Eliminating all forms of discrimination against women oct 2013 |09 October 2013

Government remains fully committed to promoting women’s rights

A high-level seven-member delegation led by Designated Minister Vincent Meriton,  who is also the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports, left the country for Geneva, yesterday, to take part in the 56th session of the Committee of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Seychelles’ involvement in the CEDAW session which will run until October 18, is seen as an important milestone in the implementation of the convention and a clear testimony of government’s commitment to promote the protection of women’s rights in Seychelles.

The delegation comprises social affairs principal secretary Linda William-Melanie, social affairs special adviser Marie-Josée Bonne, Tessa Siu-Robert from the ministry’s gender secretariat, Vipin Mathew Benjamin from the office of the Attorney General, the chairperson of the non-governmental civil society body Marie-Nella Azemia and, the chairperson of the gender commission Monica Servina.
 
Seychelles has submitted its initial state party report, an amalgamation of the first, third, fourth and fifth periodic reports, covering progress made in promoting women’s rights from 1993 to 2009.

CEDAW is the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world. Seychelles acceded to the CEDAW without any reservation in 1992. The country also signed its Optional Protocol in 2002 and ratified it in 2011.

With the exception of seven countries, namely the United States of America, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Iran, and two small Pacific island nations – Palau and Tonga – all other countries in the world have ratified the CEDAW agreement.

Discussions on the state report from Seychelles will take place tomorrow with the main focus being on constitutional, legislative and institutional framework, access to justice by women, the national machinery for the advancement of women, stereotypes, violence against women, human trafficking and prostitution, political participation and decision-making, education, employment, among other pertinent points highlighted in the report.  
 
Seychelles is categorised as having a very high level of human development, ranking 46th in the 2013 Human Development report, with a decent standard of living. Since the national parliamentary elections in 2011, Seychelles’ global ranking rose to fifth in the world in regard to the proportion of women in national parliament, surpassed only by Rwanda, Andorra, Cuba and Sweden. The proportion of women holding the posts of chief executive officers has increased from 36% to 44%. The number of women holding the post of principal secretary has increased from 44% to 45%. At district administrators level women’s representation has increased from 67% to 70%.

The present government cabinet has three female ministers holding the portfolios of education, health, and employment and human resource development.

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most common and pervasive forms of discrimination against women and girls in the society. The government has adopted a policy and strategy with the highest level of political commitment, and a working group has been put in place to monitor the implementation of a national action plan. With support from the European Union, a proposed Domestic Violence Bill aimed at criminalising domestic violence is being developed. The Bill focuses on domestic violence and is not limited only to violence against women and girls but also provides protection to male victims of domestic violence.

The ministry has announced that as from next year it will be holding a series of district level forums to encourage the community to take part in the drafting process of the Bill.

In addition to that, the ministry has managed to secure the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes’ (UNODC) support to formulate a Plan of Action (2014-2016) on promoting the rule of law and human security in Seychelles. The plan of action outlines several areas including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). It will include the setting up of a one stop centre for survivors of SGBV, as well as establishing a pilot perpetrator programme to reduce the level of repeated crime and ensure safety of SGBV survivors.

As part of activities for the commemoration of 16 Days of Activism next month, Seychelles plans to join the UN Women’s global ‘COMMIT campaign to End Violence Against Women.’
The UNODC has also helped the government with work to complete the national strategy and proposed Trafficking in Persons Bill now in the process of being validated.