O'Neill Institute | January 9, 2010
Read the PublicationThe O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law (the “O’Neill Institute”) hereby respectfully submits the following shadow report, the purpose of which is to assist the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (the “Committee” or “CEDAW Committee”) as it evaluates the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports filed by the Arab Republic of Egypt (the “State” or “Egypt”). This report will focus on the State’s obligations regarding Articles 3, 10 and 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (“CEDAW”). We examine the prevailing tobacco control legal framework and the most important weaknesses in the statutory and regulatory language with special concern for the growing use of waterpipe tobacco among young women. Examining the fulfillment of governments’ obligations to protect the right to health vis-à-vis tobacco control and women is well within this Committee’s competence and authority. Moreover, we encourage the Committee to view tobacco consumption as a serious threat to women’s health and equality. This report suggests recommendations for the Committee to consider in formulating its concluding observations to the government of Egypt on its compliance with CEDAW.