Awareness and Application of CEDAW in the Judicial Systems of Germany and France

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW, is the most important human rights tool under international law for women. The convention came into effect in 1981 and obliges States Parties to formal, actual equality for women in all areas of life, including the private arena. The central requirement is the implementation of CEDAW in State Parties’ legal systems. This requires awareness and application of CEDAW in justice systems. One way to meet this requirement is training for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, as well as others involved in the law.
This working paper aims to set out recommendations for action for further implementation of CEDAW in the legal systems in Germany and France. For this reason, information on measures which aim to increase the awareness and application of CEDAW throughout the whole judicial system has been brought together from the previous reporting cycles in Germany and France.