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United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women - Concluding Observations

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Chile - Concluding observations on the fifth and sixth periodic reports of Chile, adopted by the Committee at its fifty-third session (1 - 19 October 2012) - Concluding Observations [2012] UNCEDAWCO 22; CEDAW/C/CHL/CO/5-6 (12 November 2012)




United Nations
CEDAW/C/CHL/CO/5-6
G124748401.wmf
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
Distr.: General
12 November 2012
Original: English

Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Concluding observations on the fifth and sixth periodic reports of Chile, adopted by the Committee at its fifty-third session (1–19 October 2012)

1. The Committee considered the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Chile (CEDAW/C/CHL/5-6) at its 1071st and 1072nd meetings (CEDAW/C/SR.1071 and 1072), on 2 October 2012. The Committee’s list of issues and questions is contained in CEDAW/C/CHL/Q/5-6 and the responses of the Government of Chile are contained in CEDAW/C/CHL/Q/5-6/Add.1.

A. Introduction

2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its detailed combined fifth and sixth periodic reports. However, it regrets that the report generally lacked statistics disaggregated by sex and qualitative data on the situation of women in a number of areas covered by the Convention, in particular in respect of women belonging to disadvantaged groups. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its written replies to the list of issues and questions raised by the Committee’s pre-sessional working group, and the responses to the questions posed orally by the Committee. It regrets, however, that the common core document is outdated.

3. The Committee commends the State party for its high-level delegation, which was headed by the Director of the National Service for Women (SERNAM), Minister Carolina Schmidt Zaldivar, and included the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Chile to the United Nations in Geneva, Pedro Oyarce, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Defence, Social Development, Economy, Education, Health, Labour and Agriculture, the Police and the Judiciary. The Committee appreciates the constructive dialogue that took place between the delegation and the members of the Committee.

B. Positive aspects

4. The Committee welcomes the progress achieved since the consideration of the State party’s fourth periodic report in 2006 (CEDAW/C/CHI/4) in undertaking legislative reform, in particular the adoption of the following:

(a) Acts Nos. 20.255 (2009) and 20.336 (2009) to protect domestic workers;

(b) Act No. 20.480 (2010) amending the Penal Code to include femicide;

(c) Act No. 20.418 (2010) on sexual and reproductive health;

(d) Act No. 20507 (2011) on human trafficking, which includes definitions of the offences of trafficking and smuggling of migrants;

(e) Act No. 20.430 (2011) to protect the rights of refugees;

(f) Act No. 20.609 (2012) against discrimination.

5. The Committee commends the State party for improving its institutional framework aimed at accelerating the elimination of discrimination against women and promoting gender equality, such as the adoption in 2010 of the Gender Agenda (2010–2014) as a new operational plan of SERNAM; the third Plan for Equal Opportunities (2011–2020); the adoption of the National Health Strategy (2011–2020); the establishment of the Inter-Sectoral Panel on Trafficking in Persons in 2008 and the National Institute of Human Rights in 2010.

6. The Committee welcomes the fact that, in the period since the consideration of the previous report, the State party has ratified or acceded to the following international and regional instruments:

(a) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008);

(b) The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (2008);

(c) Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2008)

(d) International Labour Convention (ILO) No. 169 (1989) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (2008);

(e) The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to abolish the death penalty (2008);

(f) The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (2009);

(g) The Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons (2010).

7. The Committee commends the State party as it has now adhered to the nine major international human rights instruments.

C. Principal areas of concern and recommendations

8. The Committee recalls the obligation of the State party to systematically and continuously implement all the provisions of the Convention and views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding observations as requiring the priority attention of the State party between now and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee urges the State party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on actions taken and results achieved in its next periodic report.

National Congress

9. While reaffirming that the Government has the primary responsibility and is particularly accountable for the full implementation of the obligations of the State party under the Convention, the Committee stresses that the Convention is binding on all branches of Government and invites the State party to encourage the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, in line with their procedures and where appropriate, to take the necessary steps with regard to the implementation of the present concluding observations between now and the next reporting process under the Convention.

Definition of equality and non-discrimination

10. While noting that the new anti-discrimination legislation includes the prohibition of discrimination based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, the Committee remains concerned that the State party failed to incorporate into this legislation a comprehensive definition of discrimination against women in accordance with article 1 of the Convention, and the principle of equality between women and men in accordance with article 2 (a). Furthermore, the Committee notes with concern that, while the Convention refers to the concept of equality, the terms “equality” and “equity” are used in the State party’s plans and programmes in such a way as could be interpreted as being synonymous or interchangeable.

11. The Committee calls on the State party to:

(a) Adopt a comprehensive legal definition of all forms of discrimination against women, covering both direct and indirect discrimination, and establish, in its Constitution and/or other legislation, the principle of equality between women and men in accordance with article 2 (a) of the Convention, with a view to achieving formal and substantive equality between women and men;

(b) Take note that the terms “equity” and “equality” are not synonymous or interchangeable and can lead to conceptual confusion and that the Convention is directed towards eliminating discrimination against women and ensuring de jure and de facto (formal and substantive) equality between women and men.

National machinery for the advancement of women

12. While commending the State party for its efforts to strengthen the financial resources of SERNAM, the Committee is concerned about the insufficient coordination of SERNAM with the Parliament and civil society and that disadvantaged women are not sufficiently included in SERNAM programmes, action plans and policies.

13. The Committee recommends that the State party enhance its coordination with the National Congress and civil society and fully include all disadvantaged women in the design and implementation of public policies and programmes, in line with article 2 (1) of the new anti-discrimination law.

Temporary special measures

14. The Committee notes with concern that the Parliament has refused to include affirmative action in the new anti-discrimination law and thus deprives the State party of the means to accelerate the achievement of substantive equality between women and men in all areas of the Convention, especially in areas where women are underrepresented or disadvantaged.

15. The Committee calls on the State party to consider using temporary special measures in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 25 (2004) on temporary special measures, as a necessary strategy to accelerate the achievement of substantive equality in all areas of the Convention, in particular in political and public life where women are underrepresented, as well as in education and employment, to which migrant and indigenous have limited access.

Stereotypes

16. While welcoming the recent legislation providing for parental leave for men (Act No. 20.545), the Committee remains concerned about the persistence of traditional stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and society, which overemphasize the traditional roles of women as mothers and spouses and continue to affect their educational and professional choices. Furthermore, the Committee is gravely concerned that, as acknowledged by the delegation during the dialogue, certain groups of women face multiple forms of discrimination and violence on grounds such as sexual orientation, gender identity, indigenous origin, or being HIV/AIDS positive.

17. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Increase its efforts to assist women and men in striking a balance between family and employment responsibilities, inter alia, through awareness-raising and education initiatives for both women and men on adequate sharing of care of children and domestic tasks;

(b) Transform its recognition of the problem of multiple forms of discrimination into a comprehensive strategy to modify or eliminate stereotypical attitudes, in order to implement the new anti-discrimination law.

Violence against women

18. The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s increased efforts to combat domestic violence, including the amendments of its Penal Code to include the crime of femicide perpetrated by spouses or ex-spouses (Act No. 20.480), and to provide assistance and redress to victims of domestic violence. However, while noting the explanation of the delegation that the condition of “habitual ill-treatment” applies only to psychological violence, the Committee is concerned that the application of this additional requirement for those acts to amount to a criminal offence constitutes a procedural barrier which prevents their prosecution. It is also concerned that the legislation does not contain a specific definition of domestic violence as a criminal offence which covers both psychological and physical violence. Further, the Committee is concerned that sexual harassment is only criminalized as a conduct occurring in the workplace (art. 2 of the Labour Code) and against minors (Act No. 20526).

19. The Committee calls on the State party to:

(a) Amend its law on domestic violence (Act No. 20.066) to include a specific definition of domestic violence as a criminal offence covering both physical and psychological violence and remove the requirement of “habitual ill-treatment” with a view to enabling the criminal investigation of all acts of domestic violence and the prosecution of perpetrators;

(b) Enact legislation to sanction sexual harassment as a criminal offence.

20. The Committee is concerned at the lack of measures taken by the State party to address other forms of violence, such as femicide outside the family sphere and sexual violence. It is also concerned about the effectiveness of measures taken to prevent femicides. Furthermore, the Committee is particularly concerned at the reported disproportionate use of violence by the police, including sexual abuse, against female students during social protests and against women during Mapuche protests. It regrets the absence of prosecution of perpetrators and the failure of the State party to provide access to justice to women victims of such violence.

21. The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Take measures to encourage women to report all incidents of violence, both within and outside the family sphere, including sexual violence;

(b) Establish a comprehensive strategy and action plan to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women, including in the Mapuche and other indigenous communities, and an effective institutional mechanism to coordinate, monitor and assess the effectiveness of the measures taken;

(c) Study all cases of femicides in order to increase the effectiveness of protective measures for women victims of domestic violence;

(d) Develop a system of data collection with regard to all forms of violence against women and inform the Committee, in its next periodic report, of the number of prosecutions undertaken and the number of convictions, sentences and disciplinary measures issued in cases of violence perpetrated by State agents;

(e) Ensure that all forms of violence committed by, or resulting from, actions or omissions by State agents at all levels, including the police, are systematically and duly investigated, that perpetrators are effectively prosecuted and punished with adequate sentences and disciplinary measures, and that victims, especially indigenous women, are provided with reparation or compensation;

(f) Strengthen its judicial system to ensure that women, in particular disadvantaged groups such as indigenous women, have effective access to justice.

Trafficking and exploitation of prostitution

22. While noting with satisfaction the State party’s legislative and institutional initiatives to combat trafficking in women and girls, the Committee expresses its deep concern at the reported lack of preventive measures to address the root causes of trafficking, as well as at the lack of an victim identification mechanism to facilitate the enforcement of the new law, rehabilitation, protection and provision of temporary shelters for women and girls victims of trafficking. Further, the Committee is concerned about the insufficient information about the extent of trafficking in women and girls, in particular internal trafficking from rural to urban areas, and about the lack of information on the phenomenon of exploitation of prostitution in the State party.

23. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Increase its efforts to implement the new legislation on trafficking, in particular with regard to the investigation, prosecution and punishment of traffickers and provide information thereof in its next periodic report;

(b) Ensure systematic monitoring and periodic evaluation of the implementation of the new law, including the collection and analysis of data on both internal and cross-border trafficking and the exploitation of women in prostitution, and include such data in its next periodic report;

(c) Adopt effective referral and identification mechanisms for victims of trafficking;

(d) Provide systematic training to the judiciary, law enforcement and border officials and social workers to ensure strict application of the new relevant criminal provisions, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of acts of trafficking, and systematically inform victims of their rights during legal proceedings;

(e) Increase the number of State-run temporary shelters for women and girls victims of trafficking and provide them with adequate protection and assistance, including through social rehabilitation and reintegration programmes;

(f) Increase its efforts in international, regional and bilateral cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination of trafficking to prevent trafficking through information exchange and to harmonize legal procedures aiming at the prosecution and punishment of traffickers.

Participation in political and public life

24. While commending the State party’s effort to strengthen female political leadership through the establishment of the “600 women leaders for Chile” Programme, the Committee is concerned about the low participation of women in Government, in both chambers of Parliament, the diplomatic service and the judiciary, as well as in the function of mayor and municipal councillor. It regrets that the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes and the lack of temporary special measures continue to impede women’s participation in Parliament and in decision-making positions at the State and municipal levels, including indigenous women. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its concern that the binominal electoral system unfavourably impacts women’s political representation (CEDAW/C/CHI/CO/4, para. 14).

25. The Committee calls on the State party to:

(a) Consider adopting, wherever necessary, temporary special measures, in order to accelerate the full and equal participation of women in public and political life;

(b) Strengthen its efforts aimed at increasing the participation of women in political life at the national and municipal levels, including by conducting awareness-raising campaigns which also target indigenous women, by providing incentives for political parties to nominate equal numbers of women and men as candidates and adequately funding campaigns of women candidates;

(c) Take all necessary measures to initiate the reform of the binominal electoral system and ensure that the study requested from the Office of the Minister and Secretary-General of the Office of the President with a view to formulating a proposal in this regard is undertaken within a clear time frame.

Nationality

26. The Committee is concerned that the exception to the jus soli principle relating to foreigners in transit is systematically applied to migrant women in an irregular situation, irrespective of the length of their stay in the State party, and that, as a result, their children cannot receive Chilean nationality at birth and can only opt for Chilean nationality within a period of one year immediately following their twenty-first birthday.

27. The Committee encourages the State party to:

(a) Review and amend its legislation to ensure that children of migrant women in an irregular situation, who are born in the State party, can acquire Chilean nationality at birth, whenever they are unable to transfer their nationality to the children, as recommended by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW/C/CHL/CO/1, para. 33);

(b) Consider acceding to the international instruments addressing the situation of stateless persons, namely the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961) and the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954).

Education

28. The Committee welcomes the State party’s legislative and institutional measures to promote the continuing school attendance of pregnant teenagers, in particular the introduction of a penalty for schools which exclude students on the ground of pregnancy, the introduction of sex education at secondary level and the establishment of the Adolescent Pregnancy Protection Board. However, the Committee is deeply concerned about the increasing number of teenage pregnancies causing high rates of school dropout; the persistence of school expulsions on the grounds of pregnancy and the limited number of complaints filed thereafter, which translates a lack of awareness of pregnant students; the lack of systematic sex education in school curricula and the persistence of stereotypical bias in the teaching content of two of the seven existing programmes on sex education. The Committee is further concerned about the high illiteracy rates amongst rural and indigenous women.

29. The Committee recommends the State party to:

(a) Intensify its efforts to ensure that pregnant students stay in and return to school during and after pregnancy, including by establishing monitoring mechanisms, enforcing sanctions, informing pregnant students of their rights under the new legislation and enhancing its awareness-raising campaigns;

(b) Include comprehensive programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights as a regular part of the school curriculum, targeting adolescent girls and boys, including in vocational training schools, with special attention to the prevention of teenage pregnancies;

(c) Provide gender training to teachers at all levels of the educational system and remove stereotypes based on gender or sex from the teaching content of all programmes on sex education;

(d) Step up its efforts to establish programmes specifically designed to eradicate female illiteracy among rural and indigenous women and to implement equal education opportunities for rural and indigenous girls.

Employment

30. The Committee notes with satisfaction the enactment of legislation improving the working conditions of domestic workers, with regard to their minimum wage, right to take public holidays and maternity leave, and bill No. 8292-13, which aims at regulating the weekly maximum hours of work. However, the Committee expresses concern at the continuing precarious situation of domestic workers, in particular migrant women, the lack of implementation of the legal framework and the insufficient monitoring of their working conditions.

31. The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Expedite the enactment of the bill No. 8292-13 on the weekly maximum hours of work of domestic workers and ensure that live-in and live-out domestic workers enjoy the same standards in this regard;

(b) Take all the necessary steps to ensure better implementation of its labour legislation regarding domestic workers, including by undertaking systematic labour inspections and conducting awareness-raising activities targeting migrant women in particular;

(c) Set a time frame for the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 (2011) concerning decent work for domestic workers.

32. While noting the State party’s efforts to provide training to women in traditionally male-dominated areas, the Committee remains concerned at the low female participation in the labour market – especially with regard to migrant and indigenous women, the persistent wage gap between women and men and the failure of the State party to incorporate the principle of equal pay for work of equal value into Act No. 20.348 (2009) on the right to equal remuneration, in conformity with ILO standards. While noting that Act No. 20.348 establishes a complaint mechanism, the Committee is particularly concerned about the limited number of complaints filed.

33. The Committee recommends the State party to:

(a) Consider amending its legislation to include the principle of equal pay for work of equal value to narrow the wage gap between women and men in accordance with ILO Convention No. 100 (1951) concerning Equal Remuneration;

(b) Establish effective enforcement mechanisms in order to implement Act No. 20.348;

(c) Increase its efforts to develop measures and programmes aimed at improving the situation of women in the labour market, including for the integration of migrant and indigenous women.

Health

34. The Committee commends the State party for the implementation of the National Plan for Education on Sexuality and Emotional Health, which included extensive training on sexual and reproductive health, the Youth Health Check Strategy and the establishment of teen-friendly areas in 59 municipalities. However, the Committee deeply regrets that all the recent parliamentary initiatives aimed at decriminalizing abortion have failed in the State party, including those where the health or life of the mother are at risk, in cases of serious foetus malformation or rape. While welcoming the statement made by the delegation that the right to life of the mother prevails where her health or life is at risk, the Committee reiterates the concern expressed in its previous concluding observations (CEDAW/C/CHI/CO/4, para. 19) that abortion remains a criminal offence in all circumstances. The Committee is further concerned about reported cases of involuntary sterilization of women with HIV/AIDS in the State party, as well as about cases of HIV/AIDS mandatory testing for pregnant women, although Circular No. A/15/47 (December 2011) explicitly allows women to refuse such a test. In addition, while noting with satisfaction the enactment of legislation on sexual and reproductive rights in 2010 (Act No. 20.418), in the light of the high number of early pregnancies and resulting unsafe abortions, the Committee is concerned about serious gaps in the implementation of Act No. 20.418 and women’s difficulties in access to and availability of contraceptives methods and family planning services.

35. The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Take all necessary measures to provide adequate access to family planning services and contraceptives, including emergency contraception, to prevent early pregnancies and ensure the effective implementation of the new legislation by municipalities;

(b) Ensure that fully informed consent is systematically sought by medical personnel before sterilizations are performed, that practitioners performing sterilizations without such consent are sanctioned and that redress and financial compensation are available for women victims of non-consensual sterilization;

(c) Ensure that medical personnel duly comply with and enforce Circular No. A/15/47 and that pregnant women are informed of the possibility of refusing HIV/AIDS testing;

(d) Review its existing legislation on abortion with a view to decriminalizing it in cases of rape, incest or threats to the health or life of the mother;

(e) Undertake a thorough study which includes statistical data on illegal and unsafe abortions and on their impact on the health and lives of women, in particular those resulting in maternal mortality, and consider using it as the basis for legislative and policy action.

Economic and social benefits

36. While noting with satisfaction the positive impact of the 2008 pension reform on women, the Committee is concerned about the discriminatory calculation system of the pension fund, which, by using life expectancy tables disaggregated by sex, results in a different monthly pension at the time of retirement for those women and men who have equally contributed and accrued equal account balances.

37. The Committee recommends that the State party takes all the necessary measures to review the public pension system with a view to eliminating all elements discriminating against women.

38. Further, the Committee regrets the insufficient information available with regard to the impact of the 2010 earthquake and tsunami on the social and economic situation of women, particularly in rural areas. While noting the information provided by the delegation during the dialogue regarding the adoption of a national action plan on natural disaster management, it is concerned at reports that the reconstruction efforts have not sufficiently taken women’s specific needs into consideration.

39. The Committee calls on the State party to ensure that all programmes and strategies taken in response to earthquakes and other natural disasters, including the forthcoming national action plan, integrate a gender perspective in order to ensure that women, in particular rural women, fully benefit from such measures according to their needs.

Disadvantaged groups of women

40. The Committee is concerned about the social exclusion and vulnerability of migrant women, as well as obstacles preventing them from enjoying basic rights, such as access to social benefits and health-care services, in particular for pregnant women.

41. The Committee recommends that State party:

(a) Take all the necessary measures to improve the economic situation of migrant women, thereby eliminating their vulnerability to exploitation and traffickers and their access to social benefits and health-care services, irrespective of their status, in particular for pregnant women;

(b) Establish mechanisms to monitor regularly the impact of social and economic policies on migrant women and inform the Committee thereon in its next periodic report.

42. The Committee regrets the lack of detailed information in relation to disadvantaged groups of women, such as migrant women, rural women, indigenous women and other women facing multiple forms of discrimination.

43. The State party is invited to provide comprehensive information and statistical data, in its next periodic report, on the situation of disadvantaged groups of women, in particular migrant women, rural women and indigenous women.

Women in detention

44. While noting the statement of the delegation regarding the reform of the prison system and its regulatory framework, the Committee is gravely concerned at the difficult situation faced by women in prison, particularly with regard to their access to adequate health facilities and services.

45. Recalling the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), the Committee calls on the State party to ensure that the reform of the prison system includes a gender perspective and provide adequate health facilities and services for all women deprived of liberty in the country.

Marriage and family relations

46. The Committee notes the statement of the delegation informing it that a bill on de facto unions, which includes same sex relationships, is before the Senate., The Committee is deeply concerned about the persistence of legislation which discriminates against women with regard to the administration of marital property and reiterates its concern that legal reform in this regard has been pending since 1995 (CEDAW/C/CHI/CO/4, para. 9).

47. In line with the general recommendation No. 21 (1994) on equality in marriage and family relations, the Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Expedite, within a clear time frame, the enactment of Bill No. 7567-07 amending the Civil Code and other laws governing the matrimonial property regime, which is currently before the Parliament, ensure that the new matrimonial regime guarantees equal rights to women and men, both during and upon its dissolution, and ensure that women are provided with information that enables them to make an informed choice under the new matrimonial property legislation;

(b) Consider the adoption, as soon as possible, of the new legislation on de facto unions and ensure that its provisions fully respect the principle of non-discrimination and equality between women and men.

National human rights institution

48. While welcoming the establishment of the National Human Rights Institute, the Committee is concerned that it is not compliant with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles).

49. The Committee urges the State party to strengthen and broaden the mandate of the National Institute of Human Rights by amending Act No. 20.045 in accordance with the Paris Principles and provide the institute with sufficient human, financial and technical resources for its effective functioning, a specific mandate on gender equality and a complaints mechanism with the authority to consider and issue opinions and make recommendations on complaints submitted by women alleging violations of their human rights.

Data collection and analysis

50. The Committee welcomes the national efforts to improve the system of data collection and update gender indicators. However, it regrets that these are not fully integrated at the institutional level and that there are still gaps regarding the analysis and use of statistics on gender in the State party. The Committee also regrets the lack of statistical information disaggregated by sex in many areas covered by the Convention.

51. The Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts to establish a comprehensive and unified system of information disaggregated by sex in all areas covered by the Convention. The Committee also recommends that the State party include in its next report statistical data and analysis, disaggregated by sex and by rural and urban areas, indicating the impact of measures taken and results achieved in order to illustrate more comprehensively the situation of women in several areas, in particular with respect to the issue of violence.

Optional Protocol

52. Reiterating its previous concluding observations (CEDAW/C/CHI/CO/4, para. 25), the Committee urges the State party to accelerate its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention in order to facilitate the full enjoyment of the rights guaranteed under the Convention.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

53. The Committee urges the State party, in the implementation of its obligations under the Convention, to fully utilize the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which reinforce the provisions of the Convention, and requests the State party to include information thereon in its next periodic report.

Millennium Development Goals

54. The Committee emphasizes that full and effective implementation of the Convention is indispensable for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It calls for the integration of a gender perspective and the explicit reflection of the provisions of the Convention in all efforts aimed at the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and requests the State party to include information thereon in its next periodic report.

Dissemination

55. The Committee requests the wide dissemination in Chile of the present concluding observations in order to make the people, including Government officials, politicians, parliamentarians and women’s and human rights organizations, aware of the steps that have been taken to ensure de jure and de facto equality of women and the further steps that are required in that regard. The Committee recommends that dissemination extend to the local community level. The State party is encouraged to organize a series of meetings to discuss the progress achieved in the implementation of the present observations. The Committee requests the State party to continue to disseminate widely, in particular to women’s and human rights organizations, the Committee’s general recommendations, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly on the theme “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”.

Follow-up to concluding observations

56. The Committee requests the State party to provide, within two years, written information on the steps undertaken to implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs 19 (a) and 25 (a) and (b).

Preparation of the next report

57. The Committee requests the State party to ensure the wide participation of all ministries and public bodies in the preparation of its next periodic report and, at the same time, to consult a variety of women’s and human rights organizations.

58. The Committee requests the State party to respond to the concerns expressed in the present concluding observations in its next periodic report under article 18 of the Convention. The Committee invites the State party to submit its next periodic report in October 2016.

59. The Committee invites the State party to follow the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents that were approved at the fifth Inter-Committee Meeting of the human rights treaty bodies, in June 2006 (HRI/GEN/2/Rev.6, chap. I). The treaty-specific reporting guidelines adopted by the Committee at its fortieth session in January 2008 (A/63/38, part one, annex I) must be applied in conjunction with the harmonized reporting guidelines on a common core document. Together, they constitute the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The treaty-specific document should be limited to 40 pages, while the updated common core document should not exceed 80 pages.


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