Women's Rights in International Law
How CEDAW and the global women's rights movement have reshaped international human rights law, and where gaps remain.
CEDAW: The Women's Rights Treaty
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 and often called the international bill of rights for women, is the most comprehensive treaty on women's rights. It has been ratified by 189 countries, making it one of the most widely adopted human rights treaties in history. Only the United States, among major democracies, has signed but not ratified it.
CEDAW covers discrimination in all areas of life: political participation, education, employment, health, marriage, and family life. Uniquely, it addresses discrimination by private actors, not just governments. States must eliminate discrimination 'by any person, organization, or enterprise,' which means governments can be held responsible for failing to prevent domestic violence, workplace harassment, or harmful cultural practices even when the state itself is not the direct perpetrator.