30 July 1992

40th plenary meeting

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Economic and Social Council,

Welcoming the fact that there are now one hundred twelve States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

Noting the importance of the monitoring function of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, as demonstrated most recently in its general recommendation 19 on violence against women, adopted at its eleventh session,

Recalling its resolution 1991/25 of 30 May 1991 and other relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council relating to support for the Committee,

Concerned that the duration of the annual session of the Committee, which is considerably less than that of other treaty bodies, has prevented the timely consideration by the Committee of many of the reports submitted to it by States parties,

Noting with concern that the Convention is the human rights instrument with the most reservations, and welcoming the decision by a number of States parties to withdraw their reservations to the Convention,

1. Supports the request of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for additional meeting time and also supports the proposal that the twelfth session of the Committee should be of three weeks' duration;

2. Recommends that three weeks be allocated for each subsequent session until the Committee removes its backlog in considering reports;

3. Strongly supports general recommendation 19 on violence against women, adopted by the Committee at its eleventh session, and calls on States parties to prepare their reports in accordance with this and other general recommendations of the Committee;

4. Welcomes other general recommendations adopted by the Committee at its previous sessions;

5. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to widely publicize the decisions and recommendations of the Committee.