In this section you'll find reports relating to international work, such as our submissions to the UN and responses to European Commission consultations.
This submission follows a four-nations shadow report produced for the UK examination in February 2019,1 and draws on evidence submitted by civil society organisations to Engender, Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform, Women’s Equality Network Wales and the Women’s Resource Centre in England. This interim shadow report focuses on the areas of concern indicated by the Committee (at paragraphs 13, 21 and 25).
However, since the CEDAW examination, the Covid-19 pandemic and continued austerity measures mean that women’s lives are likely to have worsened. We have therefore highlighted the impact of COVID-19 and violence against women to assist the Committee evaluate progress reported by the UK Government. We must stress that the UK government did not engage with any of the contributing organisations in the preparation of its report.
This report follows Engender’s engagement with the eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee requires the UK Government to report on their progress on four recommendations of particular concern (at paragraphs 13, 21 a) and b) and 25) concerning incorporation, the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU (‘Brexit’) and an oversight mechanism for women’s participation in CEDAW at UK level.
Since the Committee made its observations, however, Scotland like the rest of the world has faced the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control the spread of coronavirus were introduced from March 2020 and, while increasingly relaxed, continue to affect the daily lives of women in Scotland. We have therefore included an overview of the impact of the pandemic and concerns around violence against women.
Engender has submitted this written statement for the 2021 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-Level Segment for non-governmental organisations in consultative status with ECOSOC. This year's priority theme is centred around sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Date of publication: May 2021.
Filename: Engender-2021-ECOSOC-High-level-Segment-Written-Statement-Submission.pdf | File size: 178KB | Tags: international, covid19, ecosocOften referred to as the ‘women’s bill of rights’, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) is the UN’s human rights treaty devoted to women; it spells out in detail women’s human right to equality and non-discrimination, which states that have ratified it must then act to realise. CEDAW contains 30 articles, which include minimum standards for women’s rights in work, politics, marriage, education, the economy, and other areas.
This report sets out what happened during the UK's 8th CEDAW examination, and what it means for women's equality in Scotland.
Date of Publication: Dec 2019
Filename: CEDAW---a-superhero-for-women-in-Scotland.pdf | File size: 979KB | Tags: cedawOn March 8th 2019 the UN CEDAW Committee released their concluding observations following the UK examination in Geneva.
These concluding observations have been annotated by Engender with contextual information that may be of interest.
We have highlighted:
• Mentions of Scotland
• Concluding observation that reflects one of Engender’s key calls, either made through our Scotland shadow report or through the four-nations report produced with WEN Wales, NIWEP, and Women’s Resource Centre.
And added specific details which may be of interest.
Filename: Engender-annotated-concluding-observations-formatted.pdf | File size: 722KB | Tags: cedaw, genderedit4 nations of the UK shadow report to the Eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW, the UN Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Publication date: January 2019
Filename: CEDAW-4-nations-report-Jan-2019.pdf | File size: 1513KB | Tags: cedawScotland shadow report to the Eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW, the UN Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Publication date: January 2019
Filename: CEDAW-Scotland-report-Jan-2019.pdf | File size: 481KB | Tags: cedawIn 2018 Engender has worked to produce a shadow report on CEDAW, to highlight key issues for women's rights in Scotland.
Date of publication: June 2018
Filename: Engender-CEDAW-report.pdf | File size: 654KBEighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW.
This is a shadow report from the four nations of the UK. It was produced by Engender (Scotland), Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform, Women’s Equality Network Wales, Women’s Resource Centre (England).
Date of publication: June 2018
Filename: Eighth-periodic-report-of-the-government-of-the-United-Kingdom-on-measures-taken-to-give-effect-to-CEDAW---four-nations-report.pdf | File size: 1359KB | Tags: cedawThe sixth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to ICESCR.
Date of Publication: April 2016.
Filename: Engender-shadow-report-April-2016.pdf | File size: 378KB | Tags: internationalEngender's refreshed shadow report to the 6th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This shadow report is supported by Close the Gap, Equate Scotland, Scottish Women's Budget Group, Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance, and SCVO.
Date of publication: April 2016.
Filename: Engender-shadow-report-April-2016-ICESCR-UK.pdf | File size: 381KB | Tags: internationalEngender's shadow report to the 6th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This shadow report is supported by Close the Gap, Equate Scotland, Scottish Women's Budget Group, Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Zero Tolerance, and SCVO.
Date of publication: August 2015.
Filename: Engender-shadow-report-ICESCR-UK.pdf | File size: 777KB | Tags: internationalEach year, the European Women's Lobby asks national co-ordinations to comment on aspects of the individual European member state's National Reform Programme. This is the UK Joint Committee's response to the process that concluded in March 2014, which was drafted by Engender.
Date of publication: March 2014.
Filename: UK-Joint-Committee-on-Women-response-to-EWL-February-2014.pdf | File size: 371KB | Tags: international ewlThe concluding observations (recommendations) of the CEDAW Committee, following its examination of the UK in 2013.
Date of publciation: July 2013.
Filename: 130730-Conc-Obs.doc | File size: 134KB | Tags: international cedawEngender's shadow report to the 7th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's CEDAW Committee.
Date of publication: December 2012.
Filename: 130508-Engender-shadow-CEDAW-report.doc | File size: 92KB | Tags: international cedawThis is a joint submission to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 57th meeting in 2012. The theme of CSW57 was violence against women.
Date of publication: November 2012.
Filename: Scotland-NGO-CSW57-statement-15-Nov-20122.pdf2.pdf | File size: 158KB | Tags: internationalEngender's statement to the pre-session working group, which took place in November 2012. This relates to the UK's examination by the CEDAW Committee in respect of its 7th periodic report.
Date of publication: October 2012.
Filename: CEDAWstatement-2012final.pdf | File size: 179KB | Tags: international cedawNGOs can submit questions to the CEDAW Committee in advance of the examination of their governments. These are the questions that Engender submitted prior to the examination of the UK.
Date of publication: September 2012.
Filename: CEDAW-Questions-for-UK-Govt-Sep-2012-Engender.pdf | File size: 564KB | Tags: international cedawEngender's notes of proceedings from the European Women's Lobby General Assembly in 2012.
Date of publication: August 2012.
Filename: EuropeanWomensLobby-ConferenceNotes20121.pdf | File size: 34KB | Tags: international ewlEngender's statement to the UN's Universal Periodic Review process.
Date of publication: April 2012
Filename: Statement-from-Engender-UPR-April-2012-1.pdf | File size: 119KB | Tags: internationalTo join our email list, simply enter your email address below.