The present Guide on Article 14 of the CEDAW is primarily intended for Ministries of Agriculture and other Ministries (such as Ministries of Land and Natural Resources). Article 14 of the Convention does indeed deal mainly with rural issues, and thus comprises a formidable tool for these ministries. It may also be useful for other professional groups working in governments, NGOs and civil or private sector institutions. It may equally be of use to policymakers, and at the university level. The Guide also serves to highlight the role of FAO, and especially its Gender and Population Division (SDW).
The Guide is divided into two major sections. Part One covers CEDAW and the background to this Convention. It also includes advice on how to find information, how to organise the collection of information and key questions concerning rural women.
Part Two looks at the role of FAO with respect to CEDAW. The issues addressed concern the Technical Cooperation Programme, the contribution of FAO towards the implementation of the Convention with respect to land, the FAO Action Plan for Rural Women and the Action Plan of the World Food Summit.
The purpose of the Guide is to facilitate the preparation of the reports each States Party is required to submit to the Committee and to streamline the report-writing procedure. It is particularly designed to provide advice to technical ministries uncertain as to how to contribute to periodic reports under the Convention. The guide indicates how and where to find the necessary information, and how to go about efficiently preparing the reports using a multidisciplinary, participatory approach.
It is our hope that this paper will give Ministries of Agriculture and other users a better understanding of the Convention, especially Article 14, and that it will provide access to a wide range of technical and policy tools and documents.
