WUNRN
Communications
Procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women
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Any individual, non-governmental
organization, group or network may submit communications
(complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women
containing information relating to alleged violations of human rights that
affect the status of women in any country in the world. The Commission on the
Status of Women considers such communications as part of its annual programme
of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and
discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and
development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality. |
The current communications procedure
of the Commission on the Status of Women has its roots in Economic and Social Council resolution 76 (V) of 5 August 1947,
as amended by the Council in resolution 304 I (XI) of 14 and 17 July 1950. The mandate of
the Commission on the Status of Women to consider communications has been
reaffirmed and the modalities of the procedure have been further modified by
the Council (see Council resolutions 1983/27 of 26 May 1983, 1992/19 of 30 July 1992, 1993/11 of 27 July 1993 and decision 2002/235 of 24
July 2002).
What types of
communications are sought?
What information
should be included in a communication?
The procedure
Examples of
categories of communications received and trends and patterns identified in
recent years
Where to submit
a communication to the Commission on the Status of Women
What types of communications are sought?
Accurate and detailed information
relating to the promotion of women's rights in political, economic, civil,
social and educational fields in any country anywhere in the world.
What information should be included in a communication?
It is advisable that communications
should:
- Identify
as far as possible the woman victim, or women victims
- Indicate
clearly where (the particular country/several countries) the alleged
violation(s) or pattern of violations have occurred or are occurring
- Provide,
when available, dates and circumstances of the alleged violations
- Explain
the context by providing relevant background information
- Provide,
when available, copies of documentation
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All claims must be submitted in
writing and signed by e-mail, fax, or regular mail. However, the
author's identity is not made known to the Government(s) concerned unless
she/he agrees to the disclosure. |
Examples of categories of communications received and
trends and patterns identified in recent years
- Arbitrary
arrests of women
- Deaths and
torture of women in custody
- Forced
disappearances or abductions of women
- Discriminatory
application of punishments in law based on sex, including corporal and
capital punishment
- Violation
of the rights of women human rights defenders to freedom of expression and
assembly
- Threats or
pressure exerted on women not to complain or to withdraw complaints
- Impunity
for violations of the human rights of women
- Stereotypical
attitudes towards the role and responsibilities of women
- Domestic
violence
- Forced
marriage and marital rape
- Virginity
testing
- Contemporary
forms of slavery, including trafficking in women and girls
- Sexual
harassment of women in the workplace
- Unfair
employment practices based on sex, including unequal pay
- Lack of
due diligence by States to adequately investigate, prosecute and punish
perpetrators of violence against women
- Discrimination
against women under immigration and nationality laws
- Violations
of the rights of women to own and inherit property
- Discrimination
against women in accessing international humanitarian aid
- Forcible
evictions of women in conflict situations
All claims
must be submitted in
writing and signed, by e-mail, fax, or regular mail. However, the
author's identity is not made known to the Government(s) concerned unless
she/he agrees to the disclosure.
Please note that the Commission on the Status of Women does not take decisions
on the merit of communications that are submitted to it and, therefore, the
communications procedure does not provide an avenue for the redress of
individual grievances.
Where to submit a communication to the Commission on the Status of
Women
Any person or organization with a
communication should write by 14 August 2009 to:
CSW Communications Procedure
Women's Rights Section
Division for the Advancement of Women
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
DC2, 12th floor, New York, New York, 10017
Fax: (212) 963 3463 or
Send an e-mail message to: csw-cp@un.org
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