CEDAW Convention
The CEDAW Convention protects women around the world from discrimination. The FCWI oversees its implementation in Switzerland and drafts statements to the CEDAW Committee. Its Practice Guide provides expert knowledge for legal practice.
Protection from discrimination
The CEDAW Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and came into force in Switzerland in 1997. It protects women from gender-based discrimination.
More on this subject (available in German, French and Italian):
Practice Guide
The Practice Guide helps lawyers, courts and legal advisers in the practical application of the Convention. It provides access to the relevant documents, gives examples of how the CEDAW can add weight to legal arguments, and explains the procedure for the submission of individual communications (“complaints procedure”).
The guide was published by the FCWI in 2012 and updated in 2019. Professor Judith Wyttenbach at the University of Bern will oversee its continuation from mid-2026. The FCWI is represented in the advisory group.
Statements drafted by FCWI to the CEDAW Committee
The FCWI monitors implementation of the Convention in Switzerland and assesses progress in gender equality. To this purpose it makes regular statements to the CEDAW Committee. It reports any disparities and suggests measures for an effective implementation.
More on this subject:
Statement of the FCWI on the Concluding Observations on Switzerland’s Sixth Periodic Report to CEDAW 2024
Statement by the FCWI to the CEDAW concerning the sixth state report 2022 (in german)
Statement by the FCWI to the CEDAW Committee on the sixth periodic state report 2021
Statement by the FCWI prior to the CEDAW reporting on Switzerland 2019
Comparison of the final comments of the CEDAW the 18th of November 2016 with demands of the FCWI (in german)
Statement by the FCWI to the CEDAW Committee on Switzerland's combined fourth/fifth state report
Statements by the FCWI and the CEDAW Committee for Switzerland 2009 (in german)
Statement by the FCWI to the CEDAW Committee on Switzerland's third periodic report
Statement on the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW Convention (in german)
Statement by the FCWI on the draft of Switzerland's first and second reports on the implementation of the CEDAW Convention (in german)