CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40

General Recommendation No. 40 is a visionary ‘parity’ roadmap for achieving equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems across various sectors. It highlights the structural barriers, patriarchal norms and violence, and gender stereotypes that limit women's involvement in these systems. The Recommendation emphasizes the need for systemic action to achieve gender equality, particularly in facing modern challenges like climate change and ongoing conflicts.

GR 40 recommends specific legislative, policy, and other measures States should take to achieve parity in decision-making at levels. Its pillars of action, including 50:50 parity, youth engagement, intersectional inclusion, and structural transformation, are areas critically aligned with UN Women’s work.

UN Women, together with our partner OHCHR, have supported the elaboration and drafting process by providing the space for over 200 experts, academics, civil society representatives, and UN family members to provide their input on the document during five regional consultation meetings in Istanbul, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Bogota and Bangkok during 2024. These discussions were important for ensuring the draft reflects existing challenges and solutions to advancing women’s participation in decision-making from all regions. We would like to thank Regional Office for their support with these consultations.

As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this General Recommendation is more relevant than ever. The goal of parity in decision-making at all levels is one of six key priority areas proposed in UN Women’s Beijing+30 Action Agenda, and the Recommendation provides a powerful roadmap to fast-track our collective action to achieve in national and local governments.