Objectives

By 1945, only 25 countries had granted women full political rights. One year later, the General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that Member States should fulfil the purposes of the United Nations Charter by granting women the same political rights as men. The Convention on the Political Rights of Women is the first instrument of international law which recognized, protected and promoted the political rights of women every where its purpose is to ensure equality between men and women in the enjoyment of the right to participate in public life.

Key Provisions

Under the Convention, States Parties are required to implement the principle of equality of rights for men and women and recognize that everyone has a right to take part in the government of his/her country. The Convention provides that women, on an equal basis with men, without any discrimination, are entitled to vote in all elections, run for election to all publicly elected bodies established by national law, hold public office and exercise all public functions established by national law. To a significant degree, these provisions were designed to correct past injustices proscribing women from political participation in society and to assure future political participation on a non-discriminatory basis.

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Open for signature (indefinitely) by any Member of the United Nations and also by any other State to which an invitation has been addressed by the General Assembly and to ratification and accession

Entry into force: 7 July 1954

Status as at 15 June 2001: Signatories: 46    Contracting Parties: 115