Three Decades of Progress, a Renewed Commitment. To Fortaleza, together!
XXII Meeting of the Committee of Experts – X Conference of States Parties to MESECVI – December 9-12 – Fortaleza, Brazil.
The adoption of the Belém do Pará Convention in 1994 by 32 States of Latin America and the Caribbean marked the beginning of three decades of sustained action for women’s rights,, grounded in the recognition of the right to a life free from violence as a fundamental and unquestionable principle.
The Convention established a common framework of action that mobilized States, strengthened women’s and feminist movements, and drove legal, institutional, and cultural transformations throughout the region.
This momentum gained new strength in 2004 with the creation of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI), which has since become a key regional space for cooperation and the development of standards. Its work has been critical to expanding the scope and impact of the Convention.
These achievements have laid a non-negotiable foundation to demand better and more effective responses.
The current context — both regional and global — presents urgent challenges. Deep, multidimensional crises such as threats to democratic systems, the climate emergency, and the expansion of digital environments are exacerbating structural inequalities.
New forms of gender-based violence seek to silence, punish, and exclude women — particularly those who raise their voices in politics, environmental defense, journalism, digital activism, and local territories.
In this context, from December 9 to 12 in Fortaleza, Brazil, the three pillars of MESECVI will come together in a key regional event:
- X Conference of States Party.
- XXII Meeting of the Committee of Experts.
- Civil Society and Women’s Organizations Forum.
The highest authorities on the protection of women’s rights against violence, together with CEVI experts, women defenders, and activists, with the support of international and regional organizations, will meet in this strategic space to reaffirm their collective commitment to eradicating violence against women.
Download the program here
PROGRAM
December 9th
Centro de Eventos do Ceará
Fortaleza - Brazil
Public Session: “New challenges in implementing the Convention after 30 years: the road ahead – Digital violence, climate change, natural disasters and violence in the context of organized crime, from an intersectional and intercultural perspective”
A regional space to reflect on progress, challenges, and urgent priorities in implementing the Belém do Pará Convention, and to strengthen the substantive participation of civil society in the Tenth Conference of States Party.
Youth Gathering: “Inheritors of Change: Three Decades of the Belém do Pará Convention” (CIM, MESECVI, UNFPA, Canadá, ONU Mujeres, Unión Europea).
December 10th
Centro de Eventos do Ceará
Fortaleza - Brazil
Public Session: “Toward a Coordinated Response to Gender-Based Digital Violence”
“Not one step back: 30 years of progress, challenges, and unfinished business in access to justice.” (Organized by Belém do Pará Regional Articulation)
“Strengthening State Responses to Violence against Afro-descendant Women: Advances and Challenges in the Implementation of General Recommendation No. 5” (Organized by UNFPA, MESECVI, and Brazil’s Ministry of Women)
Opening Ceremony of the X Conference of States Party