A/RES/55/70
Recalling that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration 4 heads of State
and Government resolved to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, 5
Welcoming the progress made in the implementation of the Convention, but
concerned about the remaining challenges,
Welcoming also the growing number of States parties to the Convention, which
now stands at one hundred and sixty-six,
Welcoming further the adoption and opening for signature, ratification and
accession of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, 6 and the subsequent entry into force of the
Optional Protocol, thereby fulfilling a goal of the Beijing Platform for Action, 7
Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women that national reports should include information on
the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, in accordance with
paragraph 323 of the Platform,
Having considered the report of the Committee on its twenty-second and
twenty-third sessions, 8
Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that
continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to
the full implementation of the Convention,
1.
Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General 9 on the status of the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; 5
2.
Expresses disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention
has not been achieved by the year 2000, and urges all States that have not yet
ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so;
3.
Emphasizes the importance of full compliance by States parties with their
obligations under the Convention;
4.
Welcomes the fact that, as at 22 September 2000, ten States had become
parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women,6 thereby allowing it to enter into force on
22 December 2000;
5.
Urges States parties to consider signing and ratifying the Optional
Protocol;
6.
Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses
satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to
limit the extent of any reservations they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any
such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no
4
See resolution 55/2.
Resolution 34/180, annex.
6
Resolution 54/4, annex.
7
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
8
Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/55/38), parts one and
two.
9
A/55/308.
5
2