Towards Effective Implementation of International Women's Human Rights Legislation

1. It was adopted on 18 December 1979 by the UN General Assembly and came into force on 3 September 1981.

2. See also the UN Convention on the Nationality of Married Women, 1957.

3. The numerous reservations expressed to CEDAW are in contrast to the very few reservations made to the other anti-discriminatory convention, the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, implying that discrimination against women comes more "naturally" and is more acceptable than that of racial discrimination.

4. Most countries that entered reservations already have a very low number of women represented in their national legislatures, a fact which could make this process more difficult. However, there is the example of Toujan Al-Faysal, the only woman MP in the Parliament of Jordan, in 1994, who actively tried to form voting alliances in order to support new legislation to reform Jordan's laws of personal status.

5. Periodic Report by the Government of Sweden on the Measures Taken to Give Effect to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Ministry of Labour Sweden, 1987; and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women ­ Consideration of Reports submitted by states parties under Article 18 of the Convention ­ Third Periodic Report of States parties, Sweden (CEDAW/C/18/Add.1), Fourth Periodic Report, 1995.

6. In Art. 2 states parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women.

7. Reinforcing amendments to the new EqA were entered into force on 1 July 1994.

8. See also Art. 11(1)f: The right to protection of health and safety in working conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction ...

9. See also Art. 11(1)d: The right to equal renumeration, including benefits, and to equal treatment in respect off work of equal value, as well as equality of treatment in the evaluation of work ...

10. Art. 4(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.

11. One parent may declare in writing that he or she gives
    up entitlement to parental benefit to the other parent, except for a period of 30 days, the so called "father's/ mother's month", which cannot be transferred. If the father and mother do not utilize their respective exclusive right to 30 days, they lose benefits during that month.

12. See also Art. 11(2)c: States parties to encourage the provision of necessary supporting social services to enable parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities and particiapation in public life, in particular through promoting the establishment and development of a network of child care facilities.

13. Art. 10: States parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure them equal rights with men in the field of education ...

14. ILO No.100.165 U.N:T.S.32.

15. 193 U.N.T.S 135.

16. ILO No.111.362 U.N.T.S 32.

17. 429 U.N.T.S 93.

18. 521 U.N.T.S 231.

19. See also CEDAW Article 6.

20. Drafted by the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

21. Finally appointed by the UN Human Rights Commission in 1994, Res.1995/45.

22. Interview with South African MP Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini, roundtable "Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers". 1997.

23. They ratified CEDAW without reservations in 1995.
    The role of women parliamentarians in the process of its ratification was important. CEDAW was simplified and translated to be disseminated among South African women.

24. Not only to the Women's Committee but also the Security, Justice and the Social Welfare Committees.

25. and to remove all obstacles to equality. Governments also recognized the need to ensure a gender perspective in their policies and programmes.

26. Less than half of the 184 countries which presented plenary speeches made commitments, and the commitments were not a required part of the UN process.
    The following governments have made pledges:

    CHILE: to take specific actions to reduce the pay gap between men and women.

    FIJI: assign 50 per cent participation of women in representation, training, appointments, and promotion at all levels of government.

    INDIA: increase investment in education to six per cent of GDP, with a major focus on the girl child.

    TANZANIA: have all discriminative laws revised and positive ones enacted and implemented by the year 2000.

    TURKEY: extend compulsory primary education from five to eight years; increase women's literacy level by two per cent by 2000.

    UNITED KINGDOM: withdraw many reservations to the
    UN CEDAW.

27. It comprises also accredited NGOs and members of the media.

28. Japan does not have any legal guarantees for women in this sphere. In particular, current Japanese law does not entitle a girl child to take a rapist to court, only the parents can sue the assailant.

29. Parliament has received many letters of support from abroad although there was a lot of opposition to the draft at home.

30. If this bill is enacted, a considerable portion of the reservations to CEDAW will be removed.

    CONTENTS OF ANNEX A Toward Effective Implementation of International Women's Human Rights Legislation References and Further Reading Footnotes