Guest Post, Sonya Shannon on CEDAW: Where Do We Really Stand And Why Our Voice Matters?
Nearly thirty one years after the drafting of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and 8 years after the last hearing, a long awaited window of opportunity finally opened last week on Nov 18 to move the process of ratification forward. A hearing was held by Dick Durbin (D-Il), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and Law.
In a standing room only chamber located in the Dirksen bldg., with onlookers overflowing into the halls of Congress, testimony in support of the treaty proved to be powerful and convincing, advocates and activist including Genna Davis, and Amb. Melanne Verveer from the Office of Global Women’s Issues spoke in favor of CEDAWA. Testimony included highs and lows sighting success stories, longstanding wide held support, and the current issue of US lack of credibility with the international community due to non-ratification.
The argument in opposition to CEDAW appeared outdated and inappropriate from Heritage Foundation’s Fellow Steve Groves. He raised protest by stating “Ratification of CEDAW would neither advance U.S. national interests within the international community nor enhance the rights of women in the US.” Grooves also expressed concern about possible pressure the US might face regarding compliance by the UN as other countries have experienced. This response is very shocking and begs the question, “What have we to be concerned about if we honestly do support women’s equality in the US as well as abroad, and what message are we sending if we don’t?”
What Mr. Grooves did not speak directly to, is that the primary problem in ratifying CEDAW in the Senate has been due to the ongoing debate between moderates and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, Pro-choice and Pro-life over the rights of women in regards to abortion. The compliance that he so ardently abhors is the “compliance” that we may be subject to in allowing our own citizens their full rights.
Do a search on CEDWAW ratification and you will find that most of the news sources are from anti-abortion groups and organizations that see the treaty as a great threat to their agenda. The ongoing debate has created a stalemate, and prevented a two thirds vote of approval needed to move beyond a stained past into a hopeful future. It seems the issue of framing has created a seemingly impermeable wall that has distorted the true purpose of CEDAW to be viewed for what it is, a “powerful tool” for the promotion of human rights. Just as denying Constitutional rights was once utilized to prevent the forward movement of civil rights in America on the pretense that the rights of one group of citizens would be compromised by upholding the rights of another, CEDAW is being seen as Pandora’s box that once opened, and will initiate a losing battle between feminist ideas and traditional values.
The fact remains that the treaty in all actuality is silent on the issue of abortion within its articles and does in fact not force the legalization of abortion on other countries through the recommendations of the UN. What it does do is put pressure on countries that seek to deny women access to family planning services, opportunities to decide for themselves regarding issues of childbearing and even seeks to criminalize abortion even in the case of rape.
It seems we are not so different after all from the very same countries that we often seek to point fingers at and criticize for their tendency to cling to culture at the risk of sacrificing guarded ground to human rights. It seems this is a battle between culture and rights within our very own borders. It’s high time we pulled the sheaths from our eyes and take a long hard look into the darkness of our own hearts and decide on what side we stand.
Do we support the politics of culture that continue to thwart efforts on women’s equality and promote the disregard of not only women’s rights but of human rights, or do we support freedom of choice that is the cornerstone of any democracy that stands firm on the belief that the “right” in “human rights” belongs to the individual and cannot be held captive especially at the sacrifice of women and girls around the world that have used CEDAW as a mechanism from which to demand fair and just treatment in a space where few options might exist. It’s high time we as citizens let our leaders know that we won’t stand ideally by and continue to watch women suffer at the expense of those in power that refuse to open the floodgate and allow women to receive the rights that are long overdue.
Despite the fact that President Obama has shown initiative through highlighting the rights of women and girls both domestically and abroad by opening the Council on Women and Girls and with the appointment of Amb. Verveer to the Office of Global Women’s Issues, one must question whether the considerations of women’s and girls rights ranks high on the list of concerns for Congressional members in these unstable and polarizing political times. Due to the lack of fervor for which the occasion was embraced by congressional staff (Durbin was the only senator present for the majority of the meeting) it’s hard to take seriously that Congress will move expediently on this issue without our urging and insistence.
Currently, the US is the only country that was an original signatory of the pact 3 decades ago that has yet to ratify the treaty leaving the US isolated and in the company of such countries yet to ratify such as Iran, Somalia and Sudan. On the opposing side stands supporters of CEDAW totaling 186 including major US allies that have signed and seem to be in a much better position to speak out against current abuses without fear of being heckled.
It is here that we stand today, divided, excluded and in desperate need of some serious soul searching. What are our choices really saying to those who look to the US as a beacon of hope to bring an end to the endless atrocities, unimaginable abuse and radical exploitation that women are facing on a day to day basis around the globe? How far will we go to promote and protect democratic principles and human rights in the fight against injustice? Are we willing to continue the fight even when our own outdated culture is at risk? It’s right here that the elephant in the room stands blazon in our sight and needs to be addressed if ever the US hopes to regain ground lost as international champions of women in a world that is in great need of one.
Finally, we have to concede to the notion that what we do, within sight, on the international stage or out of sight, within our own borders, does affect other countries be it directly or indirectly and people are paying attention. Whether we like it or not, we are perceived as a leader. The real question is whether we are viewed as a good leader or a bad leader and if were really ready to transform talk into action and lead by example instead of continue to act as though we’re above international standards and demand of others what we do not embody ourselves.
In honor of International Day to Prevent Violence Against Women on Nov 25, I ask that you join with me in taking part in 22 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Nov 25-Dec 15. We choose to focus on enabling the powers of Congress through the ratification of CEDAW to prevent violence against women. We call on the Congress to work with Senator Kerry (D-MA) to move the treaty forward for a vote that will insure the continued promotion and protection of women and girls around the globe.
Take Action!
- 1. Start on the 25th by taking part in the Raise Hope for Congo Campaign’s Black Friday Facebook awareness effort. Visit http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/blackfriday.php and help grow the conflict-free movement.
- 2. Call your senators and urge them to support a vote on CEDAW
- 3. Call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) to schedule a debate and Senate vote on the treaty.
*If you live in MD Call Senator Cardin (D-MD) to urge him to rally Senators to allow a long overdue vote on CEDAW. Sixty-seven votes is needed to pass the treaty and therefore there is a great need to reach out to Republican leaders to ratify the pact.
Sincerely,
Sonya Shannon
Member of A Thousand Sisters
Because women’s rights are human rights…