Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

About CEDAW

The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), also known as a Women’s Bill of Rights, is the international human rights treaty that focuses on women’s rights and gender equality. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979, it has been ratified by 189 states.

The UK ratified CEDAW in 1986.

Monitoring

The implementation of CEDAW is monitored by a group of 23 independent experts in women’s rights who comprise the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

The UK was last reviewed by the Committee in 2019. Its Concluding Observations addressed key gender equality concerns, including women’s access to courts and the gender pay gap. The Committee called for the incorporation of CEDAW into domestic law and the establishment of a national mechanism to oversee its implementation.

In May 2021, the UK Government submitted its follow up state report which outlines steps taken to implement the recommendations since the last review. The UN Committee published an assessment of the UK state report in November 2021

View an explanation of the CEDAW reporting cycle.

Optional Protocol

The Optional Protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW) establishes a complaints mechanism. States that have ratified the Protocol allow the Committee to hear complaints from individuals or inquire into systemic violations of the Convention and the UK is among the signatories.

The Optional Protocol came into effect in December 2000 and was ratified by the UK on 17^th December 2004.

Other work of the committee

The Committee makes General recommendations on specific issues affecting women in an effort to ensure State parties devote more attention to these areas. As of December 2024, the Committee has adopted 40 general recommendations including a joint recommendation with the Committee on the Rights of the Child on harmful practices, published in 2014.

Read CEDAW’s General Recommendations.

General discussions are also held by the Committee on specific issues related to women and girls’ rights. The 1995 Day of General Discussion on the girl child highlighted the ‘mutually reinforcing nature’ of CEDAW and the UNCRC in protecting girls from discrimination.

Read more about the Day of Discussion on the girl child.

CEDAW and children's rights

Together has been working with Engender throughout the reporting process to ensure issues that affect the rights of girls in Scotland are highlighted to the Committee during their review.

Read Together's written evidence submission.

Engender has now published the shadow reports for Scotland and the four nations, which highlights issues to the Committee the have been raised by civil society.

Read the reports.

Optional Protocol

The Optional Protocol to CEDAW (OP-CEDAW) establishes a complaints mechanism for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. States which have ratified the Protocol allow the Committee to hear complaints from individuals or inquire into systematic violations of the Convention and the UK is among the signatories. The Optional Protocol came into effect in December 2000 and was ratified by the UK on 17^th December 2004.

Other work of the Committee

The Committee makes General recommendations on specific issues affecting women in an effort to ensure State parties devote more attention to these areas. The Committee has adopted 37 General recommendations in total including a joint recommendation with the Committee on the Rights of the Child on harmful practices, published in 2014.

Read CEDAW’s General Recommendations.

General discussions are also held by the Committee on specific issues related to women and girls’ rights. Their 1995 Day of General Discussion on the girl child highlighted the ‘mutually reinforcing nature’ of CEDAW and the CRC in protecting girls from discrimination.

Read more about the Day of Discussion on the girl child.