The United States is one of only
seven countries not to ratify a landmark international agreement that affirms
principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women.
By Don Kraus
This
year I came up with the best Valentine’s Day gift ever for my wife and
daughter. It’s inexpensive and, unlike a bouquet of flowers, should last beyond
their lifetimes. They’ll love it! I can’t think of a better way to express how
much I love them.
Rather
than chocolates or jewelry, I am going to join a One Billion Rising rally to end the violence against women that
has shattered lives and torn the fabric of societies around the world.
A
billion women — one out of every three on the planet — will be raped or beaten
sometime in their lifetime. That’s one billion moms, sisters, daughters, and
friends violated, one billion lives shattered, one billion hearts broken, and
one billion reasons to rise up and put an end to this violence.
On
February 14, rallies around the world are giving a billion women, and those who
love them, an opportunity to dance, speak out, and say, “Enough!”
This
landmark international agreement affirms principles of fundamental human rights
and equality for women around the world, including the rights not to be raped
or beaten. But ours is one of only seven countries — including Iran, Sudan, and
Somalia —that haven’t ratified this treaty.
This
accord offers countries a practical blueprint to achieve progress for women and
girls by calling on each ratifying country to overcome barriers of
discrimination. Around the world it has been used to reduce sex trafficking and
domestic abuse, provide access to education and vocational training, guarantee
the right to vote, ensure the ability to work and own a business without
discrimination, improve maternal health care, end forced marriage and child
marriage, and ensure inheritance rights.
Although
the Obama administration strongly supports its ratification and the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee has voted in favor of it twice with bipartisan
support (in 1994 and 2002), it has never been brought to the Senate floor for a
vote. It’s time to change that.
Why?
Joining this convention would continue our nation’s proud bipartisan tradition
of promoting and protecting human rights. Ratification requires two-thirds of
the Senate to stand together. The good news is that in this time of tight
budgets, it would cost us absolutely nothing.
Ratifying
it would strengthen the United States as a global leader in standing up for
women and girls around the world. Unfortunately today, our diplomats who speak
out to end violence against women are too often told that since we are not part
of the women’s treaty, we should mind our own business. Under the leadership of
Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, we ratified similar treaties on genocide,
torture, and race.
Finally,
bringing it to a full Senate vote would open up important conversations. While
American women enjoy opportunities and status not available to most of the
world’s women, few would dispute that more progress is needed. A Senate vote
would provide an opportunity for a national dialogue on how to address
persistent gaps in women’s full equality regarding closing the pay gap,
reducing domestic violence, and stopping human trafficking.
This
is something that I know my wife and daughter would love. So I’m speaking out
to end violence against women. It will be the very best Valentine’s Day gift
ever.
Don Kraus is the President and CEO of
GlobalSolutions.org.
Distributed via OtherWords. OtherWords.org
Distributed via OtherWords. OtherWords.org