Legal framework for women's rights and gender equality

Legal instruments

Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI)

MESECVI is a systematic and ongoing multi-lateral evaluation methodology, based on a forum for permanent dialogue and technical cooperation between the States Party to the Convention and a Committee of Experts.

The goal of the MESECVI is to analyze progress in the implementation of the Convention by its States Party, as well as persistent challenges to an effective response to violence against women.

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Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The IACHR is one of the principal bodies in the inter-American system dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights.

The principal function of the IACHR is to promote the observance and protection of human rights in the Americas.

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The OAS (and its predecesor, the Pan American Union), serve as a hemispheric forum for debate on the main issues of concern to the peoples of the Americas. Through the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the rights of women and gender equality have been firmly placed on the inter-American agenda, which has resulted in a series of important commitments.

With these pioneering conventions as a starting point, CIM has supported the efforts of women in OAS member states to guarantee and defend their human rights.

CIM provides technical and advisory support to the OAS member states on the implementation of key conventions and other agreements regarding women’s rights in the region, including:

  • The Convention on the Nationality of Women
    In the first legal instrument to address women's rights, the participating governments in the Seventh International Conference of American States (December 1933) agreed to make no distinctions based on sex with respect to nationality, either in legislation or in practice.
    Open the text of the Convention
  • The Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women
    Signed in March of 1948, this convetion is an agreement among the States of the Americas that women will be accorded the same civil rights that men enjoy.
    Open the text of the Convention
    Signatures and ratifications
  • The Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights of Women
    Signed in March of 1948, this convetion is an agreement among the States of the Americas that women will be accorded the same political rights that men enjoy.
    Open the text of the Convention
    Signatures and ratifications
  • Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belem do Para Convention)
    The Belem do Para Convention was adopted by the OAS General Assemnbly in June 1994. This historic agreeement is one of only two legal instruments dedicated exclusively to the issue of violence against women.
    Open the text of the Convention
    Signatures and ratifications

The existence of a legal and policy framework in support of women’s rights is a fundamental component of a rule of law system. While gender-sensitive public policies are an essential complement to this legal framework, it is national and international-level laws that are enforceable in a court of law and against which any actor (individuals, corporations, organizations and governments) can be charged with a crime.

While most of the countries of the region now have national-level legal and policy framework that uphold the provisions of the inter-American agreements, there are still a number of barriers that impede women’s full realization and enjoyment of their human rights, and as a result the implementation of these conventions. These barriers include lack of access to identity (birth certificates, IDs, and passports), education, employment and employment benefits, credit and other financial services, and health insurance and other social entitlements, among others. 

CIM identifies and addresses these barriers by compiling information and carrying out technical cooperation projects to promote the ratification, implementation, and application of inter-American juridical and judicial cooperation treaties that address women’s rights.

In addition, CIM provides advisory and technical secretariat services to the Conference of State Parties and to the Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism for Implementation of the Convention of Belém do Pará (MESECVI).