In 2004 we celebrate 25 years of the adoption of CEDAW also known as the Women’s Convention. CEDAW was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and has now (April 2004) been ratified by 175 states. The Convention sets out in various articles the need for governments to address the discrimination which women face in all areas of life from education through to marriage and family relations and their participation in public life. The need to embrace and demonstrate the principle of equality of men and women through national institutions and legislation which adopt and protect the rights of women and eliminate discrimination is the principle requirement of the convention. Countries are required to submit reports on progress in addressing the specific articles under the convention at least every four years access the UK report .
For up to date information on countries which have ratified the convention and the optional protocol see:- http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/country/compliancetbl.PDF
Nigeria
Centre for Human Development: Promoting Women's Rights as Human Rights
The project, Promoting Women’s Rights as Human Rights, was designed as part of Centre for Human Development's (CHD) Human Rights Education Programme and the objectives of the project were to:
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Sensitize participants to the rights-based approach to programming |
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Provide information on CRC/CEDAW, classification and protection mechanisms |
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Sensitize participants to the articles and reporting procedures of CRC/CEDAW. |
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Engender positive behavioural change towards women and children. |
Increase women’s participation in politics. The targets are 240 representatives of women’s groups and trade associations in Gboyin, Ifelodun, Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Efon, Emure, Ikere and Moba LGAs of Ekiti State.
Each training programme commenced with self-evaluation for gender sensitivity and other sessions included, evolution of rights based Programmes, overview of CEDAW and CRC, improving participants’ self-esteem, and leadership and negotiation skills. Participants acquired basic information about their rights and those of their children and analysed their local situation critically to enumerate the threats to their rights and how effective current protection mechanisms are.
CEDAW Thematic Shadow Report on Violence Against Women in the UK
Report on BC seminar on CEDAW:
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
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