Promoting Nondiscrimination against Women: The UN Commission on the Status of Women

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Abstract
This essay explores the role of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in promoting the norm of nondiscrimination against women. The commission's legal mandate, its efforts to develop the norm of nondiscrimination, to acquire a constituency, and to influence that constituency to observe the norm are discussed. The commission had a limited legal mandate to promote nondiscrimination; however, it has contributed significantly to the political process of legitimating the norm by calling for 1975 to be designated as International Women's Year and a UN World Conference as the focal point for that year. As a result, national governments and international organizations have begun to alter laws and practices that discriminate against women. Because the norm has not yet achieved wide acceptance throughout the world, the author advocates the continued existence of the commission and makes several recommendations on the commission's future efforts to promote wider observance of the norm.

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