Page created 13 October 1999
http://www.nwjc.org.au/signup.htm
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UNITED NATIONS
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
SUBMISSION IN SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIA SIGNING AND RATIFYING THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL
CALL FOR ENDORSEMENTS FOR THIS SUBMISSION BY NON GOVERNMENT
ORGANISATIONS
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the NWJC Optional Protocol Briefing Page
This call for endorsements began on
13 October 1999 and concludes at 5pm Eastern Summer Time on Friday 17th December 1999
Take this link to the
endorsement form below
to the address below by .The submission below has been prepared by Susan Brennan, YWCA of Australia. The submission is consistent with previous strongly endorsed submission prepared by the National Women's Justice Coalition and the Women's Rights Action Network Australia, prior to the finalsation of the Optional Protocol by the UN.
BACKGROUND
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is now open for signature by the Australian government.
The Optional Protocol gives individual women and groups of women a right to complain to a United Nations Committee where their rights under the Women’s Convention have been violated. This right of complaint will only be available where all other remedies in Australia have failed. An expert United Nations Committee will make findings and, where appropriate, recommend actions by Australia to remedy discrimination against women.
The rights covered by the Women’s Convention include political participation, health, education, employment, marriage and family relations and equality before the law. The Convention confers special protection for rural women.
The Optional Protocol also gives the United Nations Committee a right to investigate grave or systematic violations of women’s human rights.
The Optional Protocol is now an integral part of the international treaty system protecting women’s human rights. Access to the Optional Protocol may result in repeal of discriminatory legislation, changes to discriminatory policies and practices by government and the private sector, and increased awareness of women’s human rights.
The Australian government has conducted consultations with State and Territory governments and with non government organisations in relation to the Optional Protocol. Signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol is an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to women’s equality.
For Australian women not adequately protected by Australian laws from discrimination and human rights violations, the Optional Protocol is their last resort.
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN SUBMISSION IN SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIA SIGNING AND RATIFYING THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL FOR ENDORSEMENT BY NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
Australian non government organisations call on the Australian government to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women without delay.
Eight reasons why
1. Some Australian women are not adequately protected from discrimination by our national and state laws. For those women who fall through the gaps, the right of complaint under the Optional Protocol is an important supplementary protection for their fundamental human rights.
2. The right of complaint is only available where no remedy exists in Australia or all other avenues of complaint within Australia have failed.
3. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women offers special protection for rural women, recognising the particular problems faced by women in rural areas.
4. Australia has signed onto similar Protocols in relation to torture and political rights. None of these Protocols has caused unmanageable or unreasonable numbers of complaints.
5. Consultations with the States and Territories and non government organisations have already been conducted. No additional consultation is required for Australia to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol.
6. The Optional Protocol creates no new rights. Australia is already under a legal obligation to protect women’s human rights. The Optional Protocol simply provides for enforcement of those rights.
7. Many women of the Pacific do not enjoy the human rights protection of many Australian women. Signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol will show important leadership for the region.
8. Signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol is an important demonstration of commitment to women’s equality in Australia.
ENDORSEMENT FOR THE SUBMISSION IN SUPPORT OF
AUSTRALIA SIGNING AND RATIFYING THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL
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I, ................................................................................................................................................. [name and position] of
.................................................................................................................................................... [organisation if applicable]
address: ...................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................State/Territory: .................................................
P'code ....................................
Ph: ( ) Fax: ( ) Email:
I endorse as (tick as appropriate)
( ) an individual
( ) on behalf of my
organisation
[You may endorse in both capacities].
Signed: .................................................. on [date] ......................................
Please email the completed form to natoffice@ywca.org.au or fax to 02 62 30 5156 or post to: