Key government
achievements in advancing gender equality and eliminating
discrimination against women were highlighted in a new report to
the UN today.
The UK's 7th periodic report sets out the progress the
government has made on women's rights under the United
Nation's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Theresa May said:
"The government is committed to equality for women and
despite progress over recent decades, there is still a long way to go.
"That is why the government is taking action to tackle
the inequalities that women face in all aspects of their lives.
From plans to tackle the gender pay gap with more rights to
flexible working and a new system of flexible parental leave, to
work to tackle violence against women, we are determined that the
next generation of women and girls will have more opportunities
than ever before."
The UK's report to CEDAW sets out the
government's overarching approach to advancing gender
equality and our determination to eliminate discrimination through
the first ever cross-government equality strategy,
'Building a Fairer Britain', published in
December last year.
In particular, the report highlights the government's
ambition to end violence against women and girls both domestically
and internationally. The report also explains the changes
introduced by the Equality Act 2010 in Great Britain which brought
together nine separate pieces of legislation into one single Act
simplifying the law and reducing the administrative burden on
business by making it easier to comply with discrimination law.
062/2011
Notes to Editors
1. The Government published the UK's 7th periodic
progress report to the CEDAW Committee today on the Government
Equalities Office website for the first time.
http://www.equalities.gov.uk/publications_and_research/flexible_working_research.aspx
2. CEDAW is an international Convention adopted in 1979 by the
United Nations General Assembly, one of the nine core
international human rights Conventions. CEDAW provides a framework
and mechanism for women's organisations to challenge
countries on their record in eliminating discrimination. Further
information on CEDAW can be accessed here http://www.equalities.gov.uk/international/united_nations.aspx.
3. The submission of the periodic report is usually followed by
an in depth one-day oral examination by the UN's CEDAW
Committee. This is expected to take place during the early part
2013 in Geneva. NGOs can submit their shadow reports anytime from
now up until 2 weeks before the examination date.
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk