UN Committee Calls Out Chinese State’s Discrimination Against Women

02-06-2023

Marios Putro

South and East Asia Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

In a report that was made on eight nations, including China, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) announced its findings on May 30th in Geneva (OHCHR, 2023). The CEDAW is a group of impartial specialists from throughout the world that oversees the application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The CEDAW treaty is a weapon for women to use to transform their daily lives globally. In nations that have ratified the treaty, the CEDAW has demonstrated its efficacy in addressing discrimination in areas such as violence, poverty, and a lack of legal protection, as well as the denial of inheritance, property rights, and credit (OHCHR, n.d). 

Concerns about a variety of aspects of Chinese women's rights have been raised by CEDAW. Concerns raised by the Committee include reports of sexual and gender-based abuse by police and other officials against women human rights defenders as well as the registration of non-governmental organizations. China was requested to remove the sponsorship requirement and all other unreasonable limitations on NGO registration. The Committee likewise requested that the State party take steps to prevent intimidation, harassment, and retaliation against women who defend human rights, including when they interact with the Committee. It also urged China to look into and prosecute any police officers or other State agents who had harassed and mistreated women's rights advocates.

In addition, the Committee noted that since October 2022, there have been no women in positions of greater executive authority. Women's representation in political and public life currently stands at 26.54 percent of deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (OHCHR, 2023). In order to hasten the attainment of equal representation of women in the government, the National People's Congress, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the judiciary, and the foreign service, particularly at decision-making levels, the Committee recommended that China adopt temporary special measures, such as statutory quotas and a gender parity system (OHCHR, 2023). This week, Minglu Chen, a senior lecturer in Chinese politics at the University of Sydney, addressed this problem in the ASPI Strategist.: “Introducing an effective gender quota system, addressing barriers such as recruitment criteria and educational disparities, diversifying the CCP and providing more opportunities for women in leadership positions are crucial steps towards increasing female representation in Chinese politics.” The issue, she argues, is due to the government’s treatment of gender equality through an economic lens in which “women are effectively seen as a reserve labour force that contributes to the greater cause of nation-building and economic development.” (Kaufman, 2023)

Additionally, CEDAW has made suggestions to remedy particular rights breaches against Uyghur women. More specifically, CEDAW has suggested China:

[…] Take immediate steps to end, prevent and criminalize the use of coercive measures, such as forced abortions, forced sterilizations, other forms of gender-based sexual violence and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading family planning practices that are allegedly inflicted on women in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and in predominantly Uyghur-populated areas,  ensure that any cases of such practices are effectively investigated without delay and that those responsible are prosecuted and adequately punished and that victims receive adequate compensation (Kaufman, 2023).

Sources and further readings:  

Kaufman, A. (2023). U.N. Committee Calls Out Chinese State’s Discrimination Against Women. China Digital Times (CDT). https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2023/05/u-n-committee-calls-out-chinese-states-discrimination-against-women/

OHCHR. (n.d.). Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cedaw

OHCHR. (2023, May 30). UN women’s rights committee publishes findings on China, Germany, Iceland, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Spain, Timor-Leste and Venezuela. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/05/un-womens-rights-committee-publishes-findings-china-germany-iceland-sao-tome