CWL presented report on gender equality in the Czech republic to the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

CWL presented report on gender equality in the Czech republic to the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

10. 11. 2010

Czech Women lobby (CWL) covers 21 organizations defending women rights. CWL in cooperation with other organizations prepared an  an alternative report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. CWL on monday  - 11th of October, introduced at the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Committee) its statement which is based on the alternative report. CWL sees the greatest weaknesses in under-representation of women in politics, discrimination (often multiple) on the labor market, insufficient institutional support of equality in regional or national politics and unequal access of migrants to public health care. Governmental delegation will present evaluation report about the implementation of the Convention on Thursday.

The Convention was adopted in 1979 by the General Assembly of the United Nations and it is considered as an international declaration of women's rights. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic signed the Convention on 17th of July 1980, in Copenhagen. After the disintegration of the country 1st of hanuary in 1993 the Czech Republic became a member state of the United Nations and on the 19.1.1993 has accepted all related obligations regarding the protection of human rights, including the Convention. By this Czech republic has pledged to incorporate the principles of equality between men and women in the Czech Constitution and in all relevant national legislation as well as to fulfill the equality principles in practice. 

CWL was at the Comission meeting represented by Alexandra Jachanová Doleželová (Gender Studies) and Eva Kavková (European Contact group). "The Czech Republic has been criticized for the low representation of women in decision-making positions (both elected and nominated), likewise at the last meeting which was 4 years ago. Since then no measures were taken which would improve the situation. Zero representation of women in current government is a clear illustration," says Alexandra Jachanová Doleželová, chairwoman of CWL. On the subject of discrimination in employment, she highlights:„Czech Republic is the country with the highest impact of parenthood on women's employment. The employment gap between women with infants and employment of other women is over 40 percent. The reason is the lack of childcare facilities, discrimination and missing options of alternative work arrangements,“ „However, the formal equality in Czech republic is claimed, in practise role of women in society is still just secondary,“ adds Eva Kavková, member of Executive Committee of CWL.

Other topics presented at the meeting were: violence against women (by the League of Human Rights) and reproductive rights and the sterilization of Roma women by European Roma Rights Centre.