27th يوليو 2026

Uruguay: Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on gender-based and sexual violence

Equality Now and CLADEM Uruguay submitted a follow-up report to the UN Human Rights Committee, assessing Uruguay’s implementation of priority recommendations on violence against women and access to justice. The submission identifies persistent gaps in resources, specialised services, investigations, consent-based legislation, protection for children and data systems. It calls for evidence-based reforms and stronger implementation of Law No. 19.580.

What’s included in the submission?

  • Assessment of Uruguay’s progress in preventing, investigating and punishing gender-based violence.
  • Analysis of legislative gaps on sexual violence, including definitions not based on lack of consent and limitation periods.
  • Examination of barriers affecting children and adolescents, including revictimising and adult-centred practices.
  • Recommendations on legal reform, specialised services, training, investigations, data systems and intersectional justice.

Who’s this submission for?

  • UN Human Rights Committee
  • Law and policymakers
  • Legal professionals
  • Government institutions

Download your file

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Key recommendations

  • Reform sexual offence laws so that lack of consent is the central element of the definitions.
  • Guarantee adequate funding and nationwide access to specialised services, protection and support under Law No. 19.580.
  • Strengthen gender-sensitive investigations, forensic capacity, communication with victims and compulsory training across the justice system.
  • Develop integrated, interoperable and disaggregated information systems to track cases and evaluate public policies.
  • Eliminate discriminatory stereotypes and ensure intersectional, child-sensitive and non-revictimising responses.

Explore more resources

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Legislating on sexual violence with a consent-based approach in Latin America and the Caribbean

This guide highlights the need to align legal definitions of sexual violence with international standards by centering on the lack of voluntary and free consent.

Failure to protect: How discriminatory sexual violence laws and practices are hurting women, girls and adolescents in the Americas

Equality Now’s analysis reveals that loopholes, protection gaps, and systemic barriers in sexual violence laws and justice systems across multiple jurisdictions effectively deny survivors access to justice.

Five myths and facts about sexual violence

This practical guide debunks common myths about sexual violence and explains how international human rights standards can strengthen survivor-centred laws and justice systems.

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