Why gender matters - Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining ...

Background reader
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (1979) and
Optional Protocol (2000)
This United Nations convention,
also known as CEDAW, is
an international instrument
that defines what constitutes
discrimination against women
and sets up an agenda for national
action to end such discrimination.
In summary, the convention
is targeted at eliminating
discrimination against women
and ensuring gender equality in
political life, education, health
and employment.
To date, 185 signatories to CEDAW
have ratified or acceded to the
convention thereby placing
themselves under a legal
obligation to comply with the
convention. This includes a
commitment to design and
implement a variety of measures
at the national level aimed at
eliminating discrimination
against women. For instance,
measures such as incorporating
the principle of equality into
domestic legal systems, and
establishing tribunals and other
public institutions to oversee and
monitor the effective protection of
women against discrimination.
Countries that are party to the
convention are obliged to report
at minimum every four years on the
legislative, judicial, administrative
and other measures they have
adopted to eliminate discrimination
against women, in compliance
with the convention. The
committee reviews national reports,
facilitates discussion and makes
recommendations accordingly.
Whilst CEDAW does not make
specific reference to gender
mainstreaming, this convention is
considered a bedrock international
document of women’s rights.
Subsequent developments, such
as those elaborated on below, have
sought to build upon and expand
on the convention.
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
Article 1 For the purposes of the
present Convention, the term
“discrimination against women” shall
mean 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.
Article 3 States Parties shall take in
all fields, in particular in the political,
social, economic and cultural
fields, all appropriate measures,
including legislation, to ensure the
full development and advancement
of women, for the purpose of
guaranteeing them the exercise
and enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms on a basis of
equality with men.
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