Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 20 June (HL780), why they have not nominated a candidate for the forthcoming election to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; and whether they will consider putting forward a candidate for the election in 2024.

The UK strongly supports the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and it is committed to advancing women’s rights. We are committed to the CEDAW process and regularly engage with the UN and the Committee. Ministers consider a range of factors when deciding whether to nominate an independent candidate for election to an international body such as the CEDAW Committee, including the time and resources to mount a campaign, the potential benefits and the impact on other international elections. The Government will decide whether to nominate a candidate for the 2024 election closer to the time, taking these factors into account once again.