Guidelines
for Submission of Information: Inquiry Procedure
Below is
an outline of the basic information that the CEDAW Committee
would require before considering initiating an inquiry.[1] It
is important to bear in mind that the information submitted
to the Committee need not be limited to the categories provided
below.
1.
Information on the author(s):
Although submissions of information may be made anonymously,
it is recommended to include details of the organisations and
individuals who have gathered the data and authored the letter
addressed to the CEDAW Committee. This would allow the Division
for the Advancement of Women, its secretariat, to check that
the information is reliable and thus avoid unnecessary delays.
Contact
details may include:
-
Name
of person/organisation
-
-
2.
Information on the inquiry
-
Indicate
that the information being submitted is to be considered by
the CEDAW Committee under the Inquiry Procedure
-
Indicate the State party concerned
-
Indicate whether the communication relates to (a) grave, (b)
systematic or (c) grave and systematic violations of women’s
human rights under the CEDAW Convention
-
If
possible, include a one-page executive summary of the inquiry
3.
Nature of the alleged violation(s)
Prepare a detailed submission to the CEDAW Committee. You may
want to include the following:
-
Description
of alleged violation(s): dates, place, harm suffered or to
be prevented
-
Indicate the provisions of the CEDAW Convention that were
allegedly violated. If the inquiry refers to violations of
more than one provision, describe each issue separately.
-
Information on victims and/or impact of the violations. Include
as much detailed information as possible for the CEDAW Committee
to assess the pattern or extent of violations. Alleged violations
must be gross and/or systematic.
-
Information on the alleged perpetrator(s)
-
Include
information about the steps taken by the victims or their
families to obtain remedies, including complaints filed with
the police, other officials or independent national human
rights institutions. Include information about steps taken
by officials to investigate the alleged violations and to
prevent similar acts in the future. If a complaint has been
filed, include information about the action taken by the authorities,
the status of investigations at the national level at the
time the information was submitted to the CEDAW Committee
and/or how the results of the investigation are inadequate
-
Information or actions or omissions taken by the State party
to remedy the situation(s). If you are submitting information
about violations committed by private individuals or groups
(rather than government officials) include any information
which might indicate that the government failed to exercise
due diligence to prevent, investigate, punish, and ensure
compensation for the violations
-
Additional information such as statistics, information on
discriminatory laws and policies. If your submission concerns
a law or policy rather than a specific incident, summarise
the law or policy and the effects of its implementation of
women’s human rights.
4.
Recommended action to address and remedy the violation(s)
5. List of documents attached (do not send originals,
only copies)
Note:
Since
the CEDAW Committee has not developed any guidelines for submission
of information under the Inquiry Procedure, we have used the
sample complaints forms developed by:?(i) The CEDAW Committee
(E/CN.6/2002/CRP.1) http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/protocol/crp1-communic.pdf
and ? (ii) The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women,
its Causes and Consequences <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/women/womform.htm>
as guidelines to develop this format.
This
page was last updated on February 12, 2005
“IWRAW
Asia Pacific is an independent, non-profit, NGO in Special consultative
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