The Contracting Parties,
Desiring to implement the principle of equality of rights
for men and women contained in the Charter of the United Nations,
Recognizing that everyone has the right to take part
in the government of his country directly or indirectly through
freely chosen representatives, and has the right to equal access
to public service in his country, and desiring to equalize the
status of men and women in the enjoyment and exercise of political
rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of
the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights,
Having resolved to conclude a Convention for this purpose,
Hereby agree as hereinafter provided:
Article I
Women shall be entitled to vote in all elections on equal terms
with men, without any discrimination.
Article II
Women shall be eligible for election to all publicly elected
bodies, established by national law, on equal terms with men,
without any discrimination.
Article III
Women shall be entitled to hold public office and to exercise
all public functions, established by national law, on equal
terms with men, without any discrimination.
Article IV
1. This Convention shall be open for signature on behalf of
any Member of the United Nations and also on behalf of any other
State to which an invitation has been addressed by the General
Assembly.
2. This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of
ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
Article V
1. This Convention shall be open for accession to all States
referred to in paragraph 1 of article IV.
2. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument
of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Article VI
1. This Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day
following the date of deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification
or accession.
2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after
the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification or accession
the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after
deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification or accession.
Article VII
In the event that any State submits a reservation to any of
the articles of this Convention at the time of signature, ratification
or accession, the Secretary-General shall communicate the text
of the reservation to all States which are or may become Parties
to this Convention. Any State which objects to the reservation
may, within a period of ninety days from the date of the said
communication (or upon the date of its becoming a Party to the
Convention), notify the Secretary-General that it does not accept
it. In such case, the Convention shall not enter into force
as between such State and the State making the reservation.
Article VIII
1. Any State may denounce this Convention by written notification
to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Denunciation
shall take effect one year after the date of receipt of the
notification by the Secretary-General.
2. This Convention shall cease to be in force as from the date
when the denunciation which reduces the number of Parties to
less than six becomes effective.
Article IX
Any dispute which may arise between any two or more Contracting
States concerning the interpretation or application of this
Convention, which is not settled by negotiation, shall at the
request of any one of the parties to the dispute be referred
to the International Court of Justice for decision, unless they
agree to another mode of settlement.
Article X
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all
Members of the United Nations and the non-member States contemplated
in paragraph 1 of article IV of this Convention of the following:
(a) Signatures and instruments of ratification received in
accordance with article IV;
(b) Instruments of accession received in accordance with
article V;
(c) The date upon which this Convention enters into force
in accordance with article VI;
(d) Communications and notifications received in accordance
with article VII;
(e) Notifications of denunciation received in accordance
with paragraph 1 of article VIII;
(f) Abrogation in accordance with paragraph 2 of article
VIII.
Article XI
1. This Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish texts shall be equally authentic, shall
be deposited in the archives of the United Nations.
2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit
a certified copy to all Members of the United Nations and to
the non-member States contemplated in paragraph 1 of article
IV.
