14 December 1981

Status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The General Assembly,

Considering that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of any kind, including any distinction as to sex,

Affirming that women and men should participate and contribute, on a basis of equality, in the social, economic and political processes of development and should share equally in improved conditions of life,

Recalling its resolution 34/180 of 18 December 1979, by which it adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

Recalling also its resolution 35/140 of 11 December 1980,

Having noted the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention,

1. Notes with appreciation that a significant number of Member States have already ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;

2. Welcomes with great satisfaction that, as a result, the Convention entered into force on 3 September 1981;

3. Notes further that an important number of Member States have signed the Convention;

4. Invites all States which have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention by ratifying or acceding to it;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session a report on the status of the Convention.