Stop the War on International Law

The Women's Equality Treaty (officially known as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW) has been languishing in the Senate for over 30 years due to a well-funded and coordinated opposition that feels threatened by international law.

The treaty reflects American values of equal rights and opportunities for women. It has been used by over 180 other countries to address female illiteracy, discrimination, female genital mutilation, sex trafficking and income inequality.

But opponents are portraying it as a threat to the "traditional family" and deliberately distorting the truth about it and several other treaties. They are threatening to run against Senators who support international cooperation, leading many to keep silent on their support for ratification.

Our Senate is better than this. Our citizens deserve better. It's time our Senators took to the floor of the United States Senate — before the mid-term elections — and went on the record about the U.S. standing up for women's equality and ratifying CEDAW.

Opponents of international cooperation have blocked U.S. ratification of the Women’s Equality Treaty for over 30 years. They killed the Disability Treaty in 2012 and today they are threatening any Senator who supports working with other countries to solve global problems. Help us fight this “war on international law” and recommit American leadership to engaging and shaping global norms that reflect our shared values.
To whom it may concern:

The Women's Equality Treaty, signed by President Carter in 1980, has yet to be ratified by the U.S. Senate. In fact, the United States is one of just 8 nations around the world not to sign the treaty!

Signing this treaty will help recognize the ongoing work needed to address violence against women and gender inequality, both in the United States and around the world. It is time for the United States to take a leadership role in protecting the rights of women around the world; this treaty will send a clear signal that the U.S. is serious about the issue.

This treaty is but one example of the United States lagging behind the developed world when it comes to international law. Opponents to U.S. participation in the arena of global cooperation portray international treaties as dangerous to U.S. sovereignty. This kind of narrow thinking has placed the nation into a corner where even treaties that reflect our common values of decency, cooperation, and fairness are not signed.

It is time for the United States to become a leader once again. I urge you to ratify the Women's Equality Treaty, as well as support other important efforts to strengthen international law.

[Your comment here]

Sincerely,

[Your name here]
Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.