7 Ways CEDAW Helps Women Around The World

CEDAW is an international bill of rights for women that defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. This treaty has been ratified by 188 member nations of the UN. The US is one of 7 nations that HAS NOT ratified CEDAW, along with Palau, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Iran, and Tonga. This is not acceptable. Help ratify CEDAW today!

1. Reducing violence against women and girls, including stopping domestic violence and recognizing sexual assault and rape as crimes.

Mexico responded to a destabilizing epidemic of violence against women by using CEDAW terms to create a General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free from Violence. By 2009, all 32 Mexican states had adopted the measure.

2. Providing educational opportunities, including access to education and vocational training

Bangladesh used CEDAW to help attain gender parity in primary school enrollment and has as a goal for 2015, to eliminate all gender disparities in secondary education.

3. Ensuring political participation, including the right to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office

Kuwait’s Parliament voted to extend voting rights to women in 2005 following a recommendation by the CEDAW Committee to eliminate discriminatory provisions in its electoral law.

4. Ending forced marriages and child marriage, and ensuring that women have a right to inherit property

14 million girls under the age of 18 marry each year, many because of prearranged marriages made by their parents. Some are married off as young as 6.

5. Helping mothers and families by providing access to maternal health care

The United States ranks 41st among a ranking of 184 countries on maternal deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, below all other industrialized nations and a number of developing countries.

6. Ensuring the ability to work and own a business without discrimination and for equal pay

In the United States, a women still only makes 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.

7. Helping to combat and end human sex trafficking, particularly of young women and children.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act has played a pivotal role in combating human trafficking. However, estimates suggest that there may be 20,000 women, men and children trafficked into the U.S. each year.