From 8 to 26 May 2023, the 85th session of the CEDAW, the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, took place at Palais des Nations, in Geneva.
For this period, Spain presented its ninth report based on a previous list of issues prior to reporting (LoIPR) sent by the Committee in 2019 and adopted by the pre-sessional working group.
Among these prior to reporting issues, there were unsolved general questions as information and statistics on the current situation of women; or measures taken by the State party to ensure the visibility of the Convention; or the current status of legal education and regular training for law enforcement officials on the Convention and its application, besides the problem of the succession of the Spanish crown. Requirements made to the Spanish state were issues like elimination of stereotypes, gender-based violence against women, trafficking and exploitation of prostitution; measures taken to achieve equality in several ambits, as participation in political and public life; education; employment and economic empowerment; health; and disadvantaged groups of women; or measures of protection to refugee and asylum-seeking women or inside marriage and family.
After the LoIPR, it was expected that the Spanish State send the report in 2020, but it sent it in 2022, due to the pandemic. The report took into consideration the demanded issues above. In addition, several organisations from civil society sent the so called shadow reports addressing omissions, deficiencies, or inaccuracies in the official government reports, and the ombudsman sent some considerations.
On May 16th 2023 the consideration of Spain took place at Palais des Nations, in Geneva, with an oral presentation by the Spanish delegation, and on May 30th the Cedaw published the concluding observations, giving recommendations to the Spanish State regarding unsolved issues.
In the final issues, the committee regrets that the State party upholds its reservation concerning the succession to the Spanish Crown.
It is relevant to notice that, although the committee recognises advances and achievements, the areas of concern and recommendations referred to all areas. The Committee also encourages the State party to use the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and to further evaluate the realization of the rights enshrined in the Convention in order to achieve substantive equality between women and men, and to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, to which it is not yet a party.
The Committee requests the State party to provide, within two years, written information on the steps taken to implement the following recommendations:
- 18 (c) Ensure that a gender perspective is systematically integrated into the development and implementation of climate change mitigation policies and, if necessary, revise existing policies accordingly;
- 27 (a) Ensure the prompt adoption of the draft organic law on trafficking and exploitation of human beings and strengthen its focus on prevention and protection against trafficking, continuing its close collaboration with civil society;
- 39 (a) Adopt a national organic law in consultation with representatives of the Roma community, ensuring that women and men are equally represented in these consultations;
- 41 (d) Strengthen steps taken to reinforce the international protection system, such as the opening of two police offices in Ceuta and implementation of the new digital system for case follow-up.
Know more
What is the CEDAW?
https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cedaw
What are the Treaty bodies?
https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies
May 2023