Progress on Ratification of the Women's Rights Treaty!

The Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, chaired by Senator Durbin, has announced that when Congress returns next week, it will turn long needed attention to the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a landmark international women’s rights agreement that almost every country in the world has ratified—except for the U.S., Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and three small Pacific Islands. Next week the Subcommittee will hold the first Senate hearing on CEDAW in eight years, and the first-ever hearing on ratification of a human rights treaty in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is an exciting development, which provides an opportunity for CEDAW supporters to make the case that it’s time for the Senate to vote to ratify CEDAW today.

The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 on Thursday, November 18. Representatives from the State Department and Justice Department will speak in favor of ratifying CEDAW, as will a great group of witnesses from outside the government. Stay tuned for more details and make plans to watch the live webcast of the hearing. We will be sharing the link soon. Let’s hope the hearing helps the Senate understand that a vote for CEDAW is a vote for women.