Women’s Rights and the CEDAW Framework

Women have rights that must be upheld and protected. These rights include the right to life, the right to equality, the right to property, the right to education, the right to work and the right to freedom from violence. These rights are crucial for the prosperity of all people and of the planet. Increasing the status of women and girls is a standalone, non-negotiable ethical imperative for decent people everywhere, especially since it also helps slow down population growth, making it better for human lives and the health of our shared planet.

Gender inequality, discrimination and injustice against women and girls based on their sex or gender identity still persist around the world. This is a human rights violation. It prevents women, men, non-binary and transgender people from living their full potential in all aspects of life – including in their home, in their workplace, at school, in their communities and across their societies.

While there has been progress in improving the status of women and girls, there is much more to do. Only when women and girls have equal rights to land ownership, property, work, education, entrepreneurship and access to health services will true equality be achieved.

Globally, 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunities. In fact, 178 countries restrict the economic mobility of their citizens by denying women equality in the workplace. Many of these restrictions are based on the assumption that women will compete with men for jobs, and that their labour market participation is a threat to traditional family roles. In addition, women face higher rates of domestic violence and fewer employment options because they are often excluded from industries and professions that are traditionally male-dominated.

The most important step in achieving gender equality is for governments to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This treaty obligates states to promote and uphold the social, economic and cultural rights of women and girls. It also requires them to tackle persistent obstacles to equality, such as violence against women and girls, and to ensure that laws are gender-neutral.

The CEDAW framework has proven to be a powerful tool in advancing women’s rights. Countries that have ratified it are obliged to introduce laws and practices that are free from gender bias and to monitor their implementation and enforce them. The CEDAW also enables activists to challenge discriminatory laws through courts.

A key step is for every country to have a constitutional clause guaranteeing gender equality and the removal of all forms of discrimination against women, including the right to property. This would empower advocates and lawmakers to impose strict standards on laws, such as those protecting children from child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). It has been shown that empowering women economically improves the quality of life for everyone. Women are half the world’s population and should be given the tools they need to unleash their full potential.