The 23-member committee is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The states parties to the Convention held the election in New York on 7 June 2024.

CEDAW is the authoritative international legal instrument on the protection of the rights of women and girls. The convention, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2024, has been ratified almost universally, by 189 countries, including Switzerland in March 1997.

Ms Schläppi will be the second Swiss woman to sit on this body, after Patricia Schulz, who was a member of the CEDAW Committee from 2011 to 2018. A lawyer specialising in women's rights, Ms Schläppi is also co-CEO of a consultancy firm specialising in human rights and governance. Her professional background combines academic research on women's rights and CEDAW, with practical experience in different geographical contexts.

As a member of the CEDAW Committee, Ms Schläppi will assist in its monitoring processes and work to boost the visibility and impact of CEDAW with a view to securing the rights of women and girls.

Switzerland supported Ms Schläppi's candidacy as part of its commitment to gender equality and women's rights. The Swiss government is committed to fostering a robust global legal framework and respect for international obligations in this area. Its long-standing support for the work of the CEDAW Committee reflects this commitment.

Erika Schläppi elected to UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women