Ultimately we have to be judged not by our highest ambitions and achievements, but by our ability to raise from the lowest level those whose needs that are greatest. That is the way I would like Australia, and every other country, to be judged in the United Nations.
(Australia's Justice Elizabeth Evatt - Member of the CEDAW Committee 1984–92,
Chair of the CEDAW Committee 1989–90 - highlighting the importance of CEDAW to developed countries.)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and entered into force on 3 September 1981. Australia has been a party to CEDAW since 17 August 1983.
CEDAW has often been described as an 'international bill of rights' for women. Enshrined within its preamble and 30 Articles are key principles of equality and an agenda for national action to end discrimination against women. It is based on the belief that basic human rights include the true equality of men and women. As of November 2008, 185 countries are parties to CEDAW.
The rights enshrined in CEDAW broadly cover many aspects of women's lives. Rights include political participation, health, education, employment, marriage, family relations and equality before the law.
The CEDAW Committee
Countries that have become party to CEDAW must submit reports to the CEDAW Committee at least every four years. These reports detail the measures the government has taken to comply with its obligations under the Convention. The CEDAW Committee is made up of 23 elected members who serve in their personal capacity as 'gender experts'. The CEDAW Committee meets at least twice a year to address specific topics related to CEDAW and to monitor and report on the progress of individual countries that are party to CEDAW.