Convention on the Political Rights of Women
Signed 31 March 1953
Location New York City
Effective 7 July 1954
Signatories 47
Parties 123
Depositary Secretary-General of the United Nations
Languages Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
The*Convention on the Political Rights of Women*was approved by
the*United Nations General Assembly during the 409th plenary meeting, on 20
December 1952, and adopted on 31 March 1953.
The Convention's purpose is to codify a basic international standard for
women's political rights.
Background
aftermath of*World War II, many countries had still not granted women full
political liberty.*In 1952, the year before the Convention was adopted,*women’
suffrage*had been granted in less than 100 countries worldwide.
The main impetus for the legislation, and much of its drafting, came from
the*United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission sent
a survey about women's political rights to its member states; the resulting
replies became the basis for the Convention.
The Convention was adopted on 31 March 1953.
Preamble
The preamble of the Convention reiterates the principles set out in article 21 of
the*Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that all people have
the right to participate in the government of their country, and to access public
services. The*Convention on the Political Rights of Women*specifically protects
this right for women.
