Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
RATIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)
On 15 December 1995 South Africa ratified the 1981 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In accordance with the provisions of the Convention, it will enter into force in South Africa 30 days from the date of ratification, thus with effect from 14 January 1996.
The Government refrained from making any reservations on the text of the convention and thus accepts its provisions in full.
The Convention stresses the equal rights of men and women. It seeks to eliminate any discrimination against women, made on the basis of gender, 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.
The South African Government will be required to submit to the Secretary-General of the United nations a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which it has adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention and on the progress made in this respect, within one year of the date of ratification and thereafter at least every four years. These reports will be considered by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, considering of 23 experts of high moral standing and competence in the fields covered by the Convention.
To date 141 countries have ratified the Convention. A further 5 countries have signed the Convention but not yet ratified it, meaning that they have as yet assumed no legal obligation to implement the provisions of the Convention.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 18 DECEMBER 1995