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A Tribute to Angela King

CEDAW Tribute

Tribute by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

As past and present members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, we wish to express our deep sorrow at the untimely death of Ms Angela King, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and devoted champion of women's rights and of women's equality with men. The Committee had the chance to benefit from Ms King's leadership from 1996, when she became Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women, until her retirement as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women in 2004.

Ms King worked tirelessly with the United Nations system and with Member States for a comprehensive and holistic approach to the promotion of gender equality. She consistently called attention to the many forms of discrimination and inequality throughout the world that women continue to experience, and which regularly are addressed by our Committee. She reminded States parties of their political commitment and legal obligations to translate the principle of equality of women and men into practical reality. Ms King skillfully improved the links between our Committee and the Commission on the Status of Women in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Beijing Platform for Action.

We will always remember Ms King's unfailing grace, warmth, and persuasive reasoning in her many interactions with Committee members over nearly a decade, and the many lasting bonds of friendship she built and sustained. When she addressed a high-level gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention in 2005, she placed a large responsibility on our Committee: "We look to you - the Committee - to continue to expand the scope of the Convention through recommendations such as those on violence against women, health, including HIV/AIDS, and female genital mutilation, and affirmative action, to name only a few. We also look to you to find the convincing incentives and incisive monitoring to ensure that States live up to their obligations so that women throughout the world will finally gain the full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms equally with men."

We will honour her memory through our work for women's equality.

Past and present members of the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women
14 February 2007



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