Here at CSW 55 reference is often made to  CEDAW. The 1979 United Nations "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women" (CEDAW), which entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981, can properly be considered a sui generis bill of rights for women, a 30-article road map for putting an end to something so plainly abhorrent. 

CEDAW covers the issue of discrimination against women, from defining what constitutes discrimination to detailing the steps States must take to bring about the elimination of discrimination, inter alia, in the political, social, economic and cultural spheres.  

Boasting 186 States that have either ratified or acceded to it, CEDAW is truly one of the jewels in the crown of international human rights law.  Nevertheless, much work remains to be done before CEDAW can be considered to have achieved its goal of eliminating all forms of prejudice against women, not least of which is the pressing need to reduce the number of States Parties which have ratified CEDAW subject to significant reservations. 

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.

Soroptimists around the world, together with all NGOs and the civil society at large must be on the look out and lobby their governments to make sure that the  treaty obligations are fully implemented.

To read more about CEDAW, click here.

Maria Luisa Frosio

SI of Italy – Chair Extension Committee

March 1st,  2011