CEDAW in practice – perspectives from across the Asia Pacific

Photo: UN Women/Pathumporn Thongking

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a UN Treaty based on human rights principles that seeks to eliminate discrimination against women. CEDAW sets legally binding standards for women’s human rights and provides guidance to member states on how to implement human rights in a gender-responsive way. CEDAW Articles 6-16 cover specific women’s rights, including the measures States must take to eliminate discrimination with regards to each right.

But what does that mean in practice? Meaningful justice for women starts with equality under the law but also relies on change in practices and a shift in social norms to address long-standing gender discrimination and bias.

Through our Regional Network of Journalists we’re collecting perspectives on women’s rights to raise awareness on the gap between the CEDAW substantive articles and women’s meaningful access to claim their human rights.

This is a new initiative under the WA2J project, the first article that we’re exploring through perspectives CEDAW article 16 on Marriage and Family Relations. Read more…