Draft Dear Minister [or whatever is appropriate in your country] I am writing to you on behalf of the [organization/network] about the

up-coming session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women that will take place in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013. [add a sentence or two about your organization or network that is relevant in the context of CSW.] The primary theme for the meeting, The Elimination and Prevention of All Forms of Violence against Women and Girls provides an exceptional opportunity to address sexual and reproductive health and rights as a central element in the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls. It is therefore important they are fully included in both the deliberations of the meeting and in its Agreed Conclusions. As we are sure you are aware, there has been a long history of the use of agreed language on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as included in UN documents since the Programme of Action was adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. This language has been reaffirmed by Governments, including by [the Government of /our or your own Government], in successive sessions on the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as other important UN meetings. We therefore urge you and your delegation to support strongly the use of agreed language on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the negotiations on the Agreed Conclusions and not to accept any attempts either to redefine or qualify such agreed language. Our [organization/network] wishes to see strong Agreed Conclusions, as opposed to a comprise document that makes any attempt to qualify or redefine agreed language of sexual and reproductive health and rights. We very much hope that the deliberations during the Commission will move forward international action on violence against women. We therefore urge that the following issues be included in the Agreed Conclusions: Confidential sexual and reproductive health, information and services for women who have been raped or are subjected to incest, such as emergency contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies; postexposure prophylaxis for HIV; collection of forensic evidence for eventual prosecution; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; Availability of sexual and reproductive health, information, education and services more generally; Removal of punitive laws in the area of sexual and reproductive conduct, including punishments for sex work, same-sex sexual conduct, abortion, conduct during pregnancy, HIV exposure and transmission, consensual adult sexual conduct outside of marriage, adolescent sexuality, and provision of sexual and reproductive health services and information;

Promotion, protection and fulfillment of the human rights of women and girls, including, among others, their right to the highest attainable standard of health; their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of discrimination, coercion and violence; and their reproductive rights; Access to comprehensive sexuality education with referral to youthfriendly sexual and reproductive health services for all adolescents; and Promotion of womens and girls rights, especially SRHR and right to live free of all forms of violence, at the centre of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Should you so wish, we can provide further information on the above to yourself and other members of the delegation. With kindest regards Yours sincerely