Reports by Specialized Agencies on the Implementation of the Convention in Areas Falling Within the Scope of Their Activities
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CEDAW/C/68/2 Distr.: General 2 August 2017 Original: English only ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Sixty-eighth session 23 October-17 November 2017 Item 6 of the provisional agenda Implementation of articles 21 and 22 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Reports by specialized agencies on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities Report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Summary In accordance with article 22 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the specialized agencies of the United Nations have been invited to submit to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, at its sixty-eighth session, reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities. CEDAW/C/68/2 I. Introduction 1. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), at its 68th session, to be held from 23 October to 17 November 2017 in the United Nations Office at Geneva, will examine the national reports of the following countries: Burkina Faso, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Guatemala, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Monaco, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Paraguay and Singapore. 2. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the alleviation of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, and communication and information. In accordance with UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013, gender equality has been designated as one of the two global priorities of the Organization and continues to be global priority for the period 2014-2021. The Priority Gender Equality is pursued through a two-pronged approach, (i) gender specific programming and (ii) mainstreaming of gender equality perspectives in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence. 3. UNESCO has a major role and responsibility within the United Nations system for the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Article 10 of the Convention provides that “the States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education…”. The right to education is at the very heart of UNESCO's mission and represents an integral part of its constitutional mandate. 4. UNESCO’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment, women’s rights and gender equality are guided by UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021, UNESCO’s quadri-annual and bi-annual Programme and Budget documents, UNESCO’s organization- wide Priority Gender Equality Action Plan for 2014-2021 which supports and guides the implementation of its global “Priority Gender Equality”, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action as well as resolutions and international and regional instruments relevant to UNESCO’s areas of action. 5. UNESCO’s commitment to pursue the priority Gender Equality is facilitated by the Division for Gender Equality in the Office of the Director-General. As the UNESCO focal point for gender equality, the Division provides policy guidance and recommendations to the senior management and the Programme Sectors for mainstreaming gender equality considerations in UNESCO policies, strategies and programmes; carries out capacity- building; monitors gender parity and work-life balance within the Secretariat and develops and establishes partnerships with other UN bodies, regional bodies, IGOs, NGOs, private foundations and private sector partners that support women’s empowerment and gender equality initiatives. II. Measures taken by UNESCO to implement the provisions of CEDAW in the countries to be considered at the 68th session Burkina Faso 6. Burkina Faso has been a party of the UNESCO Convention against discrimination in Education of 1960 since 4 September 2012. The country did respond to the Eighth Consultation of Member States on the Implementation of the Convention. The country reported having a clear constitutional and legislative framework that enshrines the right to education as well as the principle of non-discrimination; that constitutional laws and legislative texts prohibiting discrimination in education have been adopted; that progressive expansion of a free and compulsory education system is in place with increased access and educational opportunities for all and at all levels, especially for vulnerable populations; etc. In particular, the country reported on policies on free school books and on development of 2 CEDAW/C/68/2 centers for continuing education and policies that aim to help teachers with housing. In 2012 Burkina Faso adopted National Strategy to Accelerate Girls’ Education 2012-2022. 7. Article 1 of the Constitution of Burkina Faso of 1991 as amended up to 2012, proclaims that all the Burkinabe are born free and equal in rights. All have an equal vocation to enjoy all the rights and all the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Discrimination of all sorts, notably those founded on race, ethnicity, region, color, sex, language, religion, caste, political opinions, wealth and birth, are prohibited. 8. Article 18 of the Constitution guarantees the right to education: Education, instruction, professional training, work, social security, housing, sport, leisure, health, protection of Maternity and of Infancy, assistance to the aged or handicapped persons and those in social cases, and artistic and scientific creation, constitute the social and cultural rights recognized by the Constitution which sees to their promotion. 9. The Education Act, section 3 guarantees that everyone living in Burkina Faso shall have the right to education without discrimination on any ground such as sex, social origin, race, religion, political opinions, nationality or state of health. This right shall be exercised on the basis of equity and equal opportunities for all citizens. 10. In accordance with the Education Guidelines Act, the education system of Burkina Faso aims at ensuring the development of the spirit of solidarity, integrity, fairness, justice, loyalty, tolerance and peace. The system also aims at cultivating the respect for others, especially gender equity, and cultural diversity. Pre-primary education is for children from 3 to 6 years, it lasts for 3 years and is not compulsory. Basic education is compulsory for all children of Burkina Faso aged between 6 and 16 (from the first year of primary education to the third). Basic public education is free. Basic education comprises of primary and post- primary (secondary) education. Primary education starts at 6 years and lasts for 6 years, organized in three cycles. Secondary education starts at 12 years and lasts for two, three or four years depending on the courses chosen (general, technical or professional). The higher education functions on the principle of long studies, varying from two, three and five years and is organized in public universities and institutes. 11. Several gender equality related projects within UNESCO programmes have been implemented in Burkina Faso. The project “Promoting literacy programmes and non-formal education programmes of good quality in the Sahel countries” aimed at strengthening the national capacities of the Sahel countries with an illiteracy rate of more than 50% to scale up in relevant and gender-sensitive quality literacy programs. The project encouraged new education policies and practices in Burkina Faso through the lens of gender equality and women’s empowerment. In addition, the project considered the specific circumstances and needs of women and girls with no or low literacy skills in the implementation and scaling- up of gender responsive literacy policies, plans and actions. 12. The project “Reinforcement of the national capacities for training of teachers in Burkina Faso“ supported the strengthening of the capacities of teachers and educational managers in Burkina Faso, through several activities including: 1) training of trainers on different pedagogical techniques; 2) the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the quality of teaching and learning; 3) training of managers of teacher training institutions on planning, monitoring and evaluation and human resources management. The project expected systematic revision of national policies and programs for professional development of education staff inter alia from gender perspective. 13. The project “Promotion of the access to information and media for girls and young women from the rural and urban communities in Burkina Faso“ is focused on the role of women in economic development in line with increasing interest among civil society in Burkina Faso. Through ICT and Knowledge Societies’ Fora, the project aimed at integrating gender equality strategies and practices for the capacity building of women and girls. The project also reinforced gender-inclusive access to information and knowledge. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 14. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is not a party of the UNESCO Convention against discrimination in Education of 1960. The country however did respond to the 3 CEDAW/C/68/2 Eighth Consultation of Member States on the Implementation of the Convention. The country reported having a clear