The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations (UN) launch today a Handbook for parliamentparliamentarians on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.and its Optional Protocol. "The Convention is the most comprehensive instrument that exists on women's rights, considering that it encompasses the full range of the vital aspects of the human person," declared the President of the IPU Council, Chilean Senator Sergio Páez.

President Páez went on to say that "Our parliaments have a major part to play in implementing the Convention and its Optional Protocol. We have to set about sensitizing the governments that have not yet ratified the two instruments."

"Few causes defended by the United Nations have generated more intense and widespread support than the campaign to promote and protect the equal rights of women. The Charter of the United Nations prominently reaffirmed the equal rights of men and women. Since then, the United Nations has helped to build a structure of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide", said Mrs Angela King, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women.

The cornerstone of that structure is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. Often described as the international bill of rights for women, this Convention defines the meaning of discrimination against women, and establishes legal obligations for States parties to end such discrimination. As at 13 January 2003, 170 States were party to the Convention, thus pledging to make equality between men and women a reality by providing equal opportunities in all fields, whether political, civil, economic, social or cultural, as well as in family life. Those States also committed themselves to reporting to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on steps taken to fulfil their obligations.

On 10 December 1999, the Optional Protocol to the Convention was opened for signature, ratification and accession by the States parties to the Convention. In the States parties to the Protocol, women whose rights have been violated and who have exhausted national remedies, are able to seek redress from an independent international body – the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Protocol also empowers the Committee to inquire of its own volition into grave or systematic violations of the Convention’s terms.

The IPU Secretary General, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, pointed out that "Parliaments and their members have a vital role to play in ensuring respect of the principles of the Convention. They have an impressive range of tools at their disposal to do so. They can encourage their State to become party to the Convention and the Protocol, debate and adopt national legislation that conforms with the international standards set out by the Convention and monitor its implementation. They are also entrusted with overseeing the practical implementation of the rights set out in the Convention".

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 144 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has a Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York.
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Contacts:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60, 919 41 97 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org