[women-rights] UN official says Sudan should adhere to women's anti-discrimination treaty

16 January 2006 -– Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Adviser on
Gender Issues and Advancement of Women today urged rights experts meeting
in New York to encourage Sudan’s adherence to the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
{http://www.hrea.org/erc/Library/display.php?doc_id=483&category_id=31&category_type=3&group=Human%20rights%20treaties%20and%20other%20instruments
}.

Addressing the opening of the three-week session of the Committee charged
with overseeing that pact, Rachel Mayanja pointed out that it had proved
to be a powerful tool for women advocating for change in numerous
war-ravaged countries. During the current session, the experts will
examine reports from Australia, Cambodia, Eritrea, Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Mali, Thailand, Togo and Venezuela, all parties to
the treaty.

The Committee will also continue its work under the Optional Protocol to
the Convention, which provides for a petition and inquiry procedure
regarding violations of the rights of women in States parties to the
Convention and the Optional Protocol.

The Convention, which currently has 180 States parties, requires them to
eliminate discrimination against women in their enjoyment of all rights.
Seventy-two of these States are also party to the Optional Protocol that
establishes a communications and inquiry procedure, providing a
significant incentive to intensify their efforts to eliminate and prevent
discrimination against women in law and in practice.

UN News Service



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