UN charter is adopted, the first international instrument to establish principle of equality for men and women |
Commission on the Status of Women is established to promote women's political, economic and social rights |
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of Prostitution of Others is adopted by the General Assembly |
International Labour Organization (ILO) adopts Convention Concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value |
General Assembly adopts Convention on Political Rights of Women, first global endorsement of equal political rights under the law, including equal right to vote
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Convention on the Nationality of Women is adopted, granting women the right to retain or change their nationalities regardless of their husband's actions |
ILO Convention Concerning Discrimination in Respect to Employment and Occupation is adopted |
General Assembly adopts Conventions on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age of Marriage, and Registration of Marriages |
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is adopted |
General Assembly designates 1975 as International Women's Year (IWY) to focus on Women's Issues
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UN Economic and Social Council calls for world conference on women, to be held in 1975 in conjunction with IWY |
The International Women's Year Tribune, in Mexico City, adopts first World Plan of Action and proclaims first Decade for Women: Equality, Development, Peace
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Voluntary Fund for the UN Decade for Women (UNIFEM) and UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) are established by the General Assembly |
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is adopted by General Assembly |
INSTRAW becomes operational as autonomous body within the UN system |
Second conference on women, in Copenhagen, reviews progress at mid-Decade |
CEDAW becomes operational |
Third conference on women, held in Nairobi, adopts the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the Year 2000 (FLS) |
 Voluntary Fund for the UN Decade for Women, with broadened General Assembly mandate, becomes UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), an autonomous organization in association with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) |
First World Survey on the Role of Women in Development is published |
Commission on the status of Women reviews implementation of the FLS and recommends convening of the Fourth World Conference on Women |
The World's Women: Trends and Statistics is published, a compilation of data on the situation of women |
UN Conference for Environment and Development (UNCED) recognizes key role of women in preservation and management of the environment |
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women is adopted by the General Assembly |
World Conference on Human Rights, in Vienna, integrates violence against women and other women's human-rights issues into overall UN human-rights agenda and activities |
International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo, marks first time empowerment of women is seen as an integral part of development |
Agenda of World Summit for Social Development reflects full range of women's issues; draft declaration contains commitment to ensuring full equality |
Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing, will review and debate ten critical areas of concern and adopt a proposed new Platform for Action |