There is much to celebrate during this Women’s History Month. Milestones of change and transformation have occurred throughout the world since the first International Women’s Day in 1911, however, greater progress is needed in three core areas: economics, education and violence against women.
In addition to supporting the democratic process of countries, the United States government must also support policies that address the areas in which women are being shortchanged. Looking forward, two such opportunities exist: ratifying the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and affirming commitment to gender equality in United Nations processes such as the review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)and the Beijing Platform for Action.
In 1979, the U.N. General Assembly adopted (CEDAW), an international bill of rights for women. The document defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for global action to end such discrimination. At the time of CEDAW’s 30th anniversary last December at the U.N., CEDAW had been ratified by 186 countries, but the U.S. was not one of them.
Fifteen years ago, at the 4th U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing where the U.S. was very involved, it adopted the official Declaration and Platform for Action that committed governments to the advancement of women and the promotion of gender equality. This month, from March 1-12, the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is convening in New York to review the progress of the declaration on its 15th anniversary. We need to push the U.S. to be a strong voice for gender equality.
Even after this Women's History Month ends, we must continue to work toward a world of equal opportunity where women and men both live in security and prosperity.
Member and Partner Organization Highlights
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
