CEDAW turns 25

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) celebrates its 25th anniversary as a treaty this September 3, 2006. The Philippines signed and ratified this United Nations treaty, also known as the Women's Bill of Rights, in 1981. As one of the 184 States Parties, the Philippines is legally bound to repeal all discriminatory laws or enact new laws to respect, protect and fulfill women's human rights. CEDAW comprehensively addresses women's human rights not only within civil and political spheres, but also within economic, social, cultural and family life.

Unifem CEDAW Southeast Asia Program - Philippines and CEDAW WATCH Network have planned a series of advocacy activities to celebrate this event.

Women's Feature Service (WFS), an international news agency, in partnership with UNIFEM CEDAW-SEAP,Philippines has organized a travelling knowledge fair/exhibit on the history of CEDAW and women's rights in the Philippines "CEDAW@25: Claiming Women's Rights" on September 15, 16, and 17, 2006, at Robinson's Place, ground floor fountain area in Ermita, Manila. The exhibit will showcase the history of CEDAW, and the inroads it has made in Philippine legislation, as well as the history of feminism in the Philippines, courtesy of the Communications Foundation for Asia. Other partners are Blims Fine Furniture and Delifrance.

Similar exhibits are scheduled on September 22 and 23, at NCCC Mall in Davao City, in partnership with the Integrated Gender and Development Division of the Davao City mayor's office and the NCCC Mall. The Davao Mall will be launching its breast-feeding center, the first in Davao as part of the CEDAW anniversary celebration. On September 29, 30, and October 1, 2006, the CEDAW Knowledge Fair/Exhibit will be held at Ayala Center Cebu City, in partnership with DSWD and Lihok Pilipina.

It is interesting to note that CEDAW happens to be an initiative of Filipino women who represented the Philippines at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Helena Z Benitez, who was the chairperson then, had succeeded on having the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women adopted by the General Assembly during her term in 1967; and in 1975, Leticia R. Shahani, prepared the working draft of the CEDAW based on the Declaration as a member of the CSW working group. The current chair of the UN CEDAW Committee, tasked to monitor compliance to the treaty is former Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, another Filipina.

On September 27, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women will hold a feedback forum at the Innotech on Commonwealth Avenue in Q.C. on the concluding comments of the CEDAW Committee on the Philippine report given last August 15, 2006 at the UN in New York.