CEDAW MAY MOBILIZATION

This Mother’s Day support women and mothers around the world by advocating for U.S. ratification of the
Treaty for the Rights of Women, officially the United Nations Convention on Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

This Treaty is the most complete international agreement on basic human rights for women; it serves as an
“umbrella” treaty for women’s human rights. The week of May 14, join members of more than 200 leading
organizations nationwide, representing millions of Americans, supporting ratification of CEDAW in a national week of action. Call and email your Senators and ask them to press for US ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women, and participate in Amnesty International’s Umbrella Petition for this Treaty.

Opponents of this Treaty make the absurd claim that it would eliminate Mother’s Day. Nothing could be further
from the truth. We love Mother’s Day! As families celebrate Mother’s Day and the many contributions mothers
make to children, families, cities and country, urge your Senators to ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women. 185 nations have ratified CEDAW. It’s time for the U.S. to stand with women around the world and ratify CEDAW.

Background

As the leading superpower, U.S. ratification would lend weight to the Treaty and provide valuable support to women seeking reforms in countries around the world. U.S. failure to ratify this Treaty undermines the powerful principle that human rights of women are universal across all cultures, nations, and religions, and worthy of being guaranteed through international human rights standards. This Treaty can be an effective tool for ending violence and discrimination against women, ensuring access to education and health care, and preventing other human rights abuses.

Women around the world have used this Treaty to achieve reforms in their country that reduce violence and
discrimination. Measures have been taken against sex slavery, domestic violence and trafficking of women; millions of girls who were previously denied access are now receiving primary education; women's health care services have improved, saving lives during pregnancy and childbirth; and millions of women have secured essential loans and the basic right to own or inherit property. However, without the United States as a party to the Treaty, repressive governments can easily discount the Treaty’s provisions. It is time for the U.S. government to show the international community that it stands unequivocally for the rights of women internationally by ratifying this Treaty.

The Treaty has always enjoyed bipartisan support in the United States, but has never come before the full Senate for a vote. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) has twice voted favorably – in 1994 and 2002 – with bipartisan support to send the Treaty to the Senate floor for ratification, but the Senate recessed each time before that occurred. In 2002, the Bush Administration notified the SFRC that the Treaty for the Rights of Women was "generally desirable and should be approved." Later that year, then Attorney General John Ashcroft initiated another review of this Treaty. In February 2007, the Bush Administration indicated that it was not pressing for ratification at this time. The SFRC Chairman, Senator Joseph Biden, supports ratification. It is time for Senators to stand together in support of women and ratify CEDAW.

3 Steps to Take Action: In Honor of Mother’s Day, Call and Email Your Senators the week of May 14!

#1 Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 and urge Senators to support women around the world by ratifying the Treaty for the Rights of Women. You may use Amnesty's suggested Talking Points.

#2 Go to www.womenstreaty.org and click on the Take Action Now button to send an email. Also, be sure to sign up on the same site for updates on future CEDAW events and other actions. Or go to
www.amnestyusa.org/women/cedaw.

#3 Take Action: Collect Photos for the Amnesty International USA Umbrella Petition

Umbrella Petition
Take action for the Treaty with the Umbrella Photo Petition! – Submit a photograph of yourself and/or members of your community standing under an umbrella with an attached message sign. Your photo will put a face to your message to your Senators that you want the Treaty for the Rights of Women ratified now! The photos will be gathered together and delivered to Senators as part of a larger action during the course of the campaign.

View the slide show of Umbrella photos.

Invitation and Instructions for joining the Umbrella Photo Petition.

To facilitate these efforts, Amnesty International has created an Activist Action Kit and other materials for
education and advocacy, available at: www.amnestyusa.org/women/cedaw or at www.womenstreaty.org. If
you would like more information or have additional questions, you can also email cedaw@aiusa.org.

This Call to Action and Materials have been developed and distributed by Amnesty International USA.