International agreements to protect the family (the extent of the impact of the CEDAW Convention on legal legislation related to women’s marriage in Algerian family law)

Abstract

Family is the basic cell in constructing society. Its main purpose is to give birth to children in order to preserve the human kind continuum and promote growth and prosperity on earth. This process happens within the legal legitimate framework for marriage. Marriage in Algeria went through a number of significant changes regarding many aspects for each of men and women. This change led to reforms in laws and constitutional provisions related to marriage mainly after the approval on the CEDAW agreement; which is considered among the international agreements aiming at putting down all sorts of discrimination related to marriage and familial relationships. The CEDAW agreement guarantees equality for both genders in choosing their partners and it gives them the right to have a marriage contract as it is clearly mentioned in the 16th section of the agreement's article. The agreement insists on preserving women's rights and reinforcing their social status. The CEDAW agreement requires that all member countries apply all the necessary and all what it takes on the national level as it is declared in the 24th section article of the agreement. Accordingly, the Algerian old family law had been reviewed and reformed.