The Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes equality between men and women and prohibits sexist discrimination. However, towards the end of the 1970s, it was considered that a specific document was needed to address discrimination against women. Thus, in 1981, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was signed, embodied in 30 articles.
One hundred eighty-nine states have signed and ratified the convention today; two more have signed it but have not ratified it, and only six states have not taken any action on the declaration.
The 30 articles are grouped into six parts, focusing on different types of discrimination affecting women worldwide. We summarise them below.
The first part deals with the need to incorporate explicit references to equality between women and men in the constitutions of all signatory countries. It also mentions the need to align legislation and other documents with this principle, to make sure that all public administrations act accordingly to gender non-discrimination, and to eliminate any criminal provisions that may be discriminatory towards women.
The importance of guaranteeing non-discrimination in the political, social, economic and cultural spheres is also mentioned. Ensuring the entire development and advance of women to secure their exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms is crucial.
Furthermore, the fourth article focuses on the importance of “special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women”.
The second part of the convention talks about the need to ensure equal rights for men and women when voting, for being elected, and the right to organisation and association. It also refers to the need for equality between men and women in acquiring, changing or preserving a particular nationality.
The third part begins with Article 10 on equal education opportunities for men and women. The following article refers to the area of work, where reference is made to the right to receive the same salary for the same amount of work, to the prohibition on dismissing women if becoming pregnant or to any form of discrimination on the grounds of their civil status, etc. In addition, this part devotes an entire article (the 14th) to discrimination against women in rural areas.
The fourth part of the convention focuses on equal rights in marrying or dissolving marriage, and equal rights and duties in terms of care, custody or adoption of children, etc. It also refers to the need for equal legal capacity between men and women and the right to free movement for both genders.
The penultimate part begins by announcing that a Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will be set up to examine the progress in the convention’s implementation. The following articles discuss the functioning of the committee and the obligations of the signatory States to that body.
Finally, paragraph six leaves the declaration open to any State’s adherence and the request for any signatory State to review the convention. In addition, it includes the procedures to be followed in the event, for example, of any controversy between two or more signatory states regarding the interpretation or application of any of the convention’s articles.
> Read the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women