review of relevant Sustainable Development Goals, targets and indicators. Working group on gender-based violence against women 36. The working group met during the session. Its Chair provided a briefing on the public symposium on international and regional approaches in tackling violence against women and the private expert group meeting on updating gene ral recommendation No. 19, organized by the Centre for Women Peace and Security, London School of Economics and Political Science, on 4 and 5 February 2016, respectively, which were attended by Ayse Feride Acar, Barbara Bailey, Naéla Gabr, Nahla Haidar and Yoko Hayashi. The working group discussed an advanced draft of the general recommendation, as refined during the expert group meeting.

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Chapter VIII Provisional agenda for the sixty-fourth session
37. At its 1402nd meeting, on 4 March 2016, the Committee considered and approved the draft provisional agenda for its sixty-fourth session.

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Chapter IX Adoption of the report
38. At its 1402nd meeting, on 4 March 2016, the Committee considered and adopted, as orally amended, the draft report on its sixty-third session.

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Annex Documents before the Committee at its sixty-third session
Document number Title or description

CEDAW/C/63/1 CEDAW/C/63/2 CEDAW/C/63/3 Reports of States parties CEDAW/C/CZE/6 CEDAW/C/HTI/8-9 CEDAW/C/ISL/7-8 CEDAW/C/JPN/7-8 CEDAW/C/MNG/8-9 CEDAW/C/SWE/8-9 CEDAW/C/TZA/7-8 CEDAW/C/VUT/4-5

Annotated provisional agenda Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Report of the International Labour Organization

Sixth periodic report of the Czech Republic Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Haiti Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Iceland Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of Japan Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Mongolia Combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of Sweden Combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the United Republic of Tanzania Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Vanuatu

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