United Nations Commission On The Status of Women - History

History

It was established in 1946 as a mechanism to promote, report on and monitor issues relating to the political, economic, civil, social and educational rights of women. It was a unique official structure for drawing attention to women’s concerns and leadership within the UN. The Commission on the Status of Women first met at Lake Success, New York, in February 1947. All of the 15 government representatives were women which separated the Commission from other UN movements and through history continues to maintain a majority of women delegates. During its first session, the Commission declared as one of its guiding principles:

to raise the status of women, irrespective of nationality, race, language or religion, to equality with men in all fields of human enterprise, and to eliminate all discrimination against women in the provisions of statutory law, in legal maxims or rules, or in interpretation of customary law.

Contributing to the drafting of the became one of the first tasks. Commission members inserted gender-sensitive language—arguing against references to “men” as a synonym for humanity and phrases like “men are brothers.” They received resistance from members of the Commission on Human Rights, but succeeded in introducing new, inclusive language.