CEDAW concluding observations 2019, paragraph 24
Plain English recommendation
Government should: Ensure that women, particularly women in vulnerable situations such as disabled women, ethnic minority women, asylum-seeking and refugee women and victims of gender-based violence or trafficking, have access to justice and can resolve their legal issues, including by ensuring access to legal aid. Government should also ensure that women have access to legal aid in the areas that affect them most, e.g. family, housing, immigration and welfare benefits law.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that women, in particular women in vulnerable situations, such as women with disabilities, “Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic” women, asylum-seeking and refugee women, and victims of gender-based violence and of trafficking, have effective access to justice and remedies with adequate legal support and representation, including by ensuring that the legal aid and representation is accessible and available, as well as the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations. It also recommends that the State party take effective measures to ensure that women have access to legal aid in areas that affect them most, such as family, housing, immigration and welfare benefits law.
Date of UN examination
26/02/2016
UN article number
15 (equality before the law)
Original UN document
Download the CEDAW concluding observations 2019 on the UN website