CAP Liberté de Conscience Submits Report to UN Women CSW70 Addressing Barriers to Justice for Women and Girls

In August 2025, CAP Liberté de Conscience, in collaboration with a network of independent experts*, submitted a communication to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) under the United Nations’ communications procedure for the seventieth session (CSW70) scheduled for March 2026. The report addresses systemic barriers to justice for women and girls and provides evidence-based documentation on institutional and societal discrimination. The initiative is part of CAP Liberté de Conscience’s ongoing advocacy to enhance the protection of human rights at the international level.

Institutional Framework

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. As specified on the UN Women website, “the CSW reviews progress, highlights challenges, sets global standards, and formulates concrete policies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.”
CSW – UN Women

The CSW’s communications procedure empowers individuals and organizations to submit detailed reports about alleged human rights violations affecting women and girls. The mechanism is designed to help the CSW identify “emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.”[UN Women – Communications Procedure]. For CSW70, the priority theme is “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems.”[US Womens Caucus: CSW70].

Analysis of Key Findings

Legal Framework and Structural Discrimination

The report underscores persistent gaps in legal protections for victims of gender-based violence and discrimination. Despite existing international conventions and national laws, implementation remains inconsistent. Numerous cases documented by CAP Liberté de Conscience illustrate failures in due diligence, ranging from inadequate investigations by authorities to limited access to effective remedies for survivors of violence. In several instances, survivors faced bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of institutional support, deterring them from pursuing justice.

Institutional Violence and Abuse

A significant section of the submission focuses on institutional abuse, particularly in cases involving domestic violence and the protection of children. Drawing on verified news sources and recent findings—such as the reporting on “#MeTooInceste” in France[Marie Claire #MeTooInceste]—the report presents evidence that survivors who seek to protect themselves or their children from abuse are sometimes confronted by institutional resistance, revictimization, and, in extreme cases, retaliatory actions by social or legal services. The report emphasizes the need for systemic reforms and for authorities to recognize institutional violence as a distinct form of discrimination.

Societal Attitudes and Secondary Victimization

Citing parliamentary sources and civil society reports, the communication details how deep-rooted stereotypes and societal prejudices continue to affect women’s and girls’ access to justice. Testimonies collected by CAP Liberté de Conscience and corroborated by public inquiries—such as question n° 7749 to the French National Assembly on sexual violence against children[Assemblée Nationale]—illustrate ongoing stigmatization of victims, reluctance to register complaints, and difficulties in accessing psychosocial support.

Impact on Vulnerable Groups

Special attention is devoted to vulnerable groups: religious or belief minorities, single mothers, migrant women, and women in conflict or post-conflict zones. Reports submitted by CAP Liberté de Conscience highlight multiple forms of intersectional discrimination, aggravated by crises such as armed conflict or displacement. Recent examples include the situation of women in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime[European Times News: Syria], and institutional obstacles faced by protective mothers in European countries[European Times: Institutional Abuse].

Detailed Recommendations

The report submitted to the CSW70 articulates several targeted recommendations to address the barriers identified:

Amend and Enforce Legal Frameworks:
States should revise legislation to explicitly recognize institutional abuse and secondary victimization as forms of discrimination, and ensure consistent implementation in line with international standards.
Strengthen Accountability and Redress Mechanisms:
Authorities must improve procedures for independent investigations into allegations of gender-based violence, including institutional and domestic violence, to ensure accountability of officials and service providers.
Enhance Training and Awareness:
Judicial, police, and social service personnel require specialized training on gender sensitivity, trauma-informed care, and the specific needs of minority and marginalized women and girls.
Improve Data Collection and Transparency:
Governments should collect and publish disaggregated data on cases of gender-based violence, institutional abuse, and the outcomes of complaints, to facilitate monitoring and policy evaluation.
Expand Access to Support Services:
States should guarantee free and confidential access to legal, psychological, and social support for women and girls at all stages of judicial proceedings.
Promote Inclusive and Participatory Policy Development:
Relevant stakeholders, including survivors, civil society, and minority representatives, should be systematically involved in the formulation and evaluation of justice policies.
Address Intersectional Discrimination:
Governments must adopt tailored measures to support particularly vulnerable groups, such as religious minorities, migrants, and survivors in post-conflict contexts, ensuring non-discrimination and equal protection.

Conclusion

The contribution by CAP Liberté de Conscience to the CSW70 communications procedure aims to advance systemic change by documenting patterns of discrimination and advocating for effective, survivor-centered reforms. As the CSW reviews these submissions, the organization remains committed to closely monitoring the process and supporting the implementation of the recommendations made, affirming its dedication to protecting and promoting the rights of all women and girls.

References and Key Sources:

* Sarah Thierrée, Experte judiciaire près la Cour pénale internationale, spécialisée dans les violences institutionnelles et la torture, Dre en neurosciences et ancienne Pr. Universitaire en psychologie clinique et légale.

* Marie Sablon, Avocate au Barreau de Lyon intervenant sur l’ensemble du territoire français dans le contentieux de la protection de l’enfance, Membre du groupe de lecture de la Haute Autorité de Santé, sur la recommandation de bonnes pratiques organisationnelles sur l’évaluation globale de la situation de l’enfant en cours de mesure de protection de l’enfance.

* Johnny Dousse, Avocat au Barreau de Neuchâtel