Research and Publications

Convention on the Elimination Of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Widely regarded as the international bill of rights for women, CEDAW is a UN human rights treaty for women. Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 1979 and entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

Singapore has been a state party to CEDAW upon ratifying it on 5 October 1995. Since then, various legislations and policy reforms have been introduced to address gender discrimination.

As part of its obligations under CEDAW, Singapore is tasked to promote gender equality, ensure that women’s rights are protected, and to continuously monitor and assess the gender equality landscape within the country, as well as submit periodic reports to the CEDAW Committee and to implement the Committee’s recommendations.  

To date, Singapore has submitted six and presented five Periodic Reports to the UN CEDAW Committee.