Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)(external link) was adopted by resolution 34/180 of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979 and entered into force on 3 September 1981.

New Zealand ratified CEDAW on 10 Jan 1985.

On 13 January 1989, New Zealand withdrew the following reservation:
The Government of New Zealand, the Government of the Cook Islands and the Government of Niue reserve the right, to the extent the Convention is inconsistent with the provisions of the Convention concerning the Employment of Women on Underground Work in Mines of all Kinds (ILO Convention No. 45) which was ratified by the Government of New Zealand on 29 March 1938, to apply the provisions of the latter.

On 5 September 2003, New Zealand withdrew the following reservation:
The Government of New Zealand, the Government of the Cook Islands and the Government of Niue reserve the right not to apply the provisions of article 11 (2) (b).

On 5 July 2007, New Zealand withdrew the following reservation:
...  the Government of New Zealand, … and the Government of Niue reserved the right not to apply the provisions of CEDAW in so far as they are inconsistent with policies relating to recruitment into for service in: (a) the Armed Forces which reflect either directly or indirectly the fact that members of such forces are required to serve on armed forces aircraft or vessels and in situations involving armed combat; or (b) the law enforcement forces which reflect either directly or indirectly the fact that members of such forces are required to serve in situations involving violence or threat of violence, in their territories; …

There are no remaining reservations.

Optional Protocol

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(external link) was adopted by resolution A/RES/54/4 of the General Assembly on 6 October 1999 and entered into force on 22 December 2000. New Zealand ratified the Optional Protocol on 7 September 2000.

The Ministry for Women(external link) is responsible for administering CEDAW and its Optional Protocol.

Monitoring

CEDAW provides for:

  • a reporting procedure
  • individual complaints procedure

The Optional Protocol provides for:

  • an individual complaints mechanism, and
  • an optional (opt-out) inquiry procedure (Article 10).

Individual complaints procedure reports

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has not adopted any views about complaints alleging violations of rights under the Convention by New Zealand.

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