Dr. Brenda Akia took oath as a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee Member in Geneva. She thanked all UN CEDAW Member States for this mandate.

1. What exactly is the CEDAW Committee?

The CEDAW committee is a United Nations treaty body mechanism comprised of 23 independent experts that monitor how Member States implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Convention). The CEDAW Committee sits in Geneva and the 23 experts are elected in New York by Member States to serve for a renewable term of four years. The CEDAW Convention, adopted in 1979 and ratified by 189 Member States gives the CEDAW Committee the mandate to scrutinize efforts of Member States in implementing the Convention by reporting to the body at regular intervals. The CEDAW Convention is the international tool on women’s rights that puts legal obligations on the 189 Member States to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in all areas of life, ensure women’s full development and advancement so they can enjoy all their human rights and freedoms in the same way as men. This includes women having equal access to opportunities and services, including health care, education, reliable electricity and clean energy, employment, and decision-making systems.