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Reps. Schakowsky, Maloney Introduce Bill to Ratify U.N. Agreement to Outlaw Discrimination Against Women

WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 5, 2013.  Yesterday, Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and 31 cosponsors called for the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). 

This landmark international agreement, adopted by the United Nations, mandates that governments worldwide eradicate discriminatory laws, customs, and practices and take positive steps towards the advancement of women.

“Providing equal opportunity and security for women is good for families, local economies and the entire world,” said Schakowsky.  “It is time that the United States join 187 countries that have committed to ensuring that discrimination against women is ended and that women are able to contribute to global prosperity and peace.  I am pleased to join with my colleague Carolyn Maloney in introducing this bill and look forward to working with her, our cosponsors and the Obama administration in winning ratification.”

“I’m proud to join my friend and colleague Jan Schakowsky in calling for the promotion and protection of human rights,” Maloney said. “The ratification of CEDAW would continue our nation’s proud bipartisan tradition of empowering human rights. We need to ratify the agreement and strengthen our standing as a global leader for the rights of women and girls.”

187 countries have ratified CEDAW, affirming their priority of protecting women against violence of any kind occurring domestically, at work, or in any sphere of a woman’s life.  The U.S. is the only western country in the world that has not ratified CEDAW and in doing so, joins the ranks of Somalia and Iran.  CEDAW is an important tool in combating discrimination and human rights abuses against women around the world.  As a result, its ratification would provide a catalyst for the U.S. to examine areas of consistent discrimination against women.  We must develop strategies for solutions and the ratification of CEDAW is a great step in the right direction.

View a copy of the legislation here: http://maloney.house.gov/sites/maloney.house.gov/files/documents/women/2013CEDAW Bill.pdf

Source: http://schakowsky.house.gov

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