1.3 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 and entered into force in 1981. Despite the existence of international instruments which affirm the rights of women within the framework of all human rights, a separate treaty was considered necessary to combat the continuing evident discrimination against women in all parts of the world. In addition to addressing the major issues, the Convention also identifies a number of specific areas where dis- crimination against women has been flagrant, specifically with regard to par- ticipation in public life, marriage, family life and sexual exploitation.
The objective of the Convention is to advance the status of women by utiliz- ing a dual approach. It requires States parties to grant freedoms and rights to women on the same basis as men, no longer imposing on women the tradi- tional restrictive roles. It calls upon States parties to remove social and cultural patterns, primarily through education, which perpetuate gender-role stereo- types in homes, schools and places of work. It is based on the premise that States must take active steps to promote the advancement of women as a