Information on the 83rd CEDAW Session
IWRAW Asia Pacific is an NGO which supports the CEDAW Committee and OHCHR in facilitating participation of women’s groups/NGOs in the CEDAW review process.
Armenia, Belgium, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Switzerland and Ukraine are scheduled for review at the 83rd CEDAW session which will take place from 10 to 28 October 2022. Please note that the reviews of Bahrain and Slovenia have been postponed to February 2023, and the review of Jamaica has been postponed to an as yet unknown date.
There are a number of ways that NGOs can engage to share their reflections on progress towards gender equality in countries under review, highlight issues of concern, and influence recommendations made by the CEDAW Committee. OHCHR’s note on NGO participation is available in English, French and Spanish.
Notice on changes due to COVID-19 pandemic
Although the CEDAW Committee will meet in person at the United Nations in Geneva for the 83rd CEDAW Session, we are awaiting final confirmation on whether NGO engagement will be in person or virtual. IWRAW Asia Pacific remains committed to assisting NGOs to take part, and will continue to share updates through our website, listserv and social media channels as we receive more information on the schedule and modes of engagement.
Submit a shadow report/alternative information to the CEDAW Committee
- The deadline to submit a shadow report is four weeks prior to the commencement of the session, i.e. Monday 12 September 2022.
- Reports are to be submitted as a Word document to OHCHR at ohchr-cedaw@un.org, with a copy to IWRAW Asia Pacific. The word limit is 3300 (inclusive of footnotes), or 6600 for shadow reports submitted as part of a coalition. Bearing in mind the UN’s green policy, hard copies of reports should be avoided. Our website provides guidelines for writing shadow reports, including reports focusing on specific thematic areas.
- If you have submitted a pre-session report, you have an opportunity to present updated shadow report information, and provide your alternative information to respond to the CEDAW Committee’s List of Issues and Questions which your state will have to answer. It is important that your updated report to CEDAW addresses the issues raised in the List of Issues and Questions, which is how the Committee prioritises issues for the review and seeks to address gaps in the state report. Please see the CEDAW 83rd Session page for your country’s List of Issues and Questions.
- In addition to standard and thematic shadow reports, the Committee welcomes information on the impact on women’s rights and gender equality of measures taken by the States under review to address the COVID-19 crisis, and the integration of a gender perspective into COVID-19 recovery plans.
Please inform us if your group is preparing a shadow report to CEDAW.
Engaging directly with the CEDAW Committee at the review
NGOs which have submitted a shadow report have opportunities to engage directly with the CEDAW Committee during the review:
- Informal public meetings with NGOs:
- Oral interventions by NGOs are permitted during this public meeting with the Committee and State Delegates. However, a maximum of 10 minutes is available per country, to be shared by all NGOs. Therefore, it is not always possible to accommodate all requests to make an oral intervention. Kindly confirm if you are interested in making an intervention, as we will assist in coordinating with other NGOs on dividing time and identifying priority areas.
- The deadline for adding your name to the speakers’ list is Monday 26 September. As part of our coordination assistance, we will send the list to OHCHR on behalf of your country group, with names in the order of presentation and with allotted times for speaking (as agreed by your group in advance).
- Private ‘lunchtime’ briefing with the CEDAW Committee:
- NGOs will have an opportunity to privately brief the CEDAW Committee in a country-specific briefing before the Constructive Dialogue is held with the respective State delegates. It is an opportunity to answer any questions raised by Committee members during the informal public meeting and/or new questions that arise during the private briefing.
Dates for your calendar
Monday 12 September:
Deadline for submission of shadow reports
Monday 26 September:
Deadline for registering interest in making an oral statement
Monday 10 October:
Commencement of 83rd CEDAW Session
Public NGO briefing (Finland, Armenia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belgium)
Private lunch briefing (Finland)
Tuesday 11 October:
Review of Finland
Private lunch briefing (Armenia)
Wednesday 12 October:
Review of Armenia
Private lunch briefing (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Review of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Thursday 13 October
Review of Armenia (continued)
Private lunch briefing (Belgium)
Review of Saint Kitts and Nevis (continued)
Friday 14 October
Review of Belgium
Monday 17 October
Public NGO briefing (Ukraine, Honduras, Gambia, Switzerland)
Private lunch briefing (Ukraine)
Tuesday 18 October
Review of Ukraine
Private lunch briefing (Honduras)
Review of Honduras
Wednesday 19 October
Review of Ukraine (continued)
Private lunch briefing (Gambia)
Review of Honduras (continued)
Thursday 20 October
Review of Gambia
Private lunch briefing (Switzerland)
Friday 21 October
Review of Switzerland
We will update this page as more information is shared by OHCHR.
Please let us know if you are thinking of participating at the CEDAW session in October 2022 and if you wish to participate in the Informal Meeting with NGOs and/or the NGO ‘lunch’ briefing. We will be arranging online information sessions to review the above information and answer any questions. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out if further clarification is needed.
Spread the word!
Please circulate this information to women’s rights groups you know. If you are with an NGO or a coalition working on an NGO report to CEDAW, please contact us at iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org, with a copy to audrey@iwraw-ap.org.