Senate Holds First Hearing on CEDAW in Eight Years

On November 18th the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law held a hearing on the Convention for the Elimination of All Form of Violence against Women (CEDAW). This was the first hearing in eight years on CEDAW, which is an international human rights treaty that focuses exclusively on women's rights and gender equality. The convention sets a global definition for discrimination against women and outlines a plan to end that discrimination. Those states that ratify the convention are required to take, "all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men."

http://blog.populationinstitute.org/2010/11/16/senate-must-ratify-cedaw/

Watch testimony here:

http://www.cedaw2010.org/index.php/component/content/article/57