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.
Belarus, Belize, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nepal and Sri Lanka are scheduled for review at the 90th CEDAW session which will take place from 3 to 21 February 2025. 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.
There are several ways that NGOs can engage to share their reflections on progress towards gender equality in the countries under review, highlight issues of concern, and influence recommendations made by the CEDAW Committee. OHCHR has shared a note on NGO participation, available in English and French.
Submit a shadow report/alternative information to the CEDAW Committee
- The deadline to submit a shadow report is expected to be Monday 6 January 2025.
- Reports are to be submitted as a Word document to OHCHR via the CEDAW online submission system. The word limit is 3,300, or 6,600 for shadow reports submitted as part of a coalition. Please note that footnotes are included in this word limit. 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 official session page for your country’s List of Issues and Questions.
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, normally 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. Please inform us if you are interested in making an intervention, as we will assist in coordinating with other NGOs on dividing time and identifying priority areas.
- As of January 2024, the United Nations Office at Geneva has ceased all hybrid or virtual meetings. Engagement at the informal public meeting must either take place in person at the United Nations in Geneva, or through the submission of a pre-recorded video statement.
- If you wish to make an oral statement, you should register your interest with OHCHR when you send your written submission. As part of our coordination assistance, IWRAW Asia Pacific will compile the final list for 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 meeting 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.
- Engagement at the lunch briefing can be hybrid upon request to IWRAW Asia Pacific.
- Please note that OHCHR does not provide interpretation support for this briefing.
Dates for your calendar
These will be updated once the schedule of dialogues is made available by OHCHR.
Monday 6 January 2025
Deadline for submission of shadow reports and for registration of interest in making an oral statement
Monday 3 February 2025
Commencement of 90th CEDAW session
Private lunch briefing (DR Congo)
Public NGO briefing (DR Congo, Nepal, Belarus, Luxembourg)
Tuesday 4 February 2025
State review (DR Congo)
Private lunch briefing (Nepal)
Wednesday 5 February 2025
State review (Nepal)
Private lunch briefing (Belarus)
Thursday 6 February 2025
State review (Belarus)
Private lunch briefing (Luxembourg)
Friday 7 February 2025
State review (Luxembourg)
Monday 10 February 2025
Private lunch briefing (Belize)
Public NGO briefing (Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka, Liechtenstein)
Tuesday 11 February 2025
State review (Belize)
Private lunch briefing (Congo)
Wednesday 12 February 2025
State review (Congo)
Private lunch briefing (Sri Lanka)
Thursday 13 February 2025
State review (Sri Lanka)
Private lunch briefing (Liechtenstein)
Friday 14 February 2025
State review (Liechtenstein)
Monday 17 February 2025
Half-day of general discussion on gender stereotypes
Please let us know if you are thinking of participating at the 90th CEDAW session in February 2025 and if you wish to participate in the informal meeting with NGOs and/or the NGO lunch briefing. We will arrange online information sessions at a later date to review the above information and answer any questions. In the meantime, please reach out if further clarification is needed.
Spread the word!
Please circulate this information among women’s rights groups. 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.