30. pants

Šo konvenciju, kuras teksti angļu, arābu, spāņu, ķīniešu,

krievu un franču valodā ir vienlīdz autentiski, deponē Apvienoto

Nāciju Organizācijas ģenerālsekretāram.

To apliecinot, šo konvenciju ir parakstījuši pilnvaroti šīs

konvencijas parakstītāji.

Convention on the Elimination of

All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Adopted and

opened for signature, ratification and accession by General

Assembly resolution 34/180 of 18 December 1979

entry into force 3 September 1981, in accordance with article

27(1)

The States Parties to the present Convention,

Noting that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms faith

in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the

human person and in the equal rights of men and women,

Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms

the principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination and

proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in

dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the

rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any

kind, including distinction based on sex,

Noting that the States Parties to the International Covenants

on Human Rights have the obligation to ensure the equal rights of

men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and

political rights,

Considering the international conventions concluded under the

auspices of the United Nations and the specialized agencies

promoting equality of rights of men and women,

Noting also the resolutions, declarations and recommendations

adopted by the United Nations and the specialized agencies

promoting equality of rights of men and women,

Concerned, however, that despite these various instruments

extensive discrimination against women continues to exist,

Recalling that discrimination against women violates the

principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity,

is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal terms with

men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of

their countries, hampers the growth of the prosperity of society

and the family and makes more difficult the full development of

the potentialities of women in the service of their countries and

of humanity,

Concerned that in situations of poverty women have the least

access to food, health, education, training and opportunities for

employment and other needs,

Convinced that the establishment of the new international

economic order based on equity and justice will contribute

significantly towards the promotion of equality between men and

women,

Emphasizing that the eradication of apartheid, all forms of

racism, racial discrimination, colonialism, neo-colonialism,

aggression, foreign occupation and domination and interference in

the internal affairs of States is essential to the full enjoyment

of the rights of men and women,

Affirming that the strengthening of international peace and

security, the relaxation of international tension, mutual

co-operation among all States irrespective of their social and

economic systems, general and complete disarmament, in particular

nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international

control, the affirmation of the principles of justice, equality

and mutual benefit in relations among countries and the

realization of the right of peoples under alien and colonial

domination and foreign occupation to self-determination and

independence, as well as respect for national sovereignty and

territorial integrity, will promote social progress and

development and as a consequence will contribute to the

attainment of full equality between men and women,

Convinced that the full and complete development of a country,

the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the

maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all

fields,

Bearing in mind the great contribution of women to the welfare

of the family and to the development of society, so far not fully

recognized, the social significance of maternity and the role of

both parents in the family and in the upbringing of children, and

aware that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis

for discrimination but that the upbringing of children requires a

sharing of responsibility between men and women and society as a

whole,

Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as

the role of women in society and in the family is needed to

achieve full equality between men and women,

Determined to implement the principles set forth in the

Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

and, for that purpose, to adopt the measures required for the

elimination of such discrimination in all its forms and

manifestations,

Have agreed on the following:

PART I

Article 1

For the purposes of the present Convention, the term

"discrimination against women" shall mean any

distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex

which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the

recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of

their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of

human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic,

social, cultural, civil or any other field.

Article 2

States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its

forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay

a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and, to this

end, undertake:

(a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women

in their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation

if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law and

other appropriate means, the practical realization of this

principle;

(b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures,

including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all

discrimination against women;

(c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an

equal basis with men and to ensure through competent national

tribunals and other publicē institutions the effective protection

of women against any act of discrimination;

(d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of

discrimination against women and to ensure that public

authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this

obligation;

(e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate

discrimination against women by any person, organization or

enterprise;

(f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation,

to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and

practices which constitute discrimination against women;

(g) To repeal all national penal provisions which constitute

discrimination against women.

Article 3

States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the

political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate

measures, including legislation, to en sure the full development

and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them

the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental

freedoms on a basis of equality with men.

Article 4

1. Adoption by States Parties of temporary special measures

aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women

shall not be considered discrimination as defined in the present

Convention, but shall in no way entail as a consequence the

maintenance of unequal or separate standards; these measures

shall be discontinued when the objectives of equality of

opportunity and treatment have been achieved.

2. Adoption by States Parties of special measures, including

those measures contained in the present Convention, aimed at

protecting maternity shall not be considered discriminatory.

Article 5

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures:

(a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of

men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of

prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based

on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of

the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women;

(b) To ensure that family education includes a proper

understanding of maternity as a social function and the

recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in the

upbringing and development of their children, it being understood

that the interest of the children is the primordial consideration

in all cases.

Article 6

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including

legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and

exploitation of prostitution of women.

PART II

Article 7

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in the political and

public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to

women, on equal terms with men, the right:

(a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be

eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies;

(b) To participate in the formulation of government policy and

the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform

all public functions at all levels of government;

(c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and

associations concerned with the public and political life of the

country.

Article 8

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure

to women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination,

the opportunity to represent their Governments at the

international level and to participate in the work of

international organizations.

Article 9

1. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men to

acquire, change or retain their nationality. They shall ensure in

particular that neither marriage to an alien nor change of

nationality by the husband during marriage shall automatically

change the nationality of the wife, render her stateless or force

upon her the nationality of the husband.

2. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men with

respect to the nationality of their children.

PART III

Article 10

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them

equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular

to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:

(a) The same conditions for career and vocational guidance,

for access to studies and for the achievement of diplomas in

educational establishments of all categories in rural as well as

in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school,

general, technical, professional and higher technical education,

as well as in all types of vocational training;

(b) Access to the same curricula, the same examinations,

teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard and

school premises and equipment of the same quality;

(c) The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles of

men and women at all levels and in all forms of education by

encouraging coeducation and other types of education which will

help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of

textbooks and school programmes and the adaptation of teaching

methods;

(d) The same opportunities to benefit from scholarships and

other study grants;

(e) The same opportunities for access to programmes of

continuing education, including adult and functional literacy

programmes, particulary those aimed at reducing, at the earliest

possible time, any gap in education existing between men and

women;

(f) The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the

organization of programmes for girls and women who have left

school prematurely;

(g) The same Opportunities to participate actively in sports

and physical education;

(h) Access to specific educational information to help to

ensure the health and well-being of families, including

information and advice on family planning.

Article 11

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in the field of employment

in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the

same rights, in particular:

(a) The right to work as an inalienable right of all human

beings;

(b) The right to the same employment opportunities, including

the application of the same criteria for selection in matters of

employment;

(c) The right to free choice of profession and employment, the

right to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions

of service and the right to receive vocational training and

retraining, including apprenticeships, advanced vocational

training and recurrent training;

(d) The right to equal remuneration, including benefits, and

to equal treatment in respect of work of equal value, as well as

equality of treatment in the evaluation of the quality of

work;

(e) The right to social security, particularly in cases of

retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and

other incapacity to work, as well as the right to paid leave;

(f) The right to protection of health and to safety in working

conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of

reproduction.

2. In order to prevent discrimination against women on the

grounds of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective

right to work, States Parties shall take appropriate

measures:

(a) To prohibit, subject to the imposition of sanctions,

dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy or of maternity leave and

discrimination in dismissals on the basis of marital status;

(b) To introduce maternity leave with pay or with comparable

social benefits without loss of former employment, seniority or

social allowances;

(c) To encourage the provision of the necessary supporting

social services to enable parents to

combine family obligations with work responsibilities and

participation in public life, in particular

through promoting the establishment and development of a

network of child-care facilities;

(d) To provide special protection to women during pregnancy in

types of work proved to be harmful to them.

3. Protective legislation relating to matters covered in this

article shall be reviewed periodically in the light of scientific

and technological knowledge and shall be revised, repealed or

extended as necessary.

Article 12

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health

care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women,

access to health care services, including those related to family

planning.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this

article, States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate

services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the

post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as

well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.

Article 13

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in other areas of economic

and social life in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men

and women, the same rights, in particular:

(a) The right to family benefits;

(b) The right to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of

financial credit;

(c) The right to participate in recreational activities,

sports and all aspects of cultural life.

Article 14

1. States Parties shall take into account the particular

problems faced by rural women and the significant roles which

rural women play in the economic survival of their families,

including their work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy,

and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the application

of the provisions of the present Convention to women in rural

areas.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in order to

ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, that they

participate in and benefit from rural development and, in

particular, shall ensure to such women the right:

(a) To participate in the elaboration and implementation of

development planning at all levels;

(b) To have access to adequate health care facilities,

including information, counselling and services in family

planning;

(c) To benefit directly from social security programmes;

(d) To obtain all types of training and education, formal and

non-formal, including that relating to functional literacy, as

well as, inter alia, the benefit of all community and extension

services, in order to increase their technical proficiency;

(e) To organize self-help groups and co-operatives in order to

obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment

or self employment;

(f) To participate in all community activities;

(g) To have access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing

facilities, appropriate technology and equal treatment in land

and agrarian reform as well as in land resettlement schemes;

(h) To enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in

relation to housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply,

transport and communications.

PART IV

Article 15

1. States Parties shall accord to women equality with men

before the law.

2. States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a

legal capacity identical to that of men and the same

opportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they

shall give women equal rights to conclude contracts and to

administer property and shall treat them equally in all stages of

procedure in courts and tribunals.

3. States Parties agree that all contracts and all other

private instruments of any kind with a legal effect which is

directed at restricting the legal capacity of women shall be

deemed null and void.

4. States Parties shall accord to men and women the same

rights with regard to the law relating to the movement of persons

and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile.

Article 16

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to

eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to

marriage and family relations and in particular shall ensure, on

a basis of equality of men and women:

(a) The same right to enter into marriage;

(b) The same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into

marriage only with their free and full consent;

(c) The same rights and responsibilities during marriage and

at its dissolution;

(d) The same rights and responsibilities as parents,

irrespective of their marital status, in matters relating to

their children; in all cases the interests of the children shall

be paramount;

(e) The same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the

number and spacing of their children and to have access to the

information, education and means to enable them to exercise these

rights;

(f) The same rights and responsibilities with regard to

guardianship, wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children, or

similar institutions where these concepts exist in national

legislation; in all cases the interests of the children shall be

paramount;

(g) The same personal rights as husband and wife, including

the right to choose a family name, a profession and an

occupation;

(h) The same rights for both spouses in respect of the

ownership, acquisition, management, administration, enjoyment and

disposition of property, whether free of charge or for a valuable

consideration.

2. The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no

legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation,

shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make

the registration of marriages in an official registry

compulsory.

PART V

Article 17

1. For the purpose of considering the progress made in the

implementation of the present Convention, there shall be

established a Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination

against Women (hereinafter referred to as the Committee)

consisting, at the time of entry into force of the Convention, of

eighteen and, after ratification of or accession to the

Convention by the thirty-fifth State Party, of twenty-three

experts of high moral standing and competence in the field

covered by the Convention. The experts shall be elected by States

Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their

personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable

geographical distribution and to the representation of the

different forms of civilization as well as the principal legal

systems.

2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret

ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties. Each

State Party may nominate one person from among its own

nationals.

3. The initial election shall be held six months after the

date of the entry into force of the present Convention. At least

three months before the date of each election the

Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to

the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations

within two months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in

alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated,

indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and

shall submit it to the States Parties.

4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at

a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-General at

United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two

thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the

persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who

obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of

the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and

voting.

5. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of

four years. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at

the first election shall expire at the end of two years;

immediately after the first election the names of these nine

members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the

Committee.

6. The election of the five additional members of the

Committee shall be held in accordance with the provisions of

paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this article, following the thirty-fifth

ratification or accession. The terms of two of the additional

members elected on this occasion shall expire at the end of two

years, the names of these two members having been chosen by lot

by the Chairman of the Committee.

7. For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose

expert has ceased to function as a member of the Committee shall

appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to the

approval of the Committee.

8. The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of

the General Assembly, receive emoluments from United Nations

resources on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may

decide, having regard to the importance of the Committee's

responsibilities.

9. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide

the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance

of the functions of the Committee under the present

Convention.

Article 18

1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General

of the United Nations, for consideration by the Committee, a

report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other

measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions

of the present Convention and on the progress made in this

respect:

(a) Within one year after the entry into force for the State

concerned;

(b) Thereafter at least every four years and further whenever

the Committee so requests.

2. Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the

degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present

Convention.

Article 19

1. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 2.

The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two

years.

Article 20

1. The Committee shall normally meet for a period of not more

than two weeks annually in order to consider the reports

submitted in accordance with article 18 of the present

Convention.

2. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at

United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place as

determined by the Committee.

Article 21

1. The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social

Council, report annually to the General Assembly of the United

Nations on its activities and may make suggestions and general

recommendations based on the examination of reports and

information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions

and general recommendations shall be included in the report of

the Committee together with comments, if any, from States

Parties.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit

the reports of the Committee to the Commission on the Status of

Women for its information.

Article 22

The specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented

at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of

the present Convention as fall within the scope of their

activities. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies to

submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas

falling within the scope of their activities.

PART VI

Article 23

Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions

that are more conducive to the achievement of equality between

men and women which may be contained:

(a) In the legislation of a State Party; or

(b) In any other international convention, treaty or agreement

in force for that State.

Article 24

States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures at

the national level aimed at achieving the full realization of the

rights recognized in the present Convention.

Article 25

1. The present Convention shall be open for signature by all

States.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated

as the depositary of the present Convention.

3. The present Convention is subject to ratification.

Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the

Secretary-General of the United Nations.

4. The present Convention shall be open to accession by all

States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an

instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.

Article 26

1. A request for the revision of the present Convention may be

made at any time by any State Party by means of a notification in

writing addressed to the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.

2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide

upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a

request.

Article 27

1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the

thirtieth day after the date of deposit with the

Secretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth

instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State ratifying the present Convention or acceding

to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of

ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force

on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of its own

instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 28

1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive

and circulate to all States the text of reservations made by

States at the time of ratification or accession.

2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of

the present Convention shall not be permitted.

3. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification

to this effect addressed to the SecretaryGeneral of the United

Nations, who shall then inform all States thereof. Such

notification shall take effect on the date on which it is

received.

Article 29

1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning

the interpretation or application of the present Convention which

is not settled by negotiation shall, at the request of one of

them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months from the

date of the request for arbitration the parties are unable to

agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those

parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of

Justice by request in conformity with the Statute of the

Court.

2. Each State Party may at the time of signature or

ratification of the present Convention or accession thereto

declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph I of

this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by that

paragraph with respect to any State Party which has made such a

reservation.

3. Any State Party which has made a reservation in accordance

with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw that

reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the

United Nations.

Article 30

The present Convention, the Arabic, Chinese, English, French,

Russian and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall

be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IN

WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed the

present Convention.