UN CEDAW Urges 8 Countries to Strengthen Women's Rights Protection

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has released its latest findings on Angola, Cabo Verde, the Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, the Republic of Moldova and Togo, following a review of their implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The findings recognise progress while highlighting persistent challenges in gender equality, women's empowerment, political representation, economic participation, education and protection against gender-based violence.

The Committee raised important issues and proposed more robust legal instruments, good public policies and institutional measures to safeguard women's rights and tackle women and girls' discrimination in all aspects.

Key Highlights:

• CEDAW urges stronger legal protection against gender-based violence
• Women's economic empowerment and political representation need greater attention
• Girls' education and reproductive healthcare remain important priorities

A number of countries reported that gender-based violence was a significant issue. The Committee drew attention to the high rates of femicide, intimate partner violence and sexual violence in Kenya. It called for the criminalisation of femicide as a specific crime, to establish a monitoring mechanism for femicide, and for the criminalisation of marital rape.

The State of Kazakhstan was called on to single out domestic violence and family relations characterised by abuse and coercive control as specific offences. Issues raised were the lack of equal opportunities for access to support for survivors, and rising incidents of technology-facilitated violence in the Cook Islands. The Committee called for improved survivor-centred services, appropriate and thorough investigations, and action and response to cyberbullying and deepfakes.

The Committee raised this issue of the limitations on women freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Togo, urging the protection of women human rights defenders and activists.

The results showed the need for financial autonomy and equal representation in leadership. The Committee proposed increasing the availability of low-cost loans, credit and digital technologies and entrepreneurship opportunities for women, especially in rural areas in Angola.

In view of the low rate of representation of women in Cabo Verde's national cabinet, from 53.3% in 2010 to 16.7% in 2026, Cabo Verde was urged to increase women's participation in executive positions. It also called for more robust protections from violence and political harassment against women in public roles.

The Committee recommended the need to implement a comprehensive national care policy in Kazakhstan and provide affordable care services to ensure the redistribution of unpaid domestic care obligations and promote gender parity in employment.

Other areas of concern were access to education for girls and women's reproductive healthcare. Poverty, unsafe travel to school, domestic duties, and birth registration were cited as a challenge in girls' education in Togo. The Committee made a recommendation for the need to increase school safety and school support for disadvantaged, displaced and refugee girls.

In Paraguay, the Committee emphasized the phenomenon of girls being placed in other households in Paraguay, but in a situation where they are not receiving an education, but rather are engaged in unpaid domestic work, exploitation and violence. It recommended to carry out a nationwide investigation and increased protection and education of the affected girls.

The Republic of Moldova was encouraged to consider the restrictions on telemedicine-based medical abortion services, including those aimed at enhancing access to these services for women living in rural areas, women with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence.

The Cook Islands was also encouraged to consider how climate change is affecting women disproportionately, including women from Pa Enua, and include them in decision making processes related to climate change.

Whether it be the eight countries, CEDAW reiterated the need to put the law into practice. Their recommendations include increased institutional accountability, equitable opportunities, affordable healthcare, good education and better protection from discrimination.