United Nations CEDAW/C/SYR/2 Convention on the Elimination Distr.: General 25 October 2012 of All Forms of Discrimination English against Women Original: Arabic Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Second and third periodic reports of States Parties Syria*,** * According to information referred to the States Parties on the preparation of their reports, this document was not officially prepared. ** Attachments to this report may be examined in the files of the Secretariat. NY.13-20756 (E) 040313 080313 GE.12-46945 (E) 120312 CEDAW/C/SYR/2 Contents Page I. Preface ........................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 III. Several indicators regarding the Syrian Arab Republic .................................................................. 5 A. Demographic indicators .......................................................................................................... 5 B. Economic indicators ................................................................................................................ 5 C. Normative and institutional framework for strengthening and protecting human rights .......... 8 IV. Responses to recommendations contained in the concluding remarks of the Committee ............... 11 V. National body concerned with monitoring all Convention issues and other tasks .......................... 17 VI. Articles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women .... 24 Articles 1–3. .................................................................................................................................. 24 Article 4. Temporary special measures .......................................................................................... 27 Article 5. Behavioural and social patterns of men and women ...................................................... 28 Article 6. Prohibition of the exploitation of women ....................................................................... 31 Article 7. Women’s participation in political and public life .......................................................... 32 Article 8. Participation of women in diplomacy and international organizations ........................... 45 Article 9. Nationality ..................................................................................................................... 47 Article 10. Education ..................................................................................................................... 49 Article 11. Employment ................................................................................................................. 62 Article 12. Equality in the field of health care ............................................................................... 66 Article 13. Equality in other areas of social and economic life ...................................................... 77 Article 14. Rural women ................................................................................................................ 78 Article 15. Equality before the law ................................................................................................ 82 Article 16. Equality in matters relating to marriage and family relations ....................................... 83 Article 29. Arbitration of any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the Convention ..................................................................................................................................... 86 VII. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 91 2 NY.13-20756 GE.12-46945 CEDAW/C/SYR/2 I. Preface 1. The Syrian Arab Republic, in fulfilment of its obligation concerning international conventions, submits herewith its second and third periodic report on progress achieved in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It does so despite the difficult circumstances and challenges it is facing after a popular movement that arose in 2011 and made just demands for change and reform was quickly exploited by armed terrorist groups supported and financed by foreign powers. These powers have sought to destabilize families and endanger the security and safety of citizens. As a result, Syria has had to pay a heavy price in lives and property, particularly infrastructure. It was therefore incumbent upon the State to discharge its responsibilities to safeguard the security and lives of its citizens in the face of these groups. The crisis has continued to intensify. Its repercussions have been amplified by political pressure, the economic blockade, unjust sanctions and biased media campaigns. This situation has had and will continue to have adverse effects on the development process and human rights. In such circumstances, women are harmed the most, directly or indirectly. II. Introduction 2. The Syrian Arab Republic submitted its first report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention on 15 September 2005. 3. This document comprises the second and third periodic reports of the Syrian Arab Republic. It was prepared by the Formulation Committee and Supervision Committee, which were formed under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 4907 of 2011 based on the recommendation of the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs. The Formulation Committee provided all information needed to prepare and formulate the report and to amend it based on the comments it received. The Supervision Committee reviewed the proceedings of the Formulation Committee, which comprised representatives of the following Government and non-governmental bodies: the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Reform, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ministry of Local Administration, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Religious Endowments, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Central Bureau of Statistics, Planning and International Cooperation Commission, General Women’s Federation and non-governmental organizations (the Association for Women’s Role Development and the Nada Association). 4. The Supervision Committee included, in addition to the entities mentioned above, included representatives of the Youth Union, Pioneers Organization, Farmers’ Union, General Federation of Workers’ Unions and Syrian National Students’ Union. 5. The Syrian Arab Republic ratified a number of conventions and protocols on the protection of human rights in the period following the discussion of the first report (see annex 1). 6. The Syrian Arab Republic submitted reservations to articles 20 and 21 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Decree No. 12 of 2007 (see annex 2). The Syrian Government’s reservations to several articles of the Convention are NY.13-20756 3 GE.12-46945 CEDAW/C/SYR/2 the subject of serious study at the governmental and non-governmental level, particularly given that some of these reservations do not conflict with the Syrian Constitution. 7. The Syrian Arab Republic has recently taken major, qualitative steps to implement a comprehensive national reform programme that meets legitimate popular demands, including: an end to the state of emergency (see annex 3); the elimination of the Supreme State Security Court (see annex 4); and the promulgation of a series of laws that entrench democracy and human rights, including the Parties Law (see annex 5), General Elections Law (see annex 6), Local Administration Law (see annex 7) and Media Law (see annex 8). The aforementioned laws are required under Syria’s new Constitution (see annex 9), the draft of which was approved in a referendum by a majority of Syria’s citizens (89.4 per cent of the 57.4 per cent of the electorate who voted). 8. The completion of the new Constitution is the culmination of the people’s struggle on the road to freedom and democracy. The new Constitution embodies the gains that have been achieved and responds to the changes and transformations that have occurred. It is a guide that regulates the Government’s path towards the future and the activity of its institutions. It is a source of legislation based on basic principles that entrench independence, sovereignty, the rule of the people based on elections, political and party pluralism, protection of national unity, cultural diversity, general freedoms, human rights, social justice, equality, equal opportunity, citizenship and the rule of law. In addition, Law No. 19 of 2012 on the Combating of Terrorism was issued. The aforementioned law defines terrorist activity and a terrorist organization and covers terrorism financing and the penalties for carrying out or promoting a terrorist act (see annex 10). 9. The laws mentioned above went into effect immediately. Dozens of parties were licensed, including the Solidarity