More than 180 countries around the world have ratified CEDAW, some with reservations. While the United States signed the treaty in 1981, it is one of the few countries that have not yet ratified it. As a global leader for human rights and equality, I believe our country should adopt this resolution and ratify the CEDAW treaty.

Jan Schakowsky’s quote highlights the significance of the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) treaty, a critical international agreement aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women. She points out that over 180 countries have ratified the treaty, signaling widespread global commitment to human rights and equality for women. Despite this, the United States has signed the treaty but has yet to ratify it, making it one of the few nations not fully endorsing the agreement.

Schakowsky’s statement underscores her belief that, as a global leader for human rights and equality, the U.S. should lead by example by ratifying CEDAW. By not ratifying the treaty, she argues, the U.S. is falling short of its responsibilities to uphold the rights of women and to support the international framework for eliminating discrimination. Schakowsky calls on the U.S. government to take action and align with the global consensus in favor of gender equality.

The mention of reservations by some countries reflects the complexities of international treaties and the compromises that may occur in the ratification process. Schakowsky acknowledges these nuances but maintains that full ratification of CEDAW is essential for the U.S. to fully commit to addressing gender discrimination and advancing equality.

The origin of this quote stems from Schakowsky’s advocacy for women’s rights and human rights. As a U.S. Representative, she has long been an outspoken supporter of international agreements that promote gender equality, and her call to ratify CEDAW reflects her belief that the U.S. should actively participate in efforts to eliminate gender discrimination on a global scale.