CEDAW

AWARE has for several years done extensive work on the Singapore Shadow Report to the UN on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and it is often described as an international Bill of Rights for women.

In signing CEDAW, governments commit to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women. Every four years, signatories are required to send a report to the UN CEDAW Committee describing the steps they have taken to comply with the convention. Singapore ratified the CEDAW convention in October 1995 and has submitted three reports since then.

Singapore CEDAW Reports, July 2001

Singapore CEDAW Report, November 2004

Along with the official report by the government, the UN encourages non-governmental groups such as AWARE to submit CEDAW Shadow Reports. The aim is to get a more comprehensive picture of the lives and status of women in each country.

In May 2007 AWARE submitted its second Shadow Report to the UN. This report got excellent reviews from the UN CEDAW committee in New York.

AWARE CEDAW Shadow Report, May 2007

After receiving each country’s official and shadow report, the UN CEDAW Committee submits Concluding Comments to each country. In its comments to the Singapore government, the UN expressed concern about:

‘ .. the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men within the family and society at large. These stereotypes present a significant obstacle to the implementation of the Convention, are a root cause of violence against women in the private and public spheres, put women in a disadvantaged position in a number of areas, including in the labour market, and limit their access to leadership positions in the political and public life.’

UN CEDAW Committee’s Concluding Comments to Singapore, August 2007

AWARE believes that the CEDAW mechanism is crucial in keeping women’s issues on the agenda. We believe it is necessary and important to use a human rights framework for working towards the advancement of women and eliminating discrimination.

AWARE’s CEDAW Subcommittee continues to work on the next Shadow Report.