Summary Every human being has human rights. But girls and women do not get all their rights. That’s why the United Nations made a human rights agreement especially to protect girls and women from unfair treatment. This agreement is called the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Even though the name of the human rights agreement refers only to women, it protects girls as well. The agreement was passed by the United Nations in December 1979.

Our government agreed in April 1986 to make sure that girls and women get all the rights in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

In December 2004, our government agreed that girls and women could take human rights complaints to the United Nations if it has not been possible to sort them out in this country.

This guide covers:

• What is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women?

• How do I make a human rights complaint?

• What’s the point of making a complaint?

• Where can I find out more and get help?

This guide only gives general information. For advice about your own situation, you should talk to a lawyer. There is information at the end of this guide about how you can find a lawyer or get legal advice by telephone or email.

Making the most of the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

A guide for children and

young people in England

A guide for children and

young people in England

A guide for children and

young people in England

A guide for children and

young people in England

A guide for children and

young people in England

Divorcing parents

Disability

human rights for women

and girls

European Convention on

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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is an international agreement signed by most of the countries in the world including the United Kingdom. It is known as ‘CEDAW’ for short.

CEDAW says that girls and women must enjoy their rights in the same way that boys and men can. This includes:

• The right to education

• The right to health

• The right to participate freely in sports

• The right to take part in politics and campaign groups.

Governments that agree to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women must do everything possible to achieve equality between girls and boys, and women and men. They must take action to stop negative attitudes and assumptions that harm the lives and choices of girls and women.

CEDAW has a committee of women’s rights experts which meets twice a year in Geneva in Switzerland. The Committee checks that countries are putting CEDAW into practice. It also makes decisions about human rights complaints. Girls and women in the UK can complain to the CEDAW Committee when they believe that their human rights under CEDAW have been ignored or not protected.

If you believe your rights are not being followed, there are lots of other laws that may give you quicker and better protection. But sometimes CEDAW will be the only way to get your complaint sorted.

A lawyer or a human rights or women’s rights organisation can help you write your complaint. There are two important points to consider first:

• You must have done everything possible in the UK to get your complaint sorted

• You must make sure that the Committee (or another international legal group) is not already looking, or has not already looked, at your complaint.

Although there is no time limit for contacting the Committee, it is best to do this as soon as possible after you have tried to sort out your complaint in the UK. It is also important that your claim:

• Is written down

• Includes your full name (but you can ask the Committee to keep it secret)

• Includes all important information and documents

• Says which human rights in CEDAW you believe have been ignored or not protected.

What is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women?

How do I make a human rights complaint?

How CEDAW protects rights: example 1In2004,twoAustriancharitiesmadecomplaintstotheCEDAWCommitteefortwowomenwhohadbeenbadlyhurtbytheirhusbandsoveralongperiodoftime,andthenkilledbythem.Thewomenhadtoldthepoliceandthecourtswhatwashappeningbeforetheywerekilled.Thecourtshadrefusedtoputtheirhusbandsinprisonbecausetheysaidthiswouldbreakthehusbands’righttofreedom.TheCommitteeagreedthatthewomen’srightshadbeenbrokenandsaidthatthewomen’srighttolifewasmoreimportantthantheirhusbands’righttofreedom.TheCommitteesaidtheAustrianGovernmentshouldgivebetterprotectiontowomen.TheAustrianGovernmentagreedtodothis.

First, the Committee will decide whether to accept your claim.

If it does, the Committee will then send a copy of your complaint to the UK Government, which has 6 months to reply. You will then have a chance to reply to what the UK Government says. The Committee may ask for more information or documents to help it consider your complaint.

The Committee will then decide whether your human rights have been ignored or not protected.

Although the UK Government cannot be forced to follow what the Committee tells it to do, it will be under a lot of pressure to act. Cases from other countries show that using CEDAW can result in stronger human rights protection for women and children.

What’s the point of making a complaint?

How CEDAW protects rights: example 2

ARomawomanfromHungarycomplainedtotheCEDAWCommitteethat

shehadbeengivenanoperationinhospitalthatmeantshewouldnotbe

abletohaveanymorechildren.Shewasaskedtosignaformwhenshewas

givingbirth.Butshecouldnotreaditandthenfoundouttheoperationhad

goneahead.

TheCommitteeagreedthatthewoman’sCEDAWrightshadbeenbrokenand

saidtheHungarianGovernmentshouldmakechangessothiskindofthing

couldneverhappenagain.TheHungarianGovernmentchangedthelawand

paidcompensationtothewoman.

IftheCommitteedecidesyourrightshavebeenbroken,itwillprobablytelltheUKGovernmenttotakeaction.Thismayincludegivingyoumoney(compensation),makingorchangingalaworGovernmentrule,givingtrainingonhumanrightsorsomethingelse.

TheCommitteewillusuallyaskforitsdecisiontobemadepublic,andfortheUKtosaywhatithasdone.Yourcomplaintcouldleadtothechangeyouwantedforyourself,anditcouldleadtochangeforotherchildrenandyoungpeoplewhoserightshavealsobeenbroken.

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You can read the full copy of CEDAW here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/convention.htmRead more about the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written a publication about how CEDAW protects women and girls. You can download the publication here: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/international-framework/un-convention-on-the-elimination-of-discrimination-against-women/For advice about equality law and your human rights, contact the Children’sRightsAllianceforEngland– Telephone 0800 32 88 759 (no charge except from a mobile; textphone users dial 18001 first) 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; email – advice@crae.org.uk EqualityandHumanRightsCommission’shelpline (England) – Telephone 0845 604 6610(textphone 0845 604 6620) 8am to 6pm every weekday; email: info@equalityhumanrights.com

You’vegottheRightisfundedbytheEqualityandHumanRightsCommission

Where can I find out more and get some help?