On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), WIDE Network reminds the European Union about the importance and timeliness of CEDAW for women's human rights and about the EU's commitments to advance gender equality!

“Three decades have passed since CEDAW was adopted by over 90% of the Member States of the United Nations; yet the EU still has not ratified the convention, and EU Member States have not implemented it. WIDE believes that in the present context of the multiple global crises, women's rights and gender equality are at stake more than ever, and Europe needs to act urgently”, WIDE says.

We are experiencing a global backlash against policies that promote gender equality, women's rights and social justice, which has additionally been aggravated by the the global crisis and by religious and political fundamentalism and conservative right-wing policies, WIDE adds..

Nevertheless, the policies put into place to curb the crisis fail to pinpoint the unsustainability of the current neo-liberal economic system, based on competitiveness, profit-making and artificial separation of the productive and reproductive economies.

The 30th anniversary of CEDAW in 2009 is a crucial reminder for the European Commission and Member States to meet their commitments towards the advancement of gender equality and women's rights in Europe and worldwide. CEDAW is a key convention, an instrument to drive national and international law and policy.

Thus, WIDE asks the EU and Members States to take action and comply with their commitments to gender equality and women's rights as stated in the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU Pact for Gender Equality, the Communication on Equal Opportunities between Men and Women, the Consensus on Development and the Communication of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment for Development.

WIDE also calls on the EU to commit itself to CEDAW by ratifying and implementing the convention without any reservation; involve civil society organisations in consultations while preparing the reports; lead a more gender- and socially just economic and social policy; promote a social and economic model that puts people at the centre and incorporates the reproductive economy or 'care economy' at the heart of its policies; adopt proper legislation on gender equality which goes further than the current 'Road Map for Gender Equality'; and increase policy coherence and link women's rights, trade and development.

“The European Commission must commit itself to CEDAW when conducting the European Neighbourhood Policies as well as development and trade policies with developing countries. The EU institutions and Member States must place CEDAW at the centre of their policymaking”, WIDE Says.

WIDE Network is a European feminist network of women's organisations, development NGOs, gender specialists and women's rights activists.