THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN  (CEDAW)

Summary: CEDAW is essentially an international bill of rights calling for gender equality in employment, education, healthcare, and economic and social life.

Key Terms: 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 to (1) 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.

Status: The treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18, 1979, and entered into force on September 3, 1981. As of December 10, 2003, 98 countries have signed the treaty and 179 countries have ratified the treaty. Monaco was the latest country to ratify the treaty on March 18, 2005.    

Status of US Compliance: The US signed the treaty on July 17, 1980, but has not yet ratified it despite George W. Bush's proclamation earlier this year that, "repressed people around the world must know this about the United States... we will always be the world's leader in support of human rights." As of October 2003, the U.S. remains to be the only nation that has signed the treaty but has not yet ratified CEDAW.

Official website - This website, maintained by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, not only gives a basic overview of the treaty, it also contains the treaty text, a listing of the countries' ratified, and a listing of those countries' compliance with the terms of the treaty through regular reporting, among other items incorporated with the treaty.

CEDAW Coalition - This user-friendly website is the home of a coalition of over 190 organizations working to achieve ratification of the CEDAW treaty in the U.S.  Contains information on the treaty, status in the U.S. Senate, a listing of contacts of experts on the treaty and contacts for key Congressmembers, as well as several links to other organizations supporting the ratification of CEDAW.