Gr+7+International+Forum+Women

= **Combating Discrimination Against Women**  =


 * __The countries on your Committee__**

**//Sweden //**
__**The issue**__ The UN's founding Charter states in its Preamble that the members of the UN declared their faith "in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small...." Despite this statement, in many places in the world today, women do not experience the same human rights as men. In many areas of life – social, economical, legal and political – women are not allowed freedoms and privileges allowed to men According to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (1975), this “discrimination against women violates the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity, is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their countries, hampers the growth of the prosperity of society and the family and makes more difficult the full development of the potentialities of women in the service of their countries and of humanity.” The human rights enjoyed by women, as well as the forms and degrees of discrimination against women, have varied over time and from country to country, region to region. Property ownership, education, marital freedoms, voting rights, legal protection, and many other human dignities have and have not been available to women throughout history. Recently, many international organizations, as well as individual countries, have been working to assure basic human rights such as these are available to all women, no matter where they live. For example, the United Nations has adopted various Conventions which are legally binding for countries that participate in them. Among such treaties are: - The Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1952) - The Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (1957) - The Convention on the Consent to Marriage (1962) - The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)

__**Discussion Questions**__ Are men and women equal in every way throughout the world today? No. Today, how are women being discriminated against socially, economically, legally and politically? What should be done to combat discrimination against women and assure they enjoy the same human rights as men? = Research Questions =
 * The UN believes in equality for all, however certain countries do not follow this belief and women in particular suffer from terrible treatment. **