Statement of feminist and women’s organisations on the very alarming trends in the negotiations of outcome document of the 57th session of the UN commission on the status of women

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals across the globe, are again concerned that the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is wavering in its commitment to advance women’s human rights as demonstrated in the constant negotiation of the language in the outcome document. On the occasion of celebrating the International Women’s Day we call on the states to reaffirm its commitment to agreed upon standards in promoting women’s human rights as articulated in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action as well as other international humanitarian and human rights law. We say NO to any re-opening of negotiations on the already established international agreements on women’s human rights and call on all governments to demonstrate their commitments to promote, protect and fulfill human rights and fundamental freedoms of women. We commend those states that are upholding women’s rights in totality. We urge states to reaffirm standards that they have agreed to. Considering the lack of an outcome document last year we hope that this is not the pattern when it comes to advancing women’s human rights agenda. Women’s human rights are not to be negotiated away. Similar to last year, we strongly hold the position that given the progressive development in the international era on standard setting there should no longer be any contention on any issues related to the definition and intersectionality of women and girls experiencing violence against women, including in relations to sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, harmful practices perpetuated in the context of negative culture and traditions, among others. We remind states that the CSW is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women with the sole aim of promoting women’s rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. Its mandate is to ensure the full implementation of existing international agreements on women’s human rights and gender equality. We strongly demand all governments and the international community to reject any attempt to invoke traditional values or morals to infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law, nor to limit their scope. Customs, tradition or religious considerations must not be tolerated to justify discrimination and violence against women and girls whether committed by State authorities or by non-state actors. Given the current global activism around violence against women it is imperative that member states take the lead in agreeing on a progressive outcome document that reaffirms its commitments to universal human rights standards. This is an important moment as we are planning the post 2015 process. The outcome document has to advance women’s human rights and not lower the bar for women’s human rights. Future international negotiations must move forward implementation of policies and programmes that secure the human rights of girls and women. We call upon the member states of the UN and the various UN human rights and development entities to recognise and support the important role of women’s groups and organisations working at the forefront of challenging traditional values and practices that are intolerant to fundamental human rights norms, standards and principles. Endorsed by: Organizations Acid Survivors Foundation Actionaid Nigeria Agricultural Missions, Inc. (AMI) Alliance F-Alliance de sociétés féminines suisses Altsean-Burma American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amnesty International Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE) Antalya Womens Counselling Center and Solidarity Association Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) Asia Safe Abortion Partnership Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Association for Monitoring Gender Equality (CEID), Turkey Association for Progressive Communications Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) Association pour le développement et de la promotion des droits Humains (ADPDH) Association pour le Progrés et la Défense des Droits des Femmes (APDF), Mali Association Suisse pour les Droits de la Femme - ADF–SVF ASTRA Network-Central and Eastern European Women’s Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Aurat Foundation Autonomous Women's Center, Serbia Ayvalık Bağımsız Kadın inisiyatifi, Turkey Bahamas Crisis Centre Bahrain Young Ladies Association BEDARI Blue Veins CAFRA, Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action, St. Lucia CAFRA, Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action, Trinidad and Tobago Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Caribbean Women's Association Catholics for the Right to Decide Argentina Catholics for the Right to Decide Bolivia Catholics for the Right to Decide Brazil Catholics for the Right to Decide Chile Catholics for the Right to Decide Colombia Catholics for the Right to Decide Ecuador Catholics for the Right to Decide El Salvador Catholics for the Right to Decide México Catholics for the Right to Decide Nicaragua Catholics for the Right to Decide Paraguay Catholics for the Right to Decide Perú CDO Pakistan Center for Economic and Social Rights Center for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA) Center for Partnership Studies Center for Reproductive Rights Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL), Rutgers University Center for Women Policy Studies Centre for Research and Action on Peace (KEDE), Greece Centre for Secular Space Centre for Social and Gender Research "New Life", Ukraine Centre for Social Research CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality Church Women United City and County of San Francisco, Department on the Status of Women Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), Nigeria COC Netherlands Comité d'action contre la traite humaine interne et international Comité de América Latina y el Caribe para la Defensa de los Derechos de las Mujeres (CLADEM) Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers, RESPECT Network Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Network, Sweden Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Community Development Organization (CDO Pakistan) CONNECT Connecting Gender for Development (COGEN), Nigeria Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights Dominica National Council of Women East End Chapter of the National Organization for Women Education International (EI) Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights EIMAN European Women’s Network (ENOW), Greece Equality Now Esitlik Izleme (Esitiz), Turkey European Women's Lobby EVAWG alliance KP-FATA EVAWG alliance (ICT) Executive Committee for NGO Forum on CEDAW -Turkey Federación Internacional de Mujeres de Carreras Jurídicas Federation Against Violence Against Women (FAVAW) Federation for Women and Family Planning, Poland Fellowship of Reconciliation, Nyack, NY Femin Ijtihad Feminist Atelier (FEMA), Cyprus Feminist Task Force (FTF) Femmes Juristes Suisse – Women Lawyers Switzerland FIAN International Fiji Women's Rights Movement Flying Broom Women's Communication and Research Association, Turkey Foreign Spouses Support Group (Malaysia) Foundation for Women (Thailand) Foundatıon for Women's Solıdarıty (Kadın Dayanışma Vakfı), Turkey Fundacion para Estudio e Investigacion de la Mujer (FEIM), Argentina Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP) Gay Japan News Global Allies for Human Rights, Disarmament and Development in Africa (GAHADA Partners) Gender and Water Alliance Gender at Work Global Health Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF) Global Fund for Women Global Justice Center Global Network of Women Peacebuilders Greater Los Angeles Chapter of National Committee of UN Women Group Development Pakistan Help & Shelter, Guyana Huairou Commission The Hunger Project Institut de recherche et d’études stratégiques de Khyber (IRESK) Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc. Institute for Women's Empowerment, Hong Kong Institute for Women’s Leadership, Rutgers University Institute of Bioethics, Human Rights and Gender (ANIS), Brazil Interfaith Center of New York Interfaith Consortium for Ecological Civilization International Alliance of Women International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) International Federation of Business and Professional Women International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) International Peace Bureau International Public Policy Institute International Trade Union Confederation International Women’s Human Rights Clinic at Georgetown Law International Women's Anthropology Conference International Women's Rights Action Watch International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) International Women's Rights Project, Canada Ipas Isis International İstanbul Feminist Collective Izmir Women Solidarity Association, Turkey Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights Jamaica Household Workers Union Kalyanamitra, Indonesia KARAT Coalition La Ligue du Droit International des Femmes (LDIF) Latin American Network of Catholics for the Right to Decide Lawyers for Justice and Peace (LJP) MADRE MARUAH, Singapore Media Equity Collaborative Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) Millennia2025 Women and Innovation Foundation, PUF Montgomery County NOW MOVISIE MUKADDER Namibia Women's Health Network National Association for Resource Improvement National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA) National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA National Council of Women of Canada National Council of Women’s Organizations National Organization of Women, Barbados Nepal International Consumers UNION Netherlands Council of Women Network of Expertise on Gender, Resilience and Interdependent Economics NGO Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) NGO-Coordination post Beijing Switzerland Ni-Ta-Nee NOW Niger Delta Women's Movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD) Nodo Mexicano. El Proyecto del Milenio, A.C. Northeast Williamsport NOW Norwegian Association for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Sex og Politikk) Osez Le Féminisme Overseas Development Institute, Social Development Programme Oxfam International PACHAAN Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand), Inc. Partners for Law in Development, India Peace X Peace PEN International Pennsylvania National Organization for Women People's Movement For Human Rights Learning (PDHRE) Perak Women for Women (Malaysia) PODA PILIPINA Legal Resources Center, Philippines Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Public Service Alliance of Canada Purple Roof Women’s Shelter Foundation Quality of Citizenship, Jamaica Red de Educación Popular Entre Mujeres de Latinoamerica y el Caribe (REPEM LAC) Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericanas, Afrocaribeña y la Diáspora Red Feminista Frente a la Violencia Contra Las Mujeres (REDFEM), El Salvador Red Nacional de Jóvenes y Adolescentes para la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva (RedNac), Argentina Red Thread, Guyana Regional Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and Girls in Latin America and the Caribbean (CATWLAC) Regards de Femmes Rights for All Women (RAW), Denmark Roks, The National Organisation for Women's Shelters and Young Women's Shelters in Sweden ROZAN Rozaria Memorial Trust RUMPUN, Indonesia Rumpun Tjoet Nyak Dien, Indonesia Rutgers WPF, Netherland S4 Foundation, Guyana Safe4Athletes, Los Angeles Ca. SDPI SEHER SERR, USA Shirakat - Partnership for Development Shirkat Gah - Women's Resource Centre, Pakistan Siglo XXIII, El Salvador Sisters Inside Sisters in Islam Sistren Theatre Collective/Groots Jamaica Socialist Feminist Collective Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Society for Promotion of Education and Development (SPED) Soroptimist International SOS line for victims of violence “by your side,” Greece SOS Sexisme, France South Hills NOW SRIA Rwanda Ltd SUARAM (Malaysia) SVAMV – Association (faîtière) suisse des familles monoparentales Swayam, Kolkata, India Taller Salud, Puerto Rico Temple of Understanding Tenaganita (Malaysia) Terre des Jeunes du Burundi To Love Children Educational Foundation International, Inc. UNESCO United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Women, Global Justice, Community Action and Public Policy Offices United Methodist Women, Washington Office of Public Policy Urban Justice Center Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) Virginia Gildersleeve Fund (VGIF) Vision Spring Initiatives, Nigeria WECF White Ribbon Campaign WIDE, Network for Women´s Rights and Feminist Perspectives in Development Widows for Peace through Democracy (WPD) Womankind Worldwide WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform Women Against Rape Inc., Antigua/Barbuda Women against Violence Europe (WAVE) Women against Violence Network Serbia Women Enabled, Inc. Women & Gender Equality Commission of Guyana Women Graduates USA WomenNC Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) - New Ways, Turkey Women Graduates-USA Women Living Under Muslim Laws Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN) Women Peacemakers Program Women Studies Center, Punjabi University Patiala, India Women Transforming Cities International Society Women Won't Wait Campaign Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Malaysia Women's Association of Romania Women's Centre for Change (WCC) Penang, Malaysia Women’s Coalition, Turkey Women's Coalition for Justice and Democracy Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) Women's Federation for World Peace, Intl. Women’s Front, Norway Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) Women's Intercultural Network (WIN) Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Philadelphia/Delco Branch Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (Philippines) Women's Refugee Commission Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC), Jamaica Women's Sports Foundation Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) WORD Workers Hub for Change (WH4C) World Federation for Mental Health World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women World YWCA WUNRN, Women's UN Report Network Zonta International Club Dhaka Individuals Joanne Abbensetts Hassan Said Abdourahman Waheed Ahmad Niaz Ahmed Gwendolyn Albert Florence Allen Molly Anderson Jodi Anthony Sally Armstrong Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford Katy Beaver Dr. Wolfgang Benedek Guerda Benjamin Cynthia B. Blake Joddah Bokhari Amber Bonnici Paola Brambilla Marti Britt Rosalind Buck Charlotte Bunch Noreen Campbell Elaine Chan-Scherer Marllyn Chang Hilda Rømer Christensen Corina Ciechanow Nadine Commergnat Emmeline Craig Aslı Davas Theresa Derlan Yeh Claire Desaint Audrey Desnoes Mary Diamond Denise Dias Emily Doherty Jocelyn Dow Josephine Dublin-Prince Crystal Easton Cynthia Enloe Dundeen Ferguson Cynthia Fuchs Epstein Uche Ewuzie Lana Finikin Dr. Helga Foster Laurice de Gale A. P. Gautam Elizabeth Gibbons Eunice Graham Stephanie Grant Shera Grant Clarke Joan Grant Cummings Barbara M. Hall Leila Hessini Maliha Husain Leila Jagdeo Eunadie Johnson Deborah Kasman Beata Koropatwa Dr. Dashurije Koshi Rebecca Landy Kate Langlois Michelle Lee Dr. Nancy C. Lee Bette Levy Shirley Lewis Georgia Love Mary MacDonald Houzan Mahmoud Havi Mandell Eleonora Barbieri Masini Terri Matlock Norah Matovu Winyi Caron McCloud Shiloh Sophia McCloud Dr. Lyla Mehta Vera Mehta Tufail Mohammad Martha Morgan Marcia L Morehead Hasna Moudud Dr. Fulata L. Moyo L. Uma Mulnick, DC Qamar Naseem Mr Amjad Nazeer Joyce Neu Hilary C. Nicholson Claytine Nisbett Hina Noureen Carole A. Oglesby Muradiye ORAL Meral Özaygen Dr Rukhshinda Parveen Joanne Payton William Pervaiz Elly Pradervand Angela de Prairie, MNM MA Lily Pulu Danuta Radzik Vanda Radzik Md-Mamunur Rahman Betty Reardon Marilyn Rice-Brown Dr. Kay Richmond Sonia Robinson Dr. Marilyn P. Safir M. Angelica Sepulveda Salinas Mary Schilder Maggie Schmeitz Mab Segrest Tina Siebers Kathleen Sloan Fatou Sow Ann Stacy Jerilyn Stapleton Irene Sullivan Anne-Marie Swalens Tenin Toure Linnette Vassell Annette Wagner Michaela Walsh Judith Wedderburn Marie C. Wilson Everjoice Win Katherine Witteman Alexandrina Wong Rev. Bond Wright