THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)

WHEREAS, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is an international convention adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979 to establish an agenda of action to eliminate gender discrimination; and

WHEREAS, CEDAW provides a universal international standard for women’s human rights; and

WHEREAS, the AFT believes all nations must respect and protect the human and civil rights of every individual regardless of gender; and

WHEREAS, the AFT is a champion for the right of all women and girls to be provided a fair and equitable education; and

WHEREAS, 57 percent of the children worldwide who have never attended school are female, and women in the United States still earn approximately eighty cents on the male dollar further extending the pervasive cycle of inequality; and

WHEREAS, nearly 185 nations have ratified the treaty for the Rights of Women, making it the law of their land; and

WHEREAS, we as educators are dismayed that our country, long an advocate of human and civil rights worldwide, is the only developed nation yet to ratify the treaty:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers, its state affiliates and locals urge the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote in favor of bringing the treaty on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to the full Senate for ratification, thus upholding our country’s ideal of equal opportunity for all; and

RESOLVED, that through its publications, Web site and other forms of communication, the American Federation of Teachers make its position known to our members, elected officials and the country.