The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an important legal mechanism for all aspects of women's human rights. According to the U.N. Study, "The Convention does not refer to discrimination based on religion or tradition although it refers to prejudices and 'customary practices' which attribute inferiority to women. However several states with an official religion made reservations related to concepts or laws about the personal status of women. The Convention does not try to interfere with religions but appeals to states to address models, prejudices and customary practices, as well as negative cultural or traditional attitudes, which may harm women." The U.N. Study goes on to say, "The Convention shows the paradox between collective rights related to religion and traditions and women's rights as human beings."

The organizations below address these and other issues of religion and traditions affecting women's human rights based on CEDAW. Click on the title of an organization to view the abstract of their work and where to contact them. Click on Reference Documents to the left or read the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Click on the news and research buttons to check and see if there is additional information on B1: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Women's NGO'S
Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD)
European Women’s Lobby (EWL)
Guild of Service
The Network of East-West Women (NEWW)
UN NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Geneva
UN NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York
Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Women's Learning Partnership (WLP)
WOMANKIND Worldwide

Human Rights NGO'S
Rights and Democracy–Droits et Democratie
Human Rights Without Frontiers Int (HRWF Int.)
Human Strategies for Human Rights (HSHR)
MiraMed Institute
UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Geneva
UN NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, New York
The People's Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE)

Religions & Associations
Springs Ministries, Kenya Widows & Orphans Program

Academic Institutions

Civil Society
Social Harmony and Development Organization (SHADO)

Governments
Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

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