The Quantum Foundation’s commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (‘CEDAW’)

The Domestic Violence epidemic in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago suffers from an epidemic of domestic violence, particularly toward women. Domestic violence is defined by the Office of Gender and Child Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago as the emotional, psychological, physical or sexual abuse perpetrated against a person by someone with whom they share or has shared an intimate relationship. The Domestic Violence Act of Trinidad and Tobago broadened the scope of the definition to include members of the household and the aspect of financial abuse.

The domestic violence epidemic creates the need for a push in the promotion of the fundamental rights and freedom of women. The National Women’s Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago indicated that almost one in three (30.2%) of every partnered women in Trinidad and Tobago experienced lifetime physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their intimate partner. This is the basis for the Quantum Foundation’s commitment to CEDAW.

What is CEDAW?

CEDAW is an international human rights treaty that protects the rights of all women. It obliges the 189 countries that ratified it to take actions to combat discrimination against women. The treaty’s position is that the human rights of women and the girl-child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. It demands the equal participation of women in political, civil, social, economic and cultural life, at the national, regional and international levels, and the eradication of all forms of discrimination on the grounds of sex.

States party to the treaty have an obligation to eliminate discrimination against women through legal, policy and programmatic measures. The obligation extends to all matters in all spheres of life including marriage and family relations. State parties also agree to take all appropriate measures to bring about the advancement of women. These take the form of constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures, including temporary special measures, such as affirmative action, modification of social and cultural patterns of conduct and suppression of traffic in women and the exploitation of prostitution of women.

Why is CEDAW important?

CEDAW is important because it comprehensively address women’s human rights and is focused on ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls, and guaranteeing their rights in all areas of life.

CEDAW requires countries to eliminate discrimination against women in the public as well as the private sphere, including in the family, and recognises that traditional gender roles and stereotypes must be eliminated to end all forms discrimination against women and girls.

CEDAW’s Impact

CEDAW has been a key tool for advancing women’s rights and gender equality around the world, providing the basis for judicial decisions and constitutional, legal and policy reforms at the national level.

In many countries, CEDAW has helped strengthen provisions in constitutions guaranteeing equality between women and men and providing constitutional basis for the protection of women’s human rights. Legislation prohibiting discrimination in general, and in regard to specific areas such as employment has become a standard component of legal frameworks. CEDAW has, in essence, empowered women and girls worldwide to claim their human rights.

CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals

The standalone goal for gender equality is United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (‘UN SDGs’), focusing on gender equality and empowering all women and girls, and includes ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere as its first target.

Gender equality has been recognised as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development and is connected to all the other SDGs. With the SDGs and CEDAW, world leaders have the human rights foundation, the commitments and the mechanisms for implementation and accountability, and the timeline for achieving gender equality, empowering all women and girls, and ending all forms of discrimination.

The Quantum Foundation’s commitment to CEDAW

As a locally established non-profit company in Trinidad and Tobago, the Quantum Foundation’s mission is to accelerate the UN SDGs and the Ten Principles of the Global Compact. Through a range of strategic initiatives, the Foundation drives meaningful change by fostering collaboration across all sectors of society in pursuit of Trinidad and Tobago’s Vision 2030. As such, the Foundation is commitment to international treaties like CEDAW and global political initiatives like the UNITE to End Violence against Women Campaign which advance the fundamental human rights and freedoms of women and children.