Senator Durbin (D-IL) responds to a Constituent on CEDAW (BARF ALERT!!)

Office of Senator Durbin | 9 Sept 02 | Dick Durbin

[Mr. Silverback]

Got this in the mail just today. I sent him a CEDAW email quite some time ago. My name has been changed to protect my gun collection.

Dear Mr. Silverback,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). I appreciate hearing from you.

I strongly support U.S. ratification of CEDAW. This treaty requires participating nations to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life, law, education, employment, health care, commercial transactions, and domestic relations. While CEDAW has been ratified by more than 160 countries, the United States is one of the few nations of the world-- and the only democracy-- that has failed to ratify this treaty. President Carter signed the convention on behalf of the United States in 1980, but CEDAW has never been brought before the Senate for its approval.

Women around the globe continue to experience discrimination and persecution based solely on their gender, a fact underscored by the Taliban's barbaric treatment of women in Afghanistan before its removal from power. By ratifying the Convention, the United States will continue to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in promoting human rights worldwide. I have supported legislation in the past calling on the Senate to act on CEDAW, and I was pleased that the Senate Foreign Relations committee held hearings on the Convention in June 2002. I will continue to do all I can to support ratification of this important agreement.

Thank you again for your message. Please feel free to stay in touch.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

[Mr. Silverback]

I was originally going to post this straight in the "article" portion of my post with it repeated (with my own commentary) in the "comments" portion of my post. But then I noticed one thing that says it all:

CEDAW has been ratified by more than 160 nations, including all but one of the democracies.
It has been around for at least 22 years, since Carter signed it in 1980.
Yet, despite this (to quote the Senator), "Women around the globe continue to experience discrimination and persecution based solely on their gender". Did I miss something?

So, tell me again how the USA ratifying CEDAW will set women around the world free when that hasn't been accomplished by 160 other countries adopting it? Tell me again how it will send a message about our committment to women's equality that four decades of gender-equity legislation and a female National Security Advisor doesn't send?

I hereby invite comment and additions to the "message already sent" list.

[Mr. Silverback]

Heads up!

[stylin19a]

You just confuse RATS with facts & logic..it makes their heads explode.
What I want to know is, why wasn't this a big deal when the RATS were in power in Congress all those years since 1980 ?

[Mr. Silverback]

What I want to know is, why wasn't this a big deal when the RATS were in power in Congress all those years since 1980 ?

Good question. Since the President doesn't have to sign off on ratification, it should have meant nothing to them that Ronnie and George the First were in office, and a treaty that lets the UN set a nation's internal abortion laws would seem to be a Clinton dream. It's possible that George Mitchell didn't like the treaty for some reason. If you find out more about this, let me know.

Bottom line: The New York City Dictators' Cotillion and Debating Society is not going to tell me whether I get to celebrate Mothers day or not.