List of parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Participation in the CEDAWThe list of parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women encompasses the states who have signed and ratified or acceded to the international agreement to prevent discrimination against women.

On December 18 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was opened for signature. Sweden became the first state to deposit the treaty on July 2, 1980. The treaty came into force and closed for signature on September 3, 1981 with the ratification of 20 states. Since then, states that did not sign the treaty can now only accede to it. The instrument of ratification, accession, or succession is deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations

As of August 2008, 185 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently Montenegro on October 23, 2006. In addition, the United States is the only state to have signed but not ratified the treaty. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also ratified the treaty in its legislature, but is unrecognized by the United Nations and is a party to the treaty only unofficially.

Ratified or acceded states

Non-signatory states

References

*cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/8.htm |title=Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women New York, 18 December 1979 |work=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights |accessdate=2008-08-15