The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international agreement, adopted by the United Nations in 1979, that “offers countries a practical blueprint to promote basic rights and open opportunities for women and girls in all areas of society.” Its purpose is to help eliminate gender-based inequalities by affirming principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world. There is a congressional push to get the CEDAW treaty ratified by the senate.
On the ACLU’s Blog of Rights, there is a push for women in the US to achieve this same gender equality. Domestically, ratification of CEDAW would encourage the US to take stronger measures regarding issues that may be peripheral but still consequential to women’s health, such as gender-based and domestic violence, discrimination against women in housing and access to health care, education and employment. CEDAW calls on countries to take special measures to end the marginalization of immigrant and indigenous women and women of color.
To date, 186 of 193 countries have ratified the agreement. The United States has not. The only other holdouts are Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. The Obama Administration has indicated strong support for US ratification This lack of support has lasted 30-years; CEDAW deserves passage CEDAW, for women here and around the world. Read more at: Igniting Change.
