What is CEDAW and Why Is It Important? By Sayre Sheldon By now, everyone is aware of the mistreatment of Afghan women by the oppressive Taliban regime. Groups like WAND are insisting that rights for women be included if Afghanistan is to be rebuilt. Around the world there is proof that rights for women result in a more humane and economically productive society. A powerful instrument for improving women’s rights exists: CEDAW—the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations in 1979, having emerged from the First World Conference on Women. It has since been ratified by 161 countries. The US was active in drafting the resolution and signed it in 1980 but has never ratified it. Why? Because the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, long dominated by a few anti-UN conserva-tives, has refused to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote. If it is just a convention, why is it so important to get the US to sign on? The US represents progress for women and advocates progressive policies for women to the rest of the world. Yet we are among the handful of countries—most with very oppressive policies with regard to women—that have not ratified CEDAW. The US seems to be saying one thing and doing another. Today with the Democratic Senate majority, there is a good chance of getting CEDAW ratified. Sixty-seven “yes” votes are required in the Senate. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have expressed interest in bringing CEDAW to the floor in the spring. Until then, you can bring it to the attention of your senators and speak of CEDAW’s importance to the international commu-nity of women working for human rights, peace, and economic security. Return to index