Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Affirming the principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women in our community and supporting the United States ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Body
WHEREAS, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, and became an international treaty as of September 3, 1981, with 187 United Nations member nations out of 193 having agreed to be bound by CEDAW’s provisions; and
WHEREAS, CEDAW is often described as an international bill of rights for women that consists of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination; and,
WHEREAS, the Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”; and,
WHEREAS, by accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including: to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises; and
WHEREAS, the Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets ...
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