We work with international & regional human rights mechanisms

Our insights and expertise drive systemic change

Global progress on gender equality is only possible when human rights bodies are informed by the legal and lived realities of women and girls.

Equality Now actively contributes to the work of international and regional human rights mechanisms – including but not limited to the  United Nations, the African Union, the Council of Europe, and the Inter-American System – by providing expert legal submissions, evidence-based recommendations, and survivor-informed insights.

We use our legal expertise, as well as national and regional partnerships, to help shape global standards, support state accountability, and amplify underrepresented voices in key forums.

Delivering legal reform through global influence

From the UN Commission on the Status of Women to international and regional treaty body reviews, our inputs help shape legal frameworks that hold countries accountable.

In 2024, we made 78 legal submissions covering 38 countries to UN, regional, and national bodies and authorities. So far, over half have directly shaped official recommendations.

We engage with:

• Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
• Treaty body reviews (CEDAW, HRC, CRC, CAT, etc.)
• Special Rapporteurs on violence against women, digital rights, and trafficking
• Regional mechanisms, including:
  • African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
  • Inter-American Commission on Human Rights