SHero at CEDAW91 – Amplifying Survivor Voices from Geneva

Today, SHero Thailand participated in the 91st Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva, Switzerland, delivering an oral statement as a civil society organization dedicated to advancing the rights of individuals affected by gender-based violence.

What is CEDAW?

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a core international human rights treaty to which Thailand is a State party. Under this mechanism, countries are required to regularly report their progress and challenges in advancing women’s rights to the United Nations Committee of Experts.

Civil society organizations like SHero play a critical role in this process by submitting Shadow Reports and delivering Oral Statements to the Committee. These interventions provide an opportunity to present realities that may not be captured in the State’s official report and offer concrete recommendations grounded in field-level experience.

SHero has submitted two shadow reports to this session. The first, co-authored with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), focuses on legal issues and barriers to justice. The second, submitted confidentially, was developed in partnership with grassroots organizations working in Thailand’s border regions. It highlights the specific challenges faced by migrant women, stateless persons, and refugees.

In its oral statement today, SHero addressed the systemic barriers that marginalized women face in accessing justice—particularly those who are pushed out of formal systems due to structural discrimination. The statement also raises concerns about laws and policies that hinder, rather than help, the protection of survivors.

Additional statements were delivered by other women human rights defenders, covering issues such as Indigenous

women, women in the conflict-affected southern border provinces, LGBTQIA+ communities, and women with disabilities.

Livestream Today – CEDAW Informal Public Meeting for NGO Interventions

3:00–4:00 PM (Geneva | UTC+2)

8:00–9:00 PM (Thailand | UTC+7)

Watch live: http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wrlq8lp2

We invite you to witness this powerful moment as survivors and human rights defenders raise their voices on the global stage.

Throughout this week, SHero and fellow civil society actors continue to push for accountability and gender justice at the United Nations.