Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FACT SHEET
FACT SHEET
Cultural CEDAW allows a State to make a The Committee also formulates general
Article 5 ensures governments strive reservation in relation to certain aspects recommendations and suggestions.
to eliminate cultural and traditional of the Convention provided that the General recommendations are directed
practices that perpetuate discrimination reservations are not incompatible to States and concern articles or
and gender stereotyping of women. with the object and purpose of themes in the Convention.
Article 13, of the Convention ensures the Convention. Reservations
are expressed before signing the
equal access of women to participate General Recommendations
in recreational activities, sports and all Convention and can be changed at
any time reflecting changes in policy The Committee also makes
aspects of cultural life. recommendations on any issue affecting
circumstances within the state.
women to which it believes the States
Civil parties should devote more attention.
Monitoring implementation Article 21 of the Convention empowers
Article 9 ensures the right of women
to change their own or their children’s The Committee on the Elimination of the CEDAW Committee to make
nationality. Article 15 affords women Discrimination against Women (also general recommendations on issues
equality before the law including known as the CEDAW Committee) that they have noted warrant greater
entering contracts, administering was established in 1982 and is the conceptual elaboration and attention
property, the right to free movement of body of independent experts that by States. As of September 2009, the
persons and to choose their residence monitors implementation of CEDAW. CEDAW Committee has adopted 26
and domicile. Article 16 ensures equal The Committee is made up of 23 such recommendations, including on
right to enter into a marriage, to freely independent experts whom are the following issues: violence against
choose their spouse, same rights as nominated by those governments which women; equal remuneration for work
men during the marriage and on its have ratified CEDAW and are then of equal value; female circumcision;
dissolution, equal rights to the birth, elected by a secret ballot. Their term women and AIDS; disabled women;
adoption and raising of children. lasts four years, with only half of the equality in marriage and family relations;
Committee members replaced each women in political and public life;
time. The members are representative women and health; women and migrant
Political of the UN regional workers. Other recommendations have
Article 7 ensures that women have been on technical matters such as
States who have become party to the
the right to vote, hold office and reporting, reservations, and resources.
treaty are obliged to submit regular
actively participate in political parties, reports to the CEDAW Committee on
lobby groups and NGOs. Article 8 how the rights set out in the Convention
ensures that women have the ability are implemented. During its sessions,
to represent their government at the the Committee considers each State
international level and participate in party report and addresses its concerns
international organisations. and recommendations to the State party
in the form of concluding observations.
Women’s Pottery Workshop.
Photo courtesy of UN Photos: Mark Garten.
FACT SHEET
In 2000, an Optional Protocol entered into force which allows for individual
women or women groups to submit claims of violations of CEDAW directly to
the CEDAW Committee.
For example, at the 1989 session, the CEDAW and Australia It is important to note that even
Committee discussed the high incidence Australia was one of the first States though Australia began a paid
of violence against women, requesting to sign CEDAW on 17th July 1980. parental leave scheme starting on
information on this problem from all Australia ratified CEDAW in 1983, 1st January 2011, the reservation
countries. In 1992, the Committee with two reservations being in relation to CEDAW in Article 11 remains.
adopted general recommendation 19, to Article 11; the introduction of paid
which requires national reports to the maternity leave and the inclusion of Useful links and References
Committee to include statistical data women in combat units.
on the incidence of violence against www.unwomen.org
women, information on the provision of The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 gave www.unwomen.org.au
services for victims, and legislative and effect to Australia’s obligations under
other measures taken to protect women CEDAW and has since been amended. www.genderequalityonline.org.au
against violence in their everyday lives Australia recently appeared before the www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cedaw.
such as harassment in the workplace, CEDAW Committee for its combined 6th htm
abuse in the family and sexual violence. and 7th Report. While some progress
As of January 2008, the Committee has has been noted, areas of concern that www.un.org/womenwatch/
made 25 general recommendations. remain for the Committee include: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw
Violence against women
The Optional Protocol Political and public life participation
In 2000, an Optional Protocol entered and inadequate use of temporary
into force which allows for individual special measures
women or women groups to submit
claims of violations of CEDAW directly Inadequate legislative frameworks
to the CEDAW Committee. for addressing discrimination
This factsheet has been produced by UN Women Australia GPO Box 2824 Canberra ACT 2601.
www.unwomen.org.au | www.genderequalityonline.org.au