December 18, 1979: the United Nations General Assembly adopts the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women, which entered into force on September 3, 1981.
The Convention deals with civil rights and the legal status of women, and unlike other human right treaties, is also concerned with the dimension of human reproduction.
Marina Pisklakova, our human rights defender from Russia, leading women’s rights activist, said: “The Convention was an important step to recognize specifically Women's Human rights, because prior to that women's discrimination was not visible and obvious for the societies and it gave a responsibility to participating states to change the situation in their countries.”
For further information:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
