The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this morning launched its general recommendation no. 40 on the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems.

In opening remarks, Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, congratulated everyone involved in the general recommendation. The outdated patriarchal system was at the root of many problems faced today. The power to suppress and silence, to wage war and wreak havoc, was too often wielded by angry egotistical short-sighted men. Women remained starkly underrepresented in decision-making systems. General recommendation 40 put forward immediate, concrete recommendations across the board to make gender parity a reality by 2030. Gender parity could not be partial; it needed to be 50/50.

Presenting the general recommendation, Nicole Ameline, Committee Expert, said general recommendation 40 offered an operational, concrete roadmap accessible to all States and would be accompanied by tools, mechanisms and new solutions. The Committee was counting on States, especially parliaments, civil society and the United Nations system, to build together this necessary transition, without delay.

Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Chair of the Human Rights Committee; Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, United Nations Women; and Martin Chungong, Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union, also gave statements. Countries and civil society then took to the floor to reiterate their support for general recommendation 40.

Speaking in the discussion were France, China, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Ireland, Luxembourg, Burkina Faso, Spain, Chile, Italy, Slovenia, Bolivia, Russian Federation, Egypt, Mexico, Norway, Belgium, Benin, Azerbaijan, Cabo Verde, Nepal, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, South Africa, Algeria, Mauritius, Venezuela, Gambia and Colombia.

Also speaking were: GQUAL Campaign, Women@the table, International Disability Alliance and FUNDACIÓN LEGĀTUM.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-ninth session is being held from 7 October to 25 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’swebpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 5.pm. on Friday, 25 October to close its eighty-ninth session.

More…

https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2024/10/committee-elimination-discrimination-against-women-launches-general-recommendation-40

25 October 2024