Our commitment to the rule of law is also reflected in our strong support for ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and our signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities — the first new human rights convention of the 21st century.
-- Remarks by Mary McLeod, Legal Adviser, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, at a UN Security Council Debate on Justice and the Rule of Law, 29 June 2010. Full text of remarks here.
Q: What are the seven UN member states that have not ratified CEDAW?
A: Iran, Nauru, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, Tonga, United States of America.
CEDAW was included in the treaty priority list sent by the Obama administration to the Senate in May 2009, and administration statements supporting ratification continue. The opening quote in th
is post and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks at the United Nations on 12 March 2010 (text and video here) are but a few examples.
But Senators need to hear from their constituents that ratification is a priority if CEDAW is to move forward. A list of Senators with their contact information is available here; Senate Foreign Relations Committee members are listed here.
