CEDAW/C/CHE/CO/4-5
women and men and non-discrimination against women are applied in
accordance with article 1 of the Convention.
Women and peace and security
16. The Committee welcomes the State party’s third National Action Plan on
Women and Peace and Security (2013-2016), in line with Security Council
resolution 1325 (2000), which has been developed with the involvement of civil
society actors, and commends the State party for its important role in humanitarian
and development operations. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned about:
(a)
The limited participation and inclusion of women in peace processes;
(b) Insufficient efforts to include a gender perspective in strategies to
prevent violent extremism and counter terrorism;
(c) The negative impact on women of the small arms trade and the export of
arms and munitions to conflict zones, as well as the inadeq uate monitoring of armsproducing corporations with regard to the use of their arms in violence against
women, in line with their obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
17.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Intensify efforts to include women in negotiations and mediation
activities, including at the senior level, and provide technical assistance in
conflict-resolution processes to countries emerging from conflict and promote
the effective participation of women in that regard;
(b) Strengthen its efforts to include a gender perspective in strategies to
prevent violent extremism and build the capacity of women and girls, including
women civil society groups, to engage in efforts to counter terrorism;
(c) Promote the mainstreaming of gender issues in its policy and
operational activities, monitor the impact of the misuse and illicit trade of small
arms and light weapons on women, including those living in conflict zones, and
ensure that arms-producing corporations monitor and report on the use of
their arms in violence against women.
National machinery for the advancement of women and gender mainstreaming
18. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Swiss Centre of Expertise
on Human Rights in 2011 and notes the efforts made by the State party to strengthen
cooperation among relevant institutional structures and mechanisms. Nevertheless,
it is concerned about:
(a) The lack of an overall integrated strategy for gender mainstreaming and
the decision by the Federal Council not to implement gender budgeting;
(b) The absence of a comprehensive national gender equality strategy, policy
and action plan that addresses the structural factors causing persistent gender
inequalities;
(c) The negative impact of budgetary considerations on the human and
financial resources of equality offices or commissions in most cantons, including
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