New York, 18 December 1979
Objectives
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
is the most comprehensive treaty on women's human rights, establishing legally
binding obligations to end discrimination. Often described as the international
bill of rights for women, the Convention provides for equality between women and
men in the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
Discrimination against women is to be eliminated through legal, policy and
programmatic measures and through temporary special measures to accelerate
women's equality, which are defined as non-discriminatory.
Key Provisions
States parties are required to end all forms of discrimination against women and
to ensure their equality with men in political and public life with regard to
nationality, education, employment, health and economic and social benefits.
Obligations are also imposed to eliminate discrimination against women in
marriage and family life and to ensure that women and men are treated equally
before the law. States are required to take account of the particular problems
of women in rural areas, and their special roles in the economic survival of the
family.
The Convention is the only human rights treaty to affirm the reproductive rights
of women. In addition, it obliges States parties to modify the social and
cultural patterns of conduct of men and women in order to eliminate prejudices
and customs and all other practices which are based on the idea of the
inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for
men and women.
The Convention establishes a monitoring body - the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women - which comprises 23 independent experts. The
Committee is mandated to consider reports from States parties and to make
suggestions and general recommendations based on these reports. The Committee
directs its suggestions to the United Nations system and its general
recommendations to States parties. As of May 2000, the Committee had adopted 24
general recommendations, including recommendations on female circumcision, on
violence against women, and on women and health.