From Intergovernmental Negotiations to (Sub)national Change: A Transnational Perspective on the Impact of CEDAW

As the first international instrument to correct the gender-blindness apparent in other human rights instruments, CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) has encouraged global discourse about gender inequality. The author contends that it has provided a connection between rhetoric on women's rights and the diverse realities of women's lives and spurred communication between government and NGO actors, particularly IWRAW (International Women's Rights Action Watch). It is argued that CEDAW began as a regime following intergovernmental logic but has been strengthened through its transformation into a transnational implementation network. [CEDAW Convention - International]