HR0021 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0021 LRB097 05776 KXB 45843 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are urging the federal government to seek passage of the United Nations treaty, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and

WHEREAS, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women; consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination; and

WHEREAS, The Convention defines discrimination against women as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field"; and

WHEREAS, By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including: to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system; to abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women; to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations, or enterprises; and

WHEREAS, Advancing women's human rights worldwide is fundamental to America's national security interests and a cornerstone of the nation's foreign policy; ratification of the Convention would amplify the U.S. voice in defense of women and girls at a time when their rights, even their clothing, are a global battleground; it would send the strongest possible signal that America is back as an international team player on the one hand, while reasserting our proud bipartisan tradition of promoting and protecting human rights on the other; and

WHEREAS, Only seven of the United Nations' 193 member countries have not ratified the Convention: Iran, Sudan, Somalia, three small Pacific island countries (Nauru, Palau, and Tonga), and the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Convention offers a practical blueprint for action that every country can use to make progress toward ending discrimination; American women enjoy opportunities and status not available to most of the world's women, but few would dispute that more progress is needed, such as in ending domestic violence and closing the pay gap between men and women; and

WHEREAS, The Convention would not lead to any automatic changes in U.S. law, and there is no additional cost; the treaty provides a framework for the continuing national dialogue on women's equality, as it does in every country; ratification of the Convention requires 67 United States Senate votes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Senate of the United States to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to United States President Barack Obama and the members of the Illinois Congressional delegation.