Thirty-fourth session 
Agenda item 75 

DRAFT CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN 

United States of America: 

New article

Any dispute between two or more States Parties with respect to the interpretation or application of this Convention, which is not settled by negotiation or by the procedures expressly provided for in this Convention, shall, at the request of any of the parties to the dispute, be referred to the International Court of Justice for decision, unless the disputants agree to another mode of settlement. 

Article 19

Sweden: 

Compromise text developed during informal consultations 

Paragraph 1

The States Parties undertake to adopt measures at the national level, including the establishment of procedures, aimed at achieving the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Convention. 

New paragraph 2 

(a) For the purpose of considering the progress made in the implementation of the present Convention a Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women shall be established (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) consisting of eighteen experts of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by this Convention, elected by States Parties from among their nationals, who shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as the principal legal systems; 

(b) The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by the States Parties. Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals; 

(c) The initial elections hall be held six months after the date of the entry into force of this Convention. At least three months before the date of each election the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a latter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in [ ] order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties; 

(d) Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting; 

(e) The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee; 

(f) For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose expert has ceased to function as a member of the Committee shall appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to the approval of the Committee; 

(g) States Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the members of the Committee while they are in performance of Committee duties. 

New paragraph 3 

(a) The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure; 

(b) The Committee shall elect its own officers for a term of two years; 

(c) The secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations; 

(d) The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place as determined by the Committee. 

New paragraph 4 

States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for consideration by the Committee, a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention and on the progress made in this respect; 

(a) within one year after the entry into force for the State concerned; and 

(b) thereafter every four years and whenever the Committee so requests. 

Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the Convention. 

New paragraph 5 

The Committee shall normally meet for a period of not more than two weeks annually to consider the reports submitted in accordance with paragraph 4 above. 

New paragraph 6 

(a) The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assembly on its activities and, on the basis of the examination of the reports from the States Parties, may make suggestions and general recommendations, including recommendations on the advisability of measures likely to contribute to the effective progressive implementation of the present Convention; 

(b) The Secretary-General shall transmit the reports of the Committee to the Commission on the Status of Women. 

New paragraph 7 

Specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their activities. They shall be entitled to submit reports on the implementation of relevant instruments adopted under their auspices.