United Nations
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
CEDAW/C/GC/31-CRC/C/GC/18
Distr.: General
14 November 2014
Original: English
Convention on the Rights of
the Child
Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women
Committee on the Rights of
the Child
Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on
the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general
comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the
Child on harmful practices
Contents
Page
I.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
II.
Objective and scope of the joint general recommendation/general comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
III.
Rationale for the joint general recommendation/general comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
IV.
Normative content of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
V.
Criteria for determining harmful practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
VI.
Causes, forms and manifestations of harmful practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
A.
Female genital mutilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
B.
Child and/or forced marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
C.
Polygamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
D.
Crimes committed in the name of so-called honour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Holistic framework for addressing harmful practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
A.
Data collection and monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
B.
Legislation and its enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
C.
Prevention of harmful practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15
D.
Protective measures and responsive services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
VIII.
Dissemination and use of the joint general recommendation/general comment and reporting . .
23
IX.
Treaty ratification or accession and reservations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24
VII.
14-64765 (E)
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*1464765*