Advocacy
Advocacy News
GWI provides a global voice for women graduates, working for the adoption and implementation of international agreements that will protect and benefit all girls and women.
GWI (previously the International Federation of University Women) has maintained special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1947 and is an active advocate with the United Nations and other international agencies. GWI makes is an active participant every March, June and September the United Nations Geneva Human Rights Council where we make regular oral statements and submit written statements advocating to eliminate the barriers girls face when trying to gain an education.
Our advocacy work with the United Nations’ agencies plays an important role in supporting our National Federations and Associations with in-country governments action plans to develop and implement policies. We invite you to read our reports and join us as aim to remove the barriers to girls gaining secondary education.
June 2019: Official Written Statement – 41st session of the Human Rights Council
May 2019 : Menstrual Hygiene Day 2019 — Advocacy Toolkit
March 2019 : World Water Day 2019 – NFA Contributions Report
February 2019: Official Written Statement – 40th session of the Human Rights Council
February 2019: GWI Impact on Women and Girls in Science: marking International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 2019: International Day for Zero Tolerance of FGM Policy Update
February 2019: The Connection Between FGM and the Sustainable Development Goals is Irrefutable
January 2019: International Day of Education Press Briefing
January 2019: Official CSW63 Written Statement: English / French / Spanish
November 2018: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Impactful and Easy-to-Use Toolkit
October 2018: Gender Equity Toolkit
October 2018: GWI International Day of Girl Impactful and Easy-to-Use Toolkit
July 2018: 70th session of CEDAW Australia Outcomes
July 2018: 70th session of CEDAW Mexico Outcomes
July 2018: 70th session of CEDAW New Zealand Outcomes
June 2018: Canadian Federation of University Women (Ottawa) Brief on Human Trafficking
June 2018: U.S. Separation of Children from Families
June 2018: U.S. Withdrawal from the Human Rights Council
April 2018: Advocacy Report: Menstrual Hygiene Matters – submitted by Clémence Mathiaud, GWI Intern, Sciences Po Lyon
March 2018: Turning Promises into Action: Australia and New Zealand Facts
February 2018: Canadian Federation of University Women Rural Women Survey 2018 – Executive Summary submitted by Cheryl Hayles, CFUW Vice President International Relations
November 2017: Canadian Federation of University Women International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women press release
November 2017: Canadian Federation of University Women 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence toolkit
November 2017: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign
November 2017: University Women’s Club of Montreal Launches First-Ever North America Olympes de la Parole project
November 2017: Run With Us to Support Girls’ Education
October 2017: International Day of the Girl Child submitted by Cheryl Hayles, CFUW Vice President International Relations
September 2017: GWI Written Statement to the 36th session of the Human Rights Council
September 2017: International Literacy Day submitted by Cheryl Hayles CFUW Vice President International Relations
May 2017: GWI Written Statement to the 35th Session of the Human Rights Council
April 2017: CSW61 Analysis of the Agreed Conclusions by Lakshmi Puri
April 2017: CSW61 GWI Delegate Summary Report by Topic by Louise McLeod
March 2017: CSW61 Official Agreed Conclusions
March 2017: CSW61 Summary Report by Hally Siddons
March 2017: GWI Written Statement to the 61st Commission on the Status of Women
March 2017: GWI Written Statement to the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council
November 2016: University Women of Europe in action for equal pay for women and men
September 2016: UN Women Consultation on sex work, the sex trade and prostitution
September 2016: GWI Oral Statement to the HRC 33 on the Annual half-day discussion on the rights of indigenous people.
June 2016: GWI Oral Statement to the ILC on Gender Equality for Sustainable Development
May 2016: GWI Written Statement to the 32nd Human Rights Council
April 2016: Graduate Women International CSW60 Report
March 2016: Report from the Helvi Sipilä session at the 60th Commission on the Status of Women, New York
March 2016: Summary of 60th Commission on the Status of Women by Louise McLeod
March 2016: GWI delivers joint statement from NGO working group on Human Rights Education and Learning (NGO HREL)
November 2015: Australian Federation of Graduate Women promotes women in STEM
September 2015: GWI oral statement for HRC30
September 2015: GWI written statement for HRC 30
July 2015: GWI Oral Statement presented at the ECOSOC High-Level Segment in New York on July 9, 2015
GWI Written Statement presented at the ECOSOC High-Level Segment in New York on July 9, 2015
June 2015:GWI Written statement to HRC29
May 2015: GWI official delegate at International Conference on ICT
May 2015: World Education Forum 2015
May 2015: GWI Guest Panel Speaker at Girls in ICT Day
April 2015: Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2000-2015
April 2015: GWI and UN Women Partner for Regional Seminar
April 2015: Summary of the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council
March 2015: Beginning of the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council
March 2015: International Women’s Day and CSW59
March 2015 IFUW Written Statement to CSW59
March 2015 IFUW Oral Statement to CSW59
February 2015: New Background Paper on Attacks Against Girls Seeking to Access Education
February 2015: International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
January 2015: IFUW Manifesto Launch
January 2015: Cities for CEDAW: Virtual National Conference
January 2015: Countdown is On for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
- Women’s World Congress: An IFUW Panel-Workshop Combo
- Post-2015 global education goals
- The transition of women from education to full employment and decent work, with a particular focus on employment in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- An informed Approach: Themes that need to be strengthened in the Draft Agreed Conclusions – CSW 58
- Women’s and girls’ equal access and participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education – CSW 58
- Women’s access to productive resources – CSW 58
- Accountability and participation of women and girls in the implementation of the MDGs – CSW 58
- Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls – Gaps & Lessons Learned – CSW 58
- Challenges and Achievements of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls – CSW 58
- Universal Primary Education by 2020: in peril for Afghan girls? – CSW 58
- Briefing at US Mission to UN by members of the US delegation to CSW58
- International Women’s Day at UNESCO – IWD 2014
- Violence against women, a bleeding wound in the Syrian conflict – HRC 25
- Promoting and Protecting Education in Situations of Armed Conflict – HRC 25
- Universal Periodic Review for newcomers
- Media for Human Rights: The Power of Human Rights Education
- Human rights defenders in Asia – HRC 25
- Making Children’s Access to Justice a Reality: the Third Optional Protocol to the UN CRC – HRC 25
- Child Exploitation, Creative Prevention, Advocacy and Healing – HRC 25
- Violence and Harassment against Women Journalists – HRC 25
- Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children – HRC 25
- Special Rapporteur on violence against children and for children and armed conflict – HRC 25
- Ensuring Human Rights in the Provision of Contraceptive Information and Services – HRC 25
- Too Young to Wed – HRC 25
- The International Federation of University Women (IFUW) calls for Human Rights Education for all secondary and tertiary students and those in continuing education.
- Human Rights Day commemorations at UN Geneva
- Human Rights Day – UWAC
- Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs meets
- Qualified women still opting out of career in science, says study
- Violence against women is so endemic it impacts every issue relating to women
- UN Security Council resolution urges women’s full inclusion in peace talks and transitional justice
- Australia: AFGW – Mentoring with momentum
- UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training
- 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women, Children and People with Disabilities: 25 November – 10 December 2011
- IFUW Report from the Afghan Conference in Bonn
- Mexican Federation Presents Preliminary Report to CEDAW
- IFUW Writes to German Minister of Foreign Affairs in Support of Afghan Women
- 2011 Global Gender Gap Report Shows Largest Gaps in Political and Economic Participation
- Afghan Women Ask for Urgent Help by IFUW and NFAs
- Observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Australia: Parental Leave Best Practice Guide
- Canada: CFUW Advocates for Afghan Women at the Bonn Negotiating Table
- High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) – IFUW UN Reps Report
- Human Rights Council Panel on the Right to Health of Older Persons – IFUW UN Reps Report
- UN General Assembly President Meets with NGOs – IFUW UN Reps Report
- Outcomes of the 18th Session of the Human Rights Council – IFUW UN Reps Report
- Australia: New Guide to Using the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and other international complaint mechanisms
- United Nations Launches Seven Billion Actions – IFUW UN Reps Report
- AFWG Action on UN SCR Resolution 1325
- 18th Session of Human Rights Council Opens – IFUW UN Reps Report
- International Day of Peace, 21 September
- Global Campaign for Prevention of Violence against Children & Youth
- IFUW Advocacy Report: ILO Conference and Gender
- UN Working Group on Ageing: Gaps in Protection of Older Persons
- ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review
- IFUW Statement to ECOSOC
- Universal Periodic Review – 11th session
- UN Secretary General Publishes Report on Access and Participation of Women and Girls in Education, Training, Science and Technology
- CSW 55th Session 2011
- IFUW Statement to the Commission on Population and Development 44th session
- CEDAW Committee Adopts Recommendation on Ageing Women
- Expert Group Meeting on Gender, Science and Technology
- UN Women: the new UN Framework for Gender Equality
- IFUW Statement at the International Labour Conference
- Report on 2010 Commission on the Status of Women
- IFUW Parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women
- Dutch Federation participates in CEDAW Shadow Report
- World bank presentation on the Global Economic Crisis and the Power of Women
- IFUW Representative wins prestigious prize
- UNESCO General Conference
- 2009 International Labour Conference
- UNESCO Appoints First Woman Director-General
- Highlights from the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education
- UN Security Council passes new Resolution 1888 to end sexual violence against women in conflict-affected countries
- 2008 Advocacy Action Reports
- Human Rights Council Advisory Meeting
- Protecting Children in Cyberspace
- Cyberhate: Danger in Cyberspace
- The Global Downturn: Are Women Disproportionately Affected?
- IFUW Promotes Gender Equality at the Human Rights Council
- Durban Review Outcome Document looks to the Future
- Combating Violence Against Girls
- A Record High For Women in Parliament
- Strengthening the Contribution of Higher Education & NGOs in EFA
- Armenian Association Prepares Alternative CEDAW Report
- IFUW Statements at the 53rd Session on the Commission of the Status of Women
- IFUW Representatives to International Organizations: 2008 Annual Reports
GWI at the United Nations
- United Nations Vienna celebrates 40 years submitted by Elisabeth Francis, GWI United Nations Representative, Vienna
- April 2019: Advocacy Report: 62nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, by Ingrid H. Szabolcs, Vienna
- March 2019: Advocacy Report: 62nd session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs – Government & Civil Society, by Olivia Klemmer, Vienna
- March 2019: Advocacy Report: 62nd session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs – Science in Context, by Olivia Klemmer, Vienna
- March 2019: Advocacy Report: Mobile Learning Week and International Women’s Day, by Eliane Didier, Paris
- March 2019: Advocacy Report: 7th Plenary Meeting of CSW69, by Sophie Turner Zaretsky, New-York
- March 2019: Advocacy Report: International Women’s Day, by Valerie Nam, Geneva
- February 2019: 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) by Maryella Hannum, New-York
- February 2019: Official Written Statement – 40th session of the Human Rights Council
- January 2019: Advocacy Report: International Day of Education, by Mariella Hannum and Maureen Byrne, New-York
- December 2018: Advocacy Report: National Consultative Human Rights Commission, Diversity in Sports, by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- December 2018: Advocacy Report: CSW63 Good Practices by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: Women Ambassador’s Luncheon by Maryella Hannum, New-York
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: UNICEF Evaluation Learning Day Part.2, Panel Discussion and Conference, submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: UNICEF Evaluation Learning Day Part.1, International Institute for Environment and Development, submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: Paris Peace Forum, by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: 2018 UN Global Citizenship Education Forum, submitted by Maryella Hannum, New-York
- November 2018: Advocacy Report: 10th International Forum of Science, Moscow, Russia, submitted by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- October 2018: Advocacy Report: Tomorrow Ready: UNICEF Executive Board Special Focus Session, submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- October 2018: Advocacy Report: Draft Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- October 2018: Advocacy report: International Day of the Girl by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- September 2018: Advocacy Report: Policy Dialogue: Emerging Issues in Addressing FGM in West Africa, submitted by Mrs Helen Lom, Geneva
- September 2018: Written Statement – 39th session of the Human Rights Council – Child Widowhood
- July 2018: HLPF How Far Have We Come submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- July 2018: HLPF Higher Education Sustainability Initiative submitted by Maryella Hannum, New-York
- July 2018: HLPF Science Technology Innovation submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- July 2018: HLPF Education for Social Economic and Environmental Sustainability submitted by Maryella Hannum, New-York
- June 2018: Advocacy Report: UNICEF NGO Committee Meeting – submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne, New-York
- June 2018: Advocacy Report: Consultations of the Committee (ECOSOC) with NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC – submitted by Dr. Maureen Byrne
- June 2018: Advocacy Report: Annual Full-day Discussion on the Rights of Women – submitted by Amy Paunila, GWI UN Representative in Geneva
- March 2018: UN Representative Report: Making sense of CSW62 by Maureen E. Byrne, Ph.D., New-York
- March 2018: Advocacy Report: Higher Education and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- March 2018: UN Representative Report: International Women’s Day 2018 at UNESCO by Eliane Didier, Paris
- March 2018: International Women’s Day – Multifaceted approach to reducing the gender gap by Manjit Dosanjh, Geneva
- March 2018: Call for submission – Oral Update of the High Commissioner on child, early and forced marriage to the Human Rights Council
- February 2018: 2018 International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Science for Women Too Report by Manjit Dosanjh, Geneva
- February 2018: International Day of Women and Girls in Science Report by Dominique Ciavatti, Paris
- November 2017: UN Representative Report: The Ninth Report from Norway to the 68th Session of CEDAW by Amy Paunila, Geneva
- October 2017: UN Representative Report: NGO Committe on Peace meeting on: The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty and The Nobel Peace Prize for ICAN by Elisabeth Francis, Vienna
- October 2017: UN Representative Report: “The Future of Everything – Sustainable Development in the Age of Rapid Technological Change” Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the Second Committee, by Maureen Byrne, Ph.D., New York
- September 2017: UN Representative Report: 10th Session of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology & 24th Session of the International Bioethics Committee – UNESCO by Eliane Didier, Paris
- September 2017: UN Representative Report: Financing the Future- Education for all by Maureen Byrne, Ph.D., New York
- September 2017: UN Representative Report: 36th session of the Human Rights Council Gender Panel by Amy Paunila, Geneva
- August 2017: Advocacy Report: UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee 19th session
- July 2017: Advocacy Report: CEDAW 67th session – Nigeria
- July 2017: Advocacy Report: CEDAW 67th session – Romania
- June 2017: Advocacy Report: Placing Youth at the Forefront of Humanitarian Action and the 2030 Agenda
- May 2017: UN Representative Report: Preparatory Committee Meeting for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by Elisabeth Francis, Vienna
- May 2017: UN Representative Report: 16th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
- May 2017: UN Representative Report: Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue and IBE-UNESCO by Amy Paunila, Geneva
- April 2017: UN Representative Report: Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), 60th Session
- March 2017: UN Representative Report: Raising Women’s Voices in Intergovernmental Forums
- February 2017: UN Representative Report on the Committee on the Rights of the Child
- February 2017: UN Representative Report on the 55th Commission for Social Development (CSocD55)
- December 2016: Advocacy Report: UNESCO Global Monitoring Report
- December 2016: Report on NGO Briefing for CSW61 from GWI NYReps
- December 2016: Advocacy Report: Notes from Cities for CEDAW NYC
- November 2016: OSCE Gender Symposium – Combatting Femicide
- October 2016: Advocacy Report UNTOC, Vienna
- October 2016: Intersessional meetings re 59th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
- September 2016: Report on 55th Commission for Social Development
- March 2016: Report on 59th Session of CND Vienna
- March 2016: Graduate Institute panel: Gender Parity
- March 2016: Vienna NGO Sustainable Development Committee meeting
- January 2016: 60th Committee on the Status of Women preparatory meeting
- November 2015 – Cern Symposium
- October 2015 – Nansen Refugee Award
- October 2015 – Future Policy Award
- June 2015 – UNCAC IRG Briefing for NGOs, UN Vienna, UNODC Presentation of the Work of the UNCAC Review Mechanism
- June 2015 – HRC 29 Panel Discussion- The Power of Empowered Women
- June 2015 – Opening Statements of the HRC 29 Session
- December 2014 – 57th Session UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- November 2014 – 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- October 2014 – 7th Session of the United Nation Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTC)
- September 2014 – International Round Table on Preventing and Combating Labour Trafficking & Exploitation
- September 2014 – Consultation with Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs
- August 2014 – 65th Annual Conference UN Department of Public Information
- July 2014 – High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
- March 2014 – Symposium on Prostitution
- March 2014 – 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
- February 2014 – CEDAW Dinner Reception
2013 Advocacy Reports Coming Soon !
2012 Advocacy Reports Coming Soon !
- May 2011 – Report from an Informal Interactive Civil Society Hearing of the General Assembly
- May 2011 – Report from No woman left behind in the fight against non-communicable diseases: Towards health services that address breast and cervical cancer
- May 2011 – Universal Periodic Review – 11th Session: report on Samoa, Singapore, Sierra Leone
- May 2011 – Statement to the High Level Segment of ECOSOC
- May 2011 – Report on the Commission on the Status of Women 2011
- January 2011 – Statement to the Commission on Population and Development 44th session
- October 2010 – Report from Human Rights Council 15th Session
- October 2010 – Report from the conference “Rape as Weapon of War”
- October 2010 – Report from the UNESCO Expert Group Meeting on Gender, Science and Technology
- September 2010 – Report from the UNESCO Forum on Women
- July 2010 – Mid-point in the Decade for Education for Sustainable Development
- June 2010 – IFUW Statement to the International Labour Conference 2010
- June 2010 – Report on Commission on the Status of Women 2010
- March 2010 – Report from 7th Session of Universal Periodic Review: Spain
- March 2010 – Report from 5th meeting of the Collective Consultation of NGOs on Education for All
- March 2010 – Report from Human Rights Council 13th Session
- February 2010 – Report from UNDP: 7th Forum of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (WACAP)
- January 2010 – Report from 45th Session of CEDAW: Cyprus and Egypt
- November 2009 – World Bank presentation on the Global Economic Crisis and the Power of Women
- October 2009 – Report from the International Labour Conference
- October 2009 – Oral statement on the Integration of Gender Perspective in the Council’s work, Human Rights Council – 12th session
- October 2009 – Co-signatory statement on the World Programme for Human Rights Education, Human Rights Council – 12th session
- October 2009 – Co-signatory statement on the Draft Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, Human Rights Council – 12th session
- October 2009 – Report from 2009 World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE), Paris
- October 2009 – Meeting of NGOs for the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education, Paris
- October 2009 – UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Europe, North America and Israel, Bucharest
- October 2009 – UNESCO Arab Regional Conference on Higher Education (ARCHE +10), Cairo
- September 2009 – Report from the UPR 6th Sessions
- August 2009 – Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Meeting
- July 2009 – WSIS: Protecting Children in Cyberspace
- June 2009 – Joint Statement on Gender Equality and Decent Work at the ILO Conference
- April 2009 – Durban Review Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
- March 2009 – Joint Statement on Gender Equality at the Human Rights Council – 10th session
- March 2009 – Report from the International Girl Child Conference in the Netherlands
- March 2009 – Strengthening the Contribution of Higher Education and NGOs in Education for All (EFA)
- February 2009 – Geneva: 2008 ANNUAL REPORT by IFUW Representatives to ECOSOC and ILO
- January 2009 – New York: 2008 ANNUAL REPORT by IFUW Representatives to ECOSOC
- January 2009 – Paris: 2008 ANNUAL REPORT by IFUW Representatives to UNESCO
- December 2008 – Paris: 2008 ANNUAL REPORT by IFUW Representatives to UNESCO
- December 2008 – Proposal for a General Recommendation on Older Women: Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Older Women
- 20 June – 18 July 2008 – Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 41st Session: Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Nigeria, Slovakia, Tanzania, UK
- 2 June – 18 June 2008 – Joint Statement on Follow-up to the Special session on the World food crisis delivered at the 8th Session of the Human Rights Council
- 2 June – 18 June 2008 – Joint Statement on NGO Support for the mandate on the Right to education delivered at the 8th Session of the Human Rights Council
- 2 June – 18 June 2008 – Joint Statement on Violence against women delivered at the 8th Session of the Human Rights Council
- 28 May – 31 June 2008 – Statement to the 97th Session of the International Labour Conference
- 30 May 2008 – Statement to the ILO Committee on Skills for improved productivity, employment growth and development
- January 2008 – Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 40th Session: Bolivia, Burundi, Saudi Arabia, France, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Marocco, Sweden
