The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 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.

The Convention 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 their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."

By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:

1. to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
   
2. to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and
   
3. to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

The Convention provides the basis for realizing 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.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm

come and hear a panel speak on CEDAW this Saturday, March 8th. Go back to the Amnesty #35 home page and get the details.

http://www.amnesty-volunteer.org/usa/group35/home.htm

UN Urges End to Violence Against Women - Taken from IPPF News

2/27/2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a global campaign to intensify efforts to end violence against women, specifically calling on men to combat the problem.

"At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime," he told the opening session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday.

"Through the practice of prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to exist."

Ban said he will form a global network of male leaders to assist him in mobilizing men in government, the arts, sports, business and religion, as well as boys, to speak out against the scourge.

"I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honor," he said.
According to the U.N., the most common form of violence experienced by women globally is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner.

World Bank data show women aged 15-44 "are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria."

In every war zone, violence against women has been reported during or after armed conflict. As examples, the U.N. said, between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped during the Bosnian conflict in the early 1990s.

Ban said the campaign will continue until 2015 to coincide with the target date to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals aimed at combatting poverty.

He said he will personally approach world leaders "to spur action through national campaigns," and will urge all countries to ensure that violence against women is always a crime".

He said he will also urge the media, the U.N. system, non-governmental organizations and women's groups worldwide to set priorities and targets to end violence against women.

"We know that violence against women compounds the enormous social and economic toll on families, communities, even whole nations," Ban said.

The secretary-general said he will propose that the U.N. hold an event in 2010 to review the campaign's accomplishments and to map out steps to make further progress by 2015.

World leaders at a U.N. summit in 2005, the U.N. Security Council, and the General Assembly have pledged to combat violence against women, but the secretary-general said much more needs to be done.

The U.N. said the campaign 'Unite to End Violence Against Women' will try to mobilize public opinion to pressure policy makers to prevent and eradicate violence against women.

Source: PUSH Journal, 26 Feb 2008

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