Having just read Father Robert Drinan's book "The Mobilization of Shame"
on the United Nations and the history of US withholding support of UN
Covenants on Civil and Politica and Economic Rights, as well as Human
Rights for women and children.
We stand alone with Somalia on not ratifying CEDAW and that is part of a
bigger picture.
We need to have an accurate focus on the roots of this resistance.
It goes against capitalist economic interests to give women civil and human
rights.
This will take a critical mass of women rising up with one clear voice to
jump the hurdle of economic interests here. We need to focus clearly to
get
this one off the ground.
Relevant history: UN General Assembly adopted Convention on the Elimination
of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (also known as the Covenant on
Women's Rights or CEDAW) in December of 1979. Pres. Carter singed it July
1980 and submitted it to the Senate for ratification....just as he was
leaving office. Reagan and Bush ignored it and the Senate has taken no
action.
The control over women and children, represented in the issues of
abortion,domestic violence and failure to pass gun control are also related
to CEDAW. We may be in "the belly of the beast" living here in the US.
Carlotta Tyler
<odc@tiac.net>
Tom Wilson wrote<www.mi-gender-equity.com>:
we, may need to consider our governments position, not having ratified
CEDAW.
I feel it may be an effective strategy for us to consider placing our
energy, into getting broad State by State support within the US, for
getting the US Congress to ratify CEDAW....I wonder how we will convince a
new
Afghanistan government if we haven't been able to convince our US Congress
to adopt CEDAW first?
Tom Wilson, Initiator
Michigan Gender Equity Team (MGET)
www.mi-gender-equity.com
313-235-2168
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