CEDAW/C/GC/40 I. A road map to fifty-fifty parity 1. Women have the right to equal and inclusive representation in all decisionmaking systems on equal terms with men. Despite significant progress by States parties, this right is still not respected, which also seriously hampers the implementation of all other rights under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Furthermore, the failure to ensure the equal and inclusive sharing of decision-making power between women and men prevents States and the international community from effectively addressing urgent local, national, regional and global challenges. As noted in the preamble of the Convention, the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields. To respond to these challenges for current and future generations, the present general recommendation contains an outline of a road map towards women’s full enjoyment of their right to equal and inclusive representation in all decision -making systems. 2. In the present general recommendation, the Committee provides comprehensive guidance for States parties on achieving the equal and inclusive representation of women in all decision-making systems across all sectors, aiming for a systemic change. It outlines legislative, policy and programmatic measures to ensure the implementation of this obligation and overcome global challenges. It defines “equal and inclusive representation” as fifty-fifty parity between women and men in all their diversity in terms of equal access to and equal power within decision-making systems, hereinafter also referred to simply as “parity”. It defines “decision -making systems” as encompassing decision-making that takes place through formal and informal processes in all sectors, including in political, public, economic and digital spaces. Achieving parity therefore requires considering multiple arenas of decision -making and how they interact, and dismantling all obstacles that prevent women from accessing decision-making systems on an equal footing with men. 3. The present general recommendation furthermore incorporates young people and future generations into a vision of society rooted in peace and parity. As outlined in the present general recommendation, there is a key convergence between the expectations and rights of young people and the building of a parity-based system. II. Equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems as a game-changing solution 4. The Committee observes that a growing number of disruptive and urgent challenges, including those related to peace, political stability, economic development, climate change, technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, and the transformation and sustainability of the multilateral system and governance, directly affect the implementation of the Convention and are increasingly transforming societies. Their complexity requires the building of collective intelligence by placing parity at the core of decision-making. A “surge in parity”, as it has been described by the Secretary-General, 1 is key to joint decision-making and to the innovative solutions needed to build resilient societies. __________________ 1 24-20036 United Nations, “Secretary-General’s remarks to High-level event on Women in Power”, 12 March 2019, available at www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2019-03-12/secretarygenerals-remarks-high-level-event-women-power-delivered. 3/29