..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 29 September 2005
Press Release No: N/47/2005

UNESCAP MEETING AIMS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
BY STRENGTHENING IMPLEMENTION OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

Special focus given to trafficking in women

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – UNESCAP will organize a meeting of experts aimed at combating violence against women and trafficking in women by strengthening its Members’ implementation of legal instruments.

The Expert Group Meeting on the “Promotion and Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) with Particular Emphasis on Violence against Women and Trafficking in Women” will be held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand from 3-5 October.

Experts from nine countries with expertise in such fields as trafficking, international law, and violence against women, as well as representatives of NGOs, UN agencies, and Government offices, are expected to attend. Ms. Hei Soo Shin, a CEDAW Committee member, will participate as a member of the Advisory Committee on the Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Women.

“A major element of UNESCAP programming is combating violence against women, including domestic violence and trafficking in women and girls, as a violation of women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said UNESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su.

The outcome of the meeting will serve as an input to UNESCAP’s work with Member States on violence against women, trafficking in women and women’s rights, as will as an input to the UN Secretary-General’s study on violence against women. The results of the meeting will also be transmitted to the CEDAW Committee for its consideration and possible future action.

According to UNESCAP, the complex and global nature of trafficking in women and its inextricable linkage to violence against women and violations of women’s human rights and discrimination against women, call for a redoubling of efforts by States parties who are obligated by the Convention to protect women’s rights. Other challenges include the issue of trafficking which is a manifestation of transnational organized crime and not always viewed by policy and decision-makers through the lens of human rights. Failure to make the trafficked person the centre of concern will inevitably lead to a further compromise of the person’s human rights and dignity. Clarity on international legal obligations, including those set out in CEDAW, is an important first step in ensuring that the rights and dignity of trafficked persons are protected.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

More information on the meeting may be found at: www.unescap.org/esid/GAD/Issues/Trafficking/EGM2005.asp

For further information please contact:

Ms. Beverly Jones, Social Affairs Officer
Emerging Social Affairs Division
Tel: (66-2) 288-1704; Fax: (66-2) 288-1018
E-mail: jones@un.org

For media inquiries please contact:

Ms. Margaret Hanley, Information Officer
UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: (66-2) 288-1861-66; Fax: (66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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