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Support the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
Summary of Treaty Provisions
Despite the use of language such as "mandates," "requires," and "obligates," the treaty grants no enforcement authority to the United Nations or any other body. It requires only a periodic report and review process. Countries also can express "reservations, understandings and declarations" where domestic laws diverge from the Treaty. U.S. federal and state laws generally comply with the Treaty for the Rights of Women, which is also compatible with the U.S. Constitution, except where noted in the reservations, understandings, and declarations.
Article 1: Defines discrimination against women as any "distinction, exclusion, or restriction made on the basis of sex, which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by women, irrespective of marital status, on the basis of equality between men and women, of human rights or fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field."
Article 2: Mandates countries to condemn discrimination in all its forms and to ensure a legal framework, including all laws, policies, and practices that provide protection against discrimination and embody the principle of equality.
Article 3: Requires that countries take action in all fields civil, political, economic, social, and cultural to guarantee women's human rights.
Article 4: Permits countries to take "temporary special measures" to accelerate equality.
Article 5: Declares the need to take appropriate measures to modify cultural patterns of conduct as well as the need for family education to recognise the social function of motherhood and the common responsibility for raising children.
Article 6: Obligates countries to take measures to suppress trafficking in women and the exploitation of prostitution of women.
Article 7: Mandates countries to end discrimination against women in political and public life and to ensure women's equal rights to vote, to be eligible for election, to participate in the formulation of policy, to hold office, and to participate in associations and non-governmental organizations in these arenas.
Article 8: Requires action to allow women to represent their governments internationally on an equal basis with men.
The Convention provides the basis for realising equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life -- including the right to vote and to stand for election -- as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.
-Compiled by Law Desk.
