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Ratificiation of CEDAW in the U.S.

CEDAW: WG-USA Action Update 2010

CEDAW Task Force Report
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Political Rights in Washington, D.C
by Alice Dahle, WG-USA CEDAW Task Force Liaison

The conference was organized by the newly reorganized and reenergized CEDAW Task Force at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Political Rights in Washington, D.C.  A wide range of NGOs and individuals participated in the call, both in the Washington office and across the nation by phone.  We are not alone!

The CEDAW Task Force has completed an in-depth survey of American voters to find out how they react to CEDAW when it is presented in a variety of ways.  some of their findings were:

• There is strong support for  CEDAW.  90% of those polled favored ratification.
• Even when the objections of the opposition are presented, support for ratification remains at 84%.
• The greatest weakness was found when CEDAW was presented as a "toothless, ineffective treaty".  Under those conditions, CEDAW loses 10% of its support.
• The most favorable reaction resulted when CEDAW was introduced with the following statement: "CEDAW strengthens the United States as a global leader in standing up for women and girls in countries around the world."  

The survey also found that voters responded well to the following ways CEDAW has been used by countries that have already ratified:

• Violence against women and girls: to reduce sex trafficking and domestic violence
• Educational opportunities: for access to primary education and all vocational opportunities
• Political participation: including the right to vote, to serve on juries and to hold office
• Marriage and family relations: ending forced marriages and ensuring that women have a right to own property
• Maternal health care: access to basic health care so women and families can lead healthier lives
• Economic participation: such as the ability to work and own a business without discrimination

As a result of the survey, the Task Force is urging supporting NGOs to use the language and talking points which produced the most favorable responses from the voters polled in the survey.  They have created a new website (www.CEDAW2010.org) and written a new fact sheet and strategy matrix (attachments below) using the new, effective language.  They are also asking coalition NGOs, like Women Graduates-USA, to use the same language in postings about CEDAW on their websites.  (Note: Louise, please see the "Attention CEDAW Coalition Members", the third attachment below.)

The Task Force's current strategy is to approach Republican senators who are either new and unfamiliar with CEDAW, or uncommitted to either supporting or opposing the treaty.  Senators from the following states are currently being targeted: AL, AK, FL, GA, ME, TN, NV, Il, IN, MA, OH.  This could change after next week's election.  

There will be a postcard campaign targeting Sen. John Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asking him to make at vote on CEDAW a priority.  The post cards are not ready yet, but I will let you know when they are.  We will also need to remind the Administration that ratification of CEDAW needs to be a priority; we have competition!  

It is likely that there will be a push to ratify the START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) treaty in November and December.  If that is accomplished, the next international treaty to be considered would likely be CEDAW or the Convention on the Law of the Sea, although there is also pressure to take up the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

An interesting new development is that Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) intends to hold a hearing on CEDAW during November 2010.  He is currently negotiating a date with Republican senators.  The CEDAW Task Force is carefully choosing witnesses to testify at the hearing.  The opposition will also be able to send witnesses.  It is possible that the hearing could generate enough interest to move CEDAW out of Committee for a vote before the end of the congressional session.  If not, the momentum generated by the hearing could put CEDAW on the agenda early in the next year, rather than coming out at the end of the session, yet again, without sufficient time to debate and vote on it.

Documents to Download:
CEDAW Fact Sheet October 2010
Language for Websites