Regional Workshop for Arab Parliaments on IMPLEMENTING CEDAW AND ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The IPU, the Lebanese Parliament, UNDP and UNESCWA are organizing a Regional Workshop for Arab Parliaments on Implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Ending Violence against Women. The Workshop will be held at the UN House in Beirut, from 27 to 29 July 2010.

The purpose of this Workshop is to help parliaments enhance their knowledge of CEDAW and address their capacities and that of their members to follow up the reporting process, hold regular discussions, monitor the implementation of the Convention and contribute to its enforcement. The Workshop will also focus on parliamentary action on violence against women and examine the status of VAW legislation, strategies and policies in the region. Particular attention will be placed on gender-responsive budgeting, monitoring mechanisms and campaigns as tools to support proper enforcement of VAW legislation.

The Workshop is open to men and women members of parliament and parliamentary staff from UN-ESCWA member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.