Salt of the Earth: sample letter on CEDAW

Social justice news
March 2000

Sample letter supporting
Convention to End the Discrimination Against Women

Senator ------------
U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 237, calling for hearings and a vote on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. A bi-partisan group of women Senators introduced the resolution on November 19, 1999.

Discrimination and violence mar the lives of women and girls all around the world. CEDAW is being used in very concrete ways to address these problems. It has influenced the development of national laws.

Courts in India, Botswana, Australia and Zambia have used CEDAW to address discriminatory practices and set standards for fair treatment. The United States is the only Western nation that has not ratified CEDAW.

Our failure to ratify CEDAW undermines U.S. diplomats in pushing for changes and lends credibility to the cries of "double standard" raised by brutal and uncaring governments around the world. It also prohibits the U.S. from nominating experts to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Please inform me of your position on CEDAW and Senate Resolution 237, and let me know whether you will work to bring CEDAW to a vote in the Senate.

Sincerely,

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