Annotation:
This manual is designed to serve as a framework for monitoring implementation of the
CEDAW. Its main purpose is to assist individuals and women's human rights and other
groups and non-governmental organizations to assess the status of women and to
determine the extent of Convention implementation in the countries that have ratified or
acceded to the Convention. It provides comments on the articles of the Convention and
poses a series of questions that should be asked and answered in assessing the legal
and actual status of women when reporting under the CEDAW. The commentary and
questions take into account CEDAW's interpretation of the meaning of obligations
accepted under the Convention, as contained in its General Recommendations.
Annexes include a full text of the Convention, consolidated guidelines for the initial part
of state party reports, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
guidelines regarding the form and content of initial reports of states parties, Committee
guidelines for the preparation of second and subsequent reports, general
recommendations adopted by the Committee, and the U.N. Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women.