Discrimination is almost always a bad thing and a secondary issue is, for what reason somebody is discriminated against. Although we are in the twenty-first century, and it seems unbelievable, we still can meet with discrimination against women.
To prevent this, in the past, a number of documents, both domestic and international defending equality were created. One of the most important is the “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women”. It was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations as early as 18 December 1979 in New York. People’s Republic of Poland ratified it three years later – in 1982.
According to this convention, discrimination is defined as any distinction, exclusion or restriction based on sex, which is aimed at reducing or nullifying the recognition, regardless of their marital status, opportunities, or exercising on an equal terms with men, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the areas of civic life , political, social, economic, cultural and others.
The convention also imposes an obligation on countries ratifying it, of introducing by the legislative measures the principle of equality between men and women, if they have not already done so. Also, in the social and cultural sphere, Convention requires the promotion of new patterns of behavior, free from prejudices, discrimination and stereotyped roles of women and men.
The convention also indicates that it is necessary to have equality in the workplace, and thus equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, which, unfortunately, is only wishful thinking. In the countries that have ratified the Convention, in order for the Convention to not remain just a paper document that has been implemented in accordance with Article 17 of the Convention, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was founded, which should ensure the implementation of its provisions.
Interestingly, not all UN members have ratified the Convention. The country that haven’t done it yet is for example … the United States (signed the Convention but have not yet ratified it). In addition, the Convention is not ratified by Iran, Somalia, Sudan and the Vatican (which has not even signed it.) Although the elimination of discrimination is not an international agreement but a lengthy process happening in human mentality, it is good, that these documents are created helping fight for equal rights for women.