Governance feminism at cedaw: The question of sex work and prostitution

Abstract

Based on a discussion of governance feminism, this article analyzes the general recommendations and concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The objective is to critically analyze the approach that this body has used to address the commercialization of sex. In this sense, we find that the CEDAW Committee has promoted an abolitionist approach or one favoring partial decriminalization, which penalizes those who participate in the sex trade, except women in prostitution, who are primarily seen as victims. Thus, the empirical findings serve to understand the approaches to sexuality that prevail in international norms and organizations and their possible implications for governance feminism.