a political process consisting of actions designed to transform citizen or popular "interests" into rights; a process aimed at influencing decisions regarding policies and laws at national and international levels; actions designed to draw a community's attention to an issue and to direct policy makers to a solution.

Consensus document adopted by the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, reviewing and reaffirming women's human rights in all aspects of life; signed by representatives at the Conference and morally but not legally binding. CEDAW:

Allegation by an individual or state that it is entitled to a remedy for an injury caused by an offender (usually the state).

One who brings a claim.

Body formed by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations to address human rights; one of the first and most important international human rights bodies.

Body formed by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations to deal with issues facing women in the Member States.

The political arm of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; the Committee can refer cases to the European Court on Human Rights and supervises implementation of the judgments of the Court.

The Treaty- Monitoring Body created by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to monitor state compliance with that Convention.

Influential Recommendation of the Treaty- Monitoring Body charged with enforcing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; defines violence as a form of discrimination against women.

See Complaint.