UN Human Rights Treaties

A/C.3/32/WG.1/CRP.2 24 October 1977
ENGLISH
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH/FRENCH/ SPANISH
Thirty-second session Item 85 of the agenda
UNITED NATIONS DECADE FOR WOMEN: EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
Draft Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Amendments
A. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY AUSTRIA
Title: Alternative text:
"Draft Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Promotion of Equality between Men and Women."
Article 1: Alternative text:
"For the purpose of this Convention,
1. the term "discrimination against women" shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or the purpose of impairing or denying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, regardless of their civil status, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field, on a basis of equality with men;
2. the term "promotion of equality between men and women" shall mean legislative and other measures designed to enhance equal opportunities for and participation of women in the political, economic, social and cultural life at all levels."
Article 2:
Paragraph (a): replace the word "practical" by the word "de facto".
Paragraph (b): replace the word "prohibiting" by the word "excluding".
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B. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY ECUADOR
Preamble:
THIRD PARAGRAPH. - Replace the words "under the international
covenants on human rights, States have the obligation" with the words "the international covenants on human rights indicate to States the obligation".
SEVENTH PARAGRAPH. - Delete.
EIGHTH PARAGRAPH. - After the words "in promoting", replace the rest of
the paragraph with the words: "human rights, in the achievement of which women should play their full part."
C. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY BANGLADESH, INDONESIA, PAKISTAN, SINGAPORE AND SOMALIA
After preambular paragraph 7, add the following new paragraph 8:
"Concerned also that in situations of abject poverty where basic needs of the majority of population are not provided for, women have the least access to such basic needs of life as food, education and training for employment."
After preambular paragraph 9, add the following new paragraph 10:
'Convinced that full realization of equality between women and men is possible only if a new socio-economic order is created where women and men participate equally in development and decision-making processes at all levels."
D. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY INDONESIA
Article 2 (c): Delete paragraph (c).
E. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY MEXICO
Preamble:
New paragraph:
'Affirming that equality between men and women means equality in
their dignity and value as human beings, as well as equality of rights,
opportunities and responsibilities tins, including those in family and
society,".
New paragraph:
"Recognizing that women throughout the world, no matter what

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differences may exist among them, share the tragic experience of receiving or having received unequal treatment,".
New paragraph:
"Emphasizing that underdevelopment subjects women to a twofold burden of exploitation and that the full implementation of national development policies aimed at removing that burden is seriously-hampered by the existing unjust system of international economic relations,".
Eighth preambular paragraph:
Replace the portion of the paragraph after the words "fundamental rights" with the words "of men and women, to the achievement of which both men and women should contribute on a basis of full equality,".
At the end of the tenth preambular paragraph add the following:
' ... and aware that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination but that, instead, the rearing of children requires a sharing of responsibility between men and women and society as a whole,".
Article 1
After the word "cultural" in the Spanish text, modify what follows by "o en cualquier otra." 1/
F. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY ROMANIA, PHILIPPINES AND RWANDA Title:
The title should read as follows;
Draft Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Preamble;
Replace the eighth preambular paragraph with the following:
"Affirming that the strengthening of international peace and security, friendly co-operation among States irrespective of their social and economic systems, total and complete disarmament, most importantly nuclear disarmament, under strict and effective international control, the elimination of colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism in all their forms including apartheid, elimination of the gap between developing and developed countries, the establishment of a new international
1/ The meaning of this amendment is not clear, as the words "o en cualquier otra" are already included in the Spanish text after the word "cultural".

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economic order, and the right to self-determination are vital in promoting the fundamental rights of women, in the achievement of which they should play their full part,",
G. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY CANADA
Preamble:
Substitute paragraph 5 by the following:
"Concerned, however, that despite those various instruments, extensive discrimination against women both on the basis of sex and of marital status continues to exist,".
Article 4
Substitute paragraph 1 by the following:
"States parties may adopt temporary special measures on behalf of women aimed at accelerating de facto equality, but these shall in no way entail as a consequence the indefinite maintenance of unequal or separate standards and shall be discontinued when the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment have been achieved,"
H. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Article 2 c:
Replace the phrase "... equal rights of men and women" by "the rights of women on equal terms with men",
Article 2 d, second line:
Include after "authorities and public" the words "and private". Article 2 e, second line;
Include between "any person" and "or organization" the word "enterprise",
Article 4, paragraph 2. second line:
After "protecting maternity" include "and women at certain branches of work due to the physical nature of women".
I. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Article 2
Paragraph (e), substitute the word "preventive" with the word "appropriate."

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Substitute paragraph (f) by the following:
"Each State Party shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, with a view to achieving the elimination of discrimination against women, whether based upon law, regulation, custom, or practice."
J. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY AUSTRALIA
Preamble:
Delete paragraph 8,
If the present wording is retained, replace the phrase "total and complete disarmament" with "general and complete disarmament."
Article 2:
2 (A) After "in its national constitution", add the phrase "or other appropriate legislation".
2 (E) Before the phrase "preventive measures", add 'Appropriate".
K. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY DENMARK, FINLAND, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY AND SWEDEN Preamble:
Paragraph 10: Replace the phrase "the social significance of maternity" with "the social significance of child-bearing and of the role of both parents in the family and the rearing of children".
Article 2:
In paragraph (a), add after "Constitution": "or other appropriate legislation".
L. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED KINGDOM Preamble:
Replace paragraph 8 by the following:
"Affirming that the strengthening of international peace and security and friendly co-operation among States are vital in promoting the fundamental rights of women and men in the achievement of which they should play their full part".
M. AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY NEW ZEALAND
In paragraph 11, after "to implement" add "as rapidly as possible".