Bangkok--16 Jul--UN UN Meeting To Promote Global Women’s Rights Treaty in Asia-Pacific UNESCAP workshop to discuss incorporation of CEDAW into national laws Despite the fact that the vast majority of the countries in Asia-Pacific have ratified a global convention on women’s rights, the level of legal protection of women varies greatly within the region, and often falls short of what the international law requires. A United Nations meeting in Bangkok, 18-20 July, will look at ways to promote gender equality in the region through integration of the international norms — as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) -- into national legislation. The meeting, organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will bring together government officials, academics, lawyers, judges, representatives of non-governmental organizations and UN experts to share experiences and good practices, and to recommend effective ways to surmount challenges to implementing the Convention at national level. A special panel session will be devoted to addressing institutional bias in the judicial process. The UN Committee monitoring the implementation of CEDAW has identified four areas where actions could be taken by governments to incorporate the Convention at national level: constitutional reforms; comprehensive review of all laws that discriminate against women; positive measures to promote women’s political participation; and assurance of political will and sufficient resources to implement policy measures. To date, 45 out of 49 UNESCAP member states within the region have ratified CEDAW. However, discriminatory provisions still exist in national legislations, and laws which protect women’s rights are often poorly enforced. Several countries have opted out of Article 2 of CEDAW -- which obliges States to provide clear legal protection against discrimination -- on the grounds of religion and customary tradition. NOTE TO EDITOR: You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the opening session of the above meeting on Wednesday, 18 July 2007 at 9:00 AM and subsequent sessions in Conference Room B, First Floor of the United Nations Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok. More information on the meeting may be found at: http://www.unescap.org/esid/GAD/Events/EGM-July2007/index.asp For interviews or further information, please contact Ms. Thawadi Pachariyangkun at the UN Information Services, Telephone no. 02-288-1861, Mobile: 081-634-3876. Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052, Email: [email protected] Headquartered in Bangkok, UNESCAP is the largest of the UN's five Regional Commissions in terms of its membership, population served and area covered. The only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia-Pacific region, UNESCAP aims to promote economic and social progress. More information on UNESCAP is available from www.unescap.org. United Nations Information Services Bangkok United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Tel: (+66-2) 288-1866 Fax: (+66-2) 288-1052 E-mail: [email protected]