Gender Equality: A Glance at Key International Agreements

The Fifth Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations is to “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. There exist deeply rooted gender inequalities in the present society. While the world has come a long way in the representation of women and their social and economic uplifting, much remains to be done and implemented. Since its inception, the United Nations has taken vital steps to further the cause of gender equality. Various landmark agreements have been adopted by the United Nations, this article discusses two such agreements namely Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

I. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

CEDAW was established in 1979. It denounces all types of oppression against women. Gender stereotyping is viewed as an impediment to gender equality and comprises a kind of segregation as per the Article 5(a) of the convention. CEDAW demands expansive commitments for the states who are parties to the convention. While sanctioning the tradition, the states’ consent to seek after – by every single proper means and an immediate arrangement of dispensing with victimisation of women, including gender stereotyping. In addition to other things, States concur to receive appropriate administrative and special measures – including sanctions were suitable – to deny all oppression of women and to abstain from taking part in any demonstration or routine with regards to the victimisation of women. The states additionally consent to guarantee that open experts and foundations will act in similarity with this commitment, to take every single fitting measure to wipe out the oppression of women by any individual, association, or endeavor, and to take every single suitable measure, including enactment, to adjust or annul existing laws, guidelines, traditions, and practices that establish victimisation of women.

II. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action were embraced at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. At the Beijing meeting, the theme of women and the media turned into an extraordinary segment of the stage for an activity. It had two overlapping focuses: to help women stand on their own feet (J.1) and display and advance an apt and unconventional depiction in the media (J.2). When it comes to sex generalizations in the media, the announcements in the Platform for Action appear to be very moderate. The mindful plan of the second measure (J.2) "to advance" depended upon a supposition affirmed by the Western world, particularly the USA and the EU, that lawful denials of gender stereotyping were a danger against the opportunity of expression. Self-guideline dependent on private implicit rules was favoured before legislation. In the 2009/2010 development, this idea was communicated by expressing that the media in giving an increasingly adjusted and reasonable depiction of women can aid in the future growth of women.

By Prerna Deep