APF-GANHRI advocacy at the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
United States 11 Mar 2019Four NHRIs from the Asia Pacific joined with counterparts from Europe and Africa to continue their advocacy at CSW 63.
Commission on the Status of Women
Graphic: Dr Sima Samar and Florence Simbiri-Jaoko at CSW 61
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the United Nations' principal global policy-making body on gender equality and the advancement of women.
As such, it is very important that national human rights institutions (NHRIs) are able to contribute their independent knowledge and expertise on the human rights issues facing women and girls in their country.
Unlike the Human Rights Council, NHRIs do not have standing in their own right to participate in meetings of the CSW and can only attend as part of their country's government delegation, if they are invited.
In March 2015, the CSW adopted a draft resolution encouraging governments to include representatives from NHRIs in their delegations, as well as others "with expertise relevant to the themes under consideration".
In 2016, NHRIs received further endorsement in the CSW 60 Agreed Conclusions, which encouraged the CSW Secretariat "to consider how to enhance the participation, including at the 61st Session of the Commission, of national human rights institutions fully compliant with the Paris Principles, where they exist, in compliance with the ECOSOC rules of procedure".
Despite opposition from some quarters, these important gains have been maintained since then.
Watch our video update from CSW 62 on the advocacy campaign by NHRIs to secure independent participation in the work of UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Campaign for independent participation of NHRIs
A major campaign initiated by the APF in 2009, and now run in partnership with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, has sought to build support for 'A status' NHRIs to participate independently in the work of the CSW.
Lobbying by APF members and NHRIs from other regions has helped raise awareness among the government delegations that make up the CSW of the critical role played by NHRIs to promote and protect the rights of women and girls.
A number of concrete achievements have been achieved during the campaign.
Read news articles about the APF's advocacy at:
Resources from 63rd Session (2019)
CSW 63: Talking Points for NHRI Advocacy
CSW 63 Side Event Concept Note on Advancing Gender Equality and SRHR: the Role of NHRIs
CSW 63: Side Event Flyer on Advancing Gender Equality and SRHR: the Role of NHRIs
Dr Sima Samar: Statement to the High Level Interactive Dialogue on Accelerating implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 13 March 2019
Florence Simbiri-Jaoko: Statement to the High Level Interactive Dialogue on Accelerating implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 13 March
Kate Jenkins: Statement to the High Level Interactive Dialogue on Accelerating implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 13 March 2019
CSW 63: APF Report on NHRI Engagement
Resources from 62nd Session (2018)
CSW 62: APF Report on NHRI Engagement
CSW 62: APF-GANHRI Strategy Paper
CSW 62: Concept Note on the Role of NHRIs
CSW 62: Invitation to NHRI side event, 16 March 2018
Resources from 61st Session (2017)
APF-GANHRI Strategy Paper for CSW 61
CSW 61 Side Event on NHRIs: Concept Note
CSW 61 Side Event on NHRIs: Invitation
Resources from 60th Session (2016)
APF-ICC Strategy Paper for CSW 60
Resources from 57th Session (2013)
CSW 57 Agreed Conclusions (also in Arabic, French and Spanish)
Resources from 55th Session (2011)
CSW 55 Agreed Conclusions (also in Arabic, French and Spanish)
ICC Strategy Paper for CSW 55 (also in Arabic, French and Spanish)
Resources from 54th Session (2010)
CSW 54 –Summary of Agreed Actions to Promote NHRI Participation
Statement by the ICC Chair to Panel Discussion
Joint Statement by NHRIs (also in Arabic, French and Spanish)
Resources from 53rd Session (2009)
APF Report on NHRI Advocacy (also in French and Spanish)
Image credits
- Dr Sima Samar and Florence Simbiri-Jaoko at CSW 61 - APF/Pip Dargan