Membership

A total of 151 experts have served as members of the Committee since 1982.

Information on membership of the CEDAW Committee from 1982 to present.

The officers of the Committee consist of a Chairperson, three Vice-Chairpersons and a Rapporteur. Office-bearers serve for two year terms and are eligible for re-election "provided that the principle of rotation is upheld".

Membership of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, As of 1 January 2025 and up to 31 December 2028.

* In a letter dated 5 September 2024, Maya Morsy informed the Chairperson of the Committee, Ana Peláez Narváez, of her decision to resign from the Committee. Ms. Morsy had been elected as a member of the Committee at the twenty-second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held on 23 June 2022, for a term that was to expire on 31 December 2026. On 11 September 2024, the Chairperson notified the Secretary-General of Ms. Morsy's resignation. The same day, the Secretary General requested the Government of Egypt to appoint, within a period of two months, another expert from among its nationals to serve for the remainder of Ms. Morsy's term. On 24 September 2024, the Government of Egypt informed the Secretary-General of its decision to appoint Nada Moustafa Fathi Draz to serve as a member of the Committee for the remainder of the term of Ms. Morsy, i.e. until 31 December 2026. On 17 October 2024, the Committee decided to approve the appointment of Ms. Draz, in accordance with article 17, paragraph 7, of the Convention.

The persons elected to the Committee are those nominees who obtained the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States parties present and voting.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is established under article 17 of the Convention. It is composed of 23 experts who are elected by secret ballot by States parties. The Committee is tasked with the review of the reports of States parties submitted in accordance with article 18 of the Convention.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention, which entered into force in December 2000, empowers the Committee to consider communications submitted by individuals or groups of individuals alleging violations of the Convention in States parties to the Convention and the Optional Protocol. The Optional Protocol also entitles the Committee of its own motion to inquire into grave or systematic violations of the Convention in those States parties where this procedure is applicable, in accordance with articles 8 and 10.

Committee members serve in their personal capacities, and not as representatives of the States parties which present their candidature.