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Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Convention to End Violence against Women to Visit Member Countries

The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) will ​​ visit member countries, as the Committee of Experts (CEVI) of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Convention of Belém do Pará (MESECVI) to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women decided during a meeting last week at the headquarters of the hemispheric Organization in Washington, DC.

The experts agreed to make a number of changes to the Rules of the Committee, with the aim of strengthening it and increasing the participation of civil society. One of the main reforms to the regulation involves visits to member countries when requested by the state party or when deemed necessary by the Committee. The experts agreed at the meeting to request authorization from Guatemala to carry out a visit given the increase in underage pregnancies in the country.

The Committee of Experts also agreed to send a letter to the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, asking him to apply the C -355 ruling of the Constitutional Court to decriminalize the practice of abortion in certain circumstances.

The CEVI also adopted a Declaration expressing that "the data on violence to which women and girls continue to be victims in the region is alarming." " Physical, psychological and sexual violence, trafficking in women and girls for sexual and labor exploitation, abuse in schools, jobs and health centers and violations of sexual and reproductive rights are still part of the everyday life of girls and women across the region," it adds.

In the statement, the experts reiterated their call on states parties to the Convention of Belém do Pará to "redouble their efforts to provide a strong, effective and sustainable response to violence against women, in accordance with the legal and international political framework."

Upon conclusion of the meeting, chaired by the representative of Mexico, Patricia Olamendi, the new authorities of the Committee were elected. The expert from Colombia, Flor María Díaz Chalarca, was elected Chair, and the experts from Paraguay, Lydia Giménez, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Miriam Roache, were elected as Vice Chairs.

The Committee of Experts is the technical body of MESECVI responsible for the analysis and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention. It is composed of independent experts, appointed by each of the states parties, who serve in a personal capacity.

The Convention on the Prevention , Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará (for the site of its adoption in 1994), provides for the right of women to live a life free of violence and highlights violence against women as a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-350/13