Sudan’s cabinet approves CEDAW ratification

April 27, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese cabinet Tuesday approved the ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

In a statement released after its weekly meeting, the Council of Minister announced the approval of the CEDAW and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).

The statement said the government entered reservations to the article 2, 16 and 29/1 without further details.

The text is expected to be formally ratified by the joint meeting of the Sovereign Council and the cabinet in the coming days.

CEDAW has been ratified by 187 states, with many reservations. A considerable number of the reservations made by Arab and Islamic countries are related to the provisions of the Islamic Shariah.

Sudan’s women groups have called for the ratification of the CEDAW to provide a legislative umbrella for the protection of women and allow them to effectively participate in public affairs.

Sudan is one of the very few countries that did not ratify the international treaty of women rights which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979.

(ST)