New Database Additions  Short Summary Title Violence Against and Trafficking in Women as Symptoms of Discrimination: the Potential of CEDAW as an Antidote Publication Date December 2005 Publisher United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Summary How can measures to tackle trafficking in women be strengthened? This paper reviews the main debates, conventions and laws relating to trafficking in women in the Asia-Pacific region and suggests that the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) be used to unify the different approaches. Trafficking frequently involves women facing widespread psychological and physical abuse. Despite this, no cohesive system exists with which to combat this growing phenomenon. CEDAW states a commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and defines gender-based violence as a “form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women's ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men”. Using CEDAW could bring the complex aspects of trafficking together under one framework. Many of the Convention's articles apply to the numerous aspects of trafficking and CEDAW's Committee could cite these to bring pressure on States to improve legislation. Complete Document View PDF (Portable Document Format)