Press Release

Concluding Observations Concerning Women in Israel

5 March 2012

UN Committeeon Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – 2011
CEDAW/C/ISR/CO/5 5/4/2011

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

24. The Committee notes with concern that the 2003 Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), as amended in 2005 and 2007, remains in force and has been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court. The Committee reiterates its concern that this Law, which suspends the possibility, subject to limited and subjective exceptions, of family reunification, especially in cases of marriages between an Israeli citizen and a person residing in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, has recently been extended for another six months and thus continues to adversely affect the marriages and right to family life of Israeli Arab women citizens and Palestinian women from the Occupied Territories.

25 . Recalling its previous recommendation (CEDAW/C/ISR/CO/3, para. 34), the Committee calls on the State party to balance its security interests with the human rights of persons affected by such policies, and to reconsider them with a view to facilitating family reunification of all citizens and permanent residents. To this end, it calls on the State party to bring the 2003 Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) of 31 July 2003 into line with articles 9 and 16 of the Convention.

32. The Committee notes the measures taken by the State party to enhance women’s participation in political and public life, including Government Resolution No. 1362 (2007) determining that equal gender representation shall be achieved in the boards of Government corporations, within two years of the Resolution, as well as the creation of a list of women qualified to serve as directors in Government corporations and other public bodies, including Israeli Arab women. While welcoming the increase in the number of women in the Knesset and the fact that women now constitute the majority of judges in the judiciary, the Committee is concerned that gaps remain between women’s and men’s representation in certain areas of political and public life, including in local councils/authorities, academia and the foreign service. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned at the continued low level of representation of Israeli Arab women in these areas. In this respect, the Committee notes with interest the two bills on the funding of political parties and on local authorities (elections).

33. The Committee recommends that the State party pursue sustained policies aimed at the promotion of the full and equal participation of women in decisionmaking in all areas of public, political and professional life. It recommends that the State party fully utilize the Committee’s general recommendation No. 23 and calls upon the State party to adopt temporary special measures, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 25, in order to accelerate the full and equal participation of women in public and political life. To this end, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Establish concrete goals and timetables so as to accelerate the increase in

the representation of women, including Israeli Arab women, in elected and appointed bodies in all areas of public life, where parity has not yet been reached…

34. The Committee acknowledges the progress made in the field of education for women and girls. However, the Committee is concerned that Israeli Arab and Bedouin women and girls remain in a disadvantaged and marginalized situation, including with regard to drop-out rates and access to institutions of higher education. It is also concerned about women’s disproportionately low presence in engineering and technical fields in higher education. While noting some efforts made, the Committee is further concerned that elimination of gender stereotypes from textbooks has not been prioritized, including in the Arab education system.

35. The Committee calls on the State party to enhance its compliance with article 10 of the Convention and to raise awareness of the importance of education as a human right and as the basis for the empowerment of women. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Take the necessary measures, including the use of temporary special measures, in accordance with article 4 and the Committee’s general recommendation No. 25, to reduce the drop-out rates of Israeli Arab and Bedouin girls and increase the number of Israeli Arab and Bedouin women at institutions of higher education, inter alia through the provision of scholarships;

(b) Take effective measures to actively overcome the de facto segregation in the fields of education, to encourage the diversification of educational and professional choices for women and men and to offer incentives for women to enter traditionally male dominated fields of study; and

(c) Review and revise textbooks, including in the Arab education system, through the special committee appointed for this purpose, in a speedy manner, in order to eradicate gender stereotypes.

38. The Committee appreciates the efforts made by the State party in the area of health care as well as the continuing decline in the child mortality rate. However, it is concerned that discrepancies remain in the infant and maternal mortality rates of Jewish, Israeli Arab and Bedouin women and children. The Committee also notes with concern that the restrictions on movement in the Occupied Territories have had a negative impact on the health of women, including older women and disabled women, and in particular their access to adequate health services, such as hospitals, clinics, urgent care and specialized treatment not available in the Occupied Territories. In addition, the Committee remains concerned about the number of incidents at Israeli checkpoints which have a negative impact on the rights of Palestinian women, including the right of access to health-care services for all women, including pregnant women.

39. The Committee calls upon the State party to take all necessary measures to ensure women’s access to health care and health-related services, within the framework of the Committee’s general recommendation No. 24. To this end, the Committee calls upon the State party to:

(a) Refrain from any action that would prevent Palestinian women from accessing adequate health services and treatment;

(b) Strengthen its efforts to close the gaps in the infant and maternal mortality rates of Jewish, Israeli Arab, and Bedouin women and children; and

(c) Ensure that the Israeli authorities at the checkpoints are instructed to ensure safe and unhindered access to health-care services for all women, including pregnant women.

44. The Committee notes the establishment, in 2007, of the Advisory Committee on the Policy regarding Bedouin Towns as well as the detailed information provided in the State party’s reports on the situation of Bedouin women and girls in the Negev desert, including the increase in school enrolment rates and decline in infant mortality. Nevertheless, the Committee reiterates its concern that Bedouin women remain in a disadvantaged and marginalized situation, especially with regard to education, employment and health, and their access to land. The Committee also reiterates its concern at the situation of Bedouin women who live in unrecognized villages with poor housing conditions and limited or no access to water, electricity and sanitation.

45. The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Continue to take effective measures to eliminate discrimination against Bedouin women and to enhance respect for their human rights through effective and proactive measures, including in the fields of education, employment and health;

(b) In its planning efforts in the Negev area, respect the Bedouin population’s right to their ancestral land and their traditional livelihood; and

(c) Include, in its next report, detailed information on any national policy, strategy or programme carried out by the State party to improve the situation of Bedouin women and girls, including their access to health care, education and employment, as well as the impact and achievements of such government initiatives.

50. While acknowledging the State party’s emphasis on working in cooperation with civil society organizations, including women’s non-governmental organizations, and the fact that some of these organizations have participated in the preparation of the State party’s reports, the Committee notes with concern the recent decision of the Knesset to form a parliamentary inquiry committee with respect to the work and funding of civil society organizations, some of which are providing essential services, and are working to promote equality, for women and girls.

51. The Committee calls upon the State party to:

(a) Ensure that civil society organizations and women’s non-governmental organizations are not restricted with respect to their establishment and operations and that they are able to function independently of the Government; and

(b) Provide an enabling environment for the establishment and active functioning and involvement of women’s and human rights organizations in promoting the implementation of the Convention.

UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – 2005
CEDAW/C/ISR/CO/3 22/7/2005

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

31. While noting the increase in the number of women in the Knesset, the Committee remains concerned about the low level of representation of women in decision-making positions in local authorities. It is also concerned that the number of women in high-level positions inthe civil service and foreign service remains low. The Committee is further concerned about the low level of representation of Israeli Arab women in these areas.

32. The Committee encourages the State party to take sustained measures, including temporary special measures in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 25, and to establish concrete goals and timetables so as to accelerate the increase in the representation of women, including Israeli Arab women, in elected and appointed bodies in all areas of public life.

33. The Committee is concerned about the State party’s temporary suspension order of May 2002, enacted into law as the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) of 31 July 2003, which suspends the possibility, subject to limited and subjective exceptions, of family reunification, especially in cases of marriages between an Israeli citizen and a person residing in the Occupied Territories. The Committee notes with concern that the suspension order, which has currently been extended through August 2005, has already adversely affected the marriages and family life of Israeli Arab women citizens and Palestinian women from the Occupied Territories.

34. The Committee calls on the State party to balance its security interests with the human rights of persons affected by such policies, and to reconsider them with a view to facilitating family reunification of all citizens and permanent residents. It calls on the State party to bring the Nationality and Entry into Israel law (Temporary Order) of 31 July 2003 into line with articles 9 and 16 of the Convention. It requests the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, detailed statistical information and analysis of the short- and long-term impact of this Order on affected women.

35. While appreciating the progress made in the fields of women’s education and health, the Committee is concerned that Israeli Arab women remain in a vulnerable and marginalized situation, especially in regard to education and health. While efforts have been made to eliminate gender stereotypes from textbooks, the Committee is concerned that these persist in the Arab education system.

36. The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent measures to reduce the drop-out rates of Israeli Arab girls and increase the number of Israeli Arab women at institutions of higher education, including temporary special measures in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 25. The Committee also urges the State party to review and revise textbooks in the Arab education system in order to eradicate gender stereotypes. The Committee recommends that the State party allocate adequate resources to improve the status of Israeli Arab women’s health, in particular with regard to infant mortality, and to provide in its next periodic report a comprehensive picture of the situation of Israeli Arab women.

39. The Committee is concerned that Bedouin women living in the Negev desert remain in a vulnerable and marginalized situation, especially in regard to education, employment and health. The Committee is especially concerned with the situation of Bedouin women who live in unrecognized villages with poor housing conditions and limited or no access to water, electricity and sanitation.

40. The Committee requests the State party to take effective measures to eliminate discrimination against Bedouin women and to enhance respect for their human rights through effective and proactive measures, including temporary specialmeasures in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 25 in the fields of education, employment and health. The Committee calls upon the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, a comprehensive picture of the situation of Bedouin women and girls in regard to their educational opportunities and achievements, and access to employment and health-care services, and to provide an assessment of the impact of policies in those areas that directly affect them.

41. The Committee is concerned by the State party’s assertion that it is not in a position to implement the law prohibiting polygamy and enforce the minimum age of marriage due to respect for the privacy rights of persons engaging in such practices. The Committee is further concerned that petitions for under-age marriage of girls are regularly granted.

42. The Committee urges the State party to take active measures to enforce the prohibition of polygamy and adherence to the minimum age of marriage. The Committee recommends that the State party take comprehensive and effective measures, including public awareness-raising campaigns, aimed ateliminating the practices of polygamy and early-age marriage.

UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – 1997
CEDAW/C/ISR/CO/1-2 21/7/1997

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

161. The Committee was concerned about the fact that non-Jewish women had worse living conditions than Jewish women. They received a lower level of education, participated less in the government service and occupied limited decision-making posts.

162. The Committee was also concerned because non-Jewish women enjoyed poorer health, resulting in very high maternal and infant mortality rates. There were also fewer employment opportunities available to them.

163. The Committee was concerned about remaining instances of polygamy, forced marriage and genital mutilation, as well as "honour killings".

174. The preamble to the Convention states that full development and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields. The Committee thus recommended that all necessary measures be taken to ensure peace with the full participation of all women, Jewish and Christian, Muslim and Druze alike. This was necessary to create an environment where women could enjoy their rights fully and so that equality of opportunities in economic and social development, especially of rural women, could be assured.

176. The Committee recommended that measures to guarantee the exercise of human rights of non-Jewish women, including those living in the rural areas, particularly in relation to health, education and employment, should be intensified. Special measures should be taken to close the gap between Arab and Jewish schools and address the higher drop-out rates of Arab and Bedouin girls. Adequate resources should be allocated for school facilities and education opportunities, including scholarships. Further, the participation of Arab women in the civil service and in decision-making posts should be increased.

178. The Committee strongly suggested that the Government of Israel take necessary steps to eliminate practices which could not be justified on any grounds, such as forced marriages, female genital mutilation, honour killings and polygamy.

UN Human Rights Committee(HRC) – 2003
CCPR/CO/78/ISR 21/8/2003

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

23. Notwithstanding the observations in paragraphs 4 and 7 above, the Committee notes with concern that the percentage of Arab Israelis in the civil service and public sector remains very low and that progress towards improving their participation, especially of Arab Israeli women, has been slow (arts. 3, 25 and 26).

The State party should adopt targeted measures with a view to improving the participation of Arab Israeli women in the public sector and accelerating progress towards equality.

UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) – 1998
CCPR/C/79/Add. 93 18/8/1998

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

15. The Committee expresses concern over the situation of women who, despite the advances noted in paragraph 8, continue to face discrimination in many aspects of life, including in military service and in religious institutions, and that they are underrepresented in the conduct of public affairs. The Committee notes that no clear plan of action exists which addresses the situation of the most disadvantaged group of women, namely those belonging to the Arab minority.

The Committee recommends that targeted measures be considered to accelerate progress towards equality, in particular for Arab women.

UN Committee on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) – 2011
E/C.12/ISR/CO/3 16/12/2011

Principal subjects of concern and recommendations

13. The Committee is concerned about the continuing wage gap between men and women, in both the Jewish and the Arab Israeli population groups. (art.7)

The Committee recommends that the State party effectively implement measures to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, between men and women, in both the Jewish and the Arab Israeli population groups.

19. The Committee is concerned that the State Party has not provided sufficient information concerning education, services and programmes on sexual and reproductive health aimed at the most vulnerable segments, such as women and young people from the Arab Israeli population group and those living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts in the creation of educational programmes and services on sexual and reproductive health for all the population, especially women and young people from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Arab Israeli population group.

30. The Committee is concerned about the unequal treatment of Bedouin women and girls with regard to education, employment, and health, especially those living in unrecognized villages. (arts. 3, 11, 12, 13 and 14).

The Committee recommends that the State party continue to take measures to improve the situation of Bedouin women and girls with regard to their access tohealth care, education and employment.