CEDAW/C/GC/27
(2004) of the Committee, to ensure that older women participate fully and effectively in the
political, social, economic, cultural and civil life, and any other field in their societies.
30.
States parties have an obligation to ensure the full development and advancement of
women throughout their life cycle in times of both peace and conflict, as well as in the
event of any man-made and/or natural disaster. States parties should therefore ensure that
all legal provisions, policies and interventions aimed at the full development and
advancement of women do not discriminate against older women.
31.
States parties’ obligations should take into account the multidimensional nature of
discrimination against women and ensure that the principle of gender equality applies
throughout women’s life cycle, in legislation and in the practical implementation thereof. In
this regard, States parties are urged to repeal or amend existing laws, regulations and
customs that discriminate against older women, and ensure that legislation proscribes
discrimination on the grounds of age and sex.
32.
In order to support legal reform and policy formulation, States parties are urged to
collect, analyse and disseminate data disaggregated by age and sex, so as to have
information on the situation of older women, including those living in rural areas, areas of
conflict, belonging to minority groups, and with disabilities. Such data should especially
focus, among other issues, on poverty, illiteracy, violence, unpaid work, including caregiving to those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, migration, access to health care,
housing, social and economic benefits and employment.
33.
States parties should provide older women with information on their rights and how
to access legal services. They should train the police, judiciary as well as legal aid and
paralegal services on the rights of older women, and sensitize and train public authorities
and institutions on age- and gender-related issues that affect older women. Information,
legal services, effective remedies and reparation must be made equally available and
accessible to older women with disabilities.
34.
States parties should enable older women to seek redress for and resolve
infringements of their rights, including the right to administer property, and ensure that
older women are not deprived of their legal capacity on arbitrary or discriminatory grounds.
35.
States parties should ensure that climate change and disaster risk-reduction measures
are gender-responsive and sensitive to the needs and vulnerabilities of older women. States
parties should also facilitate the participation of older women in decision-making for
climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Stereotypes
36.
States parties have an obligation to eliminate negative stereotyping and modify
social and cultural patterns of conduct that are prejudicial and harmful to older women, so
as to reduce the physical, sexual, psychological, verbal and economic abuse that older
women, including those with disabilities, experience based on negative stereotyping and
cultural practices.
Violence
37.
States parties have an obligation to draft legislation recognizing and prohibiting
violence, including domestic, sexual violence and violence in institutional settings, against
older women, including those with disabilities. States parties have an obligation to
investigate, prosecute and punish all acts of violence against older women, including those
committed as a result of traditional practices and beliefs.
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