Celebrate Women's Equality Day (Wednesday, August 26) by urging your senators to take action on CEDAW (United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women).
Call both your Senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support ratification of the CEDAW treaty for the rights of women today.
Email your Senators if you prefer.
Q: What would CEDAW do?
A: CEDAW provides a universal standard for women’s human rights. It addresses
discrimination in areas such as education, employment, marriage and
family relations, health care, politics, finance and law.
Q: Why August 26?
A: Women's Equality Day celebrates the commemorates that eighty-nine years ago, U.S. women won the right to vote after many years of painstaking struggle and hard work by courageous suffragists.
Q: What is the status of CEDAW?
A: One hundred eighty-six countries, or over 95 percent of United Nations
members, have ratified CEDAW. Yet the United States still has not. We are long overdue in ratifying it. The United States remains the only democracy in the world that has not ratified the CEDAW treaty. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Q: What can I do?
A: Contact your senators and tell them the time is now! Call both your Senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support ratification of the CEDAW treaty for the rights of women today. Email your Senators if you prefer.
Q: Why does U.S. ratification matter?
A: U.S. failure to ratify the treaty allows countries which have weak human rights records to justify neglecting and undermining human rights for women. Until the U.S. ratifies the Treaty for the Rights of Women, our country cannot credibly demand that others live up to their obligations under the treaty. Lack of U.S. ratification allows other countries to divert attention away from their neglect of women. CEDAW calls on governments to ensure women have the same access as men
to education, employment opportunities, legal redress against violence
and access to health care. The creation of this treaty in 1979 was the first step in developing a
global standard for women’s rights. Now, 186 countries have ratified
CEDAW. Because of CEDAW, millions of girls around the world receive
primary education; countries have taken measures against sex slavery,
domestic violence and trafficking of women and girls; women's health
care services have focused on saving lives during pregnancy and
childbirth; and millions of women now have the opportunity to secure
loans and the right to own and inherit property.
Q: What has the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) said about CEDAW?
A: The 199th General Assembly (1987) urged the United States to ratify the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Since then, other assemblies have reaffirmed this call.