Women's Rights (CEDAW)

CEDAW is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and entered into force in 1981.

What does CEDAW do?
Reduce sex trafficking and domestic violence

Provide access to education and vocational training

Ensure the right to vote

End forced marriage and child marriage and ensure inheritance rights

Help mothers and families by providing access to maternal health care

Ensure the right to work and own a business without discrimination


Why has the USA NOT ratified CEDAW?
Almost all countries have ratified CEDAW - 189 out of 195 countries. Only six have not ratified including Sudan, Somalia, Iran, two small Pacific Island nations (Palau and Tonga) and THE UNITED STATES!

FAWCO supports CEDAW and continues to work towards it ratification.

Key Links

UN Women CEDAW Text

UN High Commissioner for recent developments, links to treaty, reports  www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/cedawindex.aspx

Amnesty International Fact Sheet on CEDAW www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/cedaw_fact_sheet.pdf

Organization working for US Senate Ratification 
http://www.cedaw2015.org/

Featured

Fact Sheet on Human Trafficking and Prostitution

Fact Sheet on Human Trafficking and Prostitution

The Scope of the Problem

  • It is estimated that 700,000 to 2 million people are trafficked annually.
  • According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, “trafficking of human beings has reached epidemic proportions. No country is immune.”
  • “Traffickers face few risks and earn huge profits.”
  • A recent CIA report estimated that 45,000...
Featured

Mercy Kiyapyap 2007 FAWCO Nominee

 

mercy_in_zh_small-1

 

Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life 2007 Innovative Techniques in Peace Building

 


Paula Daeppen FAWCO UN Liaison

 

 

It is with great pleasure that FAWCO has nominated Mercy Kiyapyap of West Pokot, Kenya for the 2007 Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life. This is a prize sponsored by the Women’s World Summit Foundation to...
Featured

CEDAW (Condoleeza Rice 3/8/07)

          

 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice                                   March 8, 2007

US State Department

2201 C Street NW

Washington, DC 205020

 
Dear Madame Secretary,

 
To mark the 2007 International Women’s Day, we the undersigned as members of

FAWCO, the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, the  oldest and largest organization representing  private sector Americans

Featured

CEDAW (Senator Biden 3/8/07)

Senator Joseph Biden

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations                                    March 8, 2007

Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510 6225

  Dear Senator Biden,  

 
On March 8, International Women’s Day, we the undersigned are members of the FAWCO(Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas), the oldest and largest organization representing  private sector Americans living abroad urge you endorse full...

Featured

CEDAW and Background Information

An update on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and background information

History and Background

On December 18, 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The call for a Treaty for the Rights of Women emerged from the First World Conference on...

Visit Our Partners