On 18 July 2008, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) published its concluding observations on Lithuania and Slovakia. The Convention Reports begin by praising Lithuania and Slovakia for their legal reforms, which seek to increase gender equality and end discrimination against women. After reviewing some of the positive developments, CEDAW states concerns and makes suggestions on how the State can strengthen their commitment to ending discrimination against women. Some of the concerns raised include: lack of coordination between government sectors, partial participation by government sectors, prevailing stereotypes that discriminate against women, lack of governmental support for crisis clinics, limited access to health care, and few programs that focus on family planning issues. The Convention Report issues recommendations that, if adequately considered and implemented, could help offset or solve some of the aforementioned concerns. The Reports encourage Lithuania and Slovakia to include all branches of the government in the implementation of measures to eliminate discrimination against women. Additional recommendations include: increased allocation of resources to programs that seek to eliminate domestic violence and sex trafficking, a strengthening of legal measures to protect vulnerable groups of women, mandatory sex education classes that educate on family planning, and increased access to an array of contraceptive options.
The final version of all reports will be available on the Treaty Body Database of the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
For the full report on Slovakia, click here (PDF 11 pages)
For the full report on Lithuania, click here (PDF 10 pages)
Compiled from: Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. “Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Lithuania”, “Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Slovakia”, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (18 July 2008).