In 2019, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted on 18 December 1979. To celebrate this historic event, the Committee has organized a series of activities throughout the year.

The Committee is also actively supporting various initiatives of its partners to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Convention.

• On 8 March 2019, on the occasion of International Women’s Day and the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Committee and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) issued a joint statement on “Women’s political leadership: Striving for balance: 50/50 by 2030” .
• On 18 March 2019, the Committee and UNWOMEN co-organised a side event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Convention in the margins of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Entitled “Women’s rights and the 2030 Agenda: 40 Years of Empowering Women with a View of Sustainable Development”(flyer and concept note) the event was supported by the Permanent Mission of France, OHCHR and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The following interventions were made during the event:
  • Opening remarks by Ms. Nicole Ameline, Vice-Chair, CEDAW
  • Opening remarks by Ms. Åsa Regnér, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women
  • Statement by Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
  • Statement by Ms. Anne Gueguen, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of France
  • Statement by Ms Anne-Claire Berg, Director, Danone Culture and Engagement
  • Statement by Ms. Cristina Lunghi, President, Arborus NGO
• Joint CEDAW/UNITAR/IPU event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the CEDAW Convention: Panel discussion on "Eradicating Discrimination against Women: Milestones and Next Steps", 8 July 2019 (Flyer).
• On 26 June 2019, from 1.30 to 3 p.m., Room IX, at the UN Office in Geneva: On the occasion of the 41st session of the Human Rights Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the International Gender Champions – Geneva (IGC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women and the Permanent Missions of Canada, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ireland, Maldives, Mexico, Rwanda and Sweden to the United Nations will organize the side event Legislating for gender equality: Eliminating gender-based discrimination and violence by 2030.Invitation (English and Français) and Concept note (English and Français)