CEDAW

According to the United Nations (UN) website, found at https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ , “ 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 declaration of women's rights.  Comprising a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets out a national action agenda 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, in a basis of equality between men and women, human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.'

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

• incorporate the principle of equality between men and women into its legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones that prohibit discrimination against women;

• establish courts and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination;  and

• ensure the elimination of all acts of discrimination against women committed by persons, organizations or companies.”                      

WATCH BELOW SOME EXPLANATORY VIDEOS OF CEDAW PUBLISHED WITH SUBTITLES BY THE PORTUGUESE PLATFORM  FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN: