Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women: Request for extension to Jersey

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A decision made on 18 July 2019

MINISTERIAL DECISION REFERENCE: MD-ER-2019-0047
DECISION SUMMARY TITLE: Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women – Request for extension to Jersey
DECISION SUMMARY AUTHOR:	Head of International Compliance	IS THE DECISION SUMMARY PUBLIC OR EXEMPT?		Public
REPORT TITLE: N/A
REPORT AUTHOR OR NAME OF PERSON GIVING REPORT:	N/A	IS THE REPORT PUBLIC OR EXEMPT?		N/A
DECISION AND REASON FOR THE DECISION: The Minister for External Relations, acting on behalf of the Government of Jersey, supported the decision to formally request extension of the UK’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (“CEDAW”). The work undertaken to have CEDAW extended to Jersey was a cross-Government effort, which the Ministry of External Relations helped to co-ordinate. CEDAW is a core UN human rights treaty and the Government of Jersey supports its extension to Jersey. It contains a wide range of requirements to promote gender equality that cut across policy responsibilities in many different areas in the Government. The Attorney General has now completed his review of Jersey’s ability to comply with its obligations in respect of CEDAW and has advised that the Convention can now be extended to Jersey. The UK Government Equalities Office has also considered Jersey’s compliance with requirements of CEDAW and has confirmed that it will support its extension to Jersey. A formal request for extension of CEDAW to Jersey can now be made through the official channel.
RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS: There are no resource implications arising from this Ministerial Decision.
ACTION REQUIRED: External Relations shall take the necessary steps to process the formal request for the extension through the official channel.
SIGNATURE: SENATOR IAN GORST			POSITION: MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS

DATE SIGNED			EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE DECISION