The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Founded: June 21, 1946 A Council of Promoters for Women’s Rights Established as a function of the Economic

and Social Council by resolution11 Promotes the Principle that men and women

should have equal rights in political, social and economical fields

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

International Members

African States 13Asian States 11Eastern Europe 4Latin America/Caribbean 9Western Europe 8

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of the Discrimination Against Women

Founded: September 3, 1981 Convention of Representatives from each

Member State Established by the General Assembly of the

United Nations Promotes Equality of Rights for Men and

Women Members: As of September 27, 1999, 163

Countries have Ratified CEDAW

CEDAW

Objectives of CEDAW: To embody the principal of the equality of

men and women To adopt appropriate legislation and

measures prohibiting discrimination against women

To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis with men

United Nations Development Fund for Women

Founded: 1976 UNIFEM is an organization adopted under

United Nations An international force to insure women’s

rightsPromotes women’s empowermentWorks toward gender equalityEnsures women’s place within decision making groupsFocus on creating a multilateral policy on women’s

empowerment

UNIFEM

Who was involved?All contracting countries within the UN There are twelve regional program advisors that

oversee country projects and identify trends and issues that are affecting women

Why is it significant?

UNIFEM is an international police force for women’s issues

Mexico City Conference

Founded: 1975 Conference to inaugurate the United

Nations decade for women (1975-1985) There were 133 governments who

attended the conference

Mexico City Conference

Why was it significant?• First UN conference that

focused solely on women's issues

• Created the world plan for action for the implementation of the the objectives of the women's decade

• Concentrated on the problems from food, health, education, family planning, and political participation