Sexism and CEDAW

Lately the problems surrounding sexism have been given much more attention. Sexism means the discrimination on the basis of sex. Based on Article 5, sub a, par. 1 of the UN Women rights treaty (CEDAW) the Dutch government should take appropriate measures to eliminate prejudices about inferiority based on sex.

PILP investigates, together with Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds and some legal researchers, the applicability of CEDAW concerning cases about alleged public sexism.

Update

• In the summer of 2015, the PILPG, at the request of the PILP and the Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds, conducted research into sexist advertising and the CEDAW. The research reports of the PILPG were published on this website in December 2015. Please click here to read the news item and a short summary of the reports.
• Based on the researches on sexism in advertising and the CEDAW, the PILP has sent a letter, together with Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds, to the Dutch Advertising Code Authority. Subsequent thereto, a meeting followed. The Dutch Advertising Code Authority stated that it would test commercials on sexism and stereotyping when this has been explicitly requested in a complaint.
• The Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds intend to submit a complaint to the Dutch Advertising Code Authority against the new so-called ‘Toy Boys’ campaign of Suitsupply. Here you can read their official press release in Dutch.
• On the 8th of March 2016, International Women’s day, the Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds and the PILP have submitted a complaint to the Dutch Advertising Code Authority. The complaint regards the sexist stereotyping of the ‘Toy Boys’ advertising campaign of Suitsupply. Read the full text of the complaint here and the press release by Clara Wichmann Proefprocessenfonds here (both in Dutch).