Progress on women’s rights in New Zealand will be reviewed this week in Geneva by the United Nations (UN) Committee monitoring women’s rights internationally.
This is New Zealand’s ninth review since the country signed up to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1985.
The Ministry for Women will present the New Zealand Government’s report, which was submitted in July 2023.
As the country’s national human rights institution, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has prepared a ‘shadow report’ for the UN CEDAW Committee. As an A-status national human rights institution the Commission will also be speaking directly to the Committee during the review.
Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo is attending for the Commission supported by one of the Commission’s legal advisors.
Written submissions on the progress of women’s rights have also been provided by civil society organisations from throughout New Zealand – some of which will also have representatives in Geneva.
All public sessions at the UN’s 89th session will be live on UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en
Other countries will also be reviewed in this session including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos), Saudi Arabia, Chile, Canada, Japan, Cuba and Benin.