UN and Women’s rights: CEDAW and SC resolution 1325

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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as the international bill of rights for women or the “Women’s Convention”. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defi nes what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination and to achieve substantive equality.

By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms and to ensure “equality of results”, including:

• The incorporation of the principle of equality of men and women into the state legal system, the abolishment of all discriminatory laws and the adoption of appropriate laws prohibiting discrimination against women;

• The establishment of tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and

• The elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice and to move beyond “de jure” equality and to ensure an equality of results – equality which is felt by the average woman and man. They are also committed to submit national reports – an initial report a year after ratifying the Convention and then regular reports every four years – on measures they have taken to comply with treaty obligations.

On 31 October 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1325 on women, peace and security (UNSC resolution 1325). UNSC resolution 1325 was the fi rst resolution addressing gender issues to be passed by the Security Council. It emphasized the vital role of women in conflict resolution and mandated a review of the impact of armed confl ict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building and the gender dimensions of peace processes and confl ict resolution, as well as reconstruction and rehabilitation processes.

UNSC resolution 1325 and CEDAW – two normative, legally binding documents – are powerful tools when used together to move the gender equality agenda forward in the peace and security context.

Although each set of standards constitutes a critical tool in advocating for women’s rights, using them together strengthens the work of gender equality advocates, and works to ensure the realization of de facto gender equality in times of peace and within post-conflict environments.