What is MESECVI?

The effective implementation of the Convention requires a process of continuous and independent evaluation and support. To this end, in October 2004, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), created the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) to contribute to the consolidation of the objectives established in the Convention and establish a system of technical cooperation among the States Parties.

Its main task is to ensure that States advance in the implementation of the Convention and guarantee respect for the rights of women it recognizes. To this end, the MESECVI analyzes progress made by the States Parties, as well as the persistent challenges in their response to violence against women.

The objectives of the Mechanism are to:

  • Monitor the commitments undertaken by the States Parties to the Convention and analyze how they are being implemented.
  • Promote the implementation of the Convention and contribute to achieving the purposes set forth therein.
  • Establish a system of technical cooperation among the States Parties—open to other OAS Member States and Permanent Observers—for the exchange of information, experiences, and good practices, as a means to update and harmonize domestic legislation, where appropriate, and to pursue other common objectives related to the Convention.
MESECVI is a systematic and permanent multilateral evaluation methodology that is based on exchange and technical cooperation between the States Party to the Convention and a Committee of Experts.
  • It is a methodology: this means that it uses a set of procedures, such as the system of indicators, to obtain information on the performance of the States in complying with the Convention.
  • It is evaluative: it means that it observes the performance of the States and analyzes the progress of the situation of women and their right to live a life free of violence.
  • It is multilateral because it involves multiple actors: the 32 States, the Committee of Experts, Civil Society, and the Secretariat.
  • It is systematic and permanent because, through evaluation and follow-up rounds, it is in constant operation.
  • It is of exchange because it is based on a dialogue between the mechanism and the States.
  • It is technical cooperation because the Mechanism accompanies the States and advises them on, for example, the drafting of laws and regulations and the design of public policies or strategies that contribute to progress in guaranteeing a life free of violence for women.

Composition

The Conference of States Parties (CEP) is composed of the Competent National Authorities; that is, each State Party to the Convention appoints an authority to participate in this body, which in most cases corresponds to the highest-level institution in the country responsible for women’s rights, such as Ministries of Women.
The Committee of Experts (CEVI) is the MESECVI’s technical body and is responsible for analyzing and evaluating the process of implementing the Convention. It is composed of independent experts, designated by each State Party, who serve in their personal capacity.
The Technical Secretariat oversees the functioning of the Mechanism at the strategic, administrative, and coordination levels among the various MESECVI bodies.
Civil society is represented within the Mechanism through various non-governmental organizations whose mission is to promote, defend, and protect women’s rights.