Today, the #CEDAW Committee begins its constructive dialogue with Spain by expressing solidarity regarding the country's ongoing drought; and expressing deep appreciation for Committee chair @AnaPelaez.

Watch live: media.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k… #CEDAW85 Secretary of State for Equality and against Gender-Based Violence @Pam_Angela_ tells #CEDAW Committee that another woman has just been killed because of gender-based violence, coming to 17 so far this year. She reiterates Spain's commitment to human rights. #CEDAW85

The 'End Demand' model, which criminalises sex workers' clients, is framed as a progressive approach but results in many harms to sex workers. Since clients move to avoid surveillance, sex workers also become harder to reach by outreach programmes - with impacts for their safety. When police seize condoms as evidence of engagement in sex work, the message sent is that sex workers' health and lives are less important than the law.

'End Demand' laws on sex work, sometimes misrepresented as the 'equality model', result in multiple human rights violations. These laws encourage increased surveillance and profiling of sex workers, which is not restricted to their workplaces. #InternationalSexWorkersRightsDay Under 'End Demand' laws, police know that if they follow sex workers, they'll find clients to arrest. Clients shift to more isolated settings as a result, & sex workers adapt in order to continue making money - but it puts them at increased risk. #InternationalSexWorkersRightsDay

Today the #CEDAW committee holds its constructive dialogue with the UK government. We asked our From Global to Local programme participants about their key issues and hopes for the review. #CEDAW72 Elysia McCaffrey of @WomenEqualities assures the committee that the UK government will continue to strive to meet its commitments under #CEDAW, and says it has taken a gender mainstreaming approach to its implementation. #CEDAW72