Strengthening feminist advocacy and accountability in the CEDAW process since 1997
From Global to Local (G2L) is IWRAW Asia Pacific’s long-standing, flagship programme designed to bring the experiences, analyses, and demands of women’s rights organisations into the heart of the CEDAW review process. Since 1997, G2L has supported grassroots, national, and regional feminist advocates to navigate and influence CEDAW, a space that remains vital for advancing women’s human rights amid rising inequality and backlash.
As a feminist organisation committed to the full realisation of women’s human rights, IWRAW Asia Pacific places movement building, knowledge sharing, and solidarity at the centre of our engagement with CEDAW. G2L is one of the ways we ensure that activists from diverse contexts can shape how international standards evolve, and how they are implemented at home.
Why G2L Matters
CEDAW is one of the few international mechanisms where NGOs are not only recognised but actively encouraged to participate in the review process. It is a political space that connects the lived realities of women, particularly those experiencing structural discrimination, with the treaty body responsible for interpreting and developing global norms on gender equality.
Through G2L, IWRAW Asia Pacific works to demystify these processes and support organisations to engage meaningfully with the Committee. This includes practical orientation to the UN system, guidance on preparing NGO reports, and strategic advice on advocacy entry points.
“The Global to Local programme radically transformed the constructive dialogue between the CEDAW Committee and governments by including domestic women’s organisations. Perhaps more importantly, it enabled women’s organisations to use the international standards in their work at home and increased their ability to collaborate with and scrutinise their governments.” – Shanthi Dairiam, founder, IWRAW Asia Pacific
What the Programme Provides
G2L takes place in Geneva immediately prior to the CEDAW review. It combines the following components:
Training and Orientation
An adaptive agenda rooted in an introduction to CEDAW procedures, strategies for engaging with the Committee, and guidance on navigating formal and informal spaces around the review.
Mentoring and Support
Accompaniment for participating women’s rights organisations to refine their advocacy priorities, develop interventions, and respond to the evolving dynamics of their country review.
A Space for Collective Reflection
G2L brings together feminist advocates from different regions to exchange strategies, strengthen transnational organising, and articulate shared demands grounded in women’s human rights.
Beyond Geneva: Closing the Loop on Accountability
Our work on CEDAW does not end with the state reviews. IWRAW Asia Pacific supports organisations before, during, and after the session, supporting NGOs in their advocacy strategies to facilitate CEDAW implementation, rooted in movement-led advocacy and State accountability.
Before
Capacity strengthening on CEDAW, support in drafting NGO and shadow reports, and linking community and national demands to the State’s CEDAW obligations.
During
Facilitating NGO engagement in the review process, including guidance on advocacy with Committee members and strategic use of NGO spaces.
After
Co-creation of strategies for the implementation of concluding observations, follow-up on recommendations, and ongoing political advocacy to ensure that States’ CEDAW commitments translate into real change.
Through this approach, G2L reinforces long-term movement strategies for accountability and ensuring State obligation to realising, fulfilling and protecting women’s human rights.
Eligibility and Feminist Values
To participate in the G2L programme with funding support, applicants must meet the following criteria.
- Submission of or plans to submit an NGO or shadow report to CEDAW.
- Commitment to the full G2L programme and post session engagement
- Representation of a local, national or grassroots NGO or network. Government actors and persons involved in drafting the State report are not eligible.
- Alignment with IWRAW Asia Pacific’s Policy on the Rights of Marginalised Groups of Women.
We prioritise participation of women from marginalised communities, including but not limited to Indigenous Women, LBTIQ women, women with disabilities, sex workers, women who use drugs and women facing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, caste, class, religion or age. Applicants holding exclusionary positions, including trans exclusionary and sex worker exclusionary views, are not eligible.
Additional funding may be available for organisations addressing feminist macroeconomic issues such as the impact of international financial institutions, taxation, austerity, public services, debt, and the care economy.
“The mock session that was prepared for us [by IWRAW AP] was very important in the preparation for the week of reviews. For us, Tuvalu was the first country up for review [during the Pacific Technical Cooperation] and we were able to grasp everything we needed to know and do, over the weekend through the From Global to Local programme.” – Filiga Taukiei, ‘Fatu ‘Lei, Tuvalu
NGO Coordination & From Global to Local
IWRAW Asia Pacific is offically recognised by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the CEDAW Committee to coordinate NGO participation in all CEDAW sessions. In our capacity as CEDAW’s NGO Coordinator, we work with all NGOs interested in engaging in CEDAW sessions. This includes the outreach about the session, faciliating and supporting NGO report submissions, accessing information about NGO participation, organising participating NGOs for the public informal NGO meeting and organising the private country-specific briefings with the Committee. We remain accessible to all interested NGOs for information to guide their participation in CEDAW sessions.
From Global to Local is an independent programme, funded and resourced by IWRAW Asia Pacific, and is organised in alignment with our strategic plan and organisational mandate. The programme is designed and executed in line with our strategies of capacity building, movement building, advocacy, partnerships, and accountability. Thus, G2L is reserved for applications by NGOs that align with IWRAW Asia Pacific’s feminist values.
If your organisation or collective is engaging in an upcoming CEDAW session and is interested in learning more about the From Global to Local programme, please get in touch with Vashti, From Global to Local Advocacy Officer, at vashti@iwraw-ap.org