cedaw committee
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was established in 1982 and consists of 23 members. These members are "acknowledged as experts of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention." This Committee is responsible for monitoring the progress of countries in implementing CEDAW. At every session, the Committee reviews national reports from States that have ratified CEDAW. It has taken an active role in ensuring that reproductive rights are recognized across the globe.
Zambia
In 2011, the CEDAW Committee addressed violations of reproductive rights in Zambia and outlined recommendations for the government to promote reproductive health and freedom. The CEDAW Committee:
Kenya
The CEDAW Committee had similar recommendations for Kenya regarding reproductive rights in 2011, including urging the government to:
Zambia
In 2011, the CEDAW Committee addressed violations of reproductive rights in Zambia and outlined recommendations for the government to promote reproductive health and freedom. The CEDAW Committee:
- "called upon the government to raise awareness about legislation that legalizes safe abortion under certain circumstances;
- urged the government to further strengthen women’s health by ensuring access to post-abortion care services and to reduce maternal mortality by increasing access to healthcare facilities and medical assistance;
- mandated the expansion of efforts to increase knowledge of and access to affordable contraceptive methods;
- urged Zambia to eliminate sexual abuse in schools, punish its perpetrators, and to establish sexual health curriculum in schools, focusing especially on early pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS."
Kenya
The CEDAW Committee had similar recommendations for Kenya regarding reproductive rights in 2011, including urging the government to:
- "take all necessary measures to improve women’s access to reproductive health care and related services;
- strengthen its efforts to reduce the incidence of maternal mortality and to raise awareness of and increase women’s access to health-care facilities and medical assistance by trained personnel, especially in rural areas;
- provide women with access to quality services for the management of complications arising from unsafe abortions;
- strengthen and expand efforts to increase knowledge of and access to affordable contraceptive methods throughout the country and ensure that women in rural areas do not face barriers in accessing family planning information and services;
- widely promote education on sexual and reproductive health and rights targeted at adolescent girls and boys, with special attention to the prevention of early pregnancy and the control of STIs, including HIV/AIDS."
- Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. United Nations. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/committee.htm>.
- The CEDAW Committee Urges States to Protect and Promote Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Center for Reproductive Rights, 16 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://reproductiverights.org/en/feature/the-cedaw-committee-urges-states-to-protect-and-promote-sexual-and-reproductive-rights>.