The ratification of international conventions has steadily improved the legal framework conditions for women during the last few decades. On the following pages, we have compiled an annotated list of the international conventions, resolutions, and declarations that deal with gender equality and women’s rights.

A series of international conventions deals especially with women’s rights. These conventions are legally binding for the countries that have ratified them. The accompanying bodies expect reports from the countries on the current implementation status. In addition, so-called shadow reports are often prepared and submitted by nongovernmental organisations. Furthermore, there are several convention mechanisms through which individual complaints can be accepted and investigated.

Various international resolutions and declarations have influenced the international debate about women’s rights in recent years. Although these documents are not legally binding, they send an important signal and can be used as a point of reference.

A series of regional conventions have been passed by regional organisations, such as the African Union, the Organisation of American States, the European Council, or the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

• The International Human Rights of Women
  The publication "The International Human Rights of Women" offers an overview of the most important international conventions and instruments for their implementation.
  de-internationale-menschenrechte-frauen-2003.pdf, 0.38 MB (German)
• International Agreements and Information
  Many international agreements and a great deal of information can be downloaded from the homepage of the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library at
  www.umn.edu/humanrts, 0 MB
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  and at the free databank on legal instruments of the OECD Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
  www.legislationline.org, 0 MB