CEDAW/C/GC/33
United Nations
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
Distr.: General
3 August 2015
Original: English
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women
General recommendation No. 33 on women’s access
to justice
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction and scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
II.
General issues and recommendations on women’s access to justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Justiciability, availability, accessibility, good quality, provision of remedies and
accountability of justice systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
B.
Discriminatory laws, procedures and practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
C.
Stereotyping and gender bias in the justice system and the importance of capacity building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
D.
Education and raising awareness of the impact of stereotypes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
E.
Legal aid and public defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15
F.
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15
Recommendations for specific areas of law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
A.
Constitutional law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
B.
Civil law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
C.
Family law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
D.
Criminal law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
E.
Administrative, social and labour law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
Recommendations for specific mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
A.
III.
IV.
15-13094 (E)
A.
Specialized judicial/quasi-judicial systems and international/regional justice systems
21
B.
Alternative dispute resolution processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
C.
National human rights institutions and ombudsperson offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
011015
*1513094*