In 2016, NDI launched the #NotTheCost campaign, a global call to action to stop violence against women in politics (VAW-P). One of the key recommendations made by NDI’s then-Chairman and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the launch of the campaign was for the United Nations to begin to examine violence against women in politics in its annual thematic reports.

As part of this commitment to regular global reporting, NDI created a reporting template and accompanying guidance for civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the development of national level thematic reports on VAW-P for submission as shadow reports to UN monitoring bodies. 

Under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), states that have ratified the convention must submit an official report on a regular schedule to the CEDAW Committee detailing the steps being taken to harmonize domestic law and policy with CEDAW and to implement the articles outlined within the treaty. A shadow, or alternative, report is a formal supplement to and review of the state report, if it has been submitted, and assessment of the status of CEDAW implementation in the country prepared by CSOs for review by the CEDAW Committee. Once submitted, the shadow report becomes a part of the official record and the evidence and assessment presented in the shadow report is given equal consideration as any information presented by the state during the committee’s review.

VAW-P is chronically underreported and consistently treated with impunity around the globe, with little accountability for perpetrators of VAW-P and limited justice for its targets. Without consistent, routine, and global monitoring, reporting, and data collection on VAW-P, it is difficult for practitioners and policymakers to design effective approaches to prevent, mitigate, and apply justice and accountability measures. 

To pilot and refine this methodology, the Institute worked with CSO partners in Malawi, Mexico, North Macedonia, and Tunisia who conducted original research and data collection on topics including: in-person and online incidents of VAW-P; social and cultural attitudes and gender norms that enable VAW-P;  types and prevalence of VAW-P; motivations and tactics of VAW-P perpetrators;  impacts of VAW-P on its targets as well as communities and democracies more broadly; and actions - or inaction - by governments to prevent, mitigate and respond to VAW-P. Using NDI’s reporting template, each of the four partners created national level shadow reports to present their findings for consideration to the CEDAW committee, and engagement with local and national level stakeholders and policymakers.

Civil society shadow reporting on this issue will help to build both the domestic and global evidence base around VAW-P; strengthen the monitoring and reporting process under CEDAW by adding important context, data, and assessment for consideration by the CEDAW Committee ; and inform the Committee’s evaluation and recommendations for state action following the review session. 

With the publication of this reporting template and guidance note, NDI seeks to help fill this crucial gap around routine global reporting on VAW-P by providing guidance to CSOs on how to compile and submit shadow reports to the CEDAW Committee. 

For more information on the committee, including the schedule of upcoming review sessions, check the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights’ CEDAW page.