CEDAW A Call to Action

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CEDAWA Call to Action

• Zonta District 2 Conference
• Glens Falls NY
• October 18, 2009

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CEDAW

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
  Discrimination Against Women
• CEDAW aligns with Zontas goals of improving the
  legal, political, economic and educational status
  of women.

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Key Features of CEDAW

• It is an international bill of rights for women.
• It is the only international treaty that
  comprehensively addresses rights for women in
  politics, health care, economics, education,
  employment, law, marriage and family relations.
• CEDAW has had a documented positive impact in
  many countries.

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A Brief History of CEDAW

• 1979-80 United Nations approved CEDAW 63
  countries plus US President Carter signed treaty.
  (Since this is an international treaty, the US
  Senate must ratify.)
• 1994 Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  recommended ratification several Senators put
  the ratification vote on hold.
• 2002 - Foreign Relations Committee again
  recommended ratification session ended without
  passage.
• 2009 The vast majority of nation states (185)
  have ratified. Only a handful (including Somalia,
  Sudan, Iran and the United States) have not.
• 2009 Obama administration reactivates
  ratification efforts.

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US Ratification

• Ratification would allow US representation on the
  international oversight committee.
• The US Senate needs further urging in order to
  take action.
• Congress notices State actions and individual
  actions. It will notice ours.

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US Advocates for CEDAW

• Over 200 US organizations support, including
• AARP,
• AAUW,
• American Bar Association,
• American Nurses Association,
• BPW,
• League of Women Voters USA
• Zonta International

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Zonta and CEDAW Advocacy

• 2002 Resolution in support of CEDAW passed at
  ZI Conference
• 2008 US ratification of CEDAW adopted as a
  priority for 2008-2010 biennium
• April 2009 ZI UN and Advocacy Committees call
  on districts and clubs to mobilize
• Summer 2009 Research, drafting a strategy,
  consulting and gaining ZI approval

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Our Call to Action

• Endorse the District 2 Strategy
• Bring the strategy to your club and ask members
  to support a club letter to US senators from New
  York.
• Urge all Zontians to write to their senators or
  write again!
• Dec.18 2009 is 30th anniversary of CEDAW lets
  get it ratified by then!!

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Other Action Steps

• Educate yourself about CEDAW resources will be
  posted on ZD2 website.
• Inform others and ask them to write their
  senators.
• Meet with US senators or their staff.
• Meet with NYS legislators or their staff.
• Let me know if you want to be involved in
  legislative outreach.

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Resources for CEDAW Advocacy Ideas and Tools

• www.womenstreaty.org
• www.zonta.org