CSW Communications Procedure 

CSW63 - Opening of the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown 

Communications Procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women
An official mechanism enabling individuals and organizations worldwide to submit information on violations of women's rights for review during the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Past Impacts & Origins

Established under ECOSOC resolution 76 (V) in 1947 and refined through subsequent resolutions, this procedure has become a key tool for identifying patterns of discrimination—such as arbitrary arrests, violence, trafficking, and unequal pay. It has contributed to shaping key gender equality instruments and informed the drafting of major documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Current Function

The Communications Procedure allows individuals, NGOs, or groups to submit confidential reports of alleged violations of women’s rights. These submissions are reviewed by a Working Group on Communications, which examines patterns of injustice. While the process does not offer legal remedies or adjudicate individual cases, it helps surface systemic violations for policy attention by the Commission.

Current Theme & Objectives

Though not tied to a specific annual theme, the procedure complements CSW’s broader objectives of identifying and addressing persistent and emerging gender-based discrimination. The focus areas often include violence against women, legal inequality, discrimination in the workplace, and access to justice—critical to shaping the UN’s global recommendations on gender equality.

Event Date & Deadline

• Submission Deadline: 1 August 2025. 

• Next Session of CSW: 9–20 March 2026, UN Headquarters, New York

For futher information: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/communications-procedure

How to Submit

Submissions must be in writing, signed, and sent via email. Each communication should be country-specific and contain clear facts such as dates, affected individuals, type of discrimination, and supporting documents. The identity of the author is kept confidential unless consent is given.

Why It Matters

This is the only United Nations mechanism where individuals and civil society organizations can confidentially submit reports on women's rights violations, directly influencing global discussions at the CSW. Although it is not a legal tool, it plays a crucial role in surfacing systemic issues and shaping recommendations for international gender equality frameworks.

Sources

• UN Women. Communications Procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/communications-procedure

• United Nations. Commission on the Status of Women. https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/events/2024/csw68

• UN News. “UN Commission on the Status of Women opens amid global pushback on gender equality.” Retrieved from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1134132

For participation and side event proposals, please contact us at- contact@uvsociety.org