Type of Mechanism

Complaint Procedure

Scope of the Procedure

The complaint, or communication, must either (1) allege a pattern of violations in a particular country or (2) identify a problem or problems facing women in several countries. 

Who Can Submit a Complaint

Individual victims of human rights violations and individuals who can identify a particular victim(s).

Role of Advocates

NGOs may submit complaints, but have a very limited role in the proceedings

Available Remedies

No individual remedies.  The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) may make recommendations to the Economic and Social Council, but has no means of enforcement.

How to Submit a Complaint

There is no formal procedure for submitting a complaint to the CSW however, the communication must meet a number of admissibility criteria to be considered:

The complaint must be in writing.

The complaint must allege that a particular State has committed violations against women.

The complaint must show the existence of a pattern of violations in a particular country; or identify a problem or problems facing women in several countries.

Where to Send Communications

Commission on the Status of 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
USA

Fax: 212-963-3463

How the Complaint Procedure Works

All stages of the communication procedure are confidential.

Communications should be sent to the Division for the Advancement of Women, which, in turn, sends acknowledgement to the author that the communication was received and that it was also sent to the national government.  The national government, however, is not informed of the identity of the victim, unless the victim wishes it to be known.

The Division for the Advancement of Women, summarizes and sends all confidential communications, as well as government replies, to the CSW.  First, a five-member Working Group reviews this information to bring to the attention of the CSW any communications that "reveal a consistent pattern of reliably attested injustice and discriminatory practices against women."  The Working Group meets in a closed session and issues a report on the violations.

The CSW reviews the Working Group report, also in a closed session, and may make recommendations to the Economic and Social Council to take action related to patterns of abuses that are revelead in the communications.

Advantages/ Disadvantages

The complaint procedure to the CSW is a means to provide information to the UN, which may influence policy formulation on advancing women's rights.

The CSW cannot provide relief for individuals whose rights have been violated.