المادة 1 من الاتفاقية بالغة الأهمية لأنها تقدم تعريفا لما يمكن أن يشكل تمييزا مباشرا ضد المرأة. وتنص على ما يلي:
“For the purposes of the present convention, the term “discrimination against women” shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their Marital Status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”