The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a human rights framework of the UN which is exclusively devoted to gender equality. It's often referred to as the ‘women’s bill of rights’, and it spells out women’s right to equality and non-discrimination. The UK is signed up to CEDAW, and so the Government should comply with what it says about women's equality. You can find out more about CEDAW below.
In 2018 Engender worked to produce a shadow report on CEDAW, to highlight key issues for women's rights in Scotland. We also coordinated a four-nations response with colleagues from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This report was then updated in 2019 and submitted to the UN CEDAW Committee in advance of the CEDAW examination in Feb 2019.
Read our 2019 Scotland CEDAW report here.
Read the 2019 four nations CEDAW report here.
What is CEDAW?
You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions to find out more about CEDAW and how Engender is involved and see a simplified version of what CEDAW says about women's rights here.
Engender's CEDAW work has been funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and they have a great guide to the CEDAW process here.
Why is CEDAW so important for women?
CEDAW is a really important tool for women's equality in a number of ways:
- It provides a complete definition of sex-based discrimination as something which impairs women’s social, cultural, political and economic rights.
- CEDAW recognises that traditional gender roles and stereotypes have to be eliminated if we are to be successful in ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls.
- CEDAW says that real equality means looking at women’s lives and the condition of their lives as a measure of whether equality has been achieved.
- CEDAW holds governments to account to respect, protect and fulfil women’s human rights. It does this by investigating and making recommendations to governments to address gender inequality. You can find out what the CEDAW Committee said about the UK in 2013 here.
Views on CEDAW
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Throughout spring 2018, Engender worked in a number of ways to gather people's views about women's rights and CEDAW. These included an online survey, webinars, events, and a resource pack to help people hold their own discussions.We also asked organisations working in Scotland to tell us what they think about women's rights by answering our Call for Evidence. You can see some of their responses here.
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Related publications
4 nations shadow report: CEDAW
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CEDAW UK Examination: annotated concluding observations
On March 8th 2019 the UN CEDAW Committee released their concluding observations following the UK examination in Geneva.
CEDAW: How can women's rights be better realised in Scotland?
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Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women Concluding Observations 2013 The concluding observations (recommendations) of the CEDAW Committee, following its examination of the UK in 2013.
Eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW - four nations report
Eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW.
Eighth periodic report of the government of the United Kingdom on measures taken to give effect to CEDAW - Scotland report
In 2018 Engender has worked to produce a shadow report on CEDAW, to highlight key issues for women's rights in Scotland.
Engender CEDAW Pre-hearing Statement
Engender's statement to the pre-session working group, which took place in November 2012.
Engender Questions for CEDAW Examination of the UK
NGOs can submit questions to the CEDAW Committee in advance of the examination of their governments.
Engender Refreshed Shadow ICESCR Report
Engender's refreshed shadow report to the 6th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Engender Shadow CEDAW Report Engender's shadow report to the 7th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's CEDAW Committee.
Engender Shadow ICESCR Report
Engender's shadow report to the 6th periodic report of the UK Government to the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Engender Statement on UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
Engender's statement to the UN's Universal Periodic Review process.
European Women’s Lobby General Assembly 2012 - Notes
Engender's notes of proceedings from the European Women's Lobby General Assembly in 2012.
Scottish NGO Commission on the Status of Women 57 Statement
This is a joint submission to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 57th meeting in 2012.
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