United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (UNECA) Committee on Women and Development
(CWD)
HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS
The Committee on Women and Development (CWD), previously
known as the African Regional Co-ordination Committee
for the Integration of Women in Development, was
established as a subsidiary organ by the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) under
resolution 826 (XXXII). This is in line with the
system-wide reform of the United Nations as well
as a restructuring process by the UNECA in order
to better respond to Africa’s needs and challenges.
The CWD serves as a forum for experts and policy-makers
that advise the Commission in matters of women’s
advancement.
There are currently 18 governmental members of
the Committee: Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Côte d’ Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania,
Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Intergovernmental organisations such as the African
Union, the African development Bank and the UNECA
are all represented. Additionally, there are numerous
rural, regional and sub-regional non-governmental
organisations as well as resource persons who are
also members.
At present, the Bureau of the CWD comprises of
6 elected members.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS
Department of Social Development
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
Office on the Status of Women in the Presidency
Commission on Gender Equality
Women's National Coalition
RELEVANT TREATIES/PROTOCOLS ETC.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (1979) (RSA ratified: 15 December
1995).
Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1952)
(RSA signed: 29 January 1993).
Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age
for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962)
(RSA acceded: 29 January 1993).
Convention on the Nationality of Married Women
(1957) (RSA signed: 29 January 1993).
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (In
the process of ratification).
SADC Declaration for the Prevention and Eradication
of Violence Against Women and Children (RSA signed:
8 September 1997).
Addendum to the 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender
and Development for the Prevention and Eradication
of Violence Against Women and Children (RSA signed:
14 September 1998).
Optional Protocol on trafficking in Persons, especially
Women and Children to the Convention against Transnational
Crime (RSA signed: during signing ceremony of the
Palermo conference, 12-15 December)
GENERAL COMMENTS
South Africa will automatically become a Bureau
member when it assumes chairmanship of the African
Union in 2002.
