MitchTeberg, MAAssociate Member
Journey for Fair Trade:
A Rights-Based Approach to Fair Trade:Understanding CEDAW
29October, 2011
All Fair Trade Organizations, supporters, consumers, advocates and activists supportthe Principle of Gender Equality. Unfortunately, I must admit that most of them are notfamiliar with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). To advocate for a Rights-Based Approach toFair Trade it is vitally important that Fair Traders know what this convention is and howit works, particularly when it impacts 51% of the global population, yet women are oftenconsidered to be in the minority. For this reason, I am committing this post tounderstanding CEDAW.
Origins
Why was it necessary to adopt a UN Declaration on women's rights when the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights (1948), and two additional conventions securing the rightsthe civil, political, economics, social and cultural rights already existed since 1966?
MitchTeberg, MAAssociate Member
The reasons are clear once youtake a look at what is missing. Firstly, there was aninability to address abuses against women, particularly when women are deprived of their rights. Not only that, there was a glaring failure to understand the differencebetween sex and sex-based differences contributing to inequality. Additionally, therewas a distinct absence of reproductive rights and freedom for women in theconventions, thereby necessitating a separate convention to address these rights.Equally important was the need to make statesaccountable for positive action ensuringwomen's rights. Lastly, there was a need to recognize that
individuals
and not just stateparties contribute to the gender disparities:
Non-recognition of women’s human rights by men and women alike
Non-recognitionof abuses against women
Non-recognition of sex, sex-based differences and gender as constituting riskand basis for vulnerability to violationMuch to my chagrin,the United States stands united with Iran as the only two nationsnot to ratify CEDAW.It would be great if the US were to join the rest of the civilizedworld in recognizing this convention.
MitchTeberg, MAAssociate Member
A LookInside CEDAW
The Guiding Principles of CEDAW are:
Substantive Equality
Non-Discrimination
State Obligations
Non-Discrimination
Let's begin with the principle of Non-Discrimination. CEDAW is the only UNconventionto clearly define discrimination against women in the first Article, so let's break it downfor simplicity:
The term “discrimination against women” shall mean
any distinction, exclusion or restrictionmade on thebasis of sex which has the
effect or purposeof
impairing or nullifying therecognition, enjoyment or exerciseby women,
irrespective of their marital status on a basis of equality of men and women,
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A Rights-Based Approach to Fair Trade - Understanding CEDAW
All Fair Trade Organizations, supporters, consumers, advocates and activists support the Principle of Gender Equality. Unfortunately, I must admit that most of them are not familiar with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All…
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