The States Parties to the presentConvention,

Noting that the Charter of theUnited Nations reaffirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignityand worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women,

Noting that the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights affirms the principle of the inadmissibility of discriminationand proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignityand rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedomsset forth therein, without distinction of any kind, including distinctionbased on sex,

Noting that the States Parties to the InternationalCovenants on Human Rights have the obligation to ensure the equal rightsof men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and politicalrights,

Considering the international conventionsconcluded under the auspices of the United Nations and the specializedagencies promoting equality of rights of men and women,

Noting also the resolutions, declarationsand recommendations adopted by the United Nations and the specialized agenciespromoting equality of rights of men and women,

Concerned, however, that despite thesevarious instruments extensive discrimination against women continues toexist,

Recalling that discrimination against womenviolates 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 makesmore difficult the full development of the potentialities of women in theservice of their countries and of humanity,

Concerned that in situations of povertywomen have the least access to food, health, education, training and opportunitiesfor employment and other needs,

Convinced that the establishment of thenew international economic order based on equity and justice will contributesignificantly 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 internalaffairs of States is essential to the full enjoyment of the rights of menand women,

Affirming that the strengthening of internationalpeace and security, the relaxation of international tension, mutual co-operationamong all States irrespective of their social and economic systems, generaland complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament under strictand effective international control, the affirmation of the principlesof justice, equality and mutual benefit in relations among countries andthe realization of the right of peoples under alien and colonial dominationand foreign occupation to self-determination and independence, as wellas respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, will promotesocial progress and development and as a consequence will contribute tothe attainment of full equality between men and women,

Convinced that the full and complete developmentof a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require themaximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields,

Bearing in mind the great contributionof women to the welfare of the family and to the development of society,so far not fully recognized, the social significance of maternity and therole of both parents in the family and in the upbringing of children, andaware that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discriminationbut that the upbringing of children requires a sharing of responsibilitybetween men and women and society as a whole,

Aware that a change in the traditionalrole of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family isneeded to achieve full equality between men and women,

Determined to implement the principlesset forth in the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination againstWomen and, for that purpose, to adopt the measures required for the eliminationof such discrimination in all its forms and manifestations,

Have agreed on the following:

Article I

For the purposes of the presentConvention, the term "discrimination against women" shall mean any distinction,exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effector purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exerciseby women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equalityof 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 discriminationagainst women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate meansand without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against womenand, to this end, undertake:

(a) To embody the principle ofthe equality of men and women in their national constitutions or otherappropriate legislation if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure,through law and other appropriate means, the practical realization of thisprinciple;

(b) To adopt appropriate legislative andother measures, including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting alldiscrimination against women;

(c) To establish legal protection of therights of women on an equal basis with men and to ensure through competentnational tribunals and other public institutions the effective protectionof women against any act of discrimination;

(d) To refrain from engaging in any actor practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authoritiesand institutions shall act in conformity with this obligation;

(e) To take all appropriate measures toeliminate discrimination against women by any person, organization or enterprise;

(f) To take all appropriate measures, includinglegislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs andpractices which constitute discrimination against women;

(g) To repeal all national penal provisionswhich constitute discrimination against women.

Article 3

States Parties shall take in allfields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields,all appropriate measures, including legislation, to en sure the full developmentand advancement of women , for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exerciseand enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equalitywith men.

Article 4

1. Adoption by States Partiesof temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality betweenmen and women shall not be considered discrimination as defined in thepresent Convention, but shall in no way entail as a consequence the maintenanceof unequal or separate standards; these measures shall be discontinuedwhen the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment have beenachieved.

2. Adoption by States Parties of specialmeasures, including those measures contained in the present Convention,aimed at protecting maternity shall not be considered discriminatory.

Article 5

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures:

(a) To modify the social and culturalpatterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the eliminationof prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based onthe idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes oron stereotyped roles for men and women;

(b) To ensure that family education includesa proper understanding of maternity as a social function and the recognitionof the common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and developmentof their children, it being understood that the interest of the childrenis the primordial consideration in all cases.

Article 6

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of trafficin women and exploitation of prostitution of women.

Article 7

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the politicaland 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 andpublic referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly electedbodies;

(b) To participate in the formulation ofgovernment policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public officeand perform all public functions at all levels of government;

(c) To participate in non-governmentalorganizations and associations concerned with the public and politicallife of the country.

Article 8

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to ensure to women, on equal terms with men and withoutany discrimination, the opportunity to represent their Governments at theinternational level and to participate in the work of international organizations.

Article 9

1. States Parties shall grantwomen equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their nationality.They shall ensure in particular that neither marriage to an alien nor changeof nationality by the husband during marriage shall automatically changethe nationality of the wife, render her stateless or force upon her thenationality of the husband.

2. States Parties shall grant women equalrights with men with respect to the nationality of their children.

Article 10

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in orderto ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and inparticular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:

(a) The same conditions for careerand vocational guidance, for access to studies and for the achievementof diplomas in educational establishments of all categories in rural aswell as in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school, general,technical, professional and higher technical education, as well as in alltypes of vocational training;

(b) Access to the same curricula, the sameexaminations, teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard andschool premises and equipment of the same quality;

(c) The elimination of any stereotypedconcept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms ofeducation by encouraging coeducation and other types of education whichwill help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of textbooksand school programmes and the adaptation of teaching methods;

(d ) The same opportunities to benefitfrom scholarships and other study grants;

(e) The same opportunities for access toprogrammes of continuing education, including adult and functional literacyprogrammes, particulary those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possibletime, any gap in education existing between men and women;

(f) The reduction of female student drop-outrates and the organization of programmes for girls and women who have leftschool prematurely;

(g) The same Opportunities to participateactively in sports and physical education;

(h) Access to specific educational informationto help to ensure the health and well-being of families, including informationand advice on family planning.

Article 11

1. States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the fieldof 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 inalienableright of all human beings;

(b) The right to the same employment opportunities,including the application of the same criteria for selection in mattersof employment;

(c) The right to free choice of professionand employment, the right to promotion, job security and all benefits andconditions of service and the right to receive vocational training andretraining, including apprenticeships, advanced vocational training andrecurrent training;

(d) The right to equal remuneration, includingbenefits, and to equal treatment in respect of work of equal value, aswell as equality of treatment in the evaluation of the quality of work;

(e) The right to social security, particularlyin cases of retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old ageand other incapacity to work, as well as the right to paid leave;

(f) The right to protection of health andto safety in working conditions, including the safeguarding of the functionof reproduction.

2. In order to prevent discrimination againstwomen on the grounds of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effectiveright to work, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:

(a) To prohibit, subject to theimposition of sanctions, dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy or of maternityleave and discrimination in dismissals on the basis of marital status;

(b) To introduce maternity leave with payor with comparable social benefits without loss of former employment, seniorityor social allowances;

(c) To encourage the provision of the necessarysupporting social services to enable parents to combine family obligationswith work responsibilities and participation in public life, in particularthrough promoting the establishment and development of a network of child-carefacilities;

(d) To provide special protection to womenduring pregnancy in types of work proved to be harmful to them.

3. Protective legislation relating to matterscovered in this article shall be reviewed periodically in the light ofscientific and technological knowledge and shall be revised, repealed orextended as necessary.

Article 12

1. States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the fieldof 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 paragraphI of this article, States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate servicesin connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, grantingfree services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancyand lactation.

Article 13

States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in otherareas of economic and social life in order to ensure, on a basis of equalityof men and women, the same rights, in particular:

(a) The right to family benefits;

(b) The right to bank loans, mortgagesand other forms of financial credit;

(c) The right to participate in recreationalactivities, sports and all aspects of cultural life.

Article 14

1. States Parties shall take intoaccount the particular problems faced by rural women and the significantroles which rural women play in the economic survival of their families,including their work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy, and shalltake all appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisionsof the present Convention to women in rural areas.

2. States Parties shall take all appropriatemeasures to eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in orderto ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participatein and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall ensureto such women the right:

(a) To participate in the elaborationand implementation of development planning at all levels;

(b) To have access to adequate health carefacilities, including information, counselling and services in family planning;

(c) To benefit directly from social securityprogrammes;

(d) To obtain all types of training andeducation, formal and non-formal, including that relating to functionalliteracy, as well as, inter alia, the benefit of all community and extensionservices, in order to increase their technical proficiency;

(e) To organize self-help groups and co-operativesin order to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employmentor self employment;

(f) To participate in all community activities;

(g) To have access to agricultural creditand loans, marketing facilities, appropriate technology and equal treatmentin 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 watersupply, transport and communications.

Article 15

1. States Parties shall accordto 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 sameopportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall givewomen equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property andshall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals.

3. States Parties agree that all contractsand all other private instruments of any kind with a legal effect whichis directed at restricting the legal capacity of women shall be deemednull and void.

4. States Parties shall accord to men andwomen the same rights with regard to the law relating to the movement ofpersons and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile.

Article 16

1. States Parties shall take allappropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all mattersrelating 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 intomarriage;

(b) The same right freely to choose a spouseand to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent;

(c) The same rights and responsibilitiesduring marriage and at its dissolution;

(d) The same rights and responsibilitiesas parents, irrespective of their marital status, in matters relating totheir children; in all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount;

(e) The same rights to decide freely andresponsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have accessto the information, education and means to enable them to exercise theserights;

(f) The same rights and responsibilitieswith 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 husbandand wife, including the right to choose a family name, a profession andan occupation;

(h) The same rights for both spouses inrespect of the ownership, acquisition, management, administration, enjoymentand disposition of property, whether free of charge or for a valuable consideration.

2. The betrothal and the marriage of a childshall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation,shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make the registrationof marriages in an official registry compulsory.

Article 17

1. For the purpose of consideringthe progress made in the implementation of the present Convention, thereshall be established aCommittee on theElimination of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter referred toas the Committee) consisting, at the time of entry into force of the Convention,of eighteen and, after ratification of or accession to the Convention bythe thirty-fifth State Party, of twenty-three experts of high moral standingand competence in the field covered by the Convention. The experts shallbe elected by States Parties from among their nationals and shall servein their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographicaldistribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilizationas well as the principal legal systems.

2. The members of the Committee shall beelected 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 sixmonths after the date of the entry into force of the present Convention.At least three months before the date of each election the Secretary-Generalof the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties invitingthem to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-Generalshall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated,indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submitit to the States Parties.

4. Elections of the members of the Committeeshall be held at a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-Generalat United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two thirds ofthe States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to theCommittee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votesand an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of StatesParties present and voting.

5. The members of the Committee shall beelected for a term of four years. However, the terms of nine of the memberselected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediatelyafter the first election the names of these nine members shall be chosenby lot by the Chairman of the Committee.

6. The election of the five additionalmembers of the Committee shall be held in accordance with the provisionsof paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this article, following the thirty-fifth ratificationor accession. The terms of two of the additional members elected on thisoccasion shall expire at the end of two years, the names of these two membershaving 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 theCommittee shall appoint another expert from among its nationals, subjectto the approval of the Committee.

8. The members of the Committee shall,with the approval of the General Assembly, receive emoluments from UnitedNations 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 UnitedNations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effectiveperformance of the functions of the Committee under the present Convention.

Article 18

1. States Parties undertake tosubmit to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for considerationby the Committee, a report on the legislative, judicial, administrativeor other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisionsof the present Convention and on the progress made in this respect:

(a) Within one year after theentry into force for the State concerned;

(b) Thereafter at least every four yearsand further whenever the Committee so requests.

2. Reports may indicate factors and difficultiesaffecting the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention.

Article 19

1. The Committee shall adopt itsown rules of procedure.

2. The Committee shall elect its officersfor a term of two years.

Article 20

1. The Committee shall normallymeet for a period of not more than two weeks annually in order to considerthe reports submitted in accordance with article 18 of the present Convention.

2. The meetings of the Committee shallnormally be held at United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenientplace as determined by the Committee.

Article 21

1. The Committee shall, throughthe Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assemblyof the United Nations on its activities and may make suggestions and generalrecommendations based on the examination of reports and information receivedfrom the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations shallbe included in the report of the Committee together with comments, if any,from States Parties.

2. The Secretary-General of the UnitedNations shall transmit the reports of the Committee to the Commission onthe Status of Women for its information.

Article 22

The specialized agencies shallbe entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementationof such provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope oftheir activities. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies tosubmit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas fallingwithin the scope of their activities.

Article 23

Nothing in the present Conventionshall affect any provisions that are more conducive to the achievementof equality between men and women which may be contained:

(a) In the legislation of a StateParty; or

(b) In any other international convention,treaty or agreement in force for that State.

Article 24

States Parties undertake to adoptall necessary measures at the national level aimed at achieving the fullrealization of the rights recognized in the present Convention.

Article 25

1. The present Convention shallbe open for signature by all States.

2. The Secretary-General of the UnitedNations is designated as the depositary of the present Convention.

3. The present Convention is subject toratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-Generalof the United Nations.

4. The present Convention shall be opento accession by all States. Accession shall be effected by the depositof an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the UnitedNations.

Article 26

1. A request for the revisionof the present Convention may be made at any time by any State Party bymeans of a notification in writing addressed to the Secretary-General ofthe United Nations.

2. The General Assembly of the United Nationsshall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a request.

Article 27

1. The present Convention shallenter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit with theSecretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument ofratification or accession.

2. For each State ratifying the presentConvention or acceding to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrumentof ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force onthe thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument ofratification or accession.

Article 28

1. The Secretary-General of theUnited Nations shall receive and circulate to all States the text of reservationsmade by States at the time of ratification or accession.

2. A reservation incompatible with theobject and purpose of the present Convention shall not be permitted.

3. Reservations may be withdrawn at anytime by notification to this effect addressed to the Secretary-Generalof the United Nations, who shall then inform all States thereof. Such notificationshall take effect on the date on which it is received.

Article 29

1. Any dispute between two ormore States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of thepresent Convention which is not settled by negotiation shall, at the requestof one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months fromthe date of the request for arbitration the parties are unable to agreeon the organization of the arbitration, any one of those parties may referthe dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in conformitywith the Statute of the Court.

2. Each State Party may at the time ofsignature or ratification of the present Convention or accession theretodeclare 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 respectto any State Party which has made such a reservation.

3. Any State Party which has made a reservationin accordance with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdrawthat reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the UnitedNations.

Article 30

The present Convention, the Arabic,Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of which are equallyauthentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the UnitedNations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, dulyauthorized, have signed the present Convention.