# List of parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

The list of parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women encompasses the states who have signed and ratified or acceded to the international agreement to prevent discrimination against women.
On December 18, 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was opened for signature. Sweden became the first state to deposit the treaty on July 2, 1980. The treaty came into force and closed for signature on September 3, 1981 with the ratification of 20 states. Since then, states that did not sign the treaty can now only accede to it. The instrument of ratification, accession, or succession is deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
As of May 2015, 189 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, most recently South Sudan on April 30, 2015. In addition, the United States and Palau have signed but not ratified the treaty. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has also ratified the treaty in its legislature, but is unrecognized by the United Nations and is a party to the treaty only unofficially.

## Ratified or acceded states

| State | Signed | Deposited | Method |
| Afghanistan | Aug 14, 1980 | Mar 5, 2003 | Ratification |
| Albania | | May 11, 1994 | Accession |
| Algeria | | May 22, 1996 | Accession |
| Andorra | | Jan 15, 1997 | Accession |
| Angola | | Sep 17, 1986 | Accession |
| Antigua and Barbuda | | Aug 1, 1989 | Accession |
| Argentina | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 15, 1985 | Ratification |
| Armenia | | Sep 13, 1993 | Accession |
| Australia | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 28, 1983 | Ratification |
| Austria | Aug 17, 1983 | Mar 31, 1982 | Ratification |
| Azerbaijan | | Jul 10, 1995 | Accession |
| Bahamas | | Oct 6, 1993 | Accession |
| Bahrain | | Jun 18, 2002 | Accession, but did not ratify the optional protocol of preventing violence against women, and acceded with five reservations: to articles 2, 9, 15, and 16. |
| Bangladesh | | Nov 6, 1984 | Accession |
| Barbados | Jul 24, 1980 | Oct 16, 1980 | Ratification |
| Belarus | Jul 17, 1980 | Feb 4, 1981 | Ratification as Byelorussian SSR |
| Belgium | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 10, 1985 | Ratification |
| Belize | Mar 7, 1990 | May 16, 1990 | Ratification |
| Benin | Nov 11, 1981 | Mar 12, 1992 | Ratification |
| Bhutan | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 31, 1981 | Ratification |
| Bolivia | May 30, 1980 | Jun 8, 1990 | Ratification |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | | Sep 1, 1993 | Succession from Yugoslavia |
| Botswana | | Aug 13, 1996 | Accession |
| Brazil | Mar 31, 1981 | Feb 1, 1984 | Ratification |
| Brunei | | May 24, 2006 | Accession |
| Bulgaria | Jul 17, 1980 | Feb 8, 1982 | Ratification |
| Burkina Faso | | Oct 14, 1987 | Accession |
| Burma | | Jul 22, 1997 | Accession |
| Burundi | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 8, 1992 | Ratification |
| Cambodia | Oct 17, 1980 | Oct 15, 1992 | Ratification as People's Republic of Kampuchea |
| Cameroon | Jun 6, 1983 | Aug 23, 1994 | Ratification |
| Canada | Jul 17, 1980 | Dec 10, 1981 | Ratification |
| Cape Verde | | Dec 5, 1980 | Accession |
| Central African Republic | | Jun 21, 1991 | Accession |
| Chad | | Jun 9, 1995 | Accession |
| Chile | Jul 17, 1980 | Dec 7, 1989 | Ratification |
| China | Jul 17, 1980 | Nov 4, 1980 | Ratification, extended to Hong Kong and Macau |
| Colombia | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 19, 1982 | Ratification |
| Comoros | | Oct 31, 1994 | Accession |
| Congo | Jul 29, 1980 | Jul 26, 1982 | Ratification |
| Cook Islands | | Aug 11, 2006 | Accession |
| Costa Rica | Jul 17, 1980 | Apr 4, 1986 | Ratification |
| Ivory Coast | Jul 17, 1980 | Dec 18, 1995 | Ratification |
| Croatia | | Sep 9, 1992 | Succession from Yugoslavia |
| Cuba | Mar 6, 1980 | Jul 17, 1980 | Ratification |
| Cyprus | | Jul 23, 1985 | Accession |
| Czech Republic | | Feb 22, 1993 | Succession from Czechoslovakia Signed July 17, 1980 Ratified February 16, 1982 |
| DR Congo | Jul 17, 1980 | Oct 17, 1986 | Ratification as Zaire |
| Denmark | Jul 17, 1980 | Apr 21, 1983 | Ratification |
| Djibouti | | Dec 2, 1998 | Accession |
| Dominica | Sep 15, 1980 | Sep 15, 1980 | Ratification |
| Dominican Republic | Jul 17, 1980 | Sep 2, 1982 | Ratification |
| Ecuador | Jul 17, 1980 | Nov 9, 1981 | Ratification |
| Egypt | Jul 16, 1980 | Sep 18, 1981 | Ratification |
| El Salvador | Nov 14, 1980 | Aug 19, 1981 | Ratification |
| Equatorial Guinea | | Oct 23, 1984 | Accession |
| Eritrea | | Sep 5, 1995 | Accession |
| Estonia | | Oct 21, 1991 | Accession |
| Ethiopia | Jul 8, 1980 | Sep 10, 1981 | Ratification |
| Micronesia | | Sep 1, 2004 | Accession |
| Fiji | | Aug 28, 1995 | Accession |
| Finland | Jul 17, 1980 | Sep 4, 1986 | Ratification |
| France | Jul 17, 1980 | Dec 14, 1983 | Ratification |
| Gabon | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 21, 1983 | Ratification |
| Gambia | Jul 29, 1980 | Apr 16, 1993 | Ratification |
| Georgia | | Oct 26, 1994 | Accession |
| Germany | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 10, 1985 | Ratification as West Germany Also East Germany Signed June 25, 1980 Ratified July 9, 1980 |
| Ghana | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 2, 1986 | Ratification |
| Greece | Mar 2, 1982 | Jun 7, 1983 | Ratification |
| Grenada | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 30, 1990 | Ratification |
| Guatemala | Jun 8, 1981 | Aug 12, 1982 | Ratification |
| Guinea | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 9, 1982 | Ratification |
| Guinea-Bissau | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 23, 1985 | Ratification |
| Guyana | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 17, 1980 | Ratification |
| Haiti | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 20, 1981 | Ratification |
| Honduras | Jun 11, 1980 | Mar 3, 1983 | Ratification |
| Hungary | Jun 6, 1980 | Dec 22, 1980 | Ratification |
| Iceland | Jul 24, 1980 | Jun 18, 1985 | Ratification |
| India | Jul 30, 1980 | Jul 9, 1993 | Ratification |
| Indonesia | Jul 29, 1980 | Sep 13, 1984 | Ratification |
| Iraq | | Aug 13, 1986 | Accession |
| Ireland | | Dec 23, 1985 | Accession |
| Israel | Jul 17, 1980 | Oct 3, 1991 | Ratification |
| Italy | Jul 17, 1980 | Jun 10, 1985 | Ratification |
| Jamaica | Jul 17, 1980 | Oct 19, 1984 | Ratification |
| Japan | Jul 17, 1980 | Jun 25, 1985 | Ratification |
| Jordan | Dec 3, 1980 | Jul 1, 1992 | Ratification |
| Kazakhstan | | Aug 26, 1998 | Accession |
| Kenya | | Mar 9, 1984 | Accession |
| Kiribati | | Mar 17, 2004 | Accession |
| Kuwait | | Sep 2, 1994 | Accession |
| Kyrgyzstan | | Feb 10, 1997 | Accession |
| Laos | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 14, 1981 | Ratification |
| Latvia | | Apr 14, 1992 | Accession |
| Lebanon | | Apr 16, 1997 | Accession |
| Lesotho | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 22, 1995 | Ratification |
| Liberia | | Jul 17, 1984 | Accession |
| Libya | | May 16, 1989 | Accession |
| Liechtenstein | | Dec 22, 1995 | Accession |
| Lithuania | | Jan 18, 1994 | Accession |
| Luxembourg | Jul 17, 1980 | Feb 2, 1989 | Ratification |
| Madagascar | Jul 17, 1980 | Mar 17, 1989 | Ratification |
| Malawi | | Mar 12, 1987 | Accession |
| Malaysia | | Jul 5, 1995 | Accession |
| Maldives | | Jul 1, 1993 | Accession |
| Mali | Feb 5, 1985 | Sep 10, 1985 | Ratification |
| Malta | | Mar 8, 1991 | Accession |
| Marshall Islands | | Mar 2, 2006 | Accession |
| Mauritania | | May 10, 2001 | Accession |
| Mauritius | | Jul 9, 1984 | Accession |
| Mexico | Jul 17, 1980 | Mar 23, 1981 | Ratification |
| Moldova | | Jul 1, 1994 | Accession |
| Monaco | | Mar 18, 2005 | Accession |
| Mongolia | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 20, 1981 | Ratification |
| Montenegro | | Oct 23, 2006 | Succession from Serbia and Montenegro |
| Morocco | | Jun 21, 1993 | Accession |
| Mozambique | | Apr 21, 1997 | Accession |
| Namibia | | Nov 23, 1992 | Accession |
| Nauru | | Jun 23, 2011 | Accession |
| Nepal | Feb 5, 1991 | Apr 22, 1991 | Ratification |
| Netherlands | Jul 17, 1980 | Jul 23, 1991 | Ratification for the whole Kingdom |
| New Zealand | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 10, 1985 | Ratification, includes Tokelau, Cook Islands and Niue |
| Nicaragua | Jul 17, 1980 | Oct 27, 1981 | Ratification |
| Niger | | Oct 8, 1999 | Accession |
| Nigeria | Apr 23, 1984 | Jun 13, 1985 | Ratification |
| North Korea | | Feb 27, 2001 | Accession |
| Norway | Jul 17, 1980 | May 21, 1981 | Ratification |
| Oman | | Feb 7, 2006 | Accession |
| Pakistan | | Mar 12, 1996 | Accession |
| Palestine | | Apr 2, 2014 | Accession |
| Panama | Jun 26, 1980 | Oct 29, 1981 | Ratification |
| Papua New Guinea | | Jan 12, 1995 | Accession |
| Paraguay | | Apr 6, 1987 | Accession |
| Peru | Jul 23, 1981 | Sep 13, 1982 | Ratification |
| Philippines | Jul 15, 1980 | Aug 5, 1981 | Ratification |
| Poland | May 29, 1980 | Jul 30, 1980 | Ratification |
| Portugal | Apr 24, 1980 | Jul 30, 1980 | Ratification |
| Qatar | | Apr 29, 2009 | Accession |
| North Macedonia | | Jan 18, 1994 | Succession from Yugoslavia |
| Romania | Sep 4, 1980 | Jan 7, 1982 | Ratification |
| Russia | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 23, 1981 | Ratification as Soviet Union |
| Rwanda | May 1, 1980 | Mar 2, 1981 | Ratification |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | | Apr 25, 1985 | Accession |
| Saint Lucia | | Oct 8, 1982 | Accession |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | | Aug 4, 1981 | Accession |
| Samoa | | Sep 25, 1992 | Accession |
| San Marino | Sep 26, 2003 | Dec 10, 2003 | Ratification |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Oct 31, 1995 | Jun 3, 2003 | Ratification |
| Saudi Arabia | Sep 7, 2000 | Sep 7, 2000 | Ratification |
| Senegal | Jul 29, 1980 | Feb 5, 1985 | Ratification |
| Serbia | | Mar 12, 2001 | Succession from Yugoslavia Signed July 17, 1980 Ratified February 26, 1982 |
| Seychelles | | May 5, 1992 | Accession |
| Sierra Leone | Sep 21, 1988 | Nov 11, 1988 | Ratification |
| Singapore | | Oct 5, 1995 | Accession |
| Slovakia | | May 28, 1993 | Succession from Czechoslovakia Signed July 17, 1980 Ratified February 16, 1982 |
| Slovenia | | Jul 6, 1992 | Succession from Yugoslavia |
| Solomon Islands | | May 6, 2002 | Accession |
| South Africa | Jan 29, 1993 | Dec 15, 1995 | Ratification |
| South Korea | May 25, 1983 | Dec 27, 1984 | Ratification |
| South Sudan | | Apr 30, 2015 | Accession |
| Spain | Jul 17, 1980 | Jan 5, 1984 | Ratification |
| Sri Lanka | Jul 17, 1980 | Oct 5, 1981 | Ratification |
| Suriname | | Mar 1, 1993 | Accession |
| Swaziland | | Mar 26, 2004 | Accession |
| Sweden | Mar 7, 1980 | Jul 2, 1980 | Ratification |
| Switzerland | Jan 23, 1987 | Mar 27, 1997 | Ratification |
| Syria | | Mar 28, 2003 | Accession |
| Tajikistan | | Oct 26, 1993 | Accession |
| Tanzania | Jul 17, 1980 | Aug 20, 1985 | Ratification |
| Thailand | | Aug 9, 1985 | Accession |
| East Timor | | Apr 16, 2003 | Accession |
| Togo | | Sep 26, 1983 | Accession |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Jun 27, 1985 | Jan 12, 1990 | Ratification |
| Tunisia | Jul 24, 1980 | Sep 20, 1985 | Ratification |
| Turkey | | Dec 20, 1985 | Accession |
| Turkmenistan | | May 1, 1997 | Accession |
| Tuvalu | | Oct 6, 1999 | Accession |
| Uganda | Jul 30, 1980 | Jul 22, 1985 | Ratification |
| Ukraine | Jul 17, 1980 | Mar 12, 1981 | Ratification as Ukrainian SSR |
| United Arab Emirates | | Oct 6, 2004 | Accession |
| United Kingdom | Jul 22, 1981 | Apr 7, 1986 | Ratification; extended to Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Isle of Man, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Uruguay | Mar 30, 1981 | Oct 9, 1981 | Ratification |
| Uzbekistan | | Jul 19, 1995 | Accession |
| Vanuatu | | Sep 8, 1995 | Accession |
| Venezuela | Jul 17, 1980 | May 2, 1983 | Ratification |
| Vietnam | Jul 29, 1980 | Feb 17, 1982 | Ratification |
| Yemen | | May 30, 1984 | Accession as South Yemen |
| Zambia | Jul 17, 1980 | Jun 21, 1985 | Ratification |
| Zimbabwe | | May 13, 1991 | Accession |

## Unrecognized states that abide by the treaty

| State | Date | Method |
| Taiwan | 2007 | Accession |

## States that have signed but not ratified the treaty

| State | Signed |
| Palau | Sep 20, 2011 |
| United States | Jul 17, 1980 |

## Non-signatory states

| State | |
| Holy See | |
| Iran | Ratified by the parliament in 2003 and then vetoed by the Guardian Council. |
| Somalia | |
| Sudan | |
| Tonga | |

## Note

* ↑ Niue is a signatory of this convention, signed on behalf by New Zealand as was the Cook Islands, however since then the Cook Islands had acceded to the convention out right.