IWRAW Asia Pacific is an NGO which supports the CEDAW Committee and OHCHR in facilitating participation of women’s groups and NGOs in the CEDAW review process.
Argentina, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Iraq, Lesotho, Lithuania, Netherlands, and Viet Nam are scheduled for review at the 92nd CEDAW session which is tentatively scheduled for 2–20 February 2026. Please note that there may be changes to the schedule and/or modalities, owing also to the current liquidity situation of the United Nations Secretariat. Please check the official session page for up-to-date information.
The CEDAW review process provides women’s rights organisations, feminist groups, and NGOs with a vital opportunity to highlight key issues affecting women and girls, and to advocate for stronger implementation of the Convention.
NGO Participation in the 92nd Session
It is essential for NGOs to engage directly with the CEDAW Committee to ensure that women’s lived realities are reflected in the Committee’s discussions and concluding observations.
There are several ways NGOs can participate in the 92nd session:
Submit a Shadow Report to the CEDAW Committee
NGOs are encouraged to submit shadow reports providing independent information on their State’s progress and remaining challenges in implementing CEDAW.
Submission Guidelines:
- Reports must be submitted as a Word document through the CEDAW online submission system: https://events.ohchr.org/
- Reports should be written in one of the working languages of the Committee (English, French, or Spanish).
- The word limit is 3,300 words, or 6,600 words for coalition reports (including footnotes).
- Please refer to IWRAW Asia Pacific’s website for guidance on preparing shadow reports, including thematic and issue-specific submissions.
Deadline: The exact deadline for NGO submissions will be confirmed by OHCHR closer to the session, but organisations are encouraged to begin preparing early.
Engaging with the CEDAW Committee at the 92nd Session
IWRAW Asia Pacific will facilitate NGO participation and engagement during the session, including:
- CEDAW92 NGO Coordination Meeting
- CEDAW92 NGO informal meetings (public and private briefings with the CEDAW Committee)
- From Global to Local Programme – capacity-building and orientation sessions to support advocacy during the session
Further details on NGO participation, registration, and logistics will be shared once confirmed.
Spread the Word
Please share this information widely among women’s rights organisations, feminist networks, and civil society groups engaged in advancing gender equality and women’s human rights.
If your organisation, collective, or coalition is preparing a shadow report for the 92nd session, please reach out to the IWRAW Asia Pacific team for guidance and coordination support at iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org, with a copy to vashti@iwraw-ap.org.
Together, let’s strengthen feminist advocacy and ensure that women’s voices and priorities are heard at the international level.