The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in December 1979. It is considered to be an international women’s bill of rights.
CEDAW defines discrimination against woman and sets an agenda for how signatory states can prevent such discrimination. It aims to protect women’s rights and promote social, economic, and cultural equality. As of 2018, the convention has been ratified by 189 states and is the most comprehensive legal document on the rights of women and girls. As of 2018, six UN member states have not ratified or acceded to the treaty, including the United States.
World Conference on Women, 1980, where CEDAW was formally signed (Per Jacobsen/UN Photo)