THE GIRL EFFECT

We all know the many forms of discrimination to which women are subjected: rape, unequal pay, the "glass ceiling", domestic violence, the 'accused' rather than the 'victim' of prostitution.

Discrimination benefits NO ONE.  Click here and see what can happen when the potential in all women is freed.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

Countries that  ratify or acceed to the Convention are legally bound to put its programs into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations. Open the following web site to the view countries submitting reports.

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reports.htm

Seven UN member states that have NOT ratified or acceeded to the convention: Iran, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, Tonga, and the United States. These are either Islamic states (Iran, Somalia, Sudan) or small Pacific Island nations (Nauru, Palau, Tonga), or the United States. Niue and Vatican City have also not signed. The United States has signed, but not yet ratified.^[2]

WHY HAS THE UNITED STATES NOT RATIFIED THIS CONVENTION???

For possible answers, go the "Controversy" section of the Wikipedia site.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is described as an INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN. 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."

The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life  as well as education, health and employment.

The Convention is the ONLY human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations.  States agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice and to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

WHY THE NEED FOR THIS CONVENTION, 34 YEARS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS????

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm

Women Desires and Hopes for the United Nations

UN Women commission. More will be said about women's rights in the global reality; here are their dreams.

What UN Women Means to Me (UN Women Launch) - video

I interrupt the flow.....

I interrupt the flow of UN activities, to introduce a web site that offers alternative reporting. 

If you are interested in the climate change, read the article by Naomi Klein, Wendell Berry, Maude Barlow, Bill McKebben, all well known environmental leaders.

Founded in 1997, CommonDreams.org is an Internet-based progressive news and grassroots activism organization.

Naomi Klein, Wendell Berry, Maude Barlow, Bill McKibben and Others:

Environmental Leaders Call for Civil Disobedience to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/23
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Women's Human Rights

A TWENTY YEAR RECENT HISTORY OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS:

Why has it taken so long??? 

When will we know we have arrived??

For the Human Rights Watch web site, click here.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS -- HUMAN RIGHTS

The History of Human Rights:

           Where did this idea come from?

           How long did it take to get to where we are now?

           Do ALL people truly experience Human Rights?

Watch this video and find the answers.