COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

Membership

A total of 151 experts have served as members of the Committee since 1982.

Information on membership of the CEDAW Committee from 1982 to present.

The officers of the Committee consist of a Chairperson, three Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur. Office-bearers serve for two year terms and are eligible for re-election "provided that the principle of rotation is upheld".

Membership of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, As of 1 January 2021 and up to 31 December 2024.

* On 6 November 2014, Ms. Chalal was appointed to serve as a member of the Committee for the term of the late Kheira Mahdjoub-Ouiguini (i.e. 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018) who had been elected as a member of the Committee on 26 June 2014 and passed away on 6 September 2014.

** In a letter dated 16 May 2017, Pramila Patten informed the Chairperson of the Committee, Dalia Leinarte, of her decision to resign from the Committee. Ms. Patten had been re-elected as a member of the Committee at the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held on 26 June 2014, for a term that was to expire on 31 December 2018. On 17 May 2017, the Chairperson notified the Secretary-General of Ms. Patten’s resignation. The same day, the Secretary General requested the Government of the Republic of Mauritius to appoint, within a period of two months, another expert from among its nationals to serve for the remainder of Ms. Patten’s term. On 21 June 2017, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius informed the Secretary-General of its decision to appoint Aruna Devi Narain to serve as a member of the Committee for the remainder of the term of Ms. Patten, i.e. until 31 December 2018. On 21 July 2017, the Committee decided to approve the appointment of Ms. Narain, in accordance with article 17, paragraph 7, of the Convention.

*** On 1 March 2018, Ms. Eghobamien-Mshelia was appointed to serve as a member of the Committee for the term of the late Theodora Oby Nwankwo (i.e. 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020) who had been re-elected as a member of the Committee on 21 June 2016 and passed away on 9 December 2017.

The persons elected to the Committee are those nominees who obtained the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States parties present and voting.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is established under article 17 of the Convention. It is composed of 23 experts who are elected by secret ballot by States parties. The Committee is tasked with the review of the reports of States parties submitted in accordance with article 18 of the Convention.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention, which entered into force in December 2000, empowers the Committee to consider communications submitted by individuals or groups of individuals alleging violations of the Convention in States parties to the Convention and the Optional Protocol. The Optional Protocol also entitles the Committee of its own motion to inquire into grave or systematic violations of the Convention in those States parties where this procedure is applicable, in accordance with articles 8 and 10.

Committee members serve in their personal capacities, and not as representatives of the States parties which present their candidature.