NOW and CEDAW

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is the most complete international agreement on basic human rights for women and was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1979. To date, 185 countries have ratified CEDAW. Even though the U.S. helped draft the treaty, it is the only industrialized country left to ratify.

CEDAW promotes not only women's empowerment, but also a foundation for peace and justice around the world. Women in the U.S. and around the world have already waited 30 years for the world's superpower to sign onto this important treaty. Demand President Obama and the Senate RATIFY WOMEN! by prioritizing and passing CEDAW without restrictions.

Take Action

• Tell your Senators to urge Senator Kerry to hold a vote on CEDAW
• Visit NOW's Ratify WOMEN! campaign
• Tell the Senate to RATIFY WOMEN
• Sign the Online Petition: Ratify CEDAW, Women's Rights Treaty
• Download the grassroots petition (PDF) -- print this petition and bring it to events in your community. Return as many signatures as possible to the NOW Action Center.

General Information

Facts about CEDAW Women's Rights Treaty

• CEDAW Women's Rights Treaty: Fact Sheet
• Lies and Facts
• Local Success
• Global Success
• Promoting Peace
• NOW Testimony to Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law

• Recommended Movie List (PDF)
• Recommended Book List

Latest News

• CEDAW Hearing Encouraging, U.S. Ratification Long Overdue (11/10)
• Tell your Senators to urge Senator Kerry to hold a vote on CEDAW (11/10)
• Ratify Women Campaign Launches; NOW Calls on President Obama to Prioritize CEDAW Treaty (05/10)
• NOW Calls for Leadership from President Obama on Key Women's Rights Issues (3/10)
• Letter to President Obama Urging His Leadership in Securing U.S. Ratification of CEDAW (3/10)

2009

• Don't Be Deceived: Only a "Clean" CEDAW Should be Ratified (08/09)
• Women Need a Strong CEDAW, Not One with Disabling RDUs (08/09)
• Greetings from Terry O'Neill, Your New NOW President (08/09)
• 2009 National NOW Conference Resolutions: National Campaign and National Day of Action to Ratify CEDAW (07/09)
• CEDAW: Women's Treaty May Finally Go Forward (04/09)

Archive of NOW's work on CEDAW.