CEDAW Mechanism

CEDAW mechanism is composed of four main elements as below:

CEDAW Committee
Country Reports
Concluding Comments
Shadow Reports

The Convention obliges States Parties to submit to the Secretary-General a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures that they have adopted to implement the Convention within a year after its entry into force and then at least every four years thereafter or whenever the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) so requests. These reports, which may indicate factors and difficulties in implementation, are forwarded to the CEDAW Committee for its consideration.

The Committee has adopted guidelines to help states prepare these reports. According to these guidelines, the initial report is intended to be a detailed and comprehensive description of the position of women in that country at the time of submission; it is meant to provide a benchmark against which subsequent progress can be measured. Second and subsequent national reports are intended to update the previous report, detailing significant developments that have occurred over the last four years, noting key trends, and identifying obstacles to the full achievement of the Convention.

Following consideration of each State Party report, the CEDAW Committee formulates concluding comments which outline factors and difficulties affecting the implementation of the Convention for that State Party, positive aspects, principal subjects of concern and suggestions and recommendations to enhance implementation of the Convention.

The reporting process is public. The specialised agencies of the UN are entitled to representation, and the Committee may invite these agencies to submit reports for its consideration. In addition, the Committee receives information informally from non-governmental organisation (NGOs). While some do attend the Committee's sessions, there are no formal procedures that allow the Committee to receive information or representation from NGOs

(Source: CEDAW Briefing Kit. UNIFEM and UNICEF, UN DAW website)