The power of speaking with one voice: advancing joint solutions to ensuring women’s access to justice free from legal retaliation through co-operation among global and regional women’s rights mechanisms

A side-event to the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) organised by the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on Discrimination and Violence against Women (EDVAW Platform) and UN Women


Thursday 12 March 2026 from 1.15pm to 2.30pm EST (6.15 pm to 7.30 pm CET)

UN Women Headquarters, Daily News Building, New York
 


 

EVENT RECORDING
ABOUT THE EVENT

Women’s access to justice is a fundamental human right and a central concern of international and regional human rights frameworks. Legal systems are a fundamental pillar of every society and play a crucial role in protecting rights and upholding justice at international, regional, and national levels. Yet in many parts of the world, instead of safeguarding those who advocate for equality and justice, legal systems are increasingly misused as instruments to silence, intimidate, or punish women who challenge discrimination, violence, or unequal laws. Such legal retaliation not only harms women and women’s rights defenders but also undermines human rights and the rule of law itself. It occurs, for example, when women’s rights defenders who support others in understanding their legal rights, navigating judicial systems, accessing legal representation, challenging discriminatory legislation, or seeking protection from gender‑based violence are themselves targeted through abusive legal actions. These practices deter legitimate advocacy, restrict access to justice, and weaken the integrity of legal institutions.

For some time, the different members of the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on Discrimination and Violence against Women (EDVAW Platform) have been pointing to these developments within the work carried out under their respective mandates. By speaking to the situation across the globe, this side event seeks to highlight the findings they have made as global and regional women’s rights bodies and to offer possible solutions, including for States/national authorities.

PROGRAMME

Words of welcome: Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results, UN Women

  • Intervention via pre-recorded video : Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences

Speakers

  • Janet R. Sallah Njie, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA)
  • Miriam Roache, President of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI)
  • Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, Chair of the EDVAW Platform and President of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)
  • Patsili Toledo Vasquez, Member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee)
  • Laura Nyirinkindi, Member of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls (WGDAWG)

Moderator

  • Marja Ruotanen, General Director, Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Council of Europe
MORE INFORMATION


Purpose of the EDVAW Platform

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