An Analysis on the 24th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women : How to Strengthen the Functions of the Committee

This paper analyzes activities of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter "CEDAW" or "the Committee"). CEDAW is the monitoring body of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter "the CEDAW Convention" or "the Convention"). That is, in accordance with Article 18, the Committee oversees how States Parties implement the Convention to their domestic spheres by considering reports submitted by States Parties. This was the only the measure for the Convention to guarantee domestic implementation, and it was often described as the "weakest teeth" among all human rights treaties sponsored by the United Nations. Lacking semi-judicial functions, CEDAW cannot determine whether States Parties have violated the Convention or order them to take appropriate measures of remedy. First, I will review the agenda and administrative works of the 24th Session of CEDAW, which was held from 15 January through 2 February 2001. This year CEDAW has welcomed the second male member since 1984, a Swedish professor of international human rights law. Second, I will examine the three decisions adopted by the Committee at the end of this session. These decisions include the adoption of the draft rules of procedure, which had been revised in order to meet the new tasks of the Committee after the Optional Protocol to the Convention entered into force in December 2000. Third, I will examine the procedure problems regarding the consideration reports submitted by States Parties. The issues of so-called "Back-log" of reports, guidelines in preparing for reports, and the management of meetings by CEDAW will be discussed. Finally, I will conclude that, given current conditions of the number of States Partis and the resources avaialble for CEDAW, there is no measure to improve drastically the consideration process of States Parties, but enforcing cooperation with the Commission on the Status of Women, a Commission which discusses women's rights issues every year.5KJ00005058152論文Articledepartmental bulletin pape