An Open Letter to the Senate

From the Working Group on Ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

As the world observes International Human Rights Day on December 10, we join together to ask the Senate to take a step for the promotion of human rights of women worldwide and the women of Afghanistan by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). December 18 marks the 22nd anniversary of the United Nations’ unanimous adoption of CEDAW. This treaty provides a universal standard for women’s human rights. It addresses discrimination in areas such as education, employment, marriage and family relations, health care and reproductive health, politics, finance and law. To date, 168 countries have ratified CEDAW. The United States is the only industrialized nation that has failed to do so, and as such is in the company of countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. In the last several months, the world has seen an even greater struggle for freedom and the promotion of fundamental human rights principles. We see the protection of women’s rights as vital to the success of these efforts. There can be no civil society in Afghanistan without the full restoration of women’s rights. CEDAW is critical to ensuring that the future of Afghanistan will have a democratic government that includes equal rights for women and protects the human rights and freedoms of all its citizens. As President George W. Bush proclaimed earlier this year, “repressed people around the world must know this about the United States… we will always be the world’s leader in support of human rights.” The United States should demonstrate its commitment to human rights by ratifying CEDAW, the most comprehensive treaty ensuring the human rights of women – imperative for half of the world’s population. In 1992, following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the implosion of communism, the United States ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In doing so, the U.S. held up that treaty as a model for the new democracies in Eastern Europe and the development of their constitutions. Today, U.S. ratification of CEDAW would not only set the stage for U.S. leadership in ensuring women’s human rights in the rebuilding of a more democratic Central Asia, but would also reaffirm the U.S. commitment to promoting and protecting equality for its own citizens. We urge you to work to ensure immediate ratification of CEDAW. Sincerely, Alice Paul Centennial Foundation, Inc. American Association of University Women Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) Amnesty International USA Association of Reproductive Health Professionals Business Professional Women Business Professional Women, USA Campaign for UN Reform Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) Center for Reproductive Rights Center for Women’s Policy Center of Concern Central Conference of American Rabbis Church Women United Clearing House on Women’s Issues Congregational Council Member Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia Episcopal Church, USA Family Violence Prevention Fund Feminist Majority Foundation Foundation for International Community Assistance Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN General Federation of Women’s Clubs HADASSAH Heifer Project International Hunger Project Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Corpus Christie, Texas Ipas Jewish Council for Public Affairs Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University Leadership Conference of Women Religious Marstellar & Associates, Non-Profit Coaching McAuley Institute Mennonite Central Committee US, Washington Office NA’AMAT USA National Abortion Federation National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health National Association of Orthopedic Nurses National Coalition Against Domestic Violence National Committee on UN CEDAW National Council of Jewish Women National Council of Women’s Organizations National Education Association National Network to End Domestic Violence National Organization for Women National Peace Foundation National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States National Women’s Conference NCA Union Retirees NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund Older Women’s League (OWL) Pact, Inc. Peace and Justice Coordinating Council, Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph Population Action International Population Institute Stop Family Violence The Alan Guttmacher Institute The American Friends Service Committee The Brehan Law Society The Leadership Team of Sisters of the Holy Cross The Union Institute The White House Project/Women’s Leadership Fund The Women’s Information Network (WIN) Trickle Up Program U.S. Committee for UNIFEM UNA-USA Union of American Hebrew Congregations Unitarian Universalists Service Committee Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart Voters for Choice Women Employed Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) Women of Reform Judaism Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) Women’s Business Development Center Women’s EDGE Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom United States Section (WILPF) Women Legislator’s Lobby (WiLL) Women’s Research & Education Institute (WREI) World Federalist Association YWCA of the USA