Type of Mechanism

Reporting and Monitoring

Scope of the Procedure

The rights enumerated in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Who Can Submit a Report

NGOs

Role of Advocates

NGOs can submit "shadow" or alternative reports to the Committee as a whole or to individual members.

There is no need for UN accreditation to attend a CEDAW session, but NGO representatives must contact the UN Division for the Advancement of Women in advance to obtain entrance permits. NGOs may have an opportunity to make a very brief oral statement before the Committee or pre-session working group, but must contact the UN Division for the Advancement of Women in advance.

Available Remedies

No remedies for individual rights violations. 

How to Submit a Report

There is no single format for shadow reports, but the report should be organized according to the articles of the Convention, as a commentary on the State party report.  A shadow report should analyze a particular problem rather than merely describe it. International Women's Rights Action Watch (IWRAW) has produced a procedural guide on drafting shadow reports to CEDAW. More information on writing shadow reports, using shadow reports strategically and sample NGO reports can also be found in the Human Rights Investigation and Documentation section of this website.

NGO submissions are most useful to the Committee at the time that a specific State is reporting. 

NGOs should bring at least fifteen copies of their shadow report to the pre-session working group, or they may send fifteen copies to the Division for the Advancement of Women at least one week before the pre-session begins.

NGOs should bring at least forty copies of their report to the CEDAW session, or they may send hard copies or an electronic version to the Division for the Advancement of Women at least one week before the session begins. Electronic reports are distributed to Committee members in a reference file.   

To distribute reports to Committee members before the session begins, NGOs may email reports to IWRAW Asia Pacific. Reports for electronic distribution should be emailed at least three weeks before the session, and reports for hard copy distribution should be emailed at least seven weeks before the session.

Where to Send Communications

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
c/o Division for the Advancement of Women,
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations Secretariat
2 United Nations Plaza DC-2/12th Floor
New York, NY 10017
U.S.A.
Tel: + 1-212-963-3153
Fax: + 1-212-963-3463
Email:  daw@un.org

IWRAW Asia Pacific (for distribution of reports to experts in advance of the session)
Wisma Dicklin, 80-B, Jalan Bangsar
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia
Tel: (603)2282-2255
Fax: (603)2283-2552
Email: iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org; iwraw_ap@yahoo.com

How the Reporting Procedure Works

After ratifying the Convention, State parties are required to submit an initial report on compliance within one year of entry into force.  States must then submit periodic reports every four years.

The Committee meets twice a year (January and June) to review the periodic reports.  A country will not be reviewed until it has submitted a report. 

NGOs may attend the session, but must send the name(s) of the NGO and its representatives attending, and dates of attendance to the Division for the Advancement of Women before the session.  NGOs have also been able to lobby Committee members successfully outside of the session.

Once the Committee has reviewed the reports, it issues comments and recommendations.

Advantages/ Disadvantages

NGOs have used shadow reports effectively to advocate for change.  Periodic State reporting has put pressure on national governments to amend legislation and policies to bring them into compliance with the Convention.  Individuals cannot submit information to the Committee under this particular mechanism.  There are no enforcement mechanisms applicable to States that do not submit periodic reports.