§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which, if any, rights or freedoms covered by the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women are not protected by United Kingdom law. [HL4064]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)The UK Government are confident that their legislation on sex discrimination and wider provisions on gender equality broadly cover the rights and freedoms within the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
The UK's fifth periodic CEDAW report (June 2003) illustrates the various measures the UK Government have taken to implement CEDAW.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What practical benefits are likely to result for women in the United Kingdom, in terms of equal rights with men, as a result of the right to petition the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. [HL4065]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleFollowing the Government's decision to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), women in the UK may now petition the UN committee on issues either not covered by domestic legislation or when they have no other international right of appeal available.
The UK was an original signatory to the convention in 1981.