International conventions and conferences

Gender Studies · Gender, development and rights. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.

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The idea

The international framework for women's rights grew in steps. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 promised rights to all without distinction of sex. The UN then named 1975 International Women's Year and held the first World Conference on Women in Mexico City. The UN Decade for Women followed, from 1976 to 1985.

In 1979 the General Assembly adopted CEDAW, the binding treaty often called the international bill of rights for women. States that join must report to the CEDAW Committee.

The fourth conference, in Beijing in 1995, produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action with 12 critical areas of concern. It is a policy commitment, not a treaty.

Rules to remember

World Conferences on Women: Mexico City 1975, Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985, Beijing 1995.
CEDAW: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; adopted 1979, in force 1981.
States parties report to the CEDAW Committee at least every four years.
Optional Protocol to CEDAW (1999): individuals or groups may complain to the Committee.
Nairobi 1985 closed the Decade and adopted the Forward-looking Strategies.
UN Women: created by the General Assembly in 2010 by merging four UN bodies, including UNIFEM.
SDG 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, by 2030. International Women's Day: 8 March.

Common mistake

Students call the Beijing Platform for Action a treaty. CEDAW is the legally binding convention; the Platform is a political commitment by governments.

Worked example

Which World Conference on Women was held at the mid-point of the UN Decade for Women, and where?

The Decade ran from 1976 to 1985, so its mid-point was 1980.
The conferences were Mexico City 1975, Copenhagen 1980, Nairobi 1985 and Beijing 1995.
Mexico City came before the Decade began and Nairobi closed it.

Answer: The second conference, held in Copenhagen in 1980.

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