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Remember when you were little and you labored over creating a catchy “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue” poem to write in your homemade Mother’s Day card? Even though your poem might not have been the most eloquent and your card might not have been the prettiest, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that you took the time to recognize all the amazing contributions your mother made in your life as well as the lives of countless others.
Now, imagine if your mother faced violence and discrimination daily. What if she couldn’t freely choose her spouse or decide the number, timing, and spacing of her children? What if she couldn’t access educational information, including information on family planning, to help ensure the health and well-being of her family? What if she was subjected to harmful practices all in the name of tradition? Unfortunately, this is the reality for many mothers, young women, and girls around the world.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, or the Women’s Treaty) is a landmark international agreement that affirms fundamental human rights and equality for women and girls. It was the first international agreement to address women’s rights comprehensively—politically, culturally, economically, socially and within the family. Around the world, CEDAW can be used to ensure primary education for girls; improve reproductive, maternal, and child health; pass laws against domestic violence and discrimination; and allow women to own and inherit property.
The United States is one of only a handful of countries that has not ratified the Women’s Treaty. But, we can change that! On International Women’s Day (March 8th), we began a campaign to ratify CEDAW. As we prepare to honor our mothers this weekend, let’s take a few moments to ensure that all the mothers, young women, and girls around the world enjoy the same rights and freedoms that our mothers and grandmothers enjoy. Sign our petition urging the ratification of CEDAW today!
And in the spirit of those childhood poems, how about we write a new one?
Violets are blue,
Urge the ratification of CEDAW,
And show mothers around the world
That we value them too!
RATIFY CEDAW TODAY!
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