U.S. Senate Committee Considers Ratification of CEDAW

Eco-Logic ^ | 6/15/02 | Austin Ruse

[citizenx7]

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing June 13, to address whether the United States should ratify the controversial U.N. women's rights convention, called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the chairman of the committee, and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), organized the hearing in an effort to build support for the Convention, and perhaps to goad the Bush administration into approving its ratification. Biden stated that he was "concerned by the casual attitude of the Executive Branch toward the treaty process and the legitimate requests of this Committee for testimony on a significant treaty pending before it."

Both Boxer and Biden asserted that the current failure to ratify CEDAW damaged U.S. credibility worldwide, and hampered U.S. leadership on broader human rights issues. These sentiments were echoed by the individuals testifying in favor of CEDAW, many of whom called the current U.S. stance an "embarrassment" within the world community.

Addressing concerns that CEDAW would undermine U.S. sovereignty, Biden asserted that "The U.S. Constitution and existing federal laws will satisfy the obligations of the treaty. The United States will not need to enact any new laws."

There was also an effort to minimize the influence of the CEDAW compliance committee, which has frequently told states to legalize prostitution and abortion. Boxer admitted that the committee "says some controversial things," but assured the hearing that it "cannot force governments to do anything."

Speaking against CEDAW, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Jeane Kirkpatrick stated that "it is silly to pretend that ratifying a U.N. treaty will help women." Instead, "we should share the experiences of American women worldwide."

Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), also testifying against CEDAW, asserted that CEDAW committee recommendations were far from "benign," since they "exert a great deal of informal pressure upon countries that depend upon United Nations funding of human aid programs." Davis also questioned why the U.S. should seek to make CEDAW the international standard on women's rights, when the CEDAW committee has called for the legalization of prostitution in a number of countries. "This is simply inexcusable. Prostitution is inherently demeaning and degrading to women, and in no way promotes sexual equality."

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) also stated that the committee's stance on prostitution could impede U.S. efforts to stop sex slavery and the trafficking of women. Kathryn Balmforth, former director of the World Family Policy Center at Brigham Young University, called CEDAW a "threat to fundamental freedoms," since it obligates governments to change patterns of behavior by limiting freedom of speech and religion.

The hearing ended on a strange note, with Biden asserting that those opposed to CEDAW would not have signed the Declaration of Independence. Biden allowed no response to this charge. "I have the gavel," he said as he brought the hearing to a close.

[citizenx7]

Its amazing to see the lengths our elected officials will go to uphold U.N. treaties.

I for one would like to see them sign a Declaration of Independence from the United Nations!

[NetValue]

Biden was a bully as a kid. His goading style has never changed.

[SoCal_Republican]

If this thing has been around over twenty years, how come I never heard Biden and Boxer attacking Clinton for ignoring it? At least Bush put it on the list (to my dismay).

[Mo1]

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[chachacha]

Look! I won't discriminate against my Women. If my neighbor does his, go after him. If some jerk in Africa does his, let them pass what ever law they need to deal with the problem. I don't want some Left Wing Liberal Jerk from the USA passing laws that result in a larger corrupt voting block for the Democrates. These left wing slime balls will allow any thing, and any one to crawl under their blanket simply because they hope some day the will vote for them.

Well, so far they have been successful. (911) is one of those blankets they don't want to be reminded of. Listen close, they still oppose most reasonable solutions to prevent further scum from entering this country. They surely don';t want to offend those that are already here.

[reformed_democrat]

the United States should ratify the controversial U.N. women's rights convention, called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Well, this is certainly good news. I'm assuming the World Court will be all over this, since this law makes oppression of women illegal.

No more burkas. No more beatings. No more stonings.
Women will have access to any and all necessary or desired medical care. They will be enrolled in the best universities, studying anything they wish -- up to and including The Vagina Monologues.

Why, we could even stop the War on Terror! It will be illegal to kill women, won't it? Death is, after all, the ultimate tool of those seeking to discriminate.

Yes, it will truly be the dawn of a new era when this takes effect. We will have ratified war out of existence. Future generations will look back and marvel at our ability to do so much for humanity.

Why didn't anyone think of this before?

[dadwags]

Get US out of the UN