There has been obvious finger pointing and soul searching at the 54th Commission on the status of Women as delegates and NGO representatives wonder loudly why a leading super power like the United States has not ratified CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all discrimination Against Women), despite her initial participation in drafting the treaty 30 years ago. At the event organised by the United Nations Associatio of the United States of America (UNA - USA), a coalition of 100 Non governmental organizations, participants displayed ignorance of the treaty while other clearly indicated that the united States did not require CEDAW because it would infringe on their freedom and renege the most fundamental unit of the american constitution which is build on freedoms; the freedom of the individual. "The devil is in the detail" they said.
186 member states of the United Nations have ratified CEDAW. Only seven, which include United states of America, Sudan, Somalia, Iran,Palau, Tonga, and Nauru and have not.. President Jimmy Carter signed the treaty in 1980, the senate held hearings and voted against it twice. There has not been a mention of CEDAW since 2002 when Vice president Joe Biden who was then chair of the Foreign relations committee approved the ratification which was eventually killed on the floor of the senate. The Obama adminstration has shown the goodwill to ratify CEDAW as evidenced by the creation of the white house council on women and girls, but the challenge still lies with the senate which requires the bipartisan majority of 67 or more votes. The Director of CEDAW project at the leadership Conference on civil and Human Rights, June Zelten, encouraged American women to own the document and exploit its potential to address the injustices witnessed in the workforce where women still earn 77cents to one dollar earned by men; domestic violence which accounts for the highest reason of murders in the country; and sex trafficking which stands at 20,000 women and girls trafficked into the United States every year. "CEDAW will help women here in the United states because it requires governments to report that show progress and gaps every four years." She acknowledged the fact that countries and situations are different and said each country will reach those norms and standards in a way that is appropriate to their country."The goal being to make sure everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their optimum potential. "
Many Americans view CEDAW with skeptisim thinking it needs to be ratified to "help other women out there. "As an american woman who enjoys so many freedoms, "I dont want anyone telling me how duties will be divided in my own house". Needless to say that each day , an average of 630 women are raped or sexually assulted and an average of three women are murdered by an intimate partner.The United States has dropped to the 86th position in womens political representation in the world and that the city of San Francisco exemplify some of the model practices of individual city or state initiative of the inclusion of CEDAW principles in their laws and policies. President Obama while adressing the United Nations General Assembly in September indicated that "America will always stand with those who stand up for their dignity and their rights"
Research by the International Research on women identifies six areas; Countering of Violence against Women, Rights to citizenship, Equality in marriage, Women's political participation and Use by civil society in advocay as areas that CEDAW has influenced legislation on, in other parts of the world. The United states needs to walk the talk." We cant even serve on CEDAW committees becuase we havent ratified CEDAW" said Ms Zelten. Does this then put the American woman out of contention for the hyped United Nations Gender entity leadership, whose proposal will be tabled at General Assembly in September?
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) consisits of 30 articles that defines and constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. Countries that have ratified the convention are legally bound to its provisions into practice. They are committed to submit national reports every four years on measures they have taken to comply with its obligations.
For full CEDAW document go to www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm
Blog submitted by
Racheal Nakitare,
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow,
Philip Merrill College of Journalism
