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Indicator
Autonomy in decision-making

Countries that have signed and ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
The result is expressed as the year of signing and the year of ratification of the Protocol by each state. The data for this indicator are based on information published on the official United Nations website for Multilateral Treaties and on reports submitted by countries to the Committee, available on the website of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Analysis

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the General Assembly in 1999. The protocol requires signatory states to recognize the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women to receive and consider complaints submitted by individuals or organized civil society groups. This establishes a robust accountability mechanism regarding acts of discrimination against women. However, the vast majority of Caribbean countries and some in Latin America have neither signed nor ratified the Protocol.