Each year on August 26, the United States commemorates Women’s Equality Day, honoring the hard work of many courageous women who, 89 years ago, succeeded in securing the right to vote for future generations.

Today, new struggles over women’s rights have emerged around the globe, which is why the Baha'is of the United States are working with a coalition of over 190 organizations to encourage U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, also known as CEDAW.

“It is the most comprehensive international agreement that addresses the basic human rights of women,” said Gleibys Buchanan, representative for the advancement of women for the Baha'is of the U.S. “CEDAW has been ratified by 186 countries (95% of U.N. members), but the U.S. stands among countries like Iran, Somalia, and Sudan that have not ratified it.” 

For more than a century, the Baha'is of the U.S. have worked to advance the status of women by advocating policies and legislation that promote gender equality, including CEDAW. You can support these efforts by calling your U.S. senators and urging them to support the CEDAW treaty for the rights of women during CEDAW Call-in Day, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009.

“When the U.S. finally ratifies this important human rights treaty, it will be sending the message to the rest of the world that women’s rights are universal,” Buchanan said. 

The CEDAW treaty provides a comprehensive global standard for women’s human rights. It provides a fundamental framework for ending international violence against women, ensuring girls’ access to education, and promoting economic opportunity and political participation for women. 

To date, the United States has failed to secure the 67 Senate votes necessary to ratify the treaty. According to Buchanan, this has deprived the United States of the political legitimacy required to stand up against gender-based violence and discrimination in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Democratic Republic of the Congo. But that could soon change.
 
In a letter to the U.S. Senate from the Obama Administration, CEDAW was the only human rights treaty listed as a priority for ratification. The president has also taken other steps to demonstrate his support for women’s rights initiatives, including establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls.

“As Baha'is, we know that peace is not possible without equality between men and women,” Buchanan said. “Ratification of CEDAW is a step toward, and an acknowledgement of, that fundamental principle.”

• More information about CEDAW, including sample resources for contacting your senators, is available at http://www.bahai.us/cedaw. 

• You can also help promote the CEDAW Call-in Day on Facebook and Twitter!