The United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (the Committee) is a body of 23 independent experts on women’s rights from around the world, who monitor the progress of UN member states’ efforts to eliminate discrimination against women. Natasha Stott Despoja AO was re-elected to the Committee in June 2024 as an independent member. When first elected in 2020, Ms Stott Despoja was the first Australian to have served on the Committee in almost thirty years, following the Hon Elizabeth Evatt AC. Ms Stott Despoja is the only independent member serving on the Committee from the Oceania region.
Ms Stott Despoja's nomination and election to the Committee was supported by the Australian Government.
Australia’s ninth periodic report to the Committee
All parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (the Convention) are required to periodically report to the Committee on their respective implementation of obligations under the Convention and progress toward eliminating discrimination against women.
Following submission of the periodic report, Australia will be invited to appear before the Committee to speak to the report and respond to any further questions. The Committee will then issue concluding observations on Australia’s implementation of, and reporting on, progress under the Convention. Australia’s ninth periodic report and the Committee’s concluding observations will be published on the official CEDAW website.
Australia’s ninth periodic report is due in 2024 and will respond to Australia’s work across 25 specific themes as defined by the Committee. The list of 25 issues/questions for response are directly related to women’s rights issues in Australia and associated obligations under the Convention. The list of issues process is a targeted alternative to member states reporting on each separate article in the Convention.
In addition and as part of our long-standing commitment to transparency, the Australian Government supports the development of a ‘shadow report’ on the Convention from independent civil society organisations outlining their views on Australia’s implementation of Convention commitments.
Public consultation
The Office for Women invited individuals, women’s rights experts and civil society organisations to provide feedback on the draft of Australia’s ninth periodic report. Public Consultation closed on 26 September 2024. A summary of feedback shared through the public consultation process will be de-identified and submitted to the Committee as an appendix to Australia’s final periodic report.