this paper assumes that sigts instruments z are key determinants of genderbased discrimination in social institutions covsigi z but have no direct effect on income per capita covz the two instruments appear to be valid no evidence exists that richer countries ratify the cedaw before poorer ones nor that attitude towards female political leadership is linked to income level countries ratifying the cedaw recognise the legitimacy of reducing gender discrimination and commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms