6 PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FORUMS 67 6.3 THE UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal UN policymaking body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women. It meets annually in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. 47 NHRIs do not have independent participation status in the CSW. If attending, they must either do so at the invitation of their government, as part of the government delegation, or register as an NGO. Since 2008, the International Coordinating Committee has advocated for independent participation of A-accredited NHRIs at the CSW. Such independent status would allow NHRIs to contribute their expertise on human rights issues facing women and girls in their countries and bring greater human rights expertise to the development of global policies. It would also give formal recognition to the important role played by NHRIs, and be in line with practice at the Human Rights Committee. In relation to the CSW, NHRIs can: • P articipate in government delegations and provide information, if requested to do so by their governments; and • S upport the ICC campaign for independent participation status at the CSW, including by securing political support from their governments for such independent recognition. 6.4 ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE The OSCE participating States, in line with the Organization’s comprehensive concept of security, have made politically binding commitments in relation to promoting human rights, NHRIs and women’s rights and gender equality. Participating States have recognized that “the full and equal exercise by women of their human rights is essential to achieve a more peaceful prosperous and democratic OSCE area”. 48 47 For more information, see the Commission on the Status of Women. 48 OSCE Charter for European Security, OSCE, SUM.DOC/1/99, Istanbul, 19 November 1999.