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CEDAW

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination

The Convention defines discrimination against women 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."

By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including to:

  • incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
  • establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and 
  • ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organisations or enterprises.

 

The Convention provides the basis for realising equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life -- including the right to vote and to stand for election -- as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

 

 

Optional Protocol to the CEDAW

Very often, human rights treaties are followed by ‘Optional Protocols’ which may either provide for procedures with regard to the treaty or address a substantive area related to the treaty. Optional Protocols to human rights treaties are treaties in their own right, and are open to signature, accession or ratification by countries who are party to the main treaty.

The optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women includes:

  • the right of individuals and groups of women the right to complain to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women about violations of the Convention.
  • enables the committee to conduct inquiries into grave or systematic abuse of women's human rights in countries that become States parties to the Optional Protocol.

 

New Zealand signed and ratified the Optional Protocol in September 2000.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/protocol/

 

 

CEDAW Reports

 

 

Seventh Report

CEDAW Report 2010: The Status of Women in New Zealand: The seventh report on New Zealand's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.  HTML and PDF – (click here to request a hard copy of CEDAW)

 

 

 

Sixth Report

NZ Report

CEDAW Report 2006: The Status of Women in New Zealand: The sixth report on New Zealand's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. HTML and PDF

 

Q & A Responses

April 2007 Questions & Answers sixth CEDAW Response. The government's response to questions from the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on New Zealand's Sixth CEDAW report.   HTML and PDF 

Contacts

Link to UN website United Nations www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ 

 

Link to OHCHR website Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm

  

Concluding observations

6 (39) 2007 

 

NZ Response

Not available.

Other documents

  • Opening Statement: NZ Mission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Hon Lianne Dalziel Minister of Women's Affairs, Friday 3 August 2007: This goes to an external site Read more
  • Statement to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, 26 February 2007, Ministry of Women's Affairs Chief Executive, Shenagh Gleisner. This goes to an external site Read more.

 

Fifth Report

NZ Report

November 2002 The 5th CEDAW Report. The Status of Women in New Zealand 2002: The Fifth Report on New Zealand's Progress on Implementing the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. PDF [1.76MB]   Word [1.04MB]

 

Q & A Responses

 

Contacts

Link to UN

website United Nations

www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ 

 

Concluding observations

2 (29) 2003 – www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ 

 

NZ Response

 

 

Other documents

 

CEDAW: Advance Unedited Version - 18 July 2003 – www.mwa.govt.nz/news-and-pubs/publications/international/cedaw-committee-concluding-observations.pdf

Draft report - Consideration of reports of States parties – www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/docs/AdvanceVersions/CAT.C.NZL.5.pdf

CEDAW Committee's concluding observations on New Zealand's Fifth CEDAW Report (advance and unedited version).  PDF [35KB]

 

Other CEDAW Reports

We only have hard copies of earlier CEDAW Reports

  • Third & Fourth CEDAW Report 1998 (combined)
  • Second CEDAW Report 1992
  • First CEDAW Report 1986 (PDF 1.56MB)

 

For a hard copy, email mwa@mwa.govt.nz.

 

For any enquiries regarding the report, contact: 

The Ministry of Women's Affairs

Phone: 04 915 7112

Fax: 04 916 1604

Email: mwa@mwa.govt.nz

 

 


 

 

Last modified: Feb. 4, 2011 9:29 am