National NOW Times >> Spring 2010  >> Article

Ratify Women Campaign Launches
NOW Calls on President Obama to Prioritize CEDAW Treaty

Both at home and around the world, much remains to be done to advance women's basic human rights. The CEDAW Women's Rights Treaty, formally known as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, has been ratified by 185 countries, including all industrialized nations -- with the exception of the United States.

CEDAW was signed by President Carter, and 30 years later the Senate continues to drag its feet. NOW is calling on President Obama, who supports CEDAW, to throw the weight of his presidency behind the basic truth that women's rights are human rights and urge the Senate to RATIFY WOMEN! without delay or restrictions.

As the most comprehensive international agreement on the equality of women and girls, CEDAW has led to tremendous changes around the world. Ratifying countries agree to take concrete action to improve the status of women and girls. A few examples: After ratifying CEDAW, Turkey changed laws to allow women to keep their own wages without permission from husbands; Austria amended policies for maternity protection and paternity leave; and Uganda created and funded programs to reduce domestic violence.

Though many cities have adopted resolutions calling on the Senate to ratify CEDAW, the city of San Francisco went a step further, becoming the first U.S. city to adopt an ordinance obligating itself to the principles of CEDAW. After ratification, the city adopted harsher sentences for domestic violence, implemented new flexible work schedules for its workforce and decreased the distance between streetlights for the purpose of women's safety. We can assume that this expansion of justice for women strongly suggests what could happen when our country ratifies CEDAW.

Equally important, U.S. ratification of CEDAW would lend weight to the treaty and the principle that the human rights of women are universal across all cultures, nations and religions and worthy of being guaranteed through international human rights standards. Until the U.S. ratifies CEDAW, our government can neither credibly demand that others live up to their obligations under the treaty, nor claim that we are a leader in the global human rights community.

Between a lollygagging Senate and a radical right wing spreading lies suggesting CEDAW would impose policies on the U.S. that would legalize prostitution, force abortions, harm families and destroy the very fabric of our nation(!), truth-telling from NOW's grassroots leadership as to what this treaty really does (state that women's rights are human rights and affirm the unacceptability of discrimination against women and girls) is needed more than ever.

The NOW Action Center will continue to provide resources and action opportunities to RATIFY WOMEN! In the meantime, NOW leaders are encouraged to use the 22-page action kit recently produced with outstanding assistance from the National NOW Global Feminist Strategies and Issues Committee. Everyone interested is encouraged to print fact sheets, access film recommendations and sign an online petition to President Obama.