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Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women


The United States has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) international agreement.  According to the National Women’s Law Center, only the United States and six other countries have not ratified this agreement ("Issues").  The Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center testified that CEDAW protects basic human rights and aims to stop gender based discrimination against girls and women.  Nearly 200 countries have adopted CEDAW.  The main tenets of CEDAW are to: 1) prevent crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking and other forced physical and sexual acts primarily experience by women worldwide; 2) give girls and women equal access to education and job training; 3) improve access for women to healthcare and improve maternal mortality rates; and 4) provide critical legal support and legislation to families, mothers and their children (Greenberger).
CEDAW seems like a no brainer and should be adopted by the United States.  One of the reasons for opposition to CEDAW is rooted in religions.  Many religions are favored more towards males within the church hierarchy and traditional female normative behaviors, such as child rearing, housework, etc. (Raday).

Works Cited
Greenberger, Marcia D. "Testimony of Marcia D. Greenberger." National Women's Law Center, nwlc-ciw49tixgw5lbab.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/marciagreenbergertestimonycedaw11.18.10.pdf. Accessed 14 Sept. 2018.
"Issues." National Women's Law Center, nwlc.org/issues/. Accessed 14 Sept. 2018.
Raday, Frances. "Gender and Democratic Citizenship: The Impact of CEDAW." International Journal of Constitutional Law, vol. 10, no. 2, 30 Mar. 2012, pp. 512-30, doi:10.1093/icon/mor068. Accessed 15 Sept. 2018.

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