The States Parties to the present Convention,
Noting that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms
faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth
of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women,
Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
affirms the principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination
and proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal
in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the
rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of
any kind, including distinction based on sex,
Noting that the States Parties to the International
Covenants on Human Rights have the obligation to ensure the
equal rights of men and women to enjoy all economic, social,
cultural, civil and political rights,
Considering the international conventions concluded
under the auspices of the United Nations and the specialized
agencies promoting equality of rights of men and women,
Noting also the resolutions, declarations and recommendations
adopted by the United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting
equality of rights of men and women,
Concerned, however, that despite these various instruments
extensive discrimination against women continues to exist,
Recalling that discrimination against women violates
the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity,
is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal terms
with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life
of their countries, hampers the growth of the prosperity of
society and the family and makes more difficult the full development
of the potentialities of women in the service of their countries
and of humanity,
Concerned that in situations of poverty women have the
least access to food, health, education, training and opportunities
for employment and other needs,
Convinced that the establishment of the new international economic
order based on equity and justice will contribute significantly
towards the promotion of equality between men and women,
Emphasizing that the eradication of apartheid, all forms
of racism, racial discrimination, colonialism, neo-colonialism,
aggression, foreign occupation and domination and interference
in the internal affairs of States is essential to the full enjoyment
of the rights of men and women,
Affirming that the strengthening of international peace
and security, the relaxation of international tension, mutual
co-operation among all States irrespective of their social and
economic systems, general and complete disarmament, in particular
nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international
control, the affirmation of the principles of justice, equality
and mutual benefit in relations among countries and the realization
of the right of peoples under alien and colonial domination
and foreign occupation to self-determination and independence,
as well as respect for national sovereignty and territorial
integrity, will promote social progress and development and
as a consequence will contribute to the attainment of full equality
between men and women,
Convinced that the full and complete development of
a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require
the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in
all fields,
Bearing in mind the great contribution of women to the
welfare of the family and to the development of society, so
far not fully recognized, the social significance of maternity
and the role of both parents in the family and in the upbringing
of children, and aware that the role of women in procreation
should not be a basis for discrimination but that the upbringing
of children requires a sharing of responsibility between men
and women and society as a whole,
Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as
well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed
to achieve full equality between men and women,
Determined to implement the principles set forth in
the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women and, for that purpose, to adopt the measures required
for the elimination of such discrimination in all its forms
and manifestations,
Have agreed on the following:
PART I
Article I
For the purposes of the present Convention, the term "discrimination
against women" shall mean 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.
Article 2
States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all
its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without
delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and,
to this end, undertake:
(a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women
in their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation
if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law
and other appropriate means, the practical realization of
this principle;
(b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures,
including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination
against women;
(c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women
on an equal basis with men and to ensure through competent
national tribunals and other public institutions the effective
protection of women against any act of discrimination;
(d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination
against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions
shall act in conformity with this obligation;
(e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination
against women by any person, organization or enterprise;
(f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation,
to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and
practices which constitute discrimination against women;
(g) To repeal all national penal provisions which constitute
discrimination against women.
Article 3
States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the
political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate
measures, including legislation, to en sure the full development
and advancement of women , for the purpose of guaranteeing them
the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms
on a basis of equality with men.
Article 4
1. Adoption by States Parties of temporary special measures
aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women
shall not be considered discrimination as defined in the present
Convention, but shall in no way entail as a consequence the
maintenance of unequal or separate standards; these measures
shall be discontinued when the objectives of equality of opportunity
and treatment have been achieved.
2. Adoption by States Parties of special measures, including
those measures contained in the present Convention, aimed at
protecting maternity shall not be considered discriminatory.
Article 5
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures:
(a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of
men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices
and customary and all other practices which are based on the
idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the
sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women;
(b) To ensure that family education includes a proper understanding
of maternity as a social function and the recognition of the
common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and
development of their children, it being understood that the
interest of the children is the primordial consideration in
all cases.
Article 6
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including
legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation
of prostitution of women.
PART II
Article 7
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the political and public life
of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on
equal terms with men, the right:
(a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be
eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies;
(b) To participate in the formulation of government policy
and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and
perform all public functions at all levels of government;
(c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations
concerned with the public and political life of the country.
Article 8 General comment on its implementation
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure
to women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination,
the opportunity to represent their Governments at the international
level and to participate in the work of international organizations.
Article 9
1. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men to
acquire, change or retain their nationality. They shall ensure
in particular that neither marriage to an alien nor change of
nationality by the husband during marriage shall automatically
change the nationality of the wife, render her stateless or
force upon her the nationality of the husband.
2. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men with
respect to the nationality of their children.
PART III
Article 10
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal
rights with men in the field of education and in particular
to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:
(a) The same conditions for career and vocational guidance,
for access tostudies and for the achievement of diplomas in
educational establishments of all categories in rural as well
as in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school,
general, technical, professional and higher technical education,
as well as in all types of vocational training;
(b) Access to the same curricula, the same examinations, teaching
staff with qualifications of the same standard and school premises
and equipment of the same quality;
(c) The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles
of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education
by encouraging coeducation and other types of education which
will help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision
of textbooks and school programmes and the adaptation of teaching
methods;
(d ) The same opportunities to benefit from scholarships and
other study grants;
(e) The same opportunities for access to programmes of continuing
education, including adult and functional literacy programmes,
particulary those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possible
time, any gap in education existing between men and women;
(f) The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the
organization of programmes for girls and women who have left
school prematurely;
(g) The same Opportunities to participate actively in sports
and physical education;
(h) Access to specific educational information to help to ensure
the health and well-being of families, including information
and advice on family planning.
Article 11
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the field of employment in order
to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the same
rights, in particular:
(a) The right to work as an inalienable right of all human
beings;
(b) The right to the same employment opportunities, including
the application of the same criteria for selection in matters
of employment;
(c) The right to free choice of profession and employment,
the right to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions
of service and the right to receive vocational training and
retraining, including apprenticeships, advanced vocational training
and recurrent training;
(d) The right to equal remuneration, including benefits, and
to equal treatment in respect of work of equal value, as well
as equality of treatment in the evaluation of the quality of
work;
(e) The right to social security, particularly in cases of
retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and
other incapacity to work, as well as the right to paid leave;
(f) The right to protection of health and to safety in working
conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction.
2. In order to prevent discrimination against women on the
grounds of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective
right to work, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To prohibit, subject to the imposition of sanctions, dismissal
on the grounds of pregnancy or of maternity leave and discrimination
in dismissals on the basis of marital status;
(b) To introduce maternity leave with pay or with comparable
social benefits without loss of former employment, seniority
or social allowances;
(c) To encourage the provision of the necessary supporting
social services to enable parents to combine family obligations
with work responsibilities and participation in public life,
in particular through promoting the establishment and development
of a network of child-care facilities;
(d) To provide special protection to women during pregnancy
in types of work proved to be harmful to them.
3. Protective legislation relating to matters covered in this
article shall be reviewed periodically in the light of scientific
and technological knowledge and shall be revised, repealed or
extended as necessary.
Article 12 General comment on its implementation
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in the field of health care in
order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access
to health care services, including those related to family planning.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this article,
States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate services in
connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period,
granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate
nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Article 13
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in other areas of economic and
social life in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men
and women, the same rights, in particular:
(a) The right to family benefits;
(b) The right to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial
credit;
(c) The right to participate in recreational activities, sports
and all aspects of cultural life.
Article 14
1. States Parties shall take into account the particular problems
faced by rural women and the significant roles which rural women
play in the economic survival of their families, including their
work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy, and shall
take all appropriate measures to ensure the application of the
provisions of the present Convention to women in rural areas.
2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure,
on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participate
in and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall
ensure to such women the right:
(a) To participate in the elaboration and implementation of
development planning at all levels;
(b) To have access to adequate health care facilities, including
information, counselling and services in family planning;
(c) To benefit directly from social security programmes;
(d) To obtain all types of training and education, formal and
non-formal, including that relating to functional literacy,
as well as, inter alia, the benefit of all community and extension
services, in order to increase their technical proficiency;
(e) To organize self-help groups and co-operatives in order
to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment
or self employment;
(f) To participate in all community activities;
(g) To have access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing
facilities, appropriate technology and equal treatment in land
and agrarian reform as well as in land resettlement schemes;
(h) To enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in relation
to housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport
and communications.
PART IV
Article 15
1. States Parties shall accord to women equality with men before
the law.
2. States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters,
a legal capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities
to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women
equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property
and shall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts
and tribunals.
3. States Parties agree that all contracts and all other private
instruments of any kind with a legal effect which is directed
at restricting the legal capacity of women shall be deemed null
and void.
4. States Parties shall accord to men and women the same rights
with regard to the law relating to the movement of persons and
the freedom to choose their residence and domicile.
Article 16
1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage
and family relations and in particular shall ensure, on a basis
of equality of men and women:
(a) The same right to enter into marriage;
(b) The same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into
marriage only with their free and full consent;
(c) The same rights and responsibilities during marriage and
at its dissolution;
(d) The same rights and responsibilities as parents, irrespective
of their marital status, in matters relating to their children;
in all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount;
(e) The same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the
number and spacing of their children and to have access to the
information, education and means to enable them to exercise
these rights;
(f) The same rights and responsibilities with regard to guardianship,
wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children, or similar institutions
where these concepts exist in national legislation; in all cases
the interests of the children shall be paramount;
(g) The same personal rights as husband and wife, including
the right to choose a family name, a profession and an occupation;
(h) The same rights for both spouses in respect of the ownership,
acquisition, management, administration, enjoyment and disposition
of property, whether free of charge or for a valuable consideration.
2. The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no
legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation,
shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to
make the registration of marriages in an official registry compulsory.
PART V
Article 17
1. For the purpose of considering the progress made in the
implementation of the present Convention, there shall be established
a Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
(hereinafter referred to as the Committee) consisting, at the
time of entry into force of the Convention, of eighteen and,
after ratification of or accession to the Convention by the
thirty-fifth State Party, of twenty-three experts of high moral
standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention.
The experts shall be elected by States Parties from among their
nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration
being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the
representation of the different forms of civilization as well
as the principal legal systems.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret
ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties. Each
State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals.
3. The initial election shall be held six months after the
date of the entry into force of the present Convention. At least
three months before the date of each election the Secretary-General
of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties
inviting them to submit their nominations within two months.
The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical order
of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties
which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States
Parties.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held
at a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-General
at United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two
thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the
persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who
obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority
of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present
and voting.
5. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term
of four years. However, the terms of nine of the members elected
at the first election shall expire at the end of two years;
immediately after the first election the names of these nine
members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee.
6. The election of the five additional members of the Committee
shall be held in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs
2, 3 and 4 of this article, following the thirty-fifth ratification
or accession. The terms of two of the additional members elected
on this occasion shall expire at the end of two years, the names
of these two members having been chosen by lot by the Chairman
of the Committee.
7. For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose
expert has ceased to function as a member of the Committee shall
appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to
the approval of the Committee.
8. The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of
the General Assembly, receive emoluments from United Nations
resources on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may decide,
having regard to the importance of the Committee's responsibilities.
9. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide
the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance
of the functions of the Committee under the present Convention.
Article 18
1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, for consideration by the Committee, a
report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other
measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions
of the present Convention and on the progress made in this respect:
(a) Within one year after the entry into force for the State
concerned;
(b) Thereafter at least every four years and further whenever
the Committee so requests.
2. Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting
the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention.
Article 19
1. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
2. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two
years.
Article 20 General comment on its implementation
1. The Committee shall normally meet for a period of not more
than two weeks annually in order to consider the reports submitted
in accordance with article 18 of the present Convention.
2. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at
United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place
as determined by the Committee. (amendment, status of ratification)
Article 21
1. The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social Council,
report annually to the General Assembly of the United Nations
on its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations
based on the examination of reports and information received
from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations
shall be included in the report of the Committee together with
comments, if any, from States Parties.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit
the reports of the Committee to the Commission on the Status
of Women for its information.
Article 22
The specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented
at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions
of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their
activities. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies
to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in
areas falling within the scope of their activities.
PART VI
Article 23
Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions
that are more conducive to the achievement of equality between
men and women which may be contained:
(a) In the legislation of a State Party; or
(b) In any other international convention, treaty or agreement
in force for that State.
Article 24
States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures at
the national level aimed at achieving the full realization of
the rights recognized in the present Convention.
Article 25
1. The present Convention shall be open for signature by all
States.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated
as the depositary of the present Convention.
3. The present Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments
of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General
of the United Nations.
4. The present Convention shall be open to accession by all
States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument
of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article 26
1. A request for the revision of the present Convention may
be made at any time by any State Party by means of a notification
in writing addressed to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.
2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide
upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a request.
Article 27
1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification
or accession.
2. For each State ratifying the present Convention or acceding
to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification
or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth
day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification
or accession.
Article 28
1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive
and circulate to all States the text of reservations made by
States at the time of ratification or accession.
2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of
the present Convention shall not be permitted.
3. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification
to this effect addressed to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, who shall then inform all States thereof. Such notification
shall take effect on the date on which it is received.
Article 29
1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning
the interpretation or application of the present Convention
which is not settled by negotiation shall, at the request of
one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months
from the date of the request for arbitration the parties are
unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any
one of those parties may refer the dispute to the International
Court of Justice by request in conformity with the Statute of
the Court.
2. Each State Party may at the time of signature or ratification
of the present Convention or accession thereto declare that
it does not consider itself bound by paragraph I of this article.
The other States Parties shall not be bound by that paragraph
with respect to any State Party which has made such a reservation.
3. Any State Party which has made a reservation in accordance
with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw that
reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
Article 30
The present Convention, the Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall
be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed
the present Convention.
