18 Areas of serious concern

Women in Northern Ireland suffered the worst discrimination compared to their counterparts in England, Scotland & Wales

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Report published Friday 29th August 2008
 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

Full information relating to the 41st session can be found @:
 http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws41.htm

Full report United_Kingdom.pdf attached, the UK is not a full signatory to the *Convention (attached, UK-Reservations&declarations.doc)

The Committee . . . .

. . . . is concerned at the situation of immigrant women and women asylum-seekers, who may be subject to multiple forms of discrimination with respect to education, health, employment and social and political participation. It notes that asylum on the grounds of gender-related persecution, including violence against women, is not frequently granted. It also notes that women in insecure immigration status are not allowed to access public funds, particularly health case services, public housing and social security benefits, with particularly negative consequences for victims of violence. The Committee is concerned that proposals to introduce pre-entry English-language tests for people applying for spouse visas may discriminate against certain groups of vulnerable refugees, particularly women.

. . . . that changes in the allocation of Government funding from needs-based to ‘commissioning’ frameworks, and the gender neutral interpretation of the Gender Equality Duty, have negatively impacted on funding to women’s organizations and the provision of ‘women-only’ services, in particular domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres. Despite the establishment by the Government of an interim short-term emergency fund, the Committee notes with concern the impending closure of a number of rape crisis centres, as well as of domestic violence shelters, women’s health organizations and black, minority and ethnic women’s organizations.

. . . . concerned that women of different ethnic and minority communities, including traveller communities, continue to suffer from multiple discrimination, particularly in access to education, employment and health care. The Committee notes that ethnic and minority women are underrepresented in all areas of the labour market, particularly in senior or decision-making positions, have higher rates of unemployment and face a greater pay gap in their hourly earnings compared to men. Women of different ethnic and minority communities are also greatly underrepresented in political and public life. The Committee notes that women of traveller communities experience high numbers of miscarriages and still-births, and have the highest maternal mortality rate among all ethnic groups. It also notes that women of minority and ethnic communities suffer higher rates of depression and mental illness, while women of Asian descent have higher suicide and self-harm rates.

. . . . notes that no measures have been taken by the State party to fully incorporate the Convention into domestic law. The Committee notes the absence of national legislation covering all aspects of the Convention. The Committee further notes, as expressed in its previous concluding observations of 1999, that while the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms has been incorporated into domestic law through the Human Rights Act (1998), the European Convention does not provide for the full range of women’s human rights as enshrined in the Convention, nor temporary special measures as set out in article 4, paragraph 1of the Convention.

. . . . is concerned that there are inadequate structures and mechanisms to ensure the effective coordination and monitoring of the application of the Convention in all territories of the State party.

. . . . notes with concern that many public bodies, including Government ministries, have faced difficulties in developing results-based and action-oriented equality schemes and in mainstreaming gender equality into all policies and processes.

. . . . expresses concern about the number of women in prison, which has increased since the consideration of the State party’s third and fourth periodic reports in 1999, and the large proportion of women who have been imprisoned for committing minor offences, such as theft and the non-payment of television licenses.

. . . . also concerned about the situation of women in prison, particularly in Northern Ireland. It notes the absence of a comprehensive policy for the management of women in prison, including with respect to family visits and childcare arrangements.

. . . . concern that although temporary special measures are provided for in some legislation, they are not systematically employed as a method of accelerating the achievement of de facto or substantive equality between women and men in all areas of the Convention.

. . . . is concerned that the issue of gender equality and discrimination against women, which is of a structural nature, may lose some of its visibility and therefore receive less attention.

. . . . notes with concern the stereotyped media portrayals of women and of women’s roles in the family and in society, which contribute to women’s disadvantaged position in a number of areas, including in the labour market and in access to decision-making positions, and affect women’s choices in their studies and professions. The Committee also notes the lack of positive media portrayals of ethnic and minority women, elderly women and women with disabilities.

. . . . expresses concern, however, at the continuing practice of forced marriages, particularly in ethnic, minority and immigrant communities, the lack of targeted prevention strategies and programmes for women and girls at risk, and the lack of support services for victims.

. . . . expresses concern, however, at the continuing practice of forced marriages, particularly in ethnic, minority and immigrant communities, the lack of targeted prevention strategies and programmes for women and girls at risk, and the lack of support services for victims.

. . . . remains concerned about the absence of a comprehensive national strategy and programme to combat all forms of violence against women and girls. The Committee notes with concern the lack of adequate support and services for victims, including shelters, which is compounded by the funding crisis facing non-governmental organizations working in the area of violence against women and the forced closures of a number of such organizations.

. . . . concerned that women continue to be underrepresented in political and public life, especially in leadership and decision-making positions.

. . . . continues to be concerned, however, about the persistence of occupational segregation between women and men in the labour market and the continuing pay gap, one of the highest in Europe, where current figures show that the average hourly earnings of full-time women employees amount to approximately 83 per cent of men’s earnings. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of available and affordable childcare.

. . . . notes that the Abortion Act (1967) does not extend to Northern Ireland where, with limited exceptions, abortion continues to be illegal with detrimental consequences for women’s health.

. . . . concern about the economic situation of women as a result of divorce and about the lack of specific regulations safeguarding the property rights of women in de facto unions.

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
CEDAW