Next Semester Work to Ratify CEDAW in Chapel Hill

As the semester closes, I want to make sure that a project we discussed this past semester does not get lost or forgotten. We spoke to Donna Bickford with the Carolina Women's Center about getting Chapel Hill to ratify CEDAW. We discussed making this a second semester project, but I think it's important that we don't loose sight of the significance of the movement.

Progress in the US has been seen within the US Senate when, last July, the Senate took action on the treaty. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted the treaty favorably out of committee with bipartisan support. It will go back to the committee for approval before consideration by the full Senate, where approval will require a two-thirds vote.

Just as a background, there are several examples of how CEDAW has made a really significant and tangible impact on women’s lives in countries where it has been ratified. In Turkey, for example, CEDAW was used to rescind a government policy that forced female students to undergo exams for chastity. In Tanzania, the High Court cited CEDAW in striking down a law that prevented women from inheriting land from their fathers. In Colombia, courts have cited CEDAW in their rulings to provide legal recourse to female victims of domestic violence. The state now ensures protection for all such women. India’s ratification of CEDAW was followed by an increase in girls’ education.

Many of the issues we see in these countries don't seem applicable to the issues in the United States, but the significance of getting CEDAW ratified here in the US is essential to taking a stand against atrocities against women worldwide. A strong U.S. voice and influence are essential to help halt sexual trafficking of women, to bring women into the economic mainstream, and to ensure that all girls and women have access to education and health care. The United States has much to offer as new democracies look for guidance on how to bring women’s rights into the 21st century. The United States can work with other countries through the CEDAW Committee to make women full economic and political contributors.

The Carolina Women's Center is looking into taking this project on next semester, along with the help of several student groups, and if you're interested in joining in the efforts, please contact Dr. Donna Bickford at dbickford@unc.edu.