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Women's Human Rights Resources

 Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals -- peace, security, sustainable development -- stand in jeopardy. 
— Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

International Legal Agreements:

CEDAW Advocacy:

Legal Cases Mentioning CEDAW:

 

CEDAW status in WLP partner countries

 Convention SignatureConvention Ratification or Accession(a)Convention Reservations and DeclarationsOptional Protocol SignatureOptional Protocol Ratification
Afghanistan14-Aug-19805-Mar-2003   
Bahrain 18-Jun-2002(a)Art 2 and Art 16 for compatibility with Islamic Shariah; Art 9(2); Art 15(4); Art 29(1)1  
Brazil31-Mar-19811-Feb-1984Art 29(1)13-Mar-0128-Jun-02
Egypt16-Jul-198018-Sep-1981   
India30-Jul-19809-Jul-1993Art 29(1); Art 5(a) and Art 16(1): shall abide in conformity with its policy of non-interference in the personal affairs of any Community without its initiative and consent; Art 16(2): fully supports the principle of compulsory registration of marriages in principle but not practical in a vast country like India with its variety of customs, religions and level of literacy.1  
Indonesia29-Jul-198013-Sep-1984Art 29(1)28-Feb-00 
Iran     
Jordan3-Dec-19801-Jul-1992Art 9(2); Art 16(1c,1d,1g)1  
Kazakhstan 26-Aug-1998(a) 6-Sep-0024-Aug-01
Kyrgyzstan 10-Feb-1997(a)  22-Jul-2002 a
Lebanon 16-Apr-1997(a)Art 9(2); Art 16(1c,1d,1f,1g); Art 29(1)1  
Malaysia 5-Jul-1995(a)Art 9(2); Art 16(1a,1f,1g). Accession is subject to provisions not conflicting with those of Islamic Sharia' law and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.1  
Mauritania 10-May-2001(a)Approve each and every part which are not contrary to Islamic Sharia or Mauritania's Constitution.  
Morocco 21-Jun-1993(a)Art 2; Art 15(4); Art 9(2); Art 16; Art 29(1)  
Nicaragua17-Jul-198027-Oct-1981   
Nigeria23-Apr-198413-Jun-1985 8-Sep-0022-Nov-04
Pakistan 12-Mar-1996(a)Art 29(1). Subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.1  
Palestine     
Turkey 20-Dec-1985(a)Art 29(1)8-Sep-0029-Oct-02
Zimbabwe 13-May-1991(a)   
 Source: United Nations Treaty Collection http://treaties.un.org for a list of all countries
1. Some countries object to these reservations or declarations as contrary to the object and purpose of the convention.
  • Guide to Equality in the Family in the Maghreb (English Edition)

    The Guide to Equality in the Family in the Maghreb has made a significant impact since its October 2005 release. The guide addresses family law, which governs every aspect of a woman's life from minimum age and condition of marriage to divorce, child custody, and the right to work, travel or decide on a place of residence. It is currently being used by Malaysian NGOs in their work on legislative reform.

    English Edition (2005) (207 pages) 0-9770990-1-6 $24.95
    Translated by: Chari Voss
    Edited by: Ahmad Kazemi Moussavi

    Order | Download (PDF 1.9 MB)

  • Claiming Our Rights: A Manual for Women's Human Rights Education in Muslim Societies

    It is only when women reclaim their own cultures, interpreting texts and traditions in self-empowering ways, that women may truly claim their rights.

    “A manual that, unlike traditional human rights law, reconceives rights as also relevant in religious and cultural spheres, not just in the public sphere.” – Madhavi Sunder, The Yale Law Journal

    1996 / Sisterhood Is Global Institute / Co-authored with Haleh Vaziri
    Published in Arabic, Azeri, Bangla, English, Hindi, Malay, Persian, Russian, Urdu and Uzbek

    Introduction online

Alerts & Updates
WLP Activities at the 2013 Women Deliver Conference, May 28-30, 2013
May 21, 2013 | Human Rights, MENA, Stop Violence Against Women, women deliver, women's health
Tuesday, May 28th 11:30 – 13:00Strategising for a Culture of Gender-Inclusive Democracy in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) Region Room 409 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
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A Call from the Arab Caucus at the 57th Commission on the Status of Women
March 15, 2013 | Arab Caucus, csw 57, Human Rights, Middle East, Stop Violence Against Women, violence against women, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine
**WLP joins partner organizations and others in the MENA region, and those from outside the region standing in solidarity for women’s full human rights, including the right to be free from violence, in the MENA region. The statement below was originally posted on here on the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies website.** 
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WLP Morocco/ADFM Women's Day Statement: Taking stock of Morocco’s achievements for real equality
March 14, 2013 | 2011 Constitution, arab spring, Claiming Equal Citizenship, Human Rights, Middle East, Morocco, Morocco
 
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"Because Our Cause Is Just" Film Page
March 8, 2013 | Claiming Equal Citizenship, Human Rights, Middle East, Rights & Reservations: Realizing CEDAW, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Palestine, Turkey
About the Film: 
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S:SSO to Sakai