July, 14

Communications Procedure for CSW 61 – 2017 

Call for communications regarding violations of women’s rights around the globe.

The Commission on the Status of Women, in coordination with UN Women, is seeking complaints, appeals and petitions that describe alleged violations of human rights that affect women in any country in the world.  These communications may address violations that include the political, economic, civil, social, and/or educational status of women. They are a part of COSW’s work 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.

 

Selected communications will be sent through the secretary-general to the governments in which the alleged violations have taken place. These governments will be invited to respond to the alleged violation.  UN Women will then compile a confidential report containing both the communication and replies received. Working groups will then be considered by working groups in closed meetings by the Commission on the Status of Women during its session in March.

Please note: Communications, including victim names, will be shared with the relevant governments concerned, and are not kept confidential.

The communications procedure does not provide an avenue for the redress of individual grievances.

Deadline for submission is August 1, 2016.

Any person or organization with a communication should write to:

CSW Communications Procedure?Human Rights Section

UN Women ?220 East 42nd Street, 17th Floor?New York, NY 10017 USA

Or send an e-mail message to cp-csw@unwomen.org.

 

What information should be included in a communication?

 

Communications should:

• Identify as far as possible the woman victim, or women victims (note: the names of victims will be shared with the Government concerned for its reply);

• Indicate clearly where (the particular country) the alleged violation(s) or pattern of violations have occurred or are occurring. Separate communications should be submitted per country in which alleged violations have taken place;

• Provide, when available, dates and circumstances of the alleged violations;

• Explain the context by providing relevant background information; and provide, when available, copies of documentation.

 

 

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
• 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
• Discrimination against women in accessing international humanitarian aid
• Forcible evictions of women in conflict situations

Local: http://www.unwomen.org/csw/communications-procedure
Date: Jul/11/2016 - Aug/01/2016
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The Peace Revolution Summit  is holding a 'Peace in Action Challenge' to cover the costs of attending their summit in 2017 .

Selected participants will receive free attendance to the Peace Revolution Summit and 50% of their airfare covered.

Eligible individuals are asked to show engagement by planning and completing a "peace in action" challenge. For more information, please follow this link.

The deadline for declaring intent to participate is July 20.

https://peacesummit.net

Local: https://peacesummit.net/call-for-participation/
Date: Jul/14/2016 - Jul/20/2016
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Showcase your work at the 2016 Africa Summit on Women and Girls in Technology, taking place September 13-14th in Accra, Ghana.

The summit is a great opportunity to join leading African women in technology and ICT policy to debate solutions and contribute to the policy processes that will bridge the digital gender gap in Africa.

We are looking to feature women-led initiatives that address at least one of the summit’s focus areas: affordable broadband, women's rights online, digital education and skills, and digital entrepreneurship. You may propose a presentation in the format of a lightning talk, demo, or poster.

 

Apply now! More information here.

Local: http://a4ai.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Call-for-Presentations-2016-Africa-Summit-on-Women-and-Girls-in-Technology.pdf
Date: Jul/14/2016 - Jul/25/2016
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