Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
INTRODUCTION
On
18 December 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly. It entered into force as an international treaty
on 3 September 1981 after the twentieth country had ratified it.
By the tenth anniversary of the Convention in 1989, almost one hundred
nations have agreed to be bound by its provisions.
The
Convention was the culmination of more than thirty years of work
by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, a body
established in 1946 to monitor the situation of women and to promote
women's rights. The Commission's work has been instrumental in bringing
to light all the areas in which women are denied equality with men.
These efforts for the advancement of women have resulted in several
declarations and conventions, of which the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is the central and
most comprehensive document.
Among
the international human rights treaties, the Convention takes an
important place in bringing the female half of humanity into the
focus of human rights concerns. The spirit of the Convention is
rooted in the goals of the United Nations: to reaffirm faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity,v and worth of the human
person, in the equal rights of men and women. The present document
spells out the meaning of equality and how it can be achieved. In
so doing, the Convention establishes not only an international bill
of rights for women, but also an agenda for action by countries
to guarantee the enjoyment of those rights.
In
its preamble, the Convention explicitly acknowledges that "extensive
discrimination against women continues to exist", and emphasizes
that such discrimination "violates the principles of equality
of rights and respect for human dignity". As defined in article
1, discrimination is understood as "any distinction, exclusion
or restriction made o.1 the basis of sex...in the political, economic,
social, cultural, civil or any other field". The Convention
gives positive affirmation to the principle of equality by requiring
States parties to take "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"(article 3).
The
agenda for equality is specified in fourteen subsequent articles.
In its approach, the Convention covers three dimensions of the situation
of women. Civil rights and the legal status of women are dealt with
in great detail. In addition, and unlike other human rights treaties,
the Convention is also concerned with the dimension of human reproduction
as well as with the impact of cultural factors on gender relations.
The
legal status of women receives the broadest attention. Concern over
the basic rights of political participation has not diminished since
the adoption of the Convention on the Political Rights of Women
in 1952. Its provisions, therefore, are restated in article 7 of
the present document, whereby women are guaranteed the rights to
vote, to hold public office and to exercise public functions. This
includes equal rights for women to represent their countries at
the international level (article 8). The Convention on the Nationality
of Married Women - adopted in 1957 - is integrated under article
9 providing for the statehood of women, irrespective of their marital
status. The Convention, thereby, draws attention to the fact that
often women's legal status has been linked to marriage, making them
dependent on their husband's nationality rather than individuals
in their own right. Articles 10, 11 and 13, respectively, affirm
women's rights to non-discrimination in education, employment and
economic and social activities. These demands are given special
emphasis with regard to the situation of rural women, whose particular
struggles and vital economic contributions, as noted in article
14, warrant more attention in policy planning. Article 15 asserts
the full equality of women in civil and business matters, demanding
that all instruments directed at restricting women's legal capacity
''shall be deemed null and void". Finally, in article 16, the
Convention returns to the issue of marriage and family relations,
asserting the equal rights and obligations of women and men with
regard to choice of spouse, parenthood, personal rights and command
over property.
Aside
from civil rights issues, the Convention also devotes major attention
to a most vital concern of women, namely their reproductive rights.
The preamble sets the tone by stating that "the role of women
in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination". The
link between discrimination and women's reproductive role is a matter
of recurrent concern in the Convention. For example, it advocates,
in article 5, ''a proper understanding of maternity as a social
function", demanding fully shared responsibility for child-rearing
by both sexes. Accordingly, provisions for maternity protection
and child-care are proclaimed as essential rights and are incorporated
into all areas of the Convention, whether dealing with employment,
family law, health core or education. Society's obligation extends
to offering social services, especially child-care facilities, that
allow individuals to combine family responsibilities with work and
participation in public life. Special measures for maternity protection
are recommended and "shall not be considered discriminatory".
(article 4). "The Convention also affirms women's right to
reproductive choice. Notably, it is the only human rights treaty
to mention family planning. States parties are obliged to include
advice on family planning in the education process (article l O.h)
and to develop family codes that guarantee women's rights "to
decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their
children and to hove access to the information, education and means
to enable them to exercise these rights" (article 16.e).
The
third general thrust of the Convention aims at enlarging our understanding
of the concept of human rights, as it gives formal recognition to
the influence of culture and tradition on restricting women's enjoyment
of their fundamental rights. These forces take shape in stereotypes,
customs and norms which give rise to the multitude of legal, political
and economic constraints on the advancement of women. Noting this
interrelationship, the preamble of the Convention stresses "that
a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women
in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality
of men and women". States parties are therefore obliged to
work towards the modification of social and cultural patterns of
individual conduct in order to eliminate "prejudices and customary
and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority
or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles
for men and women" (article 5). And Article 1O.c. mandates
the revision of textbooks, school programmes and teaching methods
with a view to eliminating stereotyped concepts in the field of
education. Finally, cultural patterns which define the public realm
as a man's world and the domestic sphere as women's domain are strongly
targeted in all of the Convention's provisions that affirm the equal
responsibilities of both sexes in family life and their equal rights
with regard to education and employment. Altogether, the Convention
provides a comprehensive framework for challenging the various forces
that have created and sustained discrimination based upon sex.
The
implementation of the Convention is monitored by the Committee on
the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee's
mandate and the administration of the treaty are defined in the
Articles 17 to 30 of the Convention. The Committee is composed of
23 experts nominated by their Governments and elected by the States
parties as individuals "of high moral standing and competence
in the field covered by the Convention".
At
least every four years, the States parties are expected to submit
a national report to the Committee, indicating the measures they
have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.
During its annual session, the Committee members discuss these reports
with the Government representatives and explore with them areas
for further action by the specific country. The Committee also makes
general recommendations to the States parties on matters concerning
the elimination of discrimination against women.
The
full text of the Convention is set out herein
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CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN
The States Parties to the present Convention,
Noting that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person and in the equal rights of men and women,
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the
principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims
that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set
forth therein, without distinction of any kind, including distinction
based on sex,
Noting
that the States Parties to the International Covenants on Human
Rights have the obligation to ensure the equal rights of men and
women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights,
Considering
the international conventions concluded under the auspices of the
United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality of
rights of men and women,
Noting
also the resolutions, declarations and recommendations adopted by
the United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality
of rights of men and women,
Concerned,
however, that despite these various instruments extensive discrimination
against women continues to exist,
Recalling
that discrimination against women violates the principles of equality
of rights and respect for human dignity, is an obstacle to the participation
of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic
and cultural life of their countries, hampers the growth of the
prosperity of society and the family and makes more difficult the
full development of the potentialities of women in the service of
their countries and of humanity,
Concerned
that in situations of poverty women have the least access to food,
health, education, training and opportunities for employment and
other needs,
Convinced
that the establishment of the new international economic order based
on equity and justice will contribute significantly towards the
promotion of equality between men and women,
Emphasizing
that the eradication of apartheid, all forms of racism, racial discrimination,
colonialism, neo-colonialism, aggression, foreign occupation and
domination and interference in the internal affairs of States is
essential to the full enjoyment of the rights of men and women,
Affirming
that the strengthening of international peace and security, the
relaxation of international tension, mutual co-operation among all
States irrespective of their social and economic systems, general
and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament under
strict and effective international control, the affirmation of the
principles of justice, equality and mutual benefit in relations
among countries and the realization of the right of peoples under
alien and colonial domination and foreign occupation to self-determination
and independence, as well as respect for national sovereignty and
territorial integrity, will promote social progress and development
and as a consequence will contribute to the attainment of full equality
between men and women,
Convinced
that the full and complete development of a country, the welfare
of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation
of women on equal terms with men in all fields,
Bearing
in mind the great contribution of women to the welfare of the family
and to the development of society, so far not fully recognized,
the social significance of maternity and the role of both parents
in the family and in the upbringing of children, and aware that
the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination
but that the upbringing of children requires a sharing of responsibility
between men and women and society as a whole,
Aware
that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role
of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full
equality between men and women,
Determined
to implement the principles set forth in the Declaration on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women and, for that purpose,
to adopt the measures required for the elimination of such discrimination
in all its forms and manifestations,
Have
agreed on the following:
PART
I
Article I
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 2
States Parties 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 and, to this end, undertake:
(a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women in
their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation if
not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law and other
appropriate means, the practical realization of this principle;
(b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures, including
sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against
women;
(c)
To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal
basis with men and to ensure through competent national tribunals
and other public institutions the effective protection of women
against any act of discrimination;
(d)
To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination
against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions
shall act in conformity with this obligation;
(e)
To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against
women by any person, organization or enterprise;
(f)
To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify
or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which
constitute discrimination against women;
(g)
To repeal all national penal provisions which constitute discrimination
against women.
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 en sure 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.
Article 4
1. Adoption by States Parties of temporary special measures aimed
at accelerating de facto equality between men and women shall not
be considered discrimination as defined in the present Convention,
but shall in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of unequal
or separate standards; these measures shall be discontinued when
the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment have been
achieved.
2. Adoption by States Parties of special measures, including those
measures contained in the present Convention, aimed at protecting
maternity shall not be considered discriminatory.
Article
5
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures:
(a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men
and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices
and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea
of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or
on stereotyped roles for men and women;
(b) To ensure that family education includes a proper understanding
of maternity as a social function and the recognition of the common
responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development
of their children, it being understood that the interest of the
children is the primordial consideration in all cases.
Article
6
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation,
to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution
of women.
PART II
Article 7
States
Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination
against women in the political and public life of the country and,
in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the
right:
(a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible
for election to all publicly elected bodies;
(b) To participate in the formulation of government policy and the
implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all
public functions at all levels of government;
(c)
To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations
concerned with the public and political life of the country.
Article
8
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to
women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, the
opportunity to represent their Governments at the international
level and to participate in the work of international organizations.
Article 9
1. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men to acquire,
change or retain their nationality. They shall ensure in particular
that neither marriage to an alien nor change of nationality by the
husband during marriage shall automatically change the nationality
of the wife, render her stateless or force upon her the nationality
of the husband.
2. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men with respect
to the nationality of their children.
PART
III
Article 10
States
Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination
against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in
the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of
equality of men and women:
(a) The same conditions for career and vocational guidance, for
access to studies and for the achievement of diplomas in educational
establishments of all categories in rural as well as in urban areas;
this equality shall be ensured in pre-school, general, technical,
professional and higher technical education, as well as in all types
of vocational training;
(b) Access to the same curricula, the same examinations, teaching
staff with qualifications of the same standard and school premises
and equipment of the same quality;
(c)
The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and
women at all levels and in all forms of education by encouraging
coeducation and other types of education which will help to achieve
this aim and, in particular, by the revision of textbooks and school
programmes and the adaptation of teaching methods;
(d
) The same opportunities to benefit from scholarships and other
study grants;
(e)
The same opportunities for access to programmes of continuing education,
including adult and functional literacy programmes, particulary
those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possible time, any gap
in education existing between men and women;
(f)
The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the organization
of programmes for girls and women who have left school prematurely;
(g)
The same Opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical
education;
(h)
Access to specific educational information to help to ensure the
health and well-being of families, including information and advice
on family planning.
Article
11
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the field of employment in order
to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the same rights,
in particular:
(a) The right to work as an inalienable right of all human beings;
(b) The right to the same employment opportunities, including the
application of the same criteria for selection in matters of employment;
(c)
The right to free choice of profession and employment, the right
to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions of service
and the right to receive vocational training and retraining, including
apprenticeships, advanced vocational training and recurrent training;
(d)
The right to equal remuneration, including benefits, and to equal
treatment in respect of work of equal value, as well as equality
of treatment in the evaluation of the quality of work;
(e)
The right to social security, particularly in cases of retirement,
unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and other incapacity
to work, as well as the right to paid leave;
(f)
The right to protection of health and to safety in working conditions,
including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction.
2.
In order to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds
of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective right to
work, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To prohibit, subject to the imposition of sanctions, dismissal
on the grounds of pregnancy or of maternity leave and discrimination
in dismissals on the basis of marital status;
(b) To introduce maternity leave with pay or with comparable social
benefits without loss of former employment, seniority or social
allowances;
(c)
To encourage the provision of the necessary supporting social services
to enable parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities
and participation in public life, in particular through promoting
the establishment and development of a network of child-care facilities;
(d)
To provide special protection to women during pregnancy in types
of work proved to be harmful to them.
3.
Protective legislation relating to matters covered in this article
shall be reviewed periodically in the light of scientific and technological
knowledge and shall be revised, repealed or extended as necessary.
Article 12
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the field of health care in order
to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health
care services, including those related to family planning.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this article,
States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate services in connection
with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting
free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during
pregnancy and lactation.
Article
13
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in other areas of economic and social
life in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women,
the same rights, in particular:
(a) The right to family benefits;
(b) The right to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial
credit;
(c)
The right to participate in recreational activities, sports and
all aspects of cultural life.
Article
14
1. States Parties shall take into account the particular problems
faced by rural women and the significant roles which rural women
play in the economic survival of their families, including their
work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy, and shall take
all appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisions
of the present Convention to women in rural areas.
2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure,
on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participate in
and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall ensure
to such women the right:
(a)
To participate in the elaboration and implementation of development
planning at all levels;
(b) To have access to adequate health care facilities, including
information, counselling and services in family planning;
(c)
To benefit directly from social security programmes;
(d)
To obtain all types of training and education, formal and non-formal,
including that relating to functional literacy, as well as, inter
alia, the benefit of all community and extension services, in order
to increase their technical proficiency;
(e)
To organize self-help groups and co-operatives in order to obtain
equal access to economic opportunities through employment or self
employment;
(f)
To participate in all community activities;
(g)
To have access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing facilities,
appropriate technology and equal treatment in land and agrarian
reform as well as in land resettlement schemes;
(h)
To enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in relation to
housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport and
communications.
PART
IV
Article 15
1.
States Parties shall accord to women equality with men before the
law.
2. States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a legal
capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities to
exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women equal
rights to conclude contracts and to administer property and shall
treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals.
3.
States Parties agree that all contracts and all other private instruments
of any kind with a legal effect which is directed at restricting
the legal capacity of women shall be deemed null and void.
4.
States Parties shall accord to men and women the same rights with
regard to the law relating to the movement of persons and the freedom
to choose their residence and domicile.
Article
16
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage
and family relations and in particular shall ensure, on a basis
of equality of men and women:
(a) The same right to enter into marriage;
(b) The same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into marriage
only with their free and full consent;
(c)
The same rights and responsibilities during marriage and at its
dissolution;
(d)
The same rights and responsibilities as parents, irrespective of
their marital status, in matters relating to their children; in
all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount;
(e)
The same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the number and
spacing of their children and to have access to the information,
education and means to enable them to exercise these rights;
(f)
The same rights and responsibilities with regard to guardianship,
wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children, or similar institutions
where these concepts exist in national legislation; in all cases
the interests of the children shall be paramount;
(g)
The same personal rights as husband and wife, including the right
to choose a family name, a profession and an occupation;
(h)
The same rights for both spouses in respect of the ownership, acquisition,
management, administration, enjoyment and disposition of property,
whether free of charge or for a valuable consideration.
2.
The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect,
and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken
to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make the registration
of marriages in an official registry compulsory.
PART V
Article 17
1.
For the purpose of considering the progress made in the implementation
of the present Convention, there shall be established a Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter
referred to as the Committee) consisting, at the time of entry into
force of the Convention, of eighteen and, after ratification of
or accession to the Convention by the thirty-fifth State Party,
of twenty-three experts of high moral standing and competence in
the field covered by the Convention. The experts shall be elected
by States Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in
their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable
geographical distribution and to the representation of the different
forms of civilization as well as the principal legal systems.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot
from a list of persons nominated by States Parties. Each State Party
may nominate one person from among its own nationals.
3.
The initial election shall be held six months after the date of
the entry into force of the present Convention. At least three months
before the date of each election the Secretary-General of the United
Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them
to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-General
shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated,
indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall
submit it to the States Parties.
4.
Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting
of States Parties convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations
Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States
Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee
shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and
an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States
Parties present and voting.
5.
The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four
years. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the
first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately
after the first election the names of these nine members shall be
chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee.
6.
The election of the five additional members of the Committee shall
be held in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2, 3 and
4 of this article, following the thirty-fifth ratification or accession.
The terms of two of the additional members elected on this occasion
shall expire at the end of two years, the names of these two members
having been chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee.
7.
For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose expert
has ceased to function as a member of the Committee shall appoint
another expert from among its nationals, subject to the approval
of the Committee.
8.
The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General
Assembly, receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such
terms and conditions as the Assembly may decide, having regard to
the importance of the Committee's responsibilities.
9.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary
staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions
of the Committee under the present Convention.
Article
18
1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General of
the United Nations, for consideration by the Committee, a report
on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which
they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the present
Convention and on the progress made in this respect:
(a) Within one year after the entry into force for the State concerned;
(b) Thereafter at least every four years and further whenever the
Committee so requests.
2.
Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree
of fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention.
Article 19
1. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
2. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years.
Article
20
1. The Committee shall normally meet for a period of not more than
two weeks annually in order to consider the reports submitted in
accordance with article 18 of the present Convention.
2. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at United
Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place as determined
by the Committee. (amendment, status of ratification)
Article
21
1. The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social Council,
report annually to the General Assembly of the United Nations on
its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations
based on the examination of reports and information received from
the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations
shall be included in the report of the Committee together with comments,
if any, from States Parties.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit the
reports of the Committee to the Commission on the Status of Women
for its information.
Article
22
The specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented at
the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of the
present Convention as fall within the scope of their activities.
The Committee may invite the specialized agencies to submit reports
on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within
the scope of their activities.
PART VI
Article 23
Nothing
in the present Convention shall affect any provisions that are more
conducive to the achievement of equality between men and women which
may be contained:
(a) In the legislation of a State Party; or
(b) In any other international convention, treaty or agreement in
force for that State.
Article
24
States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures at the
national level aimed at achieving the full realization of the rights
recognized in the present Convention.
Article 25
1. The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated as
the depositary of the present Convention.
3.
The present Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of
ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
4.
The present Convention shall be open to accession by all States.
Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article
26
1. A request for the revision of the present Convention may be made
at any time by any State Party by means of a notification in writing
addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide upon
the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a request.
Article
27
1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of the
United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.
2. For each State ratifying the present Convention or acceding to
it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification
or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification
or accession.
Article
28
1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive and
circulate to all States the text of reservations made by States
at the time of ratification or accession.
2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the
present Convention shall not be permitted.
3.
Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification to this
effect addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
who shall then inform all States thereof. Such notification shall
take effect on the date on which it is received.
Article
29
1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the
interpretation or application of the present Convention which is
not settled by negotiation shall, at the request of one of them,
be submitted to arbitration. If within six months from the date
of the request for arbitration the parties are unable to agree on
the organization of the arbitration, any one of those parties may
refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request
in conformity with the Statute of the Court.
2. Each State Party may at the time of signature or ratification
of the present Convention or accession thereto declare that it does
not consider itself bound by paragraph I of this article. The other
States Parties shall not be bound by that paragraph with respect
to any State Party which has made such a reservation.
3.
Any State Party which has made a reservation in accordance with
paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation
by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article
30
The present Convention, the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian
and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall be deposited
with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed
the present Convention.
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