Vine Quick Reads: 19 May 2026 - United Nations updates

Vine Quick Reads: 19 May 2026 - United Nations updates

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa. This edition of the Quick Reads rounds up a number of updates from UN entities that might be of interest to the sector.

New policy paper on strengthening gender-responsive and disability-inclusive transformative care and support

UN Women have released a new policy paper: Towards a better future: Strengthening gender-responsive and disability-inclusive transformative care and support (2026). It provides key insights into the intersection of gender and disability within care and support environments. It emphasizes that developing comprehensive and inclusive care systems is essential for promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of both care recipients and caregivers, especially persons with disabilities.

New discussion brief on intergenerational approaches to access to justice for adolescent girls and older women

UN Women have released a new discussion brief: Intergenerational approaches to access to justice across the life-course: Barriers and policy pathways for adolescent girls and older women (2026). It outlines the global context framing the justice gap across the life-course; barriers preventing adolescent girls and older women from accessing justice, including shared and age-specific dimensions; and policy and programme recommendations to build more inclusive, responsive, and accountable justice systems.

Call for input on documenting, investigating, and preventing unlawful deaths of older persons

The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is calling for inputs to inform his report on documenting, investigating, and preventing arbitrary deprivation of life of older persons to the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Rapporteur invites insights into potentially unlawful deaths of older persons worldwide and the main contexts in which older persons face a heightened risk of unlawful death. For information on how to submit and a full list of key questions to respond to, see the link above.

Submissions are due Thursday, 4 June 2026.

Call for inputs on the rights of persons with disabilities, discrimination against women and girls with disabilities, and combatting disability-based violence

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is calling for inputs on three related zero-draft documents:

1. Draft General Comment on article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (right of persons with disabilities to participation in political and public life).
2. Draft Guidelines on identifying and addressing intersectional discrimination against women and girls with disabilities.
3. Draft Guidelines on identifying and addressing disability-based violence.

Guidelines for feedback and the link to submit is available here.

Submissions are due Monday, 15 June 2026.

New gender alert on the immediate and long-term impact of the military escalation in the Middle East on women and girls

UN Women have released a gender alert: The immediate and long-term impact of the military escalation in the Middle East on women and girls (2026). It examines how the recent military escalation in the Middle East is affecting women and girls, both immediately and over time. It calls for immediate and coordinated efforts to protect women and girls, ensure access to humanitarian assistance, support livelihoods, and include women in peace and recovery processes. It stresses that advancing gender equality is essential to building lasting peace and resilience.

New advocacy brief on the cost of war in Gaza on women and girls

UN Women have released a new advocacy brief: The cost of war in Gaza on women and girls (2026). It examines how the war has impacted women and girls since October 2023. It draws on recent data and analysis to track patterns of violence, displacement, and service breakdowns, with a focus on how these experiences differ for women and girls over time. The report calls for stronger protection of civilians, improved data collection, and targeted humanitarian support.

Call for input on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for youth activism

The Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is calling for inputs to inform her report on youth activism, including youth-led organizations, movements and protests, for the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Rapporteur invites input from civil society and governments, but also from youth activists worldwide about their experiences, challenges they face and good practices in exercising their activism. For information on how to submit and a full list of key questions to respond to, see the link above.

Submissions are due Friday, 5 June 2026.

Call for inputs on combatting the glorification of Nazism

The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism is calling for inputs to inform her thematic report on combatting the glorification of Nazism to the 81st session of the General Assembly. The Rapporteur invites non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to provide insights and information on discrimination, intolerance, racist and xenophobic violence. For information on how to submit and a full list of key questions to respond to, see the link above.

Submissions are due Friday, 19 June 2026.