The Afghan government signed the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on August the 14th 1980, but, because of serious regional conflicts, the convention was only ratified in 2003.
Afghanistan has since revised its Constitution so that gender equality is more clearly defined by law. Both sexes now will enjoy legal rights not based on gender differences. Furthermore, the government now also recognises its duty to protect mothers and children.
A wide-scale national strategy has been put in place to protect women’s rights. A law eliminating violence towards women is now in force, toughening the sanctions against those who commit such crimes; a quota system has given women a role in the government and in new institutions such as the Public Prosecution Office; the High Commission for the elimination of violence against women has also been created.
Since the Afghan government has only recently resumed normal service after many war-ravaged years, the Convention’s introduction has brought no visible instantaneous change; the institutional and legislative aspects of the law will be put in place progressively. As a result, in years to come, a turnaround in women’s status in society is a real possibility.
To summarise, CEDAW, is solely devoted to questions of gender equality. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on the 18th of December 1979 and was held up as a symbol that rights and freedoms were finally being given to women. At the present time, 190 countries have ratified the Convention.
The Convention also has a provision obliging its member states to carry out certain legislative changes, these include: establishing gender equality in law, abolishing discriminatory laws and creating further institutions (tribunals and public bodies) protecting women against all forms of discrimination and violence.
Article 18 of the Convention also specifies that member states produce an annual report on the establishment of the Convention in their country.
Written by: Marie Bertrand Translated by: Garen Gent-Randall Proofread by : Mike Howard |
