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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Please share with your networks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Solo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">PDF<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#C00000">LINK TO SIGN ON THIS LETTER – By May 30<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTp_Nl7Yklge8AyiQ8zQfU7I4RiJzqcghC6fuP7mQwQoItuQ/viewform">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTp_Nl7Yklge8AyiQ8zQfU7I4RiJzqcghC6fuP7mQwQoItuQ/viewform</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sign-On can be as an organization or an individual.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">To: Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva and New York;</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Cc: Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hilary Gbedemah, Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Joint Open Letter on Threat to CEDAW Session</span></b><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We are deeply concerned by the likely postponement of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) session scheduled
for the final quarter of 2019. We also note that the shortfall in funds has affected the ability of the CEDAW Committee to implement its mandate under the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This comes as a heavy blow in the wake of ongoing pushback against human rights, including tremendous opposition to women’s human rights, on a global scale. Ethno-nationalism
and religious extremism are increasingly emboldened by sensationalist media pushing xenophobic narratives, with women and girls rendered particularly vulnerable. The very existence of LGBTIQ people is in many places considered a threat to the fabric of society,
while threats to their safety and well-being are excused. We have recently seen a UN Security Council resolution<a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn1" href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> fail to specifically uphold
women’s right to autonomy over their own bodies, even as survivors of sexual violence in conflict.
</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Submissions to the CEDAW Committee by civil society organisations and women’s human rights defenders have long been included and valued, presenting a clear picture of
the realities on the ground and enabling the Committee to hold states parties accountable. The CEDAW review session is an increasingly rare space in which civil society organisations and women’s human rights defenders can articulate, and access support for,
the struggles they face in their home countries. At a time when civil society spaces are shrinking in many national contexts, it is all the more crucial that impunity for human rights violations can continue to be challenged at the UN level.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We understand that financial cutbacks have occurred due in large part to delays by UN member states in paying their contributions, and note that CEDAW is only one of
six treaty bodies whose sessions face postponement<a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn2" href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a> – all of which will have a negative impact on women, girls, civil society organisations
and activists. We are deeply concerned both by this financial situation and by the resulting de-prioritisation of state accountability under international human rights law. Additionally, the considerable efforts put into aligning the Sustainable Development
Goals with human rights could be rendered ineffective by this weakening of the treaty body system.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As of 10 May, only 44 UN member states had paid all their assessments due.<a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn3" href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></a>
We would like to commend Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Rwanda, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sweden, Switzerland and Tuvalu for having done so. We express concern however at the glaring absence on
this list of members of the Human Rights Council and Security Council, of members of the G7, and of entire regions which remain unrepresented.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Now more than ever, we need to see decisive action to reverse this downward spiral. We call upon all member states to pay their membership fees in full without further
delay.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We additionally call upon the United Nations Secretary General to:</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">*Prioritise funds dedicated to ensure the operational mandate of treaty bodies;</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">*Ensure the CEDAW review sessions will not be jeopardised by the shortfall; and</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">*Prioritise sustainable financing for treaty bodies in the agenda and ongoing deliberations of the General Assembly.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This is a signal that deliberations in the UN’s 2020 treaty body system review cannot be business as usual. We are at a critical point, and we need multilateralism to
stand up for justice and equality and strengthen the ability of individual states to do the same.</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Signatories</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">_____________________________<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn1" href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a>
<a href="https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/resolution/resolution-2467-2019/S_RES_24672019_E.pdf">
<span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC">https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/resolution/resolution-2467-2019/S_RES_24672019_E.pdf</span></a><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn2" href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a>
<a href="https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24621&LangID=E">
<span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC">https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24621&LangID=E</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn3">
<p class="MsoNormal"><a style="mso-footnote-id:ftn3" href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[3]</span></a>
<a href="http://undocs.org/en/A/73/443/Add.1"><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC">http://undocs.org/en/A/73/443/Add.1</span></a><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">,
para. 26. </span><span lang="EN-MY" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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