In conclusion to the morning session Harriet Harman, UK Minister for Women and Equality, spoke on the domestic priorities for the UK which was received with great support. She called for a single entity focusing on gender equality, stregthening the position of women nationally and internationally. The establishment of this single agency would signal the UN taking the lead in this important area.

For the full speech, please follow the link:

http://www.equalities.gov.uk/staimm6geo/docs/010310%20HH%20New%20York%20Speech.doc

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the annual functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council dedicated to the advancement of women, does not provide a Shadow reporting mechanism and will not accept any documents submitted by NGOs.

However, the 2010 session of CSW will be undertaking a 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, to mark this anniversary year.  Therefore, whilst the UN as usual will not provide for the submission and publishing of NGO Shadow reports, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York does intend to post NGO Shadow reports on its Beijing +15 website.  The NGO Committee on the Status of Women is not part of the UN structure and this is therefore not a formal Shadow reporting mechanism.

Some partners are familiar with the CEDAW process, which unlike CSW does have the facility by which NGOs can submit Shadow reports to be considered by the CEDAW Committee alongside States parties' reports during the examination period (see the dedicated CEDAW page in our International section for further details).

Any organisations who wish to produce a Shadow report and have it posted on the NGO/CSW NY website should send them to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The United Nations Women's Agenda

Following the WNC's successful programme of events in January and February this year, we have returned to Newcastle, Cardiff and Glasgow to highlight the UK's international commitments, and will return to London and Belfast shortly.

The programme on the day covers the Commission on the Status of Women 53rd Session which took place in March this year and preparations for the 54th session in 2010, and a session on the Beijing Platform for Action which is entering its 15th year in 2010.  The day also covers the CEDAW process and the Government's One Year On report to the CEDAW committee as a follow-up to their report in 2008.

The events, which are funded by the Government Equalities Office, that have already taken place were :

Newcastle:     Friday 6th November
Cardiff:          Tuesday 10th November
Glasgow:        Thursday 26th November

Further events are planned, as follows:

London:         Monday 14th December
Belfast:          Thursday 21st January

For further information please contact the International Events team: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. It is the principal global policy-making body. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.