CEDAW/C/BRB/CO/5-8
National human rights institutions
17. The Committee notes the role of the Office of Ombudsman and the
establishment of a standing National Human Rights Coordinating Committee to
evaluate that role and the possible need to establish a separate institution, in
accordance with the principles relating to the status of nat ional institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles). However, the
Committee is concerned at the current absence of an independent national human
rights institution in the State party.
18. The Committee recommends that the Office of the Ombudsman
incorporate a gender perspective into its work. The Committee further
recommends that the State party establish an independent national human
rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles, with a mandate to
promote and protect women’s rights.
Temporary special measures
19. The Committee is concerned at the absence of a comprehensive strategy for
adopting and implementing temporary special measures to achieve substantive
equality of women and men in the State party in all areas of the Convention where
women are underrepresented or disadvantaged, including political and public life,
education, employment and health.
20. In line with article 4 (1) of the Convention and recalling its general
recommendation No. 25 (2004) on temporary special measures, the Committee
recommends that the State party:
(a) Develop a comprehensive strategy for adopting and implementing
temporary special measures to achieve substantive equality of women and men
in the State party;
(b) Provide capacity-building to all relevant State officials and
policymakers and to political parties, in particular on the concept of temporary
special measures and their adoption and implementation, including time-bound
goals and quotas, directed at achieving substantive equality of women and men
in all areas in which women are underrepresented or disadvantaged, including
in political and public life, education, employment and health.
Stereotypes
21. The Committee remains concerned at the persistence of deep-rooted
patriarchal attitudes and discriminatory stereotypes concerning the roles and
responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society, which perpetuate
the subordination of women in the family and in society, which is reflected in the
educational and professional choices of women, their limited participation in
political and public life and in the labour market and their unequal status in family
relations. The Committee recalls that such discriminatory stereotypes are also root
causes of gender-based violence against women and notes with concern that the
State party has not yet taken sustained measures to modify or eliminate
discriminatory stereotypes.
22. The Committee reminds the State party that high-level public officials
must take a leadership role in the elimination of patriarchal attitudes and
discriminatory stereotypes and recommends that the State party:
(a) Put into place, without delay, a comprehensive strategy, with
proactive and sustained measures targeting women and men at all levels of
society, to eliminate discriminatory stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes
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