9 - 11 June 2006
MENA Regional Conference on the Ratification of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and the removing of reservations

A regional conference for the Middle East and North African (MENA) region on the ratification of the OP-CEDAW and the removing of reservations was held in Rabat, Morocco from 9-11 of June 2006. This conference brought together activists and women’s rights leaders from around the region, including distinguished CEDAW Committee members. The Moroccan Prime Minister and Justice Minister were also special guests at the opening session.

The objectives of this conference were to: (i) launch a regional process to ratify the OP-CEDAW and remove existing reservations; (ii) identify Strategies to implement the CEDAW and encourage full equality between men and women in the region; and (iii) promote common national and regional strategies. Amal Hadi represented IWRAW Asia Pacific and gave a presentation on IWRAW Asia Pacific’s experience in lobbying for the ratification of the OP-CEDAW. Overall the conference was a huge success and the next one is already in the planning! Check our website for continuing updates.

19-30 June 2006
First session of the Human Rights Council. Geneva, Switzerland

The inaugural session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva focussed largely on procedures while addressing some substantive issues. Representatives of over eighty countries and five NGO representatives (154 NGOs attended) spoke at the High Level Segments in the first week. IWRAW Asia Pacific strongly advocated extending the mandate for drafting the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR. In its statements at several sessions of the Council, it also stressed the need for:

• Inclusion of gender equality in the processes, mechanisms and consideration of substantive issues.
• An active role for all stakeholders (including NGOs) in the formulation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, and review of special mechanisms.
• Strengthening the mandate for special rapporteurs.
• Adopting a consistent and holistic approach to promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights that incorporates outcomes of existing review mechanisms into the UPR.
• Ensuring that women’s human rights are not violated in the process of protecting religious and cultural practices.

Other significant outcomes were the adoption of The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances; the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and extension of all mandates and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights for one year.

The first working year of the HRC is critical in that several instruments, mostly notably the Universal Periodic Review mechanism are being defined and operationalised. Special mechanisms under the Human Rights Commission are also being reviewed for decisions on the extension of the mandates. How effective these instruments will be will be shaped by the recommendations of the inter-sessional working groups – NGOs have lobbied hard to be included in the process, and are organising themselves to make effective interventions. The next session of the HRC (18 September – 6 October ’06) will be a defining one. For statements made by IWRAW Asia Pacific at this meeting, see below:

• Statement by IWRAW Asia Pacific on a Unified Standing Treaty Body and Treaty Reporting System. 23 June 2006 . Details
• Statement by IWRAW Asia Pacific on Culture and Religion. 26 June 2006 . Details.
• Joint statement by NGOS, including IWRAW Asia Pacific, on Human Rights Defenders. 26 June 2006 . Details
• Joint statement by the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR, of which IWRAW Asia Pacific is a member. 27 June 2006 . Details.
• Statement by IWRAW Asia Pacific on Universal Periodic Review Mechanism. 28 June 2006 . Details.

Anuradha Rao and Janine Moussa represented IWRAW Asia Pacific.

19-23 June
Annual Meeting of Chairpersons of Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Inter-Committee Meeting

For the fourth year in a row, IWRAW Asia Pacific attended the Annual Meeting of Chairpersons (ACM) of Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Inter-Committee Meeting (ICM). As in past years, IWRAW Asia Pacific contributed to the dialogue by making an oral intervention at the meeting.

The general purpose of these meetings is to gather members from all seven treaty bodies to discuss issues of common interest and to further streamline working methods. The focus of these meetings for the past several years, however, has been to discuss the proposed reforms to the UN treaty body system – specifically the proposed reforms to the treaty body reporting system and of the treaty bodies themselves.

Most significantly, this year’s ACM and ICM meeting resulted in the adoption of new reporting guidelines for treaty bodies! The Working Group on the reporting guidelines, made up of members from all treaty body committees and chaired by the CEDAW Committee’s own Bearte Shopp-Shilling, was deemed acceptable and adopted by all Committees. State Parties will now submit the same common core document to all treaty bodies, and specific treaty specific documents to each treaty body.

No consensus was reached on the proposed reform to the treaty bodies. Various options were discussed, including the proposal to create one standing unified treaty body as put forth in the concept note of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.

28 June 2006
The application of international human rights law in the Lina Joy case (Malaysia)

Lina Joy is a Malaysian citizen who was born a Muslim but came to believe in the Christian faith in 1990 . She then chose to be baptized a Christian on 11 May 1998. The National Registration Department refused to register her change in faith by deleting "Islam" on her national identity card. Because of Malaysia’s dual court system and Malaysian laws on conversion and marriage that apply only to Muslims, Lina Joy is stuck between the secular and Syariah courts, cannot truly profess and practise her chosen faith, cannot solemnise or register a marriage with a non-Muslim in Malaysia, and thus is unable bear a “legitimate” child in Malaysia.

Programme officers Janine Moussa and Jana Rumminger assisted the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), a coalition of Malaysian women’s organisations, in preparing arguments related to CEDAW and other international human rights instruments for JAG’s watching brief submission to the Federal Court. Ongoing technical assistance will be provided on an as needed basis.

29 - 30 June 2006
Fifth Workshop on the ASEAN Regional Mechanism on Human Rights. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Fifth Workshop built on discussions from previous Workshops as well as the Vientiane Action Programme (2004-2010) and Kuala Lumpur Summit (2005). It primarily focused on the human rights-related programmes articulated in the Vientiane Action Programme: (1) Establishment of a commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children; (2) Elaboration of an ASEAN instrument on the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers; (3) Promoting education and public awareness on human rights in the region; and (4) Networking among existing national human rights institutions in the ASEAN region. There was also a session devoted to the progress of the designated Eminent Persons Group in conceptualising an ASEAN Charter and the position of human rights in that Charter.

The establishment of an ASEAN mechanism for human rights and an ASEAN commission for the protection of women and children’s rights, will complement the national and international mechanisms already in place. It also brings the region on par with other regions such as Europe, Africa and the Americas, which have already established regional human rights mechanisms. IWRAW Asia Pacific is interested in contributing to these discussions and ensuring that women’s rights perspectives are taken into account throughout the process.

Shanthi Dairiam and Jana Rumminger participated as observers, providing comments and assistance particularly in the areas of human rights education and women’s rights, including offering suggestions regarding a current research project on laws, policies and institutions relating to women’s rights in ASEAN countries. This event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Center for ASEAN Studies of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (Working Group)

14 July 2006
Discussion on CEDAW Concluding Comments. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organised by SUHAKAM

As a follow up to the first discussion on CEDAW on 9 May 2006, SUHAKAM brought together representatives of NGOs and various government ministries to discuss the CEDAW Committee’s concluding comments from the review of the Malaysian government report at the 35 th CEDAW session, and how Malaysia can move forward and act on the CEDAW Committee’s concluding comments. Shanthi Dairiam was again invited in her capacity as a CEDAW committee member to share her expertise and views at the discussion. Yew Bee Yee, Lee Wei San and Jennifer Hainsfurther attended the discussion.

17 July 2006
The application of CEDAW and the CRC in Shamala Sathiyaseelan case (Malaysia)

Shamala and her husband are Malaysians who were married in 1998 in accordance with Hindu rites. He converted to Islam in November 2002 and then converted their two young sons to Islam without Shamala’s knowledge or consent. Shamala subsequently obtained an interim order from the High Court for custody of the children. Her husband, however, applied to the Syariah Court and obtained a Hadanah (custody) Order. Shamala applied to the High Court for a declaration that the conversion of her two children to Islam by her husband was null and void. In April 2004, however, the High Court judge dismissed her application, acknowledging that the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction to hear her case since she is not a Muslim, but holding that the Syariah Court is the qualified forum to determine the status of the children. In July 2004, the High Court granted both parents joint legal custody of the children and awarded Shamala actual (day-to-day) custody, but with a caveat that Shamala would lose custody if she influences their religious (Islamic) beliefs by, for example, teaching them to eat pork or practise the Hindu faith. 

IWRAW Asia Pacific programme officers Janine Moussa and Jana Rumminger assisted the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), a coalition of Malaysian women’s organisations, in preparing arguments related to CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child for JAG’s watching brief submission to the Court of Appeal. Ongoing technical assistance will be provided on an as needed basis.

7 - 25 August 2006
“From Global to Local”. 36th CEDAW Session. New York , USA

The 36 th CEDAW session was held in New York from 7 August to 25 August 2006 . The CEDAW Committee sat in dual chambers for the 36 th Session, allowing them to review twice the usual number of State parties. The 15 governments reviewed at the 36 th CEDAW session were: Cape Verde, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Georgia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico, Philippines, Republic of Moldova and Uzbekistan .

For the 36th CEDAW session, IWRAW Asia Pacific conducted its regular “From Global to Local” programme. Noting the importance of active civil society engagement in the CEDAW process, this programme aims to facilitate the presence and participation of NGOs from reporting countries. This is done by assisting NGOs with the coordination and dissemination of shadow reports before they arrive in New York , and by providing them with a training/mentoring programme once in New York .

At the 36 th CEDAW session, IWRAW Asia Pacific held for the first time a formal mentoring programme for NGO participants. Maria Herminia Graterol, an IWRAW Asia Pacific resource person, was located in New York for the entire duration of the CEDAW session, and she conducted two full day mentoring sessions and daily de-briefings for NGO participants on the practical aspects of the CEDAW process. This mentoring programme had 27 participants in total from China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Tibe ), Czech Republic, Georgia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mexico, Philippines, Republic of Moldova and Uzbekistan.

We are happy to report that the participants found the mentoring session extremely useful in their efforts to lobby the CEDAW Committee and to influence the Concluding Comments! Some of our participant’s feedback are: “ I wish to express my sincere gratitude to IWRAW Asia Pacific for the exposure given me at the CEDAW meeting ”, " I have read the concluding comments and I am so happy " and “ Thank you very much for your support! ”.

Maria also presented a paper at a parallel event for the disability working group, sharing the experiences and strategies of women’s groups working with the CEDAW Convention and the ICESCR. Click here.

16 August 2006
Gender and Development Course. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

On 16 August 2006 , IWRAW Asia Pacific conducted a training for government officials from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries on “International Instruments, Norms and Standards and the CEDAW Convention”. The objective of this session was to give participants a broad overview of international law in general and on the CEDAW Convention in particular, its uses and applicability. This session was part of a larger two week course on “Gender and Development” organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. Most notably this two week course marked the launching of the Malaysian based NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW). The training was attended by 18 participants from 15 different NAM countries. Resource persons were Janine Moussa and Selvi Palani, from IWRAW Asia Pacific.

17 August 2006
A series of meetings with UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing (Miloon Kothari). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

On 17 August 2006, IWRAW Asia Pacific hosted a series of meetings with United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Mr Miloon Kothari, at its office in Kuala Lumpur . The three meetings were with representatives from Malaysian NGOs, a representative of the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) and IWRAW Asia Pacific staff. After an update from Mr. Miloon Kothari on Special Rapporteurs’ mandates under the newly formed UN Human Rights Council, representatives from the Coalition of Urban Pioneers and Housing, the Marginalised People’s Network and the Migration Working Group outlined the housing situation of vulnerable groups in Malaysia. This included evictions based on antiquated emergency laws, the effects of a policy designed to eliminate squatters in Malaysia by 2005, inadequate housing and high costs of land and housing. At the next meeting, a SUHAKAM Commissioner discussed with the Special Rapporteur how SUHAKAM could act on issues of housing. In the final meeting, IWRAW Asia Pacific strategised on how to support the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations on women and housing to ensure a strong resolution by the UN Human Rights Council, and how best to support national level advocacy to ensure that women, especially victims of violence, enjoy their right to adequate housing.

18 - 20 August 2006
Workshop on Using International and Constitutional Norms and Mechanism to Advance Women’s Reproductive Rights. Kathmandu, Nepal

Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), Nepal and the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), New York organised a “Workshop on Using International and Constitutional Norms and Mechanism to Advance Women’s Reproductive Rights” between 18 and 20 August 2006 in Kathmandu , Nepal . The workshop aimed to facilitate the participants’ understanding on reproductive rights, at the national, regional and international levels. It also aimed to identify strategies for filing public interest litigations on such rights. Eighteen participants, mostly lawyers from NGOs, the National Human Rights Commission and academics attended the Workshop.

Selvi Palani on behalf of IWRAW Asia Pacific participated in the workshop and made a presentation on OP CEDAW and the South Asia Litigation Initiative (SALI). SALI is a pilot programme in five countries in South Asia ( India , Nepal , Pakistan , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ). Through it we aim to explore public interest litigation as an advocacy tool to strengthen women’s human rights. As Nepal is one of the countries of SALI, IWRAW Asia Pacific’s participation at the workshop was also to identify individuals and organisations, which could do comprehensive research on both women’s human rights and on equality and discrimination.

28 - 30 August 2006
International Conference on Mechanisms and Legislation to Promote and Protect Gender Equality. Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .

On 28-30 August 2006, the international conference on “Mechanisms and Legislation to Promote and Protect Gender Equality” was held in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . This conference was organised by Malaysia ’s Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) Penang and the Women Living under Muslim Laws Network (WLUML), in collaboration with the Human Rights Programme at Harvard University . IWRAW Asia Pacific provided technical assistance in the form of compilation of materials on gender equality legislation and identification of potential speakers for the event.

This conference brought together about 30 international and local experts alike to discuss best practices on gender equality legislation and mechanisms from around the world. The Malaysian draft Gender Equality Bill, prepared by Malaysian women’s NGOs, was also unveiled at this conference. This bill was examined at length by the participants and feedback was given. Anuradha Rao, Executive Director of IWRAW Asia Pacific, was one of the key presenters at this conference. Rao spoke on the domestic application of the CEDAW Convention, taking examples from around the world. Three other IWRAW Asia Pacific staff also attended, as participants. On the whole, this conference was very productive and all walked away much more knowledgeable on gender equality legislations and mechanisms.

17 September 2006
Discussion on “CEDAW and its applicability”. Organised by All Women’s Action Society (AWAM). Selangor , Malaysia .

IWRAW Asia Pacific was invited by All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) to conduct an afternoon discussion on CEDAW and its applicability to a group of young Malaysian women writers under its Writers for Women’s Rights Programme (WWRP). 10 participants from the WWRP attended the discussion. The objective of the activity was for the group of women writers under this programme to learn about International Law and CEDAW and its applicability in Malaysia , as well as to educate them on the principles of CEDAW so that it may better inform their local work. The talk was divided into three parts: (i) Introduction Quiz on CEDAW; (ii) International Law & CEDAW Convention; (iii) Malaysia and the CEDAW Review. Janine and Wei San from IWRAW Asia Pacific and Vizla Kumaresan from Women’s Aid Organisation conducted the discussion.

21 September 2006
“Towards Full Implementation of CEDAW”, seminar following up on Malaysia ’s participation in “From Global to Local” and 35 th CEDAW session. Organised by National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) and Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO). Funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands . Petaling Jaya , Malaysia .

The National Council of Women’s Organisations and Women’s Aid Organisation organised a day-long seminar to share with other Malaysian NGOs the experiences of NGO representatives who attended the 35 th CEDAW session in New York , where Malaysia presented its initial and second reports. The objective of the seminar was to disseminate the CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Comments and to strategise about how to advocate for implementation of the Concluding Comments by the Malaysian Government. The morning included an initial presentation about the CEDAW reporting process, feedback from CEDAW Committee member Shanthi Dairiam about the NGOs’ Shadow Report and their advocacy efforts in New York , a talk about reservations based on religious justifications and an overview of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW. After this, the NGOs discussed a draft memorandum to the Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and other key Government actors on full implementation of CEDAW and the Concluding Comments. For a press clipping on this event, click here . IWRAW Asia Pacific was represented by Janine Moussa, who gave a presentation on the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, and Jana Rumminger who attended the seminar as a participant.

27 September 2006
National Workshop on International Human Rights Law & United Nations Systems. Organised by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) and the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia ). Petaling Jaya , Malaysia .

18 - 6 October 2006
Second session of the Human Rights Council. Geneva , Switzerland

IWRAW Asia Pacific intervened on three specific agenda items – reports of the Special Rapporteurs on Health and Housing, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). We have been closely following developments in these areas, and our interventions on all three focussed on a critical inclusion of women’s human rights and gender equality.

For our statement on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Health, click here.

For our statement on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Housing, click here.

For our statement on the UPR, click here.

IWRAW Asia Pacific also co-sponsored a parallel event on the inclusion of women’s rights in the HRC, along with Human Rights Watch, Centre for Women’s Global Leadership and Action Canada on Population and Development.

The second session of the HRC was largely devoted to the presentation of 39 reports by Special Rapporteurs (thematic and country), and reports of the Sub-Commission and the 1503 procedure, pending from the work of the previous Commission on Human Rights. There were intense discussions around the reports of informal working groups (now made formal) that were looking into the UPR, a new mechanism being instituted to review all members of the UN on implementation of human rights in their countries. The intersessional work of the working groups is critical, especially in the light of efforts of several governments to restrict the mandates of Special Rapporteurs, and dilute the UPR mechanism.

Given the shortage of time for covering all reports, and interventions by States and NGOs, there was concerted effort by NGOs to co-ordinate and strategise, not only on making effective interventions, but also on lobbying for a stronger and continued mandate for Special Mechanisms, and an effective UPR.

Anuradha Rao represented IWRAW Asia Pacific at the HRC.

For more information on the HRC, see the following websites:

• OHCHR ( http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/)
• SAHRDC ( http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrcouncil06/index.htm)
• ISHR (http://www.ishr.ch/hrm/council/index.htm

12 – 13 October 2006
Lisbon Civil Society Forum on an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Lisbon , Portugal

A two day civil society forum on the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) was held in Lisbon , Portugal on 12-13 October 2006.

After many years of lobbying, the United Nations Working Group on an Optional Protocol (Working Group) was finally mandated to begin drafting an OP-ICESCR . A first draft of an OP-ICESCR will be presented by the Chair of the Working Group at the next Open Ended Working Group meeting, this next April 2007.

In light of this recent development, members of civil society felt it was imperative to meet and further refine their stand on key issues related to the drafting of an OP-ICESCR (e.g. standing, admissibility, proceedings on the merits). Forum discussions were fruitful and resulted in concrete recommendations for the drafting of an OP-ICESCR. These recommendations will be published in the ‘ Lisbon document’ which will be widely circulated well in advance of the next Open Ended Working Group.

The forum was co-organised by the Steering Committee for the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR and the International Centre on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CIDESC). About 30 participants from around the world were present. Janine Moussa attended on behalf of IWRAW Asia Pacific - a member of the Steering Committee of the NGO Coalition.

9-11 November 2006
Money and Movements. Organised by AWID and Semillas. Querétaro, Mexico .

Anuradha Rao represented IWRAW Asia Pacific at a conference Money and Movements organised by AWID and Semillas from 9 – 11 November 2006, at Querétaro , Mexico . The objectives of the meeting were to:

• Examine funding trends related to gender equality work and support to women’s rights organisations.
• Contribute to promoting a significant increase in access to and amount of funding to support women’s rights work, particularly women’s organisations all over the world.
• Improve the effectiveness of women’s organisations to raise and utilise more funds to build stronger movements and progress gender equality globally.

Approximately 270 representatives of women’s organisations and 50 donors participated at the meeting. Some of the key concerns addressed were the declining funds for work on women’s right; changing priorities of donors, especially bi-lateral and multilateral donors, strategies required of women’s organisations to counter these, and advocacy for a strong, well-resourced women’s agency in the UN.

14-16 November 2006
South Asia Regional Consultation on OP-CEDAW. Organised by AALI. Funded by Ford Foundation New Delhi. Maldives.

A South Asian Consultation on the Optional Protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW) was held on 14-16 November in the Maldives . The main objective of the consultation was to discuss ways to enhance the ratification and use of the OP-CEDAW in South Asia . Specifically the objectives were to raise awareness on the OP-CEDAW; to build skills on its usage and application locally and regionally; to widen the network on human rights activists working with CEDAW as a framework for the realisation of women’s human rights; and to identify and formulate both country and regional strategies to increase demand for ratification of the OP-CEDAW.

Over 30 participants were present from seven South Asian countries. Countries represented were: Afghanistan , Bangladesh , India , Maldives , Nepal , Pakistan , and Sri Lanka . Also present was Shanthi Dairiam, a member of the CEDAW Committee, Eleanor Solo of the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, and other international experts on the OP-CEDAW. The consultation was a success and the group developed a regional action plan. A report of the Consultation is forthcoming.

Janine Moussa, programme officer on the Global Campaign for the Ratification and Use of the OP-CEDAW, attended the consultation on behalf of IWRAW Asia Pacific.

20-22 November 2006
CEDAW Shadow Report Training. Organised by IWRAW Asia Pacific and the UNIFEM CEDAW South East Asia Programme. Jakarta , Indonesia .

In collaboration with the UNIFEM CEDAW South East Asia Programme, IWRAW Asia Pacific conducted a 3-day CEDAW Shadow Report training from 20 – 22 November 2006 in Jakarta , Indonesia . The objectives of the training were to build the capacity of NGOs on:  

• Understanding the significance, scope, content and uses of CEDAW;
• Compiling a List of Critical Issues for the CEDAW Committee’s pre-session meeting in February 2007;
• Writing an NGO report to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee for the 39th Session in August 2007; and
• Being resource persons on CEDAW, especially in terms of promoting and facilitating the NGO Shadow Report.

The participants, NGO representatives from Jakarta and Aceh, went through an intensive 3-day training on the CEDAW Convention which comprised of three parts: (i) Key features and basic principles of CEDAW, (ii) Mechanisms and procedures under CEDAW which included the role of the CEDAW Committee, the reporting process, specific interventions that NGOs can carry out within the CEDAW reporting process as well as pre/ post CEDAW review, and (iii) Planning and writing the NGO shadow report. The final part was conducted in the form of a write-shop utilising IWRAW Asia Pacific’s guidelines on how to write a shadow/alternative report.

Rozana Isa and Tashia Peterson conducted the training on behalf of IWRAW Asia Pacific.

5-7 December 2006
Training and Consultation on CEDAW in the Context of Armed Conflict. Kalutara , Sri Lanka .

IWRAW Asia Pacific, in collaboration with the Sri Lankan NGO Women & Media Collective, organised a two-day training on CEDAW in the context of armed conflict and a one-day consultation on a proposed General Recommendation on women and armed conflict.

During the two-day training, women from local NGOs who will write a Sri Lankan NGO CEDAW Shadow Report came together to discuss the use of the CEDAW Convention in advancing the human rights of women and explore how to incorporate the issues relating to the conflict into the Shadow Report. In the one-day consultation, participants looked at the significance of CEDAW General Recommendations and the CEDAW Committee’s process of drafting them, brainstormed elements that might be included in a General Recommendation on women and armed conflict, and strategised around how to encourage the Committee to draft and adopt such a General Recommendation.

Shanthi Dairiam served as the Resource Person for both the training and the consultation.

10-16 December 2006
Regional Training of Trainers on CEDAW. Bangkok , Thailand .

IWRAW Asia Pacific conducted a seven-day Regional Training of Trainers on CEDAW that was designed to expand the pool of resource persons in the Asia Pacific region who can conduct trainings and provide technical assistance on CEDAW at the local and national levels in collaboration with IWRAW Asia Pacific.

The training was attended by 24 participants from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka, as well as the Executive Director (Anuradha Rao) and four Programme Officers (Lee Wei San, Janine Moussa, Selvi Palani and Jana Rumminger) from IWRAW Asia Pacific. Participants gained an understanding of the social construction of gender and the systemic nature of discrimination; the law and its potential to empower women; the international human rights system, including its monitoring frameworks, treaties and treaty bodies, reporting processes and special procedures; the theoretical framework behind the CEDAW Convention and its basic principles and procedures; and how the Convention can be applied in the local context through a rights-based approach.

Shanthi Dairiam, Maria Herminia Graterol and Shireen Huq served as resource persons for the training.