This Joint General Recommendation from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is aimed at clarifying the obligations of States to these Conventions regarding “harmful practices.” The Joint General Recommendation makes specific note of the violence and bias that affect women and girls as well as boys. The Committees urge States to fulfill obligations regarding the rights of boys for their protection and to “prevent gender-based violence and the perpetuation of bias and gender inequality later in their lives.” The Recommendation is also focused on the rights of women and children to protection from violence and updates the content of CEDAW General Recommendation No. 14 on female circumcision.
The document includes a rationale behind the Recommendation, an outline of criteria for determining harmful practices, examples of harmful practices (such as polygamy and child marriage), and a holistic framework for addressing these harmful practices, including the Committees’ recommendations to States.
