CEDAW Project

A common theme among the center's many activities is the provision of legal research support to international human rights bodies.  The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women.

 

In December 2011, Professor Cerone traveled to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he worked with local women’s rights NGOs to prepare submissions to international human rights treaty bodies. Students working for the Center undertook background research on the situation of women’s rights in Kyrgyzstan and continue to participate in the drafting of the submissions.

 

In 2010, the Center for International Law and Policy (CILP) worked with CEDAW in New York and Washington, D.C.  The New York process involved advising the CEDAW Committee on ways to interpret the convention to make it a more effective remedy for victims.  CILP students did research on international legal issues for a paper circulated to the committee.

 

The Washington process focused on the prospect of U.S. ratification.  CILP students prepared briefing materials for a meeeting of CEDAW Committee members.  In April 2009, CILP hosted a major international conference on CEDAW in Boston.