-08052009

CEDAW : Treaty for the Rights of Women

The Treaty for the Rights of Women is the world’s most complete international agreement on basic human rights for women.

Officially known as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), it outlines standards for ratifying countries to meet in the treatment and rights of women.

The treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. As of March 1, 2009, 185 countries have ratified the Treaty for the Rights of Women. Ratification is expected in at least two more countries during 2009.

total votes in Jordan = 6541

3077 47.04% to sign
3296 50.39% not to sign...!!!!!
168 2.57%

Why is this Treaty necessary?

Because millions of women and girls worldwide suffer daily violations of their human rights:

Violence against women is pervasive: one in three women worldwide will experience assault, rape or other abuse during her lifetime.
An estimated 80 percent of the 600,000 to 800,000 victims of human trafficking across international borders are girls under 18 years of age.
Two-thirds of the world’s 771 million illiterate adults are women
More than 530,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth—more than one every minute.
Of the world’s 1.3 billion poorest people, 70 percent are women and girls.
Millions of girls and women are denied equal access to property, legal action, civic life and public participation.

How does the Treaty work?

Nations that ratify the Treaty commit themselves to take concrete action to improve the status of women, to end discrimination against them, and to end violence against women in their own country and around the world. The ratifying nations are committed to:

Take measures to ensure that women can enjoy basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Establish legal and judicial procedures to protect the rights of women.
Take measures to eliminate discrimination against women by individuals, organizations or enterprises.
Submit national reports every four years to the United Nations CEDAW Committee on measures the country has taken to comply with the treaty.


ISN'T THIS WHAT WE WANT!!!

Would the Treaty promote abortion?

No. The Treaty intentionally does not address the issue of abortion. Many countries where abortion is illegal have ratified it, such as Ireland, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda. The U.S. State Department says the Treaty is "abortion neutral." In 1994, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee added an "understanding" to the Treaty noting that it does not include a right to abortion.

Would the Treaty require same-sex marriage to be legalized?

No. Again, the Treaty would not compel the United States to change any of its laws. Its terms are clearly aimed only to end sex-based discrimination against women. Indeed, most countries that have ratified the treaty currently ban same-sex marriages.

What about legalization of prostitution?

Again no. In specific countries such as China, where prostitution and human trafficking are rampant, the CEDAW Committee has called upon the government to consider decriminalizing sex work so that victimized women might come forward without fear of arrest. The Committee noted that this would allow them to be treated and educated against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, to obtain basic health care and counseling, and to help halt trafficking and exploitation.


3296 WHY ARE THEY AGAINST STH WE NEED!


http://www.womenstreaty.org
http://www.addustour.com/