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Mechanisms

Complaint about discrimination against women

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Which States it covers
The State must be party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Who can file
The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit
No fixed deadline. File as soon as possible.
Do I need to use national courts first?
Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know
The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate)
Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve
Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?
If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety
The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?
If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

This portal is a first source of ideas, not a substitute for expert advice. Before you take any step, talk to a human rights lawyer, for example the team of lawyers at Just Access e.V. (contact@just-access.de).

How to submitOfficial information

Source: Official information.Last updated: 10 November 2026.

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Sources