Women’s Rights Violations in Laos, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand Raise Concerns at UN Committee

GENEVA — The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) heard from representatives of civil society organizations this afternoon, who presented updates on the status of women’s rights in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand.

The Committee is set to review these countries’ reports throughout the week as part of its 89th session, running from October 7 to October 25.

In the briefing on Lao People’s Democratic Republic, concerns were raised about gender-based violence, human trafficking, and the specific challenges faced by Hmong women and girls.

For Saudi Arabia, the discussion centered around the imprisonment of women human rights defenders, women facing the death penalty, and the treatment of female domestic workers.

In New Zealand, the speakers highlighted the issues affecting Māori women and girls, the treatment of transgender and intersex individuals, and the persistent gender pay gap.

Several non-governmental organizations participated in these briefings. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, contributions came from the Association for Development of Women and Legal Education, the Gender Development Association, the Alliance for Democracy in Laos, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, and the Hawai’i Centre for Human Rights Research and Action.

In Saudi Arabia, groups such as Amnesty International, MENA Rights Group, ALQST, and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights were involved, along with others advocating for domestic workers and human rights defenders.

For New Zealand, the New Zealand Human Rights Commission presented alongside organizations like Te Whare Tiaki Wahine Refuge, the Maori Women’s Welfare League, Pacific Women’s Watch, and the National Council of Women.

The Committee will hold its next public meeting on Tuesday, October 8, to review the tenth periodic report of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. All relevant documents, including the reports submitted by state parties, can be accessed on the Committee’s session webpage, and the public meeting webcast is available on UN Web TV.