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Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

On 1st May 2007 the Women and Equality Unit submitted the UK's 6th Periodic Report on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to the United Nations CEDAW Committee. The UK signed the convention in 1981 and ratified it in April 1986 and in accordance with article 18, undertakes to submit reports to the CEDAW Committee every four years on implementation measures adopted.

The report is a key part of the international communities mechanisms for ensuring the world-wide promotion and protection of agreed human rights standards in relation to women. Our 6th report sets out progress the UK has made between 2003 and 2007, reporting on significant legislative, judicial and administrative measures we have adopted to give effect to the convention. It is extremely wide-ranging, covering every aspect of life in the UK, and was compiled in close partnership with other Government departments and the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

We sought to incorporate the views of women’s organisations, through the Women’s National Commission, as well as the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

UK present to UN on implementation of CEDAW

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

The UK is an elected member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which meets annually in New York. CSW is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that promotes women’s rights and plays a catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in policies and programmes within the UN system and beyond. CSW prepares reports and recommendations for ECOSOC on promoting women’s rights.

The 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 25 February to 7 March 2008. In accordance with its multi-year programme of work for 2007-2009, the Commission will consider 'Financing for gender equality and empowerment of women' as its priority theme.

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