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Report on CEDAW to be Tabled in Parliament

March 16, 2004

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Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman has said that a Report on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is to be tabled in Parliament.
The document, which represents Jamaica’s fifth Periodic Report for submission to the United Nations (UN) is comprised of 16 Articles. These include: the definition of discrimination; obligations to eliminate discrimination; the development and advancement of women; acceleration of equality between men and women; sex roles and stereotyping; and the exploitation of women.
Other Articles include: political and public life; international representation and participation; nationality; education; employment; equality in access to health care; social and economic benefits; rural women; equality before the law and in civil matters; and equality in marriage and family law.
Commenting on the Report at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday (March 15), at Jamaica House, Senator Whiteman said: “While women continue to be under-represented at the highest levels of governance, power and decision making, it is nevertheless the case that they are increasingly occupying the largest percentage of the jobs at senior levels in the public sector.”
Citing an example, Senator Whiteman said that “right now the majority of personnel in the Jamaican Foreign Service are women and they hold a number of senior positions”.
He said Jamaica had, over the years, made strides in the improvement of the socio-economic status of rural women, through institutional intervention by the State, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations.
Senator Whiteman said the country had also put in legislative measures to protect women, and that the recent passing of the Property Rights of Spouses Act was one such piece of legislation.
“The Act has certainly made a significant difference as to how women as well as men are treated in respect of the disposal of property on the breakdown or the end of a marriage or union,” he said.

Last Updated: March 16, 2004

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