Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (Women's Convention)is the UN treaty that outlines women's basic right to equality. The Convention entered into force in 1981. The Convention requires states parties to combat sex-based discrimination through legislation, education and elimination of prejudices and practices that are based on stereotyped roles. The Convention also requires states parties to submit periodic reports, reviewed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). As of 2 November 2006, there are 185 states parties to the treaty.

Optional Protocol to the Women's Convention

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women does not include a right of petition, and therefore, alone, has no enforcement mechanism. In 2000, however, an Optional Protocol to CEDAW entered into force. The Optional Protocol creates a mechanism by which individual citizens or groups in a State party, which has ratified the Protocol, may submit complaints to CEDAW. After having received a communication, CEDAW has the authority to request the State Party to adopt provisional measures to protect the victim of a human rights abuse from further harm. As of 21 February 2007, there are 85 states parties to the Optional Protocol.