CEDAW/C/CAN/CO/8-9
Distr.: General
18 November 2016
Original: English
ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women
Concluding observations on the combined eighth and ninth
periodic reports of Canada*
1.
The Committee considered the combined eighth and ninth periodic reports of
Canada (CEDAW/C/CAN/8-9) at its 1433rd and 1434th meetings, on 25 October 2016
(see CEDAW/C/SR.1433 and 1434). The Committee’s list of issues and questions is
contained in CEDAW/C/CAN/Q/8-9 and the responses of Canada are contained in
CEDAW/C/CAN/Q/8-9/Add.1.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee appreciates the submission by the State party of its combined
eighth and ninth periodic reports. It also appreciates the State party’s written replies to
the list of issues and questions raised by the pre-sessional working group and welcomes
the oral presentation by the delegation and the further clarifications provided in response
to the questions posed orally by the Committee during the dialogue.
3.
The Committee commends the State party on its multi-sectoral delegation,
which was headed by Ms. Linda Savoie, Senior Director General of Status of Women
Canada, and also included representatives of the Department of Public Safety
Canada; the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; the Department
of Employment and Social Development Canada; the Department of Justice Canada;
Status of Women Canada; the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada; the Governments of Ontario and Quebec; and the Permanent Mission of
Canada to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee welcomes the progress achieved since its consideration in 2008 of
the State party’s seventh periodic report (CEDAW/C/CAN/7) in undertaking legislative
reforms, in particular the adoption of the following legislation:
(a)
The Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, in 2015;
(b)
The Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, in 2014;
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-fifth session (24 October-18 November 2016).