It’s not often that the United States finds itself in the company of Somalia, Sudan and Iran, but a leading activist told students last night that the nation’s record on women’s rights is tarnished by its refusal to ratify an international treaty — one that those three other countries also reject.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women has been ratified in 186 countries since its creation in 1979 and has improved the living conditions of women all over the world, according to Anu Joshi, a leading Capitol Hill activist in favor of the treaty and national outreach coordinator for Citizens for Global Solutions, a nonprofit organization that advocates for peace through global cooperation.
Joshi told an audience of about 25 students in South Campus Commons 1 why it is important for America as a democracy and a global power to ratify this treaty, which stalled in the Senate in 1980 after being signed by former President Jimmy Carter.
“When women’s standards of living are improved, the whole community benefits,” she said. “Many countries have made great progress since signing the treaty. It is because they receive international pressure if they do not follow the articles of the treaty.”
Joshi’s discussion was one of a series of presentations coordinated by Beyond the Classroom, which ties the events’ themes to the university’s First Year Book, Half the Sky — a book about injustice toward women and female empowerment.
“We chose this theme because research shows that you cannot develop a full economy or democracy without the other half, without women,” said James Riker, director of Beyond the Classroom.
Students in the audience said the United States needed to ratify CEDAW to preserve its international moral standing and improve certain areas of women’s rights, including equal pay and maternal mortality. This country ranked 41st worldwide in maternal deaths during pregnancy, and women on average make 77 cents to every dollar men make.
“I feel like we should have agreed to it a long time ago,” said Cara DelDuca, a sophomore communication major. “Our country is focused on rights, and we should serve as an example by ratifying this treaty.”
Joshi said the reluctance to ratify the treaty is mainly due to conservative senators who fear that it would require changes in U.S. laws, especially those pertaining to abortion and family planning, but she explained that those perceptions are incorrect.
“This is a misunderstanding of the document,” Joshi said. “It does not force any changes in the countries. It simply provides a blueprint and suggestions for improvement.”
But progress on the ratification of CEDAW may not just be held up by conservative legislators; there may also be a lack of emphasis on women’s issues in the Senate. Because women only constitute 17 percent of the Senate, the treaty “may not come up as a predominant issue,” Riker said.
However, Joshi said if the United States ratifies CEDAW, it would strengthen the nation as a global leader.
“We can become a great influence over other countries who do not respect women’s rights,” she said. “But it is depressing and pathetic that such a powerful nation cannot get it together to ratify this document.”
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