<html> The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor of sending the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to the full Senate for ratification. Contacting the US Senate:  <a href="http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm" eudora="autourl">http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm</a> Sample letter follows from Human Rights Watch: <a href="http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/cedaw/cedawletter.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/cedaw/cedawletter.html</a> Date The Honorable _________ United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator _______: I am gravely concerned by the United States' failure to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Women's rights are in jeopardy in this country and throughout the world, and need CEDAW's protections. Please support CEDAW ratification and urge other Senators to do so. CEDAW has already helped to improve conditions for women in countries that have ratified it. It is the most comprehensive U.N. treaty aimed at ensuring women's rights in education, family life, health care, employment, politics, economics, and employment around the world. It is imperative that the United States takes a strong stance in favor of this treaty in order to ensure that basic rights are respected for women around the world. As one of your constituents, I ask that you make women's rights a priority on your agenda by supporting the ratification of CEDAW and, thus, equality for women. Without the help of Senators such as you, the epidemic of violence and discrimination against women and girls will continue to remain a worldwide crisis. Sincerely, [Your name] [Your address] What Critics are Saying About CEDAW <a href="http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/cedaw/" eudora="autourl">http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/cedaw/</a> Opponents of CEDAW have attacked the treaty as a "toxic" document that tries to impose "radical feminism" around the world. Critics argue, among other things, that CEDAW infringes on U.S. sovereignty, promotes abortion, interferes with the notion of family, and will legalize prostitution. Their concerns are unfounded: 1.)  Sovereignty. CEDAW is not a "self-executing" treaty, and thus legislation would need to be passed in order to implement any of its obligations. Ratification of CEDAW alone would not give the United Nations or any other body the power to enforce CEDAW in the U.S. 2.)  Abortion. CEDAW does not take a position on abortion. The U.S. State Department itself says that CEDAW is "abortion neutral." Many countries that have criminalized abortion have ratified CEDAW, such as Ireland and Rwanda. Moreover, the U.S. has already said that it would insist on an "understanding" to CEDAW making clear that it does not include a right to abortion. 3.)  Family Interference. CEDAW would not interfere in the proper role of parents in childrearing, but rather calls for recognition of the "common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development of their children" and "to promote what is in the best interests of the child." This is consistent with U.S. law. 4.)  Prostitution. CEDAW does not require legalization of prostitution. The CEDAW Committee has recommended the decriminalization of prostitution in specific countries (such as China) where prostitution and trafficking in women and children are rampant, not for all countries in general. </html>