What is CEDAW?

CEDAW is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - the international human rights treaty that focuses specifically on equality between women and men in all areas of life. CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. It defines discrimination against women on a universal basis, forming an important bill of rights for women worldwide. Altogether 186 countries have become state parties to CEDAW - the UK Government ratified in 1986. These parties have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil women's human rights.

Discrimination against women is defined as 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.

Themes addressed by CEDAW include the constitutional and legislative framework and national machinery for the advancement of women? participation in decision making? education and training? stereotypes? poverty and employment? violence against women? trafficking in women and exploitation of prostitution? health? equality before the law, marriage and family relations? and the situation of vulnerable groups of women, such as older women, rural women, women belonging to ethnic minorities, refugee and migrant women.

The full convention is available from the UN website. More information on the obligations of state parties under CEDAW and what each article of the Convention contains is available from the Unifem site.

Countries that ratify CEDAW are expected to work towards implementation of its provisions and must submit a periodic report to the CEDAW Committee, usually every four years, giving evidence of their progress.

In June 2007, the UK Government submitted its 7^th periodic report to CEDAW. The UK report can be found here http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/international-equality/7th-cedaw-report

NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) and NHRIs (National Human Rights Institutions) are invited to submit shadow reports, adding, clarifying, or contesting the information provided in the government's report.

The TUC and unions prepared information on women's employment and education and have fed this into the CEDAW process via the two main shadow reports compiled by the Women's Resource Centre and the EHRC.

The TUC's statement on Employment can be found here.

The TUC's statement on Education can be found here.

Supplementary information from the TUC on Equal Pay can be found here.

Supplementary information from the TUC on the Gender Pay Gap can be found here.

Details of the Women's Resource Centre's Shadow Report and the CEDAW examination process can be found here.