Government seeking feedback on latest draft CEDAW report

Consultation on draft CEDAW report

Manatū Wāhine | Ministry for Women in collaboration with other government agencies has drafted the 9th periodic report on New Zealand's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Ministry is inviting public feedback on the draft report.

The closing date to give feedback is 24 March 2023.

The Ministry noted that this version of the 9th periodic draft report was approved for release by Cabinet. Since this version was approved, some details in the draft report have progressed further. The Ministry has shared a document that outlines those changes.

The draft report includes a section on gender-based violence against women. However, many sections throughout the report are related to and reference violence against women.

The report specifically responds to the list of issues from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Committee's list asks questions about outcomes for women in Aotearoa New Zealand and progress on the Committee's previous concluding observations (CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8) on New Zealand's 8th CEDAW report. See our news story that highlighted the UN Committee's previous concluding comments related to violence against women and the UN Committee's further recommendations on the 2021 interim report.

You can make a submission on the draft report to the Ministry by:

• completing an online survey
• completing a downloadable form
• Emailing your feedback to info@women.govt.nz
• Posting your feedback to Level 9, Qual IT House, 22 The Terrace, PO Box 10 049, Wellington, New Zealand.

After this public consultation, the Government will submit the final report to the UN Committee in July 2023. The Ministry has noted that the UN review of the final report has not yet been scheduled, but generally takes place 1-2 years after submission of the report.

Update: The Government has submitted the 9th periodic report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. You can read the final report on the Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women website.

Background information

CEDAW is the primary international human rights treaty for women’s rights. The New Zealand government is required to report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women every four years on New Zealand's progress in implementing CEDAW. The last reporting cycle was completed in 2018.

Non-government organisations may also submit alternative reports to the UN Committee, known as shadow reports.

For more information see CEDAW monitoring and previous CEDAW reports from the Ministry for Women.

Related news

The 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is happening in March 2023. It is the main international forum dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. The priority theme for the 67th session is "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls." The Bureau of the Commission has released the Zero Draft of the CSW67 Agreed Conclusions that will be discussed and agreed at the CSW. Many of these relate to violence against women. In the recommended actions for governments, it specifically identifies "Preventing and eliminating technology-facilitated gender-based violence and protecting the rights of women and girls online" (see pages 15-16 of the Zero draft agreed conclusions). New Zealand will be sending a delegation in person to attend the CSW and feedback is welcome from civil society members. For more information contact caucus@women.govt.nz. Norie Ape has been selected as the NGO delegate for the NZ Government delegation.

UN Women has announced that the theme for the 2023 International Women's Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” to align with the 67th session of the CSW.

The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons is calling for inputs on violence, abuse and neglect of older persons to inform a report. Inputs are due by 1 March 2023.

In October 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued General Recommendation No. 39 calling on states to better protect the human rights of Indigenous women and girls, including addressing gender-based violence.