Submit Communications on Women Human Rights Violations to UN Women

Deadline: 1 August 2014

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, Commission on the Status of Women accepts communications in the form of complaints, appeals or petitions on the Status of Women. The communication must contain information relating to alleged violations of human rights that affect the status of women in any country in the world. Such communications are part of the Commission’s annual program or work. They help the Commission identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women works as guideline in policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.

How does it work?

1. Communications with detailed information on the allegations of human rights violations affecting the Status of Women are received by UN Women Human Rights Sections till 1 August 2014
2. The UN Women Secretary-General sends communications to the Governments concerned and these governments are invited to submit replies with 12-weeks deadline.
3. Compilation of confidential report by UN Women, containing the summaries of communications and replies from the concerned Governments (if any)
4. A working group on communications on the status of women meets in closed meetings for about five working days. During these meetings, the group considers the communications and replies. The working group prepares a report that identifies trends and patterns of reliably-attested injustice and discriminatory practices against women. The report indicates the categories in which communications are most frequently submitted to the Commission.
5. The confidential list of communications and replies, and the working group’s report are made ready for distribution in the annual session.
6. In second week of the Annual Session, the Commission on the Status of Women takes up the item ‘Communications concerning the Status of Women’ in closed meeting(s).
7. Recommendations can be made to the Economic and Social Council on the action to be taken on emerging trends and patterns of discrimination against women.
8. The Commission takes note of the report of the Working Group and includes in the annual report that submits to the Economic and Social Council.

Eligibility Criteria

• Submissions can be made by any individual, non-governmental organization, group or network from anywhere in the world.
• The communications must contain accurate and detailed information relating to women’s rights in any sector in any country in the world.

For more information, please visit Communications Procedure.