Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

92 PRACTITIONERS GUIDE No. 12
their own understandings of what is and is not acceptable. In
contributing to the development of policies for the elimination
of discrimination, part of the human rights advocate’s task is to
take into account the lived experiences of their clients and
translate those experiences into legal arguments based on the
CEDAW Convention and the basic principle of nondiscrimination.
Article 2: States must condemn discrimination and take
appropriate and immediate action to eradicate it
States parties to the CEDAW Convention have legally
committed themselves to “condemn discrimination against
women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate
means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination
against women”. 228
Article 2 establishes the obligations of States to:
Condemn discrimination against women in all its forms,
including gender-based violence;
Agree to pursue, without delay, a policy of eliminating
discrimination against women; and
Do so by all appropriate means.
The CEDAW Committee explains that the language of this
obligation is unambiguous and unqualified and the inclusion of
the words “without delay” makes it clear that the establishment
of a policy to eliminate discrimination against women must be
pursued immediately and that delay cannot be justified on any
grounds. The Committee adds that if a State faces resource
constraints in implementing its obligations, it should seek
assistance from the international community. 229
228
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW Convention), Article 2.
229
CEDAW General Recommendation No 28, “The core obligations of
States parties under article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women”, UN Doc CEDAW/C/GC/28
(2010), paragraph 29.