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NGO Report on an Effective Mainstreaming Model with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW)
By Nancy Lewis
February 14, 2005
Talking Points
Meeting with CEDAW experts on January 18,
2005
Much hard work went into arranging the meeting with CEDAW and the Commission on the Status of Women
History of SCOW
. Org. in preparation for 1999 Year of Older Persons
. Created by the NGO Committees of Ageing and the Status of Women.
. Began as a task force and then became a caucus on older women in 1999 to highlight the issues of older women.
. After 1999 asked to become a sub committee and so we continue.
How we work:
We became recognizable at meetings, wearing badges, handing out statements and papers and raising issues in all meetings.
CEDAW most important:
. developed Briefing Papers which relate the 12 Critical areas of concern to the CEDAW articles.
. Visited UN Missions of countries reporting writing of issues before visit and bringing with us Briefing Papers.
. Attended CEDAW sessions
. Chair Abaka in 2002 made reference to older women in her report to the Commission
. SCOW sent letter to Chair raising issues of older women in change process in countries
. In January 2003 SCOW was invited to make a statement in front of the CEDAW experts. It was made on our behalf by one of our member groups.
. Meeting with CEDAW experts on issue of general recommendation
. Planned follow up to that meeting - provide experts with country specific information on older women in countries to report.
. Discussed future meeting in Europe on issue of older women and health.
COMMISSION on the STATUS of Women
. SCOW develops statements on issues before the Commission relating them to situation of older women.
. Attend side events to raise concerns of older women
. Sponsor side event - this time on sexuality and the older women on her path to empowerment.
OTHER:
One member, an ambassador of Suriname, made an intervention to the General Assembly in October 2001 in which she highlighted the plight of older women.
I have spoken representing SCOW at international meetings in South Africa, Ecuador and Brussels with members of a research group of the European Commission.
We maintain an email list for dispensing information and gaining info globally.
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