GENEVA - The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will review Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Japan, Cuba, and Benin during its current session from 7 to 25 October. The above eight countries are among the 189 States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. They are required to undergo regular reviews by the Committee of 23 independent international experts on how they are implementing the Convention. The Committee, which has received the respective country reports and submissions from national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations and other sources, will hold public meetings to review the situation of women’s rights and gender equality in the eight countries on the following dates at Geneva time: Lao People’s Democratic Republic 8 October 10:00 – 13:00 8 October 15:00 – 17:00 Saudi Arabia 9 October 10:00 – 13:00 9 October 15:00 – 17:00 New Zealand 10 October 10:00 – 13:00 10 October 15:00 – 17:00 Chile 15 October 10:00 – 13:00 15 October 15:00 – 17:00 Canada 16 October 10:00 – 13:00 16 October 15:00 – 17:00 Japan 17 October 10:00 – 13:00 17 October 15:00 – 17:00 Cuba 18 October 10:00 – 13:00 18 October 15:00 – 17:00 Benin 21 October 10:00 – 13:00 21 October 15:00 – 17:00 The above reviews will be held in Room XXIII, E-Building, except for the review of Japan, which will take place in the Tempus Conference Room, Palais des Nations, Geneva. All public meetings are open to accredited press and broadcast live on UN Web TV. More information about the session, including reports submitted by the States and the full schedule of meetings, is available on the session page. For media accreditation: Please apply online or contact press_geneva@un.org For other media requests in Geneva, please contact: Vivian Kwok at vivian.kwok@un.org UN Human Rights Office Media Section at ohchr-media@un.org Background The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women monitors States parties’ compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which to date has 189 States parties. The Committee is made up of 23 members who are independent human rights experts from around the world elected by the States parties, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. Learn more with our videos on the Treaty Body system and CEDAW Follow the UN Treaty Bodies on social media! We are on Twitter @UNTreatyBodies