The CEDAW Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and entered into force in September 1981, 30 days after being ratified by 20th State Party. As of May 2009, 186 states out of 192 UN members are party to CEDAW. This makes the Convention one of the most highly ratified international human rights treaties.
The Convention was prepared and adopted with an aim to better protect and promote women’s human rights. The Convention is the first international document that defined the term “discrimination against women”.