Discussion on Saudi Arabia's Reservation to the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Abstract

Since the atrocities of World War II, Human rights have been a topic that has continuously received an increasing amount of attention1 , and universal human rights have become a major concept. Over the years, several international human rights treaties and texts have been drawn to ensure protection for human rights across the globe. Unlike declarations, adopted by bodies like United Nations, which are considered soft laws having political authority, conventions are legally binding and require ratification by the legislature of states.2 However, governments often impose reservations while ratifying conventions. One of the reasons why governments wanted reservations is because they see treaties and conventions as a power grab leading to a usurpation of their sovereign power.3 On the other hand, ratifications with reservation provide the states with the right not to abide by certain provisions of the convention.