Applications are now open for funding of up to £10,000 total for multiple civil society organisations in Britain to provide in-person evidence to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This will inform its 9th periodic review of the United Kingdom.
The evidence session for the first stage of the review is expected to take place between 22 - 26 February 2027.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is offering a valuable opportunity for civil society organisations to share evidence directly with the CEDAW Committee in Geneva. The CEDAW Committee will review this evidence and use it to draw up a list of issues, or questions, for the UK government. The list of issues will be used by the Committee to guide their examination of the UK government.
The successful applicant(s) will be required to provide written evidence to the Committee to inform the list of issues as well as a written report to the EHRC within three weeks of the evidence session detailing the impact of their participation.
Successful applicants must:
- Demonstrate a working focus on the rights contained within the CEDAW
- Confirm their intention to provide an evidence-based written submission on the UK’s compliance with the CEDAW to inform the Committee’s list of issues by the UN deadline of 4 January 2027, and to provide evidence of this in advance of the session
- Confirm their intention to register with the Committee Secretariat to participate in the session by the UN deadline and provide evidence of this in advance of the session
- Provide evidence that they represent a single UK registered legal entity, such as a company or charity
- Agree to the EHRC’s terms and conditions as specified
Alongside the minimum conditions above, applicants must meet the following criteria to ensure that their participation will:
- Enhance the diversity of representation of individuals with one or more protected characteristics
- Enable the participation of individuals with lived experience relevant to CEDAW
- Enable the participation of organisations which would otherwise be unable to attend
- Funding will be allocated according to the conditions and criteria and with consideration of how to ensure representation from across Britain.
How to apply
If you have any questions about the application process or to request an application form, please email: correspondence@equalityhumanrights.com
Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 30 October 2026.
Speak to our press office
If you work in the media, please speak to our press office:
- During office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) please call: 0161 829 8102
- Or email the press office team
- For out of hours please continue to contact 0161 829 8102. Emails are not routinely monitored out of hours.
This phone number is for media enquiries only. For all other queries, please call 0161 829 8100, or email correspondence@equalityhumanrights.com
