The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
Here is how the Convention defines discrimination against women:
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.
The United States is the only developed nation that has not ratified CEDAW. President Obama is considering ratification of the Convention in 2009.
President Obama has listed three treaties at the highest priority level for ratification, conventions that he sent to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent. Once the Senate achieves 67 votes in favor of ratification of CEDAW, it's pretty much a done deal. The U.S. Departments of Justice and State are reviewing the RUDs that were attached during the Bush Administration; it is hoped that these will be eliminated. Senator Boxer's subcommittee on global women's issues will then have hearings on CEDAW before it is submitted to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for its hearings. Once approved by the subcommittee and then the Foreign Relations Committee, CEDAW will be presented on the floor of the Senate. If one Senator places a "hold" on the convention, that Senator will stop the process leading to the vote. In the past, the "holding" Senator could prevent the vote and remain anonymous, but he now has to identify himself. It's unlikely that anyone will place a "hold" on any of these three treaties. At this point, we need to urge at least seven Republican Senators to vote in favor of ratification.
Unfortunately, the 2008 Republican Party Platform as presented at the convention stated that the party was against ratification of CEDAW.
Here is the link to the actual text of CEDAW:
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm
Voices of Women Board Director Christie Edwards is a human rights lawyer and she offers the following presentation, "Common Objections to CEDAW", which was presented at a VOW event on May 27, 2009 at the La Jolla Library. Anne Hoiberg, Board Director for Voices of Women, also presented. She provided background and contextual elements of CEDAW.
