The United Nations (UN) treaty body system is a powerful mechanism for promoting human rights. The UN influences government action through monitoring, programs, and country-specific recommendations. In the context of women’s rights, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) influences government action by periodically reviewing 189 countries every four years. Governments report on their progress ahead of each review, and civil society organisations offer grassroots perspectives to the Committee in the form of ‘shadow reports’ which validate or challenge government narratives. The problem A significant challenge limiting the potential of the UN treaty body system is that the CEDAW Committee lacks clarity on the implementation of its recommendations, and their overall effectiveness in achieving health and social outcomes. Despite its 40-year history, CEDAW lacks a systematic monitoring tool to track implementation. Government