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Women's anti-discrimination treaty turns 30 this month
The United Nations is marking the 30th anniversary of the international treaty that outlawed discrimination against women.
Known as CEDAW, the Convention on Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination against Women is one of the most widely ratified treaties, with 186 states parties. Only six UN Member States have not signed on to this international bill of women's rights: Iran, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan and Tonga, while the United States has signed it, but not ratified it.
Jessica Neuwirth, Director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, says the Convention was a watershed treaty that helped pioneer the concept of gender equality:
"The treaty requires States parties to take all appropriate measures to modify social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women; to achieve the elimination of prejudices and customary practices based on ideas of inferiority or superiority of either sex, or on stereotyped roles for women."
Ms. Neuwirth added that 10 years ago the General Assembly adopted a protocol to the Convention, signed by 98 countries, allowing redress for victims whose rights under the Convention have been violated.
Bissera Kostova, United Nations
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