Complements of CEDAW: US Foreign Policy Coherence on Women’s Human Rights and Human Security

This article argues that the US should ratify CEDAW (The UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women). The US is currently the only democracy that has refused to ratify it. 7 countries total have not ratified CEDAW to date. The author posits that participation in CEDAW is an essential step towards implementing the UN Security Council’s resolutions on the theme of Women, Peace and Security. Part I of the article argues for the ratification of CEDAW to bolster American leadership in gender equality. Part II examines current American responses to violence against women. Finally, Part III argues that the ratification of CEDAW will spur a much-needed implementation shift in gender equalizing policy.