CEDAW Casebank

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) defines discrimination against women and requires states not only to prohibit discrimination but also to take affirmative steps in order to achieve gender equality.  The Convention is legally binding upon States that have ratified the Convention and any laws in violation of CEDAW must be struck down.

CEDAW has been used to support affirmative action policies and programs as well as to strike down laws that are in violation of the Convention.  These cases carry significant import: the application of CEDAW in domestic courts gives CEDAW legitimacy globally and reinforces the principle that domestic courts are bound by international treaties such as CEDAW.

• Australia
  • AB v. Registrar of Births, Death and Marriages 
  • Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd. v. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
  • Aldridge v. Booth Part 1
  • Aldridge v. Booth Part 2
  • AMS v. AIF
  • “Applicant A” v. Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
  • Attorney General v. Marquet
  • B (Infants) and B (Intervener) v. Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs Part 1
  • B (Infants) and B (Intervener) v. Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs Part 2
  • Commonwealth of Australia v. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
  • Elliott v. Nanda and Commonwealth
  • Ferneley v. The Boxing Authority of New South Wales
  • Gardner v. AANA Ltd.
  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission v. Mount Isa Mines Ltd.
  • In the Marriage of Mahoney and McKenzie
  • Jacomb v. Australian Municipal Administrative Clerical and Services Union Part 1
  • Jacomb v. Australian Municipal Administrative Clerical and Services Union Part 2
  • Khawar v. Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs
  • Marshood v. Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs
  • McBain v. Victoria Part 1
  • McBain v. Victoria Part 2
  • Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v. Khawar
  • Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v. Ndege
  • Proudfoot v. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
  • Qantas Airways Ltd. v. Christie
  • Regina v. Togias
  • Rohner v. Scanlan and The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
  • Royal Women’s Hospital v. Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
  • Stephenson v. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and St. Vincent’s Hospital Ltd.
  • Thomson v. Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
  • U v. U
  • W v. R
• Belize
  • Roches v. Wade Part 1
  • Roches v. Wade Part 2
• Brunei
  • Fernandez v. Sistem Penerbangan Malysia
• Canada
  • R v. Ewanchuk
• Fiji
  • S v. Bechu Part 1
  • S v. Bechu Part 2
• Hong Kong
  • Equal Opportunities Commission v. Department of Education
  • Ray Chen v. IBM China
  • Secretary for Justice v. Wah Part 1
  • Secretary for Justice v. Wah Part 2
• India
  • Apparel Export Promotion Council v. A.K. Chopra Part 1
  • Apparel Export Promotion Council v. A.K. Chopra Part 2
  • Mudaliar v. Idol of Sri Swaminathaswami Thirukoil Part 1
  • Mudaliar v. Idol of Sri Swaminathaswami Thirukoil Part 2
  • Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India Part 1
  • Hariharan v. Reserve Bank of India Part 2
  • Paul v. Cochin University
  • Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan Part 1
  • Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan Part 2
• Malaysia
  • Beatrice v. Sistem Penerbangan Malaysia
• New Zealand
  • Mendelssohn v. Attorney General
• Nigeria
  • Muojekwo v. Ejikeme
• Pakistan
  • Humaira v. Khokhar
• South Africa
  • Carmichele v. Minister of Safety and Security
  • Certification of the Kwazulu-Natal Constitution
  • Hoffmann v. South African Airways
  • Kaunda v. President of the Republic of South Africa
  • The State v. Baloyi
• Uganda
  • Uganda v. Matovu
• UK
  • Bertolucci v. European Bank for Reconstruction Development
  • EM Lebanon v. Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • Hoxha v. Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • Islam v. Secretary of State for the Home Department Immigration Appeal Tribunal
  • J (a child)