Malaysia’s First Report to the CEDAW Committee: a landmark event for women’s rights in Malaysia

Abstract

Almost ten years after its accession to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995, Malaysia submitted its first periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) in April 2004. This report was a combined initial and second report; the reports were due in 1999 and 2003. Under article 18 of CEDAW, parties are to submit reports on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of [CEDAW] and on the progress made within one year of accession and thereafter at least every four years. The CEDAW Committee considered Malaysia's report at its 35th session in May 2006, and provided its concluding comments on 31 May 2006. Twenty eight non-governmental organisations submitted a joint report (NGO Shadow Report) to the CEDAW Committee, critiquing the government's report, identifying continuing problems concerning gender equality in Malaysia and providing specific recommendations for the Committee's consideration. This article evaluates this landmark event.