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Why a Global Campaign?

Women’s groups and human rights organisations should continue to be involved in the process of making the OP-CEDAW a meaningful tool for women seeking access to justice. Women’s human rights advocates put the OP-CEDAW on the international agenda and should continue in seeing that it is further ratified and effectively used. For this reason, after having participated in the drafting and negotiation processes leading to the adoption of the OP-CEDAW and entering a new phase into its realisation, IWRAW Asia Pacific launched the Global Campaign for Ratification and Use of the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW Convention (the Campaign) in June 2000.

Fostering the notion that “Our Rights Are Not Optional!”, the Campaign is aimed at building the capacity of women’s groups in all regions of the world on key aspects of the CEDAW Convention and the OP-CEDAW. All groups and individuals involved in the Campaign are committed to promoting a more progressive interpretation of women’s human rights.