CEDAW is often called the International Bill of Rights for Women. It defines discrimination against women and sets an agenda for national action to end it. It covers political, economic, social, cultural, and civil rights.
The most significant use of CEDAW in Indian law. The Supreme Court directly relied on CEDAW Articles 11 and 24 to frame workplace sexual harassment guidelines. Justice Verma held: “In the absence of domestic law occupying the field, to formulate effective measures to check the evil of sexual harassment of working women at all workplaces, the contents of international conventions and norms are significant for the purpose of interpretation.”
India declared reservations on Articles 5(a) (modifying social patterns — subject to non-interference in personal affairs without consent), 16(1) (equality in marriage — subject to specific policy), and 16(2) (registration of marriages — due to diverse practices). These reservations have been criticized by the CEDAW Committee.