Mohsena Akter Drishty

The Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the key international human rights treaty to oppose the effects of discrimination against women and to ensure gender equality worldwide. CEDAW, also known as the Women’s Bill of Rights was adopted in 1979; came into force in 1981 and to date, 189 states-parties have ratified it.

Currently in Bangladesh, rape, as one of the most pervasive and gruesome violations of human rights, is alarmingly on the rise. Despite the existence of specific social and judicial framework for addressing the crime, in most cases the perpetrators get away with sexual pillage.