CEDAW and the Security Council: enhancing women's rights in conflict

The proliferation of legal and normative standards regulating women’s rights in conflict has been accompanied by concerns about their efficacy. The article examines the activities of the CEDAW Committee and the UN Security Council and considers how synergies might be advanced. The article finds that, while the Security Council has unique authority over UN system activities, sanctions and peacekeeping, the CEDAW Committee – as a human rights treaty monitoring body – possesses the more effective system of state accountability and the more robust commitment to women’s equality and rights. The article proposes measures for the optimum interaction between both institutions in order to maximise overall accountability for women’s rights in conflict.