The Composition of the CEDAW Committee

Women's groups can also play a role by lobbying their governments to nominate women who are familiar with issues of concern to women, have the grounding, or are progressive, to the CEDAW Committee.

Representation in the CEDAW Committee needs to take into consideration regional balance, rather than nationality per se. This is because at the end of the day, these regional experts will play an important role in bringing your views forward. Given this, it is imperative that interested NGOs contact their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and/or UN missions to receive updated information and lobby for support of particular independent experts, even if they may not be from your country.

The 23 members of the CEDAW Committee are elected for four-year terms, with only half the members being replaced each time elections take place. It is important to monitor these elections as the independence and expertise of the CEDAW Committee members contributes to the progressiveness of this body. Since the Optional Protocol entered into force, there is some concern that governments may be more cautious in nominating candidates, and instead, bring forward candidates from the "establishment".

This page was last updated on June 15, 2003

“IWRAW Asia Pacific is an independent, non-profit, NGO in Special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.”
©IWRAW Asia Pacific
Contact Us | Site Map