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':" LYNN WOOLSEY
WAsmNaTQI'IO!'l'ICIl:
COMMmees; ,
SCIENCE
EOUCAT(ON ANO iHE
WORKFORCE
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October 22,'1999
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Dear Chairman Helms:
As supporters of' advancing international women's, rights, we call on you to take
Immediate action on the United Natioris Convention to E~iminate All Forms .of .'
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).· We are disappointed that you continue to,
withhold your support from this , b?!sic women's. tre,aty.
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WHY 00 WE NEED CIEDAW?
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CEDAW is the most comprehen$ive international treaty advancing the status of w~men.
This agreement ,establishes rights for women in areas not previously subject to
international standards, including politics, law, employment, education •. and health care.
More than 160 countries have ratified the treaty. There is an overwhelming outcry both
in the United States and abroad urging you to hold h~arjngs or discharg~ CEDAW from
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the ~enate Foreign Relations Committee.' .
WHAT ARE THE 8ENEF~TS OF RATIFICATiON?
The United States, the oldest democracy in the world. has earned the dubious
distinction of being the only developed nation that has'1Jot committed itself to, ending
discrimination against women. As a leading advocate for human rights, the United'
States has a responsibility to improve conditions for ail women .. By ratifYing CEDAW '
. the United States will strengthen its position as a superpower by leading the way on this
critical issue.
Women can not wait another day. We urge you to hold hearings or discharge CEDAW
. from the Senate Foreign Relations Committ~.
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Sincerely,
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�Letter to Chairman Jesse Helms
October 27, 1999
'Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
' S l g n e e s : ', '
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The Honorable Neil Abercromie
The Honorable Thomas Allen
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
The Honorable Tom Barrett
, The Honorable Xavier Becerra
The Honorable Shelley Berkeley ,
The Honorable Howard Berman,
The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson,
The Honorable Rod Blagojevich
The Honorable David Bonior
The Honorable Robert Brady
The Honorable Sherrod Brown
The Honorable Corrine' Brown
The Honorable Lois Capps
The Honorable Mike Capuano
The Honorable julia Carson
The Honorable Eva Clayton,
The Honorable James Clyburn
The Honorable John Conyers
The Honorable Joseph Crowley'
The Honorable Elij~h Cummings
The Honorable Danny Davis
, , The Honorable Diana DeGette
The Honorable Rosa Delauro
The Honorable Peter Deutsch
The, Honorable Julian Dixon
The Honorable Chet Edwards
The Honorable Eliot Engel
The Honorable Anna Eshoo
The Honorable Bob Etheridge
The Honorable Lane Evans
The Honorable Eni Faleomavaega
The Honorable Sam Farr
The Honorable Bob Filner
The Honorable Mike Forbes'
The Honorable Martin Frost
The Honorable Sam Gedjenson'
The Honorable Richard Gephardt
The Honorable Charles Gonzalez
The Honorable Gene Green
The Honorable Luis Guiterrez
The Honorable Maurice Hinchey
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton
The Honorable Rush Holt
The Honorable Darlene Hooley,
, The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee
The Honorable William Jefferson
· The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The Honorable Patrick Kennedy
The, Honorable Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick,
, The; Honorable Ron Kind
The: Honorable John LaFalce ,
The:Honorable Nick Lampson
The Honorable John Larson
The Honorable Barbara lee
The Honorable John Lewis
The Hono~tile Zoe Lofgren
. The Honorable Nita Lowey
. The Honorable Carolyn Maloney
The Honorable Edward Markey
The Honorable· Robert Matsui
The Honorable Karen. McCarthy· .
The Honorable Carolyn McCarthy
The Honorable Jim McDermott
The Honorable James McGovern
The Honorable Cynthia McKinney·
, The Honorable Marty Meehan
The Honorable Carrie Meek
The Honorable Juanita Millender-McDonald
The Honorable George· Miller
The Honorable Patsy Mink· .
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, he Honorable Dennis Moore .
The Honorable James Moran
The Honorable Constance Morella
The Honorable Jerrold Nadler
The Hbnorable Grace Napolitano
The Honorable John Olver
The Hpnorable Major Owens
�The Honorable Donald Payne
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
The Honorable Lynn Rivers
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
The Honorable Loretta Sanchez
The Honorable Bernard Sanders
The Honorable Tom Sawyer
The Honorable Jan Schakowsky
The Honorable Bobby Scott
The Honorable Jose Serrano
The Honorable Brad Sherman
The Honorable Louise Slaughter
The Honorable Vic Snyder
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
The Honorable Pete Stark
The Honorable Bart Stupak
The Honorable Ellen Tauscher
The Honorable Mike Thompson
The Honorable Karen Thurman
The Honorable James Tierney
The Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones
The Honorable Mark Udall
The Honorable Tom Udall
The Honorable Robert Underwood
The Honorable Nydia Velasquez
The Honorable Bruce Vento
The Honorable Maxine Waters
The Honorable Henry Waxman
The Honorable Anthony Weiner
The Honorable Robert Wexler
The Honorable Robert Weygand
The Honorable Lynn Woolsey
The Honorable David Wu
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'LYNN WOOLSEY ' .• '
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Thank you for your' s.o~d sUpport for theJJnitep Nations Co~vertion:to EHm!m3U: ~1 Forms of,. '\' ,.
?iscrimi~ation Against Women (CBDA~. Below is a s~ off.he past, CEDAW:ev.ents for your ...
infonnation..·
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19~~ 11Congresswom~n
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On WeiJnesday. Octob.,,;P.
4eliv¢\da lett;';
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and
men ofthe Ho~e ofRepresentati~es to Senate ForeIgn Relatioos Charrman Jesse Helms urgmg the
Senate to act ~n CEDAW. Folloing this event, the iss-qe of GEDAW ra~cation received much
deserved medIa coverage_II
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On Thursday, October 28, 1999; nJpeCongresswomen aqQepted a 'White House inVitation to discuss
CEDAW with. Chiefof Staff. John :~od~ and Co'Unselo~tO the President Al1n L~wis. At this
meeting the 'White House cemente~their commitmentto this vitalinter.nationiil women'! treaty.
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Fwther, on
1999. women ofthe House
to stxategize
on CEDAW ra~catjon WIth S~r Barbara Boxer. whO! announced she would llltroduce a S~
Resolution before acijownment Of~S session that the Se$te F()reign RelatiollB Committee should
hold bearings and the Senate shoUld act on CEDAW bef~ International Women's Day - March 8,
2000.
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Also, on Wednesday, Npvcmp~ 3;-1999, "thers ofus met with DemocraticLeade:r Tom Daschle who
pledged his support for. '
CEDAW.' 1
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Given the considerable amount ofnotewort!tr'atte:n:tion the Senate bas re.ceived regarding CEJ)AW
ratification, I also \X(BIlt to point. out mi, oppo~ity where you can demo.p.$'ate your gupport at ho~e. The'
President's Interagency Council on WomenjFcoordinating a series of nationwide events, entitled Women
20~O:Beijing flitS Fw,e. 'A~ the UnitedNa~ns Conference on ,?,oJ,llen ~~ Beijing in September 1995, the'
Uruted States made ratification of CEDA W , year 2000 one of lts Icorn.mltrilents. I encourage you to fight
for the women's rights eS'pou~ed in thi~ tr~~ and highlight them. a~the eVant clQsest to your district. Please
refer to the contaot name ~d infonnaqon
on tbeback. . •..
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Should you have any addrtional questions or ~eed further Information, please don't hesltate to contact me, or
Carisa·Henzeofmy sta:f:f. at 5-516L . . . .ll..
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Sincerely,
·X~
Lynn Wools~y
Men:ber of Congress
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YOQCAN SUPPORlTCEDAWI' '
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�S, T<HS. 237 IS
l06 lh Congres~
i 51 SesSiOll
S. RES. 237
IN THE SENA'l'lC OF THF.'UNltED STATES
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November 19,1999 .
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Mrs, HOXER(for herself, Mrs.MURl~ Y"Mrs. T~INC,OLN. Ms. MIKULSKI. Mrs. FDlNSTETN,
Mrs. COLL-LNS, Mrs. LANDRJEU, Mrs, SNOWR) submitted the foUowins:rcsoluLion: which Wl.lS
. onlcrcu to lie ovor, under the nile
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RJ~SOLUl"ON
Expressing the sense ofthe Senate thnt the United States Senate Committee,oll Foreign Relations
should hoM heo'lri1;'lS$and the Senate should ad on the G~n.vehlion on the) Blin'lination of AII Fonns
orDiscrimili8tjo'~lAg;dnst Wornell (C.uOAW),
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WHI}REAS thcUrih~lStatcs hns shown leadership in pr~Ololing huinanrights., including the righls
ofwomol1 fUldgi.rls)~d WAS i Ilstt'umental in the dovelopnlcrit orintematio#iilhul'l1an rights lrculit;s
lind norm~J inchiding'lhe Tnternationnt Convention on
Elimination ofAll Fonlls of
'l)iscrimillntioll~A't'~i,MtWomell, (CnDAW ) ; .
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WHERRAS the S~n~te has alroa~iy agreed to the ratifico.tion ofsevcl'al inlpoi1ant lmman rights
trcntie,s. includiliglh'e:Gcllocide Conve,lltion, the Convention Against Torture. the Intc:rnational
Covcmm1 on Civitarid Pontical Rights. and the Convention on the Elimination, of All Fom)s 0 f
RHcial.Di~criminn'tfdh;.
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WHHRI1AS CETJAW'cslablh;hes 1.\ worldwido eon,milrrient tocomhat discriminalion ilgainst
women and
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WHER'HAS HiS countries of the world ho.ve.) ratified or ae~ed~d to CEDAW and tI10 United Stlltcs
is among a smaU mi~orilY of cou~trles) inc:1l1ding Afghanistan, North Korea,Tran and Stld.::in, which
have not;
WI Ul~BAS ClIDAW is helping c0l11bat violence tlnd 'dis6rin1inatioll against women amI girls
around the w(.lrjd: .
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. WHEREAS CEDAW has lwd a significailt and positive impact otllcgal tleve)opmcllts in cOlll1lrics
us diverse :\!i Uganda, Colombia, Bra.zHand South Africa. including, on cUj:r.ensilip tights in
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Botswann <ind J~lpall, inhcrilance rights in 'tanzania, property rights and political parlicipatjoll in
Costa Ric.a; ,
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WHURRAS tho Administration has proposed a small ml1uber ofrcscr:vatiolls, l.lnderstantlings and
declarations to ensure thai U.S.r~LifiC'f1tion fu.lly complies with all cOL1sliLutiollal requirements.
incilldiug states' and individuals' rights;
WHEREAS the Icgislalures of Cnlifofllia, Iowa, Massachuselts, New HampshIre, New York, Norlh
Cnrolinu.. South Dakota and Vcmlont have endorscU u.s. roiit'icatioll ofCEDAW;
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WUERBAS mon:rthan one hUI1.dred U.S.~based. civic, legal; religiolls, education, and
envlronmelltill orgtUliz.aliQns. inoluding many major n;ltion~b)'iembcrship organi~atiolls, support
tLS:'ralificntion ofCEDAW;
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WlJhRHASrntification 0 f CoDA W would allow the United States to nominate a tcproscntali ve to
the CnDAW oveL"sight commiLtee, anu
WHEREAS 1999 is thu twct1licth ~l111iv0rsiLtY ollhe adoption of CBDA W by the UN Ge.ll~ral
Assembly: Now, therefore, is it
/(/.!,"SOLVEV, That it is
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th~ scl1s~
ofthe Senate th3t
tho Senate Foreigll Relations Comrilittcc should hold hcaiing$on t110 COllvention on the
1.11hni11Rtioll of AU Fonns of Djscrimfnation AgRiLlst Worilcn'(CBDAW); and
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(2) (2) tT10Senntc ahQuld acl on CnDAW by March 8, 2000;111tcrnalional Women's Day.
�CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF
ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN
'" call on the Senale: agaill, to ratify the United Natiolls Convention on the elimination ofall forms of
discrimination against women ... it is, to say the least, an embarrassment that the United Siaies has not
done this ... "
President Bill Clinton
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Human Rights Day, December 10, 1996
..... it is long past time for America to become party to the Convention on the Elimination of'
Discrimination Against Women. "
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
March 12, 1997
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.. Violence and discrimination against women don't just victimize individuals; they hold back whole
socielies ... Guaranteeing human rights is a moral imperative with respect to both women and men. It is
also an investment in making whole nalions stronger, fairer, and better. "
From the official U.S. Government statement to the World
Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, Austria, 1993
BACKGROUND
On December 18, 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women. The call for a Women's Convention emerged from the First World Conference
on Women in Mexico City in 1975. Until 1979, when the General Assembly adopted the Women's Convention,
there was no convention that addressed comprehensively women's rights within political, cultural, economic,
social, and family life.
CURRENT STATUS
In June 1997 the Clinton Administration informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of its priorities
for ratification of international treaties in the 105 th Congress. The Women's Convention is the only human
rights treaty listed in Category 1: "Treaties for which there is an urgent need for Senate approval."
As of December 1997, 161 countries had rati fled the Convention. The United States was active in drafting the
Convention and signed it on July 17, 1980. It was transmitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in
November 1980. In the summer of 1990, the Committee held hearings on the Convention. In the spring of 1993,
sixty-eight senators signed a letter to President Clinton, asking him to take the necessary steps to ratify the
Women's Convention. In June 1993, Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced at the World Conference
on Human Rights in Vienna that the Administration would move on the Women's Convention and other human
rig~ts treaties.
In September 1994, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported out favorably on the Convention, by a vote
of 13 to S (with one abstention). Unfortunately, this occurred in the last days of the Congressional session, when
several senators put a hold on the Convention, thereby blocking it from the Senate floor during the 103rd
Congress. When the new Senate convened in January 1995; the Convention reverted to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee for action, where it remains.
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT
HUMAN RlGHTS TREATY:
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International, U.S.A.
tel: (202) 675·8577, fax: (202) 546·7142, E-Mail: prengel@aiusa.lIsa.com
Kit Cosby, Baha'is of the U.S .
. tef: (202) 833·8990, fax: (202) 833·8988, E·Mail; usnsa.oea@usbnc.org
THE CO·CHAIRS
OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE WOMEN'S
�In,April 1996, Senators Snowe, Feinstein, Jeffords and Pell sellt a "Dear Colleague" to the other 96 Senators
urging them to rati ry the Convent ion. The Senators' letter inc luded an appeal for prom pt Senate act ion' that was
signed by III national organizations.
Sixty-seven "yes" votes are required for the Senate to consent to ratification. Action by the I-louse of
Representatives is not required for ratification of internationallreatics. To date five states, California, Iowa,
Massachusetts, New York and South Dakota, have endorsed U.S. ratification in their state legislatures.
IMPORTANCE OF U.S. RATIFICATION
The Convention provides a universal definition of discrimination against women so that those who would
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discriminate on the basis of sex can no longer claim that no clear definition exists..
Women in all parts of the world lack basic legal rights or protection of their rights under law. The cry that
women's rights are human rights originates from consideration of the plight of women. As a leading advocate for
human rights, the United States has a compelling interest to improve conditions for women. Yet, as one of the few
nations that has failed to ratify the Women's Convention, the United States compromises its credibility as a leader
for human rights. The fact that the United States was heavily involved in the drafting of the Women's Convention
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also lends weight to its opligation to ratify.
. Ratification of the Convention is called for in the concluding documents of the Fourth World Conference on
Women, the UN Conference on Human Rights, and the Vienna/Helsinki agreements of the Organization on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The United States was a signatory to these documents. The United
States also made ratification of the Women's Convention one of its public commitments at the UN Conference on
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Women in Beijing in September 1995.
Ratification of th~·Women;s Convention would also entitle the U.S. to join the United N~tions Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDA W),which monitors reports of progress in the treatment of
women from the countries that have ratified the Convention.
TREATY SUMMARY
Article 1: defines discrimination agai~st women as any "distinction, exclusion or restriction made on th~ basis of
sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women,
irrespective of marital status, on the basis of equality between men and women, of human rights or fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field."
Article 2: mandates States Parties to condemn discrimination in all its form~ and to ensure a legal framework,
including all laws, policies and practices that provide protection against discrimination and embody thepr.inciple
of equality; '.
Article 3: requires that States Parties take action in all fields -- civil, political, economic, social and cultural -- to
guarantee women's human rights;
Article 4: permits States Parties to take "temporary specialll1easures" to accelerate equality:
Article 5: declares the need t9 take appropriate measures to modify cultural patterns of conduct as well as the need
for family education to recogl~ize the social function of motherhood and the COllllllon responsibility for raising
children;
Article 6: obligates States Parties to take measures to suppress traffic in women and the exploitation of
prostitution of women;
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Article 7: maildates the States Parties to end discrimination agaillst womeJl in political and public life, and to
ensure women's equal rights to vote, be eligible for election, participate in the f()rlllulation of policy, hold office,
and participate in associations and non-gov<;rnmental orgariizatioils in these spheres;
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Article 8: requires action to allow
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their governments internationally on an equal basis with
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Article 9: mandates that women will have equal rights with men to acquire, change, or retain. their nationality and
that of th~ir ch ildren;
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Article 10: obligates States Parties to erid di~crimination in educ~tion, including in professional and vocational
training, access to curricula and other means of receiving an equal education; as well as to eliminate stereotyped' .
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Article 11: mandates the end of discrimination' in the field of employment, including the right to work, to
employment opportunities, to equal remuneration, to free choice of profession and employment, to social security,
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aI,ldto protection of health, including maternal health,and also in regard to discrim ination on the grounds of
marriage or maternity;
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Article 12: requires steps to eliminate discrimination from the fie'ld of health care, inCluding access
such as family planning;
to services
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Article 13: requires that women be ensured the same rights as men in all areas of social and economic life, such as
family benefits, mortgages, bank loans, and participation in recreational activities and sports;
Article 14:focllses on the particular problems faced by rural women, including the areas of women's participation
in development planning, access to adequate health care, credit, e~ucation, and adequate living conditions;
Article 15: obligates States Parties to take steps to ensure equality before the law and the same legal capacity to
act in such areas as contracts, administration of property, and choice of residence;
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Article 16: requiressteps to ensure equality. in marriage and family relations, including equal rights with men,
freely to choose mar~iage, equal rights and responsibilities toward children, including the right to decide freely and"
. responsibly onthe number and spacing of chi.ldren ancl'the means to do so, and the same rights to property;
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Article 17: calls for the establishment ofttie' Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDA W) which will evaluate progress made in implementation of the Convention,
Article 18: establishes a schedule of reporting on progress by ratifying countries;
Article 19: establishes the ability ofCEDAW t() ~dopt rules ofprbcedure and sets a two-year term for its officers;
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Article 20: Sets al1l1uaiCEDA W meetings to reviewStates Parties' reports;
Article 21: directs CEDA W to report annually to the General Assembly through ECOSOC, and to make
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suggest,ions and gCI'Wnl I recommendations based on the States Pa~t ies' reports;. .
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Article 22: allows for representation of the specialized agencies cifthe UN.and fix CEDAWto invite reports from
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Articles 2J-JO: set 1'01'111 elements'ofthc operation of the treaty, including the manner hy which,the treaty cO~l1es illln
uperation, the limits 011 the scope of permissible reservations, and the way in whi'ch (iisplites between States Parties
can be settl,ed
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�ORGANI~ATIO~S THAT HAVE ENDORSED THE WOMEN'S CONVENTION (Partial· list)
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Actioll for Development
'American Association of Retired Persons,
American Association of University Women
American Bar Association (endorsed positi~n by s«parate letter)
American College of Nurse-Midwives,.
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American Council for the United Nations.University.'
American Federation of Teachers
American Friends Service Committee. Washington pmce
American Jewish Committee
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American Nurses Association
American Veterans Committee
Americans for Democratic Action, Inc.
Amnesty International USA
Association for Women in Development
Association for. Women in Psychology
Anti-Defamation League of B 'nai B'dth
Baha'is of the United States
Black'Wome~'s Agenda
B'nai B'rith International
Bread for the World'
Business and Professional Women/USA
BVM Network for Women's Issues
Catholics for A Free Choice
Center for Advancement 01: Public Policy
Center for Policy Alternatives
Center for· Reproductive Law and Policy
Center for Women's Global Leaderstiip
Center of ConcernChicago Catholic Wom,en
Chicago Women-Chu'rch
Church of the B~ethren, Washington Office
Church Women United
Coalition on Religion & Ecology
Coalition for \I/omen International Development"
Colurriban Fathers' Jl,Istice & Peace Office
Commission on the Advancement of WomenilnterAction
D:C. Statehood Solidarity ComfT]ittee
Earthcommunity Center
Eight. Day Center for Justice
Episcopal Church' " '
Feminist M~iority. Foundation
Francois Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights
Friendsofthe U.N. .
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Friends Committee on N!itional Legislation
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Global Commission to Ftmd the UN
Gray Panthers :
Guatemala Human Rights Commission
Hadassah
.
Health &: Development Policy Project
Human Rights Advocates
Human Rights Watch/W\lmen's Rights Project
The Htllimne Society
International Center for Research on Women
Iniernational Gay and Lesbian Human Rights'Commission
International Human Rights Law G r o u p '
I'nternational Women's Health Coalition
'International Women's II1Iman Rights Law Clinic
International Women Judges Foundation
The J. Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of iluman Rights
Jewish. Womcn InternatiolHil.
"
Lambda Legal Defense alid Education Fund. Inc:
in
. ~~;
(
. '
.
L,awycrs Cbmmittee for HlI!lHIIlRights
Leadcrship Conference of Women Religious
League of Women Voters of the United States
Louisville Women-Church
· Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
Maryknoll MissionAssocj~'tion of the Faithful
Maryknoll Sisters.'
'Marykn~1l Society Justice and Peace Omce
Mass~chusetts Women-Church,
Na'amat USA.
National Asso~iation of Social Workers
National Association of Women Lawyers
National'Audubon Society
.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition of American Nuns .
Natiolllil Council of Negro Women
: National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Women of the LJSA
.
.' National Education Association
National Jewish Community Rellitions Advisory Council
· National Women's Conference Committee
NOW Legal Defense & Education F~nd
NETWORK - A National c;atholic Social Justic!! Lobby
Older ~omen's League
.
Oxfam America
.Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
Psychologists for Social Responsibility
.: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
San Francisco Bay Area Women's Ordination Confercnce
Sierra Club
Sisterhood is Global Institute
· Sisiers of SL Joseph of Peace
Soka Gakkai International - USA
· Society for international DevelopmtntiWornen in Development
Soroptimisi rnternational of the Americas
Uni~n of American Hebrew Congregations
Unitarian Univ~rSalist Association, Washington Office
Unitarian Universalist Service'Committee
United Church· of Christ office for Church and Society
United Methodist Church (GBCS)
United Nations Association ofthe.United States of America
United Nations AssociationlNational C~pital Area '
, United States Committee for UNICEF
United States Comrnittee for UNIFEM
U.S.' Network for WomenlBeijing ~d Beyo~d .
Washington Office on Aftica
.
,
Winrock International
Woman~s N~iional Democratic Club
Women Empowering Women oflndian Nations (WEWIN)
.
Women of Reform Judaism'
Women for International Peace and Arbitration
Women for Meaningful Summits
· Women Law (l'nd Dcvdopinent Inte~atjonal
· Women ~s Action for Nell' Directions
Women's Environment and Development Organization
Women's Instiiute For Freedom of The Press
Women's International League for Pe~ce and Freedom
Women's Lcgal Defense FUlld
Women's Ordination Conference
· World Federalist Association
V,WCA of the USA
. Decelllber/997
�I.
NACW&CEDAW
Two',~Sidesofthe Same Coin
,The National Association ofCommissions for Women (NACW) has supported United States ratification of the Convention'on
Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for several years. In 1996, NACW passed a'
• resolution urging the United States Senate to ratify this important treaty ensuring equal rights for women around the world.
This treaty still languishes on Capitol Hill. Therefor NACW's support for this effort is more critical than ever.
~ ,the
Why .•• ?
Ratification of CEDAW would send a strong signal to other countries that the United States is serious about ending
discrimination internationally and giving women in other countries the same opportunities that we enjoy here in the
United States. Moreover, many ofthe resolutions adopted by NACW to combat discrimination in this country are
directly linked to similar resolutions in CEDAW.
Did you know that • ~ • ?
..~. 'I.: ,",':'
•
NACW has worked consistently to combat the practice of trafficking in women, CEDAW, in tum,
obligates States Parties to take measures to suppress trafficking in women and the exploitation of
prostitution of women internationally;
•
NACW has supported the establishment ofwage laws in the United States to ensure women receive equal
pay for equal work. CEDAW, in tum, mandates that all participating countries end discrimination in the
field of employment, including rights to, equal 'remuneration; ,
'
•
NACW has been at the forefront of ensuring that the U.S. Social Security System continues to provide
e£onomi£ security for women. CEDAW, in tum, ranks this issue as a top priority internationally;
•
NACW has long supported efforts in the United States to.provide women access to health information,
equity in research & treatments. CEDAW, in tum, requires steps by States Parties to eliminate
discrimination from the entire field of health care, including clinical trails, treatment and services.
•
NACW recently passed a resolution outlining goals to achieve gender equity in the educational systems
throughout the United States. CEDAW, in tum, obligates States Parties internationally to end
dis~tion in education, citing professional and vocational training, access to curricula and other means
of receiving an equal education;
•
NACW has cited domestic vi~lence as a critical national issue requiring the collection of more.
comprehensive demographic data through member commissions. CEDAW, in tum, focuses on combating ,
.violence against women'ai the international level and makes the linkage between discrimination against
women and the violence directed toward them.
'
�~
U1 0 :J' amvs a'l/I/o sap1S OM~·'
.
MIOJ3
Insu~ary
••••
: \, ••
J~
.' •
. ,The priorities of commissions for women' at the local level are reinforced by NACW at the national level and at the
international level through CEDAW. Urging the United'States Senate ratification of CEDAW simultaneously
. adv~ces the NACW ,agenda.
., .
'l··
It's two sides ofthe same coin.
'.'
For additional information, please contact:
NACW
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 9~4
Silver Spring; MD 20910-3803
301-:·585-8101 or 800-338-9267
fax: 301-585-3445
www.nacw.org
'.
"
�CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF
ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN
..... obtaining Senate advice and consent to the ratification ofCEDAW is a top Administration priority
during this [J 05/h} session ofCongress. "
President Bill Clinton
From a letter to the Senate leadership, March 11, 1998
./
" ... it is long past time for America to become party to the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women. "
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
.
March 12, 1997
'~Violence
and discrimination against women don't just victimize individuals; they hold back whole
societies ... Guaranteeing human rights is a moral imperative with respect to both women and men. It is
also an investment in making whole nations stronger,fairer, and better. "
From the official U.S. Government statement to the World
Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, Austria, 1993
BACKGROUND
On December 18, 1979, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (Women's Convention or CEDAW). The call for a Women's Convention
emerged from the First World Conference on Women in Mexico' City in 1975. Until 1979, when the General
Assembly adopted the Women's Convention, there was no convention that addressed comprehensively women's
rights within political, cultural, economic, social, and family life. As of December 1999, 165 countries had ratified
the Convention.
CURRENT STATUS
In June 1997 the Clinton Administration informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of its priorities
for ratification of international treaties in the 10S'b Congress. The Women's Convention is the only human
rights treaty listed in Category 1: "Treaties for which there is an urgent need for Senate approval."
The United States was active in drafting the Convention and signed it on July 17, 1980. It was transmitted to the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee in November 1980. In the summer of 1990, the Committee held hearings on
the Convention. In the spring of 1993, sixty~eight senators signed a letter to President Clinton, asking him to take
the necessary steps to ratify the Women's Convention. In June 1993, Secretary of State Warren Christopher
announced at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna that the Administration would move on the
Women's Convention and other human rights treaties.
In September 1994, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reported out favorably on the Convention, by a vote
of 13 to 5 (with one abstention). Unfortunately, this occurred in the last days of the Congressional session, when
several senators put a hold on the Convention, thereby blocking it from the Senate floor during the 103rd
Congress. When the new Senate convened in January 1995, the Convention reverted to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.. The committee has taken no action since then.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT
THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY:
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International, U.S.A.
tel: (202) 675·8577. fax: (202) 546-7142, E-Mail: prengel@aiusa.org
Kit Cosby, Baha'is of the U.S.
tel: (202) 833-8990, fax: (202) 833-8988, E-Mail: usnsa-oea@usbnc.org
�Sixty-seven "yes" votes are required for the Senate to consent to ratification.' Action by the House of
Representatives is not required for ratification of international treaties. To date ten states have endorsed U.S.
ratification in their state legislatures: California, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
York, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont. The Connecticut State Scnate and the JIIinois House of
Representatives have also endorsed U.S. ratification.
IMPORTANCE OF U.S. RATIFICATION
The Convention provides a universal definition ofdiscrimination against women that provides a basis for every
, government's domestic and foreign policy to combat discrimination.
As one of the few nations that has failed to ratify the Women's Convention, the United States compromises its
credibility as a leader for human rights. The United States made ratification ofthe Women's Convention by the
year 2000 one of its public commitments at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995. The
United States must keep that commitment.
The Women's Convention is a tool that women around the world are using in their struggle against the effects of
discrimination: violence against women, poverty, lack of legal status, no right to inherit or own property, access to
credit, etc. Women need the United States to speak loudly and clearly in support of the Women's Convention so
that the Convention becomes a stronger instrument in support of their struggles. Without US ratification, other
governments can more easily ignore the Convention's mandate and their ob1igations under it.
Violence against women seriously inhibits women's ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with
men. But violence against women itself emerges from the phenomenon of discrimination against women which
makes them a target of violence. To effectively combat the crime of violence against women, US policy must
address this linkage of discrimination and violence. By ratifying the Women's Convention, the United States will
reinforce its commitment to eliminate discrimination and, therefore, move closer to effectively combating violence
against women.
The Clinton Administration has developed a number of provisions that will be incorporated into'US ratification of
the Convention to ensure that there will be no inappropriate intrusion on states' rights or into the private domain.
,
'
Ratification of the Women's Convention will entitIethe United States to nominate a U.S. expert to be a member of
the Committee on the Elimination of Discdmination Against Women, which monitors reports of progress in the
treatment of women from the countries that have ratified the Convention. In this capacity, the US expert could
bring the benefit of US experience in combating discrimination against women to this international forum.
TREATY SUMMARY
Article 1: defines discrimination against women as any '~distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis
of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women,
irrespective of marital status, on the basis of equality between men and women, of human rights or fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field."
Article 2: mandates States Parties to condemn discrimination in all its forms and to ensure a legal framework,
including all laws, policies and practices that provide protection against discrimination and embody the principle
of equality;
.
Article 3: requires that States Parties take action in all fields -- civil, po1itical, economic, social and cultural -- to
guarantee women's human rights;
Article 4: permits States Parties to take "temporary special measures" to accelerate equality;
Article 5: declares the need to take appropriate measures to modify cultural patterns of conduct as well as the need
for family education to recognize the social function of motherhood and the common responsibi1ity for raising
children;
.
Article 6: obligates States Parties to take measures to suppress traffic in women and the exploitation of
prostitution of women;
�Article 7: mandates the States Parties to end discrimination against women in political and public life, and to
ensure women's equal rights to vote, be eligible for election, participate in the formulation of policy, hold office,
and participate in associations and non-governmental organizations in these spheres;
Article 8: requires action to allow women to represent their governments internationally on an equal basis with
men;
Article 9: mandates that women will have equal rights with men to acquire, change, or retain their nationality and
that of their children;
Article 10: obligates States Parties to end discrimination in education, including in professional and vocational
training, access to curricula and other means of receiving an equal education; as well as tiieliminate stereotyped
concepts of the roles of men and women;
Article 11: mandates the end of discrimination in the field of employment, including the right to work, to
employment opportunities, to equal remuneration, to free choice of profession and employment, to social
security, and to protection of health, including maternal health, and also in regard to discrimination on the grounds
of marriage or maternity;
Article 12: requires steps to eliminate discrimination from the field of health care, including access to services
such as family planning;
.
Article 13: requires that women be ensured the same rights as men in all areas of social and economic life, such as
family benefits, mortgages, bank loans, and participation in recreational activities and sports;
Article 14: focuses on the particular problems faced by rural women, including the areas ofwomen's participation
in development planning, access to adequate health care, credit, education, and adequate living conditions;
Article 15: obligates States Parties to take steps to ensure equality before the law and the same legal capacity to
act in such areas as contracts, administration of property, and choice of residence;
Article 16: requires steps to ensure equality in marriage and family relations, including equal rights with men
freely to choose marriage, equal rights and responsibilities toward children, including the right to decide freely
and responsibly on the number and spacing of children and the means to do so, and the same rights to property;
Article 17: calls for the establishment ofthe Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) which will evaluate progress made in implementation of the Convention.
Article 18: establishes a schedule of reporting on progress by ratifying countries;
Article 19: establishes the ability of CEDA W to adopt rules of procedure and sets a two-year term for its officers;
Article 20: Sets annual CEDAW meetings to review States Parties' reports;
Article 21: directs CEDAW to report annually to the General Assembly through ECOSOC, and to make
suggestions and general recommendations based on the States Parties' reports;
Article 22: allows for representation of the specialized agencies of the UN and for CEDA W to invite reports from
them;
Articles 23-30: set forth elements of the operation of the treaty, including the manner by which the treaty comes into
operation, the limits on the scope of permissible reservations, and the way in which disputes between States Parties
can be settled.
. . .
�ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ENDORSED THE WOMEN'S CONVENTION (Partial list)
h,e
-....
Action for Development
• American Association of Retired Persons
• American Association of University Women
• American Bar Association
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Council for the United Nations University
American Federation of Teachers
• American Fri ends Service Committee
• American Jewish Committee
• American Nurses Association
American Veterans Committee
Americans for Democratic Action, Inc.
·Amnesty International USA
Association for Women in Development
Association for Women in Psychology
Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
·Baha'is of the United States
Black Women's Agenda
·B'nai B'rith International
Bread for the World
·Business and Professional Women/USA
BVM Network for Women's Issues
Catholics for A Free Choice
Center for Advancement of Public Policy
Center for Policy Alternatives
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Center of Concern
. Chicago Catholic Women
Church of the Brethren, Washington Office
·Church Women United
Coalition on Religion & Ecology
Coalition for Women in International Development
Columban Fathers' Justice & Peace Office
Commission on the Advancement of WomenllnterAction
D.C. Statehood Solidarity Committee
Earthcommunity Center
Eighth Day Center for Justice
Episcopal Church
·Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
·Feminist Majority Foundation
Francois Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights
Friends of the U.N.
• Friends .Committee on National Legislation
·General Federation of Women's Clubs
Global Commission to Fund the UN
Gray Panthers
Guatemala Human Rights Commis..sion
Hadassah
Health & Development Policy Project
Human Rights Advocates
Human Rights Watch/Women's Rights Division
The Humane Society
International Center for Research on Women
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
International Human Rights Law Group
Interna~ional Women's Health Coalition
International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic
International Women Judges Foundation
The J. Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
• Jewish Women International
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc.
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.
·Leadership Conference of Women Religious
·League of Women Voters of the United States
Louisville Women-Church
Maryknoll Mission Association ofthe Faithful
Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
Massachusetts Women-Church
Na'amat USA
·National Association of Commissions for Women
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Women Lawyers
National Audubon Society
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Coalition of American Nuns
·National Council of Negro Women
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National Council of Women of the USA
·National Council of Women's Organizations
·National Education Association
National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council
National Women's Conference Committee
·NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund
NETWORK - A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Older Women's League
Oxfam America
Planried Parenthood Federation of America
·Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Washington Office
Psychologists for Social Responsibility
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
San Francisco Bay Area Women's Ordination Conference
·Sierra Club
Sisterhood is Global Institute
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Soka Gakkai International - USA
Society for International Development/Women in Development
"'Soroptimist International of the Americas
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
·Unitarian Universalist Association, Washington Office
. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Church of Christ Office for Church and Society
·United Methodist Church
·United Nations Association of the United States of America
United States Committee for UNICEF
United States Committee for UNIFEM
Washington Office on Afiica
Winrock International
Woman's National Democratic Club
Women Empowering Women of Indian Nations (WEWIN)
Women of Reform Judaism
Women for International Peace and Arbitration
Women for Meaningful Summits
Women Law and Development International
·Women's Action for New DirectionslWomen Legislators Lobby
Women's Environment and Development Organization
Women's Institute For Freedom of The Press
·Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's Legal Defense Fund
Women's Ordination Conference
World Citizen Foundation
"'World Federalist Association
·YWCA of the U.S.A.
• Active National Membership Organizations
December J999
�WOJRJKING GROUP ON RA"1rHIFII(JA"1rHON
OF TIlE
UoNo CONVEN"1rHON ON THE ELlIMHNATlION OlF ALIL lFORMS OF
OHSCRIltHHNA'THON AGAlINS'T WOMEN
Kit Cosby"
Director for External Affairs
National Spiritual Assembly
. of the Baha'Is of the United States
1320 19th Street. N.W. Suite 701
Washington. D.C. 20036
(202) 833:8990 • fax: (202) 833-8988
Pat Rengel
Chief Legislative Counsel
Amnesty International U. S.A.
600 Pennsylvania Avenue. S.E., 5th Floor
Washington. D.C. 20003
(202) 675-8577. fax: (202) 546·7142
Suggested GrassrootslNGO Action Items to Urge Ratification of CEDAW
• Contact your Senator (whether for, against, or uncommitted) and encourage himlher to sign on to the Senate
Resolution, S. Res. 237, that urges the Senate to hold hearings and act on CEDA W by March 8, 2000.
• Call your Senator's statewide offices and request a meeting with the Senator or foreign affairs legislative
aide during the Senate recess (December and January). If your Senator(s) do not already support
. CEDA W, ask them to state their concerns so that you can address them.
• Send your Senator(s) a "holiday" card/letter, and ask them to support CEDAW and co-sponsor S. Res. 237.
• Contact your senator* jfhe/she is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC). Encourage
them to urge the SFRC's leadership, Jesse Helms (R-NC) & Joseph Biden (D-DE), to move CEDA W out of
the SFRC to the floor for a vote this Congress.
.
• Write letters to your senators* encouraging them to urge the Republican (Trent Lott/Jesse Helms) and
Democratic (Tom DaschlelJoseph Biden) Senate leadership to bring CEDA W to a vote on the floor this
Congress.
• Arrange a visit with your senators* during a Senate recess, particularly if he/she is still uncommitted on
ratification and a junior senator from your state. Include NGO representatives from like-minded groups as part
of a delegation.
I
• Arrange a meeting with your senator ifhe/she is committed and urge himlher to become a more active leader
in the effort to ratify the treaty.
• Encourage local, statewide, and national Republican and Democratic women leaders to speak out in favor of
ratification.
• Work with local organizations/religious groups (i.e., Baha'is, Methodists, YWCA, Amnesty International,
UNA-USA, General Federation of Women's Clubs) to organize events highlighting ratification.
• Urge NGO membership in the relevant states to contact their newly elected senators* asking them about their'
position ?n CEDA W and urging them to support ratifi~ation.
* Refer to other side for Senate Assessments
# Please inform the Working Group, at the above address, of any of your activities in support of ratification
ofCEDAW
.
December 1999
\
I
\
,
.1
I
�Assessment of Senate Support for US Ratification of CEDAW
106th Congress:
FOR:
Akaka, D. (D-HI)O
Baucus, M. (D-MT)O
Biden, 1. (D-DE)o+
Bingaman, J. (D-NM)O
Boxer, B. (D-CA)o+
Breaux, 1. (D-LA)O
Bryan, R. (D-NV)O
Byrd, R. (D-WV)O
Campbell, B. (R-CO)O
Cleland, Max (D-GA)
Collins, S. (R-ME)
Conrad, K. (D-ND)O
Daschle, T. (D-SD)O
. Dodd, C. (D-CT)o+
Dorgan, B. (D-ND)O
Durbin, R. (D-IL)
Feingold, R. (D-WI)°+
Feinstein, D. (D-CA)O
Graham, B. (D-FL)°
Harkin, T. (D-IA)O
Hollings, E.(D-SC)°
Inouye, D. (D-HI)O
Jeffords, 1. (R-VT)O
Johnson, T. (D-SD)
Kennedy, E. (D-MA)O
Kerrey, R. (D-NE)O
Kerry, J. (D-MA)o+
Kohl, H. (D-WW
Landrieu, M. (D-LA)
Lautenberg, F. (D-NJ)
Leahy, P. (D-VT)O
Levin, C. (D-MI)O
FOR:
Lieberman,1. (D_CT)O
Lincoln, B. L. (D-AR)*
McCain, J. (R-AZ)O
Mikulski, B. (D-MD)O
Moynihan, D. (D-NY)°
Murray, P. (D-WA)O
Reed, J. (D-RI)
Reid, H. (D-NV}O
Robb, C. (D-VA)O
Rockefeller, 1. (D-WV)O
Sarbanes, P. (D-MD)o+
Schumer, C. (D-NY)*
Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)
Specter, A. (R-PA)O
Thurmond, S. (R-SC)°
Torricelli, R. (D-NJ)+
Warner, 1. (R-VA)O
Wellstone, P. (D-MN)o+
Wyden, R. (D-OR)
*Newly elected to l06 th Congress
+Members of Foreign Relations Committee
°Signed the Sen. Simon "Dear ~olleague" letter in the l03rd Congress
## Above list is also based on Senators' responses to constituent letters ##
NEW SENATORS:
Bayh, E. (D-IN)*
Bunning, J. (R-KY)*
Chafee, L. (R-RI)*+
Crapo, M. (R-ID)*
Edwards, J. (D-NC)*
Fitzgerald, P. (R-IL)*
Voinovich, G. (R-OH)*
December 1999
UNKNOWN:
AGAINST:
Abraham, S. (R-MI)
Allard, W. (R-CO)
Bennett, R. (R-VT)
Bond, C. (R-MO)
Brownback, S. (R-KS)+
Burns, C. (R-MT)
Cochran, T. (R-MS)
Craig, L. (R-ID)
DeWine, M. (R-OH)
Domenici, P. (R-NM)
Enzi, M. (R-WY)
Frist, B. (R-TN)+
Gorton, S. (R-WA)
Grams, R. (R-MN)+
Grassley, C. (R-IA)
Hatch, O. (R-VT)
Hutchinson, T. (R-AR)
Inhofe,1. (R-OK)
Kyl, 1. (R-AZ)
Lott, T. (R-MS)
Lugar, R. (R-IN)+
Mack, C. (R-FL)
Murkowski, F. (R-AK)O
Nickles, D. (R-OK)
Roberts, P. (R-KS)
Roth, W. (R-DE)
Santorum, R. (R-PA)
Sessions, J. (R-AL)
Shelby, R. (R-AL)°
Smith, G. (R-OR)+
Smith, R. (R-NH)
Stevens, T. (R-AK)
Thomas, C. (R-WY)+
Thompson, F. (R-TN)
Ashcroft, 1. (R-MO)+
Coverdell, P. (R-GA)
Gramm, P. (R-TX)
Gregg, 1. (R-NH)
Hagel, C. (R-NE)+
Helms, J. (R-NC)+
Hutchison, K. (R-TX)
McConnell, M. (R-KY)
�S. RES. 237 IS
1st Session·
S. RES. 237
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 19, 1999
Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. LINCOLN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mrs. FEINSTEIN,
Mrs. COLLINS, Mrs. LANDRIEU, Mrs. SNOWE) submitted the following resolution; which was
ordered to lie over, under the rule
RESOLUTION
. Expressing the sense ofthe Senate that the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
should hold hearings and the Senate should act on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women (CEDA W),
WHEREAS the Untied States has shown leadership in promoting human rights, including the rights
of women and girls, a.n,d was instrumental in the development ()finternational human rights treaties
and norms, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
WHEREAS the Senate has already agreed to the ratification of several important human rights
treaties, including the Genocide Convention, the Convention Against Torture, the IntematioQal
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination;
WHEREAS CEDAW establishes a worldwide commitment to combat discrimination against
women and girls;
WHEREAS 165 countries ofthe world have ratified or acceded to CEDAW and the United States
is among a small minority of countries, including Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran and Sudan, which
have not;
WHEREAS CEDAW is helping combat violence and discrimination against women and girls
around the world:
.
WHEREAS CEDAW has had a significant and positive impact on legal developments in countries
as diverse as Uganda, Colombia, Brazil and South Africa, induding, on citizenship rights in .
Botswana and Japan, inheritance rights in Tanzania, property rights and political participation in
Costa Rica;
�WHEREAS the Administration has proposed a small number of reservations, understandings and
declarations to ensure that U.S. ratification fully complies with all constitutional requirements,
,
including states' and individuals' rights;
WHEREAS the legislatures of California, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North
Carolina, South Dakota and Vermont have endorsed U.S. ratification ofCEDAW;
WHEREAS more than one hundred U.S.-based, civic, legal, religious, education, and
environmental organizations, including many major national membership organizations, support
U.S. ratification of CEDAW;
WHEREAS ratification of CEDAW would allow the United States to nominate a representative to
the CEDAW oversight committee, and
WHEREAS 1999 is the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of CEDAW by the UN General
Assembly: Now, therefore, is it ;
RESOL VED, That it is the sense of the Senate that-'
(1) the Senate Foreign Relations Committee should hold hearings on the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and
(2) (2) the Senate should act on CEDAWby March 8, 2000, International Women's Day.
�CONVENTION ON THE ELIMIr~ATION OF
ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN
H
FEAR vs. FACT
The United States is a world leader in the promotion of women's rights, pa.rticularly in giving meaning to
the principle of the equality of women and men. Nevertheless, the U.S. has not ratified the authoritative
document that sets comprehensive standards on women's equality, the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Although as of Jilly 1999, 163 countries had
ratified this Convention, with its failure,to ratify, the U.S. remains in the company of countries like Iran
and the Sudan, where women's rights are in a deplorable state. In part, hesitancy to ratify this important
document stems from unfounded fears associated with the implementationofCEDAW in the U.S. These
fears are addressed below:
'
FEAR: U.S. ratification ofCEDAW would give too much power to the international community with
the provisions of the Convention superseding U.S. federal and state law.
,
I
FACT: As with many international agreements, countries can express "reservations, understandings and
declarations" in cases where there are discrepancies between the international convention or treaty and
domestic law. For the most part, U.S. law complies with the requirements of the Convention and the
Convention is compatible with the principles of the U.S. Constitution. And, where any differences do
exist, the Convention calls for appropriate measures to be taken to progressively promote the principle of
nondiscrimination. Such language implies no enforcement authority by the international community.
I
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*
FEAR: "Discrimination" is too broadly defined in CEDAWand its implementation in the U.S. would
result in "frivolous" lawsuits.
I
FACT: While implementation of CEDAW could ~aise U.S. legal standards,~ a flurry of frivolous
lawsuits is unlikely. CEDAW's definition of discrimination includes both discrimination which is
intentional and that which is the result of laws, policies, and practices which, when applied, have the
impact (sometimes unintentionally) of discriminating against women. U.S. law already governs
discrimination in private and public employment, prohibiting policies and practices that unintentionally
burden women greater than men. Regardless, claims in the U.S. related to sex discrimination are not
subjected to the same "strict scrutiny" standards applied to claims of race discrimination. Thus,
implementation of CEDAW could help to rectify these discrepancies in U.S. law over time. But, since
there has been no flurry of frivolous lawsuits with respect to race discriminatlon, it is not expected for
sex discrimination, either.
*
*
*
FEAR: CEDAW can be used to destroy the traditional family structure in
"family" and the respective roles of men and women.
tht~
U.S. by redefining
FACT: CEDAW does not, and would not, seek to regulate any constitutionally protected interests with
respect to family life. Both CEDAW and the U.S. Constitution recognize the restraints of any goveming
authority to interfere with an individual's most basic decisions regarding family. CEDAW simply urges
State Parties "to adopt education and public information programmes, which will eliminate prejudices
and current practices that hinder the full operation ofthe principle of the social equality of women."
,
*
*
*
\
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�FEAR: Implementation of CEDAW would usurp the proper role of parents in child rearing.
FACT: CEDAW simply calls for a recognition of the "common responsibility of men and women in the
upbringing and development of their children" and maintains "the parents' common responsibility [is] to
promote what is in the best interest of the child." The U.S. Constitution limits the power of government
to interfere in certain private matters such as decisions by parents concerning the upbringing of their
children. CEDAW implementation would not change this fact. Nonetheless, it should be recognized that
determining a child's "best interest" is not always an easy process and, in extreme cases such as
violence, abuse, abandonment, and neglect, is a matter that even our own U.S. courts struggle with.
*
*
*
FEAR: CEDAW may discourage or eliminate single-sex schools and/or force local school districts to
"gender neutralize" school textbooks and programs.
FACT: CEDAW does not require the prohibition of single-sex education, but, in fact, asks States Parties
to encourage co-education as well as other types of education which may achieve the aim of education
equality. Note that this language is particularly meant to address the needs of many countries which,
unlike the U.S., have yet to develop educational programs which are accessible to both young girls and
boys. In terms of its application to the U.S., CEDAW would encourage the development of equal
educational material, whether taught in single-sex or mixed schools.
* .
*
*
FEAR: CEDAW supports abortion through its promotion of access to "family planning."
FACT: Actually, CEDAW does not even address the matter of abortion and, according to the U.S. State
Department is "abortion neutral." Moreover, many states in which abortion is illegal- such as Ireland,
Burkina Faso and Rwanda - have ratified this Convention.
*
*
*
FEAR: U.S. ratification of CEDAW might be used to sanction same-sex marriages.
FACT: The Convention makes clear that it is not aimed at all sex-based discrimination, but only at
discrimination that is directed specifically against women. A same-sex marriage claim would include a
charge that both men and women who want to marry individuals of their oWn sex are being discriminated
against. Moreover, there is no provision in the Convention that would compel the U.S. Congress, or
other national legislature, to pass same-sex marriage laws in order to comply with the Convention.
*
*
*
FEAR: U.S. ratification of CEDAW promotes equal pay for unequal work.
FACT: Comparable worth seeks to remedy the under-valuation of occupations traditionally held by
women through objective comparison between their job functions and those of positions traditionally
held by men.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT
THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE WORKING GROUP ON THE WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS TREAIT:
Pat Rengel, Amnesty International, U.S.A.
tel: (202) 675-8577, fax: (202) 546-7142, E-Mail: prengel@aiusa.org
.
Kit Cosby, Baha'is of the U.S.
tel: (202) 833-8990, fax: (202) 833-8988, E-Mail: usnsa-oea@usbnc.org
November 1999
�"
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III
106TH'CONGRESS
1ST
SESS~Ol\
S' RES 237
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Expressing the sense of the Senate that th~United 'States Sen~te Committee
on Foreign R~lations should hold herirmgs arid the Senate should a~t
on the Convention on the, Elimiilatio~, of Ali Forins of Discrimination
AgainstcW?men. (CEDAW).
.
IN .THESENATEOP THE, UNITED STATES
,.
.
NOVEMBER 19, 19i)9'
Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. LINCOLN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mrs.
FEINSTEIN, Ms .. COLLINS,' Ms. LANDRiEU, and Ms. SNOWE) submitted
, the following resolution; which was ordered to lie ovei', under the rule
RESO"LUTION,
Expressing the. sense of the Senate that the UriitedStates'
..
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations should hold
'hearings and' th~ Semite should' act ,on the 'Convention
on the' Eliffiination of All Forms of Discrimination
AgainstWomen (CEDAW).
,
.
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Whereas the" United States has .shown leadership in pro
moting human rights, including the rights of women and
girls; 'and was instrumental in the development of inter
national human rights treaties, and norms, including the
International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
of Discrimination Against vVornen (CEDAW);"
Whereas the Senate has already agreed to the ratification of
'several important human rights~. treaties, including the
r
�. 2
Genocide Convention" the Convention Against Torture,
,the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
and the Convention 'on the Elimination of 'All Forms, of
Racial Discriiniriation; "
vVhereas CEDAW establishes a ,worldwide commitment to
'combat discrimination against women ~nd girl~;
,Whereas '165 cOlmtries of the world have ratified or acceded
" to CEDAWarid the United States is among:a sm~l mi
,nority of courttries,' in~luding Afghanistan, N9rthKorea, "
Iran, and Sudan, which have not;
.
,
"
Whe:reasCEDAW:is 'helping co~bai violence and dlscrimina- , '
tion against women and girls around the world; ,
Wliereas'CEDAW' has 'had':a, sigInficant arid positive ,impact
.
.
.
'on legal developments'in countries ,as diverse as Uganda,
" , Coiombia, Brazil, and South Africa~' including, on citizen-" '
ship rights ,in ,Botswana, and Japan, inheritance rights in
,Tanzania; 'property rights and political participation In
Costa Rica; "
.
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Whereas' the Administration, has 'proposed a small' number of '
, reservatiolls, understandings, and declaratioIl:s to ensure
.that U.S. ratification, fully complies with all constitutional
requirements, including states' and' individuals' 'rights;
~,
"
vVhereas the legislatures of California, Iowa, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New.York, North Carolina, South Da:- '
kota, and Vermont have endors~d U.S. ratification of',
CEDAWi'
, Whereas more than one hundred :U.S.-based; 'civic,' legal, reli
gious, education,' and environmental,' organizations, in-'
,cluding'many major national me~bership organi~atioris,
support U~S. ratification of CEDAW; ,
, SRES' 237 IS
�3
Whereas ratification of CEDAW would allow ,the . United
States to nominate arepresentative to the C;EDAWover
sight committee; and ,,'"
,
,
of
,Whereas 1999 is the twentieth anniversary of the adoption
CEDAW by 'the UN General Assembly; Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved,. That it is the sense of the Senate thatD
,1
2 ' ( I ) the Senate Foreign Relations,Committee
,3
should hold' hearings on the' Convention' on the
4
Elimination of All Fo:rms of Discrimination Against
5
Women (CEDAW); a~d
6
'
7
(2tthe,Senate should act.on CEDAW by March
"
8, 2000, International Women's Day.
o
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SRES237 IS '
�,h
America's Commitment
The United Nations
Women's 'Conference
Women 2000 • Beijing Plus Five
The President's Interagency Council on Women
December 10,1999
DOMESTIC REGIONAL OUTREACHIEVENTS
The President's Interagency Council on Women is working to coordinate various outreach events across the United States to celebrate
the progress made since the UN FoUrth World Conference on Women. These inclusive, regional events will be organized in
partnership with diverse non-governmental organizations, colleges and universities, and regional community organizations, and will
offer opportunities to share best practices, achievements and lessons learned. Reports generated at each event will be submitted to The
President's Council for ,consideration by the U.S. Delegation to the UN Special Session in June 2000. Provided below is contact
information for Women 2000: Beijing Plus Five regional outreach events currently being organized across the country.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
January 28 & 29, 2000
.
Site:
' Mint Museum of Craft and Design
Contact: June Kimmel
Southwestern Regional Director, North Carolina Council for Women
500 West Trade Street, Box 360
Charlotte, NC 28202
Tel: (704) 342-6367 Fax: (704) 342-6367
E-mail: imkimmel@ixnelcom.com
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS
February 5, 2000
Site:
Simmons College
Contact: Judy Hickey
Event Coordinator, Massachusetts Action for Women
7 Cross Street
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel: (617) 489-3180
Fax: (617) 489-5517'
E-mail: judyhickey@aol.com
"Looking to Women for a CHANGE"
SEATTLE,WASHINGTON
February 12,2000
Site:
Evergreen College (Olympia, Washington)
Contact: Karen Furia
Regional Administrator, U,S. Dept. of Labor Women's Bureau
1111 Third Avenue, Room 885
Seattle, WA 98101-3211
Tel: (206) 553-1534
Fax: (206) 553-5085
E-mail: furia-karen@dol.gov
DENVER,COLORADO
February 12,2000
Site:
Convention Center
Contact: Karen Beeks
Director, Global Partnerships for Humanity
9461 South Crestmore Way
Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126
Tel: (303) 470-7810
Fax: (303) 791-0993
E-mail: wkbeeks@compuserve.com
�SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
February 26, 2000
Site:
Pacific Bell Media Center
Contact:
Marilyn Fowler
Executive Director, California Women's Agenda
Women's Intercultural Network
.
1950 Hayes Street, #2
San Francisco, CA 94117-1153
Tel: (415) 221-4841
Fax: (415) 221-4989
E-mail: win@win-cawa.org
Website: www.win-cawa.org
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
March 4,2000
Site:
TBD
Contact:
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Dorris Muscadin
Program Specialist, U.S. Dept. of Labor Women's Bureau
61 Forsyth Street. SW, Suite 7T95
Atlanta, GA 30303
. Tel: (404) 562·2336 or (800) 672-8356
Fax: (404) 562·2413
E·mail: rnuscadin·dorris@dol.gov
Site:
Pennington Biomedical Center
Contact:
March 31, 2000
R. Gayle Harell Jackson
Assistant Attorney General
Louisiana Department of Justice
301 Main Street, Ste. 1250
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Tel: (225) 342-9724
Fax: (225) 342·9637
E-mail: Jacsong@ag.state.la.lJS
Previous Women 2000 Regional Outreach Events
"Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21 st Century"
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
October 13, 1999
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
November 6, 1999
University of Missouri at Kansas City
Site:
Contact Carol Tally Davis
Tel: (816) 235·5725
Fax: (816) 235·5189
E-mail: davisc@umkc.edu
Website: www.umkc.edu/slarr .
,
"Women 2000: Beijing Plus Five Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference"
Site:
DuPont Country Club
Contact:
Kathleen M. Meyer
Conference Coordinator - Women 2000: Beijing Plus Five
Tel: (302) 764-8592
Fax: (302) 764-3776
E-mail: kathleenmeyer@msn.com
"Beijing Plus Five - UN Women's Conference 2000"
MANCHESTER. NEW HAMPSHIRE
November 6, 1999
Site:
. Holiday Inn. Manchester
Contact: The Honorable Jackie K. Weatherspoon
New Hampshire House of Representatives
Tel: (603) 778-9493
Fax: (603) 777-4384
E-mail: jkweather@hotmaiLcom
"The Third North Texas UN Conference on Women:
Advancing Women and Youth in the Next Millenium"
DALLAS, TEXAS
November 6 & 7. 1999
Site:·
Contact
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
December 6, 1999
University of Texas at Dallas - UTD Conference Center
Rita Mae Kelly
Co-Chair, Third North Texas UN Conference on Women
The University of Texas at Dallas
Tel: (972) 883-2935
Fax: (972) 883-6297
E-mail: rmkelly@utdallas.edu
Website: www.utdallas.edu/deptlsocsci/Prog pg1.htrnl
Site:
The Chicago Cultural Center
Contact:
Nancy Chen
Regional Administrator, U.S. Dept of Labor Women's Bureau
230 S. Dearborn Street. Rm. 1022
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: (312) 353-6985
Fax: (312) 353-6986
E-mail: chen-nancy@doLgov
�CEDAW Briefing
Tuesdny, December 14, 1999
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Room 476
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
*****
TENTAT[VE AGENDA
Lauren Supina .
Deputy Assistant to the President and
Director, White House qffice for Women's Initiatives and Outreach
Harold Koh
Assistant Secretaryfor Democracy, Human Righls and Labor
US Department o/State
Lidia Soto-Harmon
Deputy Director, President's interagency Council on Women
US Department olSlate
Eric Schwartz
Senior Director, National Security Council
The While House
Sean Morre
Office o.lSenator Barbara Boxer
US Congress
Carisa Henze
qffice ofCongresswoman Lynn Woolsey
US Congress
Kit Cosby
Directorfor External Affairs
National Spiritual Assembly ofthe Baha'is olthe US
Pat Rengel
ChiefLegislative Counsel
Amnesty international USA.
�THE WHITE HOUSE
.
.
OFFICE FOR WOMEN'S INITIATIVES AND OUTREACH
:
OVERVIEW
The White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach was created by President
Clinton on June 7,1995. ,The Women's Office contributes to the development of
Administration policy as it relates to women and families, often by bringing the concerns of
outside experts and constituency groups into the policy-making process: Inside and outside of
the White House, the Women's Office advocates for issues that are important to women,
including Social Security and Medicare; health care reform; reproductive rights and family
planning; and policies to help ,families better balance work and famjIy responsibilities as we
approach the 21st Century.
The Women's Office serves as a liaison between the White House and .organizations that work to
advance the interests of women and families. The Office initiates events, briefings, and
roundtable discussions to amplify and expand the Administration's agenda for women and
families, These feature the President, Vice President,'the First Lady, Mrs, Gore, and other
, Administration officials, An important and successful initiative of the Women's Office is At the'
Table, a series of roundtables across the rlation between women and Administration officials.
,The Women's Office is a valuable source of information on theClinton Administration's
initiatives and on the vast array of programs and resources for women and families across the
federal government. Information on the Administrati0n's family agenda, which includes child
care, long-term care, after-school programs, and expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act,
.
as well as on the many. other issues that are imp()rtant towomen, is available by regular
.
electronic mail from the Women's Office.
\
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(April 1999)
Fax: (202) 456-7311
Phone: (202) 456-7300
www ~ w hitehouse.govlWH/EOPIWomenlOWIO/index.html
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PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
. Supporting Women and Families
EXPANDING ECONOMiC OPPORTUNITIES:
• .Protecting Families. The F~y & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- the first piece of legislation the .
President signed jnto law"": enables workers to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave to· care for new baby.
· or ~ling familyniemberWithout jeopardizing their job. Sixty-seven million Americans - over half of
all workers - are cov~red by the FMLA and millions ofworkers have already benefitedfrom FMLA
since iiSeDactment..·:
'.
.'
. .
.
• Cutting Taxes fot 15 Million Working Families by extending the Earned Income Tax Credit (BITC).
In 1997, the EITC lifted 4.3 million people, including 2.2 million children, out ofpoverty -- double the
· number ofpeople lifted out ofpoverty by the EITC in 1 9 9 3 . ,
• . . Increasing the Minimum Wage from $4.25 to $5.15, giving six million women a raise. '.'
• Narrowing the Wage Gap. In 1996, the median earnings of women working ful1~time in<;reased 3
.·percent. ID. 1997, the llledian earnings of women represented 74 percent ofthe median earnings for
men, the narrowest gaPevet;. .: '
.
. .
........ '.
• '. Fighting for Paycheck Equity. Called on Congress to pass legislation to sqengthen laws prohibiting
. . wage: discrimination. . . .. ..' . .
'.' . .
. ,'.
'..' . . '.,
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• '. IDghestHomeownersliip Jhte in ffistory. There are morethan seven million'new homeowners since
.the President took office. Women's home ownerShip has increased 14% with 1.9 million new yYomen
· homeowners since the first quarter of 1994. . .
..
. . .' " .
.
.
.
• '. Providing Incentives to Save. The President signed into law a five-year, $125 million demons~tion
.' programfor ID.dividual Development Accounts, providing incenti.ves for low income families to save
for a fir~ home, higher. education, or to .
a new bmW-ess, effectively ,completing, his 1992
. community empowerment agenda. '.'
" .•
....
. . '. .
• Increasing Pension Security. Fought for legislation that has.expanded pension coverage, made
pensions more. secure for.40 million American workers and retirees, and simplified penSion plan
.. administTation. PromotiIlg new efforts to encourage retirement savings.', .' > ..... . . .
.
.• . Closing The Book on A Generation ofDeficits. In 1992, the deficit was $290 billion, a record dollar
high.' This year, the Administration expects the budget surplus to beat least $76 billion, the largest
budget surplus in history.
a
start
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• Saving Social Security First. In 1999, nearly 60 pertent 6f all SoCi~. Security bene:fici~es"will be' .
women.. Social·Security will be the major source ofretirement income for a majority of these women.
President Clinton is committed to saving Social Security for the 21 st Century and has urged that budget
surpluses be reserved for a bipartisan plan to strengthen Social Security.
CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN: .
• Extending Health Care to Millions of Children with the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP). This is the single large~ investinentin Health Care for -children since 1965. The President
fought to ensure that the 1997 Balanced Budget Act included $24 billion to provide real health care
coverage to millions of uninsured' children. .
'. .
• Fought for and won$SOO Child Tax Credit for26 Million Families with over 40 Million Children
. under Age 17. Twelve million children from families with income below $30,000 will receive the
child tax credit as a result of the President's efforts. .
.
' .. .
• Largest Four-Year Drop in Child Poverty Since i960s. ,Under Presi~ent Clinton; the child poverty
rate has declined from 22.7 percent to '19.9 percent .~- the biggeSt four-year drop in nearly .30 years
.(1965-1969). While this marks significant progress, President Clinton will continue to fight for policies .
"
.
that help to raise incomes and'reduce poverty~'
• Helping 7.4 Million Women and Children withWIC. In.:.FY99, 7.4 million women, iIif~ts and
children will receive health and food assistan.ce through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infaitts, and Children program (WIC), one million more than fu 1994.
.. . Ensuring Safe Food for America's FamilieS. Issued new standards to reduce and prevent
contarriination of meat, poultry 'and seafood; signed. the FDod Quality ProteCtion Act with special
safeguards for kids; issued new regulations that improve the safety of fruit and vegetable juices; and
created a President's Council on Food Safety to develop a comprehensive food safety strategic plan for
federal agencies .
• ' Held First-Ever White House Conference' on Early Child Development and Learning and the'
White House Conference on Child Care. In Aprn 1997, the President and First Lady held the White
House Conference on Early Child Developmen~ and Learning to highlight the benefitS ofearly nurturing
by parents. And in October 1997, the White HouSe Conference on Child Care began a dialogue on the
child ~ challenges facing parents today - availability, affordability, and assuring safety and quality.
•. Proposed the Largest Single Investme~t in Child Care in the Nation's. History~In '1998, the.
President proposed an historic initiative to improve child care for Anierica's working families by .
helping famili~.pay for child care, building the supply ofgood after-schoolprograms, improving child
care quality and promoii~ ~arly learning, The Presidentwon $182 million to improve the quality or, .
child care for America's working families in the FY99 budget.
.
• Signed Landmark Adoption and Safe Families Act. This law will help thousands ofchildren w;iiting
in fostc?r care move more quickly into safe and permanent homes.
'.
.,
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• Signed the Comprehensive Childhood Immunization Initiative. Thanks to President Clinton,
'.:
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immunizatio:nrates amongtwo-year-olds have reached historic'highs.
• Took Steps to Ensure Children Have S8fe Medications. Unveiled an FDA regulation that protects
children by requiring manufacturers to study appropriate ddsage' levels of.dnJgs for pediatric
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populations;.
• Launched New Strategies to Reduce the-High Rate of Teen Pregnancies', Teen (aged 15 to 19
'..
years) births have fallen six years ina row, by 12petcent from 1991 to 1996. .....
• Increased Child SupPort Collections by 80%~ Signed mto law the toughest child support crackdown
2
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�PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
Supporting Women and Families .
EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES:
.•
Protecting Families. The Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -:- the first piece of legislation the;
President signed into law -- enables workers' to' talce up to 12 weeks Unpaid leave to care for a new
baby or ailing family member without jeopardiziIfg the'ir job. Ninety-one million Americans 71
percent of the labor,force -- are covered by the FMLA and millions of workers have already benefited
from FMLA since its enactment.'
'.
Cutting Taxes for 15 Million Working Families by extending the Earned Income Tax Credit
, (EITC). In 1998, the EI,TC lifted 4.3 million people, including 2.2 million children, out of poverty -
double the number of people lifted out of poverty by the EITC in 1993.
, • Increasing the Minimum Wage from $4.25 to $5.15, giving six million women a raise.
• Narrowing the Wage Gap. In 1996, the median earnings ofwomen working full-time iIlcreased 3
p~rcent. In 1998, the average woman earned about 75 cents for every dollar earned by men, the
narrowest wage gap ever,
.
• Fighting for Paycheck Equity. The President and the VJce President have called on Congress to pass
the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen laws, prohibiting wage discriminatiop.
• Highest HomeownershipRate in History. There are 7.8"million new homeowners sinc~ the
, President took office. Women's homeownership has increased 14% with 1.9 million new women
homeowners since the first quarter of 1994.
,
',
• Providing Incentives to Save. The Presidentsigned into law a five-year, $125 million demonstration
, program for Individual Development Accounts, providing incentives for low income families to save
for a first home, higher education, or to start a new business, effectively completin:g his 1992
community empowerment agenda. .
.
• Increasing Pension Security. Fought for legislation that has expanded pension coverage, made
pensions lnore secure for 40 million Americari workers and retirees, and simplified pension plan
administration. Promoting new efforts to encourage retirement savings,
' .
Closing The Book on A Generation of Deficits. In 1992, the deficit was $~90 billion, a record
'dollar high. This year, the Administration expects the budget
to be at least $123 billion, the
largest budget surplus in history. This is the first time the United States. has maintained a surplus for
two years in a row since 1956:-7, and the first time in U.S. history with seven years in a row of fiscal
improvement.
,
• ' Saving Social Security First. In 1999, nearly 60 percent of a1180cial Security beneficiaries will l?e' ,
women. Soci'~l Secufrtywill be the maj or source of retire1,TIent income for a inaj ority of these women.
The President has laid out a bold framework to devote the :entire Social Security surplus to debt
reduction and dedicate the resultIng interest savings to Social Security, extending the solvency until
the middle of the next century. Under the Clinton-Gore Administration, the life of the Social Security
Trust Fund has been extended lU1til 2034.
• Highest Median Family Income in a:istory. Since the President lalU1ched l-iis economic plan in 1993,
median family income is the highest it has ever been. The typical family's income is up over $5,000.
.
In 1998, median household income is up 3.5 percent to a new high of $38,885.
g
Moving Families from Welfare to Work. Since 'enactment Of the 1996 welfare ref01111 law, millions of
families have moved from welfare to work, and four times more of those 011 welfare are working than
in 1992. Through new regulations, the Clinton Administration has provided states with unprecedented
flexibility to support working families .. With the President's leadership, the Balanced Budgetof 1997
I'
�included $3 billion in Welfare-to-Workgrants to move long-terrn welfare recipients and
unemployed non-custodial parents into jobs, and support innovative strategies' addressing challenges to
employment, inCluding domestic violence and substance abuse. The FY 2000 budget proposed $1
billion to extend the Welfare-to'-Work program.
• Increasing Child Support Collections. In FY 1998, the federal-state partnership collected a record $14.3
billion in child support payments from non-custodial parents, an 80 percent increase since 1992 when
$8 billion was collected. Not only are collections up, but the number of families actually receiving
child support increased by 59 percent since 1992.
CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN:
,
•
Fought for and Won $500 Child Tax Credit for 27 Million Families with 45 Million Children
under Age 17. Twelve million children from families with income below $30,000 will receive the
child. tax credit as a result of the President's efforts.
• Largest Five-Year Drop in Child Poverty Since 1960s. Under President Clinton, the child poverty
rate has declined from 22.7 percent to 18.9 percent -- the biggest five-year drop in 30 years (1965
1969) and thefirst time the child povertY rate dropped below 20 percent since 1980. Child poverty
among African-Americansis at its lowest level on record. In 1998, the child poverty rate saw its
largest one-year drop in more than two decades. While this marks significant progress, Pi:esident
Clinton will continue to fight for policies that help to raise incomes and reduce poverty.
• Helping 7.4 Million Women and Children with WIe. In FY99, 7.4 million women, infants and
children will receive health and food assistance through the Special Slipplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), one million more than in 1994.
Ensuring Safe Food for America's Families . .Issued new standards to reduce and prevent
contamination -of meat, poultry and seafood; signed the Food Quality Protection Act with
special safeguards for kids; issued new regulations that improve the safety of fruit and
vegetable juices; and created a President's Council on Food Safety to d~velop a
comprehensive food safety strategic plan for federal agencies.
• Held First-Ever White House Conference on Early Child Development and Learning and the White
House Conference on Child Care. In April 1997, the President and First Lady held the White House
Conference on Early Child Development and Learning to highlight the benefits of early nurturiIig by
parents. And in October 1997, the White House Conference on Child Care began a dialogue on the
child care challenges facing parents today -- availability, affordapility, and assuring safety and quality. ,
• Proposed the'LargesrSingle Investment in Child Care in the Nation's History. Child care ~
funding has increased 80 percent under the Clinton-Gore Administration, helping parents to pay for
the care of abOlit 1:25 million children. In 1998, the President proposed an historic initiative to
improve child care for America's working families by helping fan1ilies pay for child care, building the
supply of good after-school programs, improving child care quality and promoting early learning. The
President won $182 million to improve the, quillity of child care forAmerica's working families in the
- FY99 budget.
• Signed Landmark Adoption and Safe Families Act. 36,000 foster care children were adopted in
fiscal year 1998, up from 28,000 in 1996. This is the first significant increase in adoption since the
national foster care program was established nearly 20 years ago. The President announced in
September 1999 that under the Adoption Opportunities Program $5.5 million in new awards will be
•
�used to provide grants to publicanpri vat~ organizations to eliminate barriers to'
adoption, particularly for children with special needs.
• Raised Immunization Rates to an All-Time High. 90 percent of toddlers in 1996, 1997, and 1998
received the most critical doses of each of the routinely recommended vaccines, surpassing the .
President's 1993 goal. .Childhood immunization rates in 1998 were the highest ever recorded.
P
• .. assed the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Proposed by President Clinton and passed
. as part of the bipartisan Balanced Budget Act of 1997, CHIP is the largest single expansion of health
ipsurance coverage for children in more than 30 years. And in, October 1999, the President announced
new federal efforts to identify and enroll millions of children 'in Medicaid and CHIP.
e
Took Steps to Ensure Children Have Safe Medications. Unveiled an FDA regulation that protects
children by requiring manufacturers to st,udy appropriate dosage levels of drugs for pediatric
populations."
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Launched New Strategies to Reduce the High Rate of Teen Pregnancies. Teen (aged 15to19 years)
births have fallen seven years in a row, by 18 percent frolll 1991 to 1998. The teen birth rate is at its'
lowest level since 1987.
• Imposed Strict Measures to Keep Cigarettes out of the Hands of Our Children by restricting
youth-targeted advertising; and the FDA made 18 ,the minimum age to purchase tobacco products
nationwide, requiring photo LD:s for anyone underthe age of27. And the Presi,dent is fighting to
enact comprehensive tobacco legislation.
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INVESTING IN EDUCATIONAND TRAINING:
• Largest Inv,estment in Education in 30 Ye~lrs. Maintaining his longtirne commitment to edLlcation,
the President ~nacted the largest investment in education in 30 years -- and tile largest investment in
higher education since the ,G. I. Bill-- by signing the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.
• Providing Early Education to 835,000 Children with Head Start More than 200,000 additional
children are enrolled in Head Start today than in 1992. "
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More. High-Quality Tea.cher~ With Smaller Class Sizes. Won a down payment on the President's
new initiative to hire an additional 100,000 well-prepared teachers, helping school districts reduce
class size in the early grades, when children ·learn to read ,and master the basic ~kills. Last year $1.2
. billiori. was provided to help states hire approximately 30,000 new teachers fot fail 1999.
Teaching Every Child to Read by the 3rd Grade. More than 1,000 colleges haVe committed Work
Study students to, tutor children in reading, and thousands of AmeriCorps merilb~rs al1d senior
volunteers are organizing volunteer,reading campaigns. Won $260 million for a new child literacy
t
initiative, consistent with the President's America Reads proposal. .
• Striving for Excellence with National Education Standards. Seeking high national standards for all
students, the President h~s proposed a first-ever national test in 4th grade reading and 8th grade math:,
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Expanding Ch~ice and Accountability in Public School. Supported increase of public charter
schools, Ii'om one charter school in,tIle nation in 1993 to more than 1,000 charter scbools in 1998, on
track toward 3,000 quality charter schools early next century.
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• Establishing the GEAR-UP Mentoring Program for Middle School Children. Created a new·
mentoring initiative to help up to 100,000 low income middle school children prepare forcollege.
• '. Providing S?lfe After-School Opportunities for Nearly 400,000 Children Each Year.Expanded
st Century Community Learning Centers program to provide safe and educational after
. the 21 J .
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school opportunities for 400,000 school-age children in rural ;and urban communities each year.
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Paying for College Through Community Service.. AmeriCorps.has allowed more than 100,000
young people to serve their communities while earning money foi-college or skills training.
Fought for Passage of Education Tax Breaks to Promote Lifelong Learning. Representing the
. largest single increase in higher education since the G.I.Bill, the 1997 Balanced Budget Act included
a $1,500 Hope SC,holarship which has made the first two years of college .universally available for
nearly six million students.
Increasing College Opportunity with Tuition Tax Credits and Education IRAs. Twenty percent tax
credit will help more than seven million students offset tuition costs for coliege or lifetime learning.
The expanded . IRA allows penalty and tax-free withdrawaLs for education',
Expanded Work Study., This year, nearly one million students will be able to work their way
through college because of the President's expansion of the Work Study Program
Largest Maximum Pell Grant Award Ever. In 1997, President Clinton signed into law the largest
one-year increase in Pell Grant scholarships in 20 years. In 1999, nearly four million students will
receive'a Pell Grant of up to $3;125, the largest maximum award ever.
IMPROVING'OURNATION'S HEALTH:
• Protected and Strengthened Medicare, Benefiting the 22 Million American Women Enrolled in
Medicare. President Clinton and Vice President Gore are"working to modernize and strdngthen
, Medicare to prepare it for the challenges the program faces in the 21st Century. This historic initiative
would make Medicare more competitive,and efficient; modernize and reform Medicare's benefits,
including a long-overdue optional prescription drug benefit and cost-sharing protections for
preventive benefits; and make an unprecedented long~tenn financing commitment to the program that
would extend the life of the Medicare trust fund to 2027. Already the Clinton-Gore Administration
has extended the life of the Medicare Trust Fund until 2015 - wheh they took office, it was expected
to run out of funds' in 1999. They have expanded choices in health plans and provided beneficiaries
new preventive benefits, including more affordable annualmammograJ.1Js for all beneficiaries, cervical
cancer screening, and tests to help detect osteoporosis. The President also plit forth a proposal that ,
. will provide greater acces's to health insuraJ.1ce for Americans ages 55 to 65, including an option to
buy into Medicare.
• Increased Funding for Breast Cancer Research. Since the President took office, funding for breast
CaJ.1cer research, prevention and treatment has doubled,from $283 million ip FY93 to $550 million in
FY98 (Health and Human Services' discretionary fimding). In addition, the President has'
implemented the Mammography Quality Standards Act to ensur~ the quality of maJ.11lTIograms.
Women can now find 1?certified mammography facility by calling 1-800-4-CANCER.
• Created Office of Cancer Survivorship. President Clinton unveiled the new Office of Callcer
. Survivorship at the National Cancer Institute. The Office will support research covering the range of
issues facing
.survivors of cancer. .
. .
• Providing Protection with the Patients' B~ll of Rights. The President and Vice President have
called on Congress to pass Federally enforceable consumer health care protections that include:
guaranteed access to needed health care specialists including direct access to an OB-GYN; access to
emergency room services when and where the need arises; continuity of care protections to ensure that
patients' care will not abruptly change if their provider is dropped; access to a timely internal aJ.1d
independent external appeals process for consumers to resolve their differences with their health plans;
a limit on financial incentives todoctors to limit care and assuraJ.1ces that doctors and patients CaJ.1
openly discuss treatment options. Women are particularly vulnerable without these health caJ.·e
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�protections
cause they are greater users of health care services, they ·make threequarters of the health care decisions for their families, and they have specific health care needs that are
directly addressed bya patients' bill of rights. . .
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• Preventing Dis'crimination Based on Genetic Information Both by Health J>lans and Employers.
The Administration has urged Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to prohibit health plans from
inappropriately u~ing genetic screening information to deny coverage, set premiums, or to distribute
confidential information. The President also has supported. legislation that ensures that employers do
not use genetic information to di~criminate against employees.
•
Fought for Greater Health Security for America's Familie-s. The President signed into law the.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which helps millions of Americans who move
from one job to another, who are self-employed, or who have pr~-existing medical conditions keep
their health insurance.
.
•
Endorsed Legislation That Would Ban Drive-Thru Mastectomies, allowing women to stay in the
. hospital at least 48 hours following a mastectomy.
•
Ended Drive-Thru Deliveries, Proposed and signed into law legislation requiring insurers to cover
at least 48 hours of a post-natal hospital stay (72 hours for a Cesarean).
MAKING OUR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES SAFER: .
• Violent Crime at Lowest Level Since 1973. Under the :Clinton-Gore Administration; America has
. experienced the longest continuous drop in crime on record. Violent crime fell 6 percent in 1998 and
21 percent since 1993: .The murder rate is down 30 percent since 1994, its lowest point since 1967.
The rate of forcible rape is down 12 percent since 1994.
• Putting 100,000 New Police on the Street. This year, <1head ofschedule and under budget, the
Administration has met its commitment to fund 100,000 police officers for our communities. The
. Administration is working to put 50,000 more police on the streets, especially in high-crime
neighborhoods, to keep communities safe.
• Signed the Assault Weapons Ban, the Brady Billand anExpansion of Brady into Law. The
Brady Law has already kept guns away from more than 400,000 persons inCluding felons, fugitives
and other prohibited purchasers (including individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors
or who are under restraining orders). The President signed into law the expansion of the Brady Law to
include individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors. The use offirearms in relation to
homicides has steadily declined during the Clinton-Gore Administration.
-Held the First-Ever White House Conference on School Safe~. On October15, 1998, the
President hosted the~~hite House Conference on School Safety. The participants explored solutions
to this national challenge: How do schools, families and commu~ities work together to lliake sure that
every child is safe in every school in America..
,.
National Campaign Against Youth Violence. In August 1999,President Clintoi1 announced the
formation'of an independent, national campaign to address the problem of youth violence. The
Campaign plans to latmch anti-violence activities including a major media campaign, concei1:s, town
hall meetings, i11- and after-school programs. The Can1paign will also highlight effective youth
violence initiatives in cities across the country.
• Signed Megan's Law and the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent
Offender Registration Act. Requiring states to set up sex offender registratioh systems and require
.community notification when sex offenders are released.
.
• Championed and Signed the Violence Against Women Act, the cornerstone of the Presiderit's
�efforts to fight domestic, vio
, bolste.ri:ng, local law
enforc~ment, prosecution, ~nd victims" servi~~sto better address
these crimes.
Create.d the Violence Against Women Office at the Department of
Justice. Won $283 million in FY99 budget 1'0 continue theAdministrati0n's efforts to combat gender
based crime . .The President'sFY 2000 budget includes an additional $27.9 million to fund a
department-wide initiative to prevent violence against women from occurring and to provide services
to its victims.
•. More than Quadrupled Funding to Domestic Violence Shelters and signed the Interstate Stalking
Punislunent and Prevention Act of 1996 which makes it a Federal crime to cross state lines intending
to injure or harass another person.
,
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• Established Nationwide 24-Hour Don'Iestic Violence Hotli~e. The hotline (l-800-799-SAFE)
provides immediate crisis intervention, counseling and referrals for those in need. ' Since the hotline
opened, there have been morethan 230,000 calls -- averaging 8,000 calls a month -- from all 50
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
PROMOTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN:
• Reversed the "Gflg Rule" limiting the information federally funded family planning clinics could
give to ,women.
."
• Increased Funding for Family Planning. The FY99 budget increased Title X Family Planning
. grants by $12 million -- a 24 percent increase since FY93. And in 1998, successfully defeated
parental consent restrictions on contrac:eptives servic:esfor minors.
.
Provided Contraceptive Coverage to More than a Million Women. The FY99 budget requires the
300 Federal Employees Health Benefits Plans (FEHBP) to cover contraceptive drugs and devices,
providing coverage to approximately 1.2 million women of childbearing age.
-Protected FDA's Role in Testing RU-486. In 1993, reversed the ban on the impOliation of
Mifepristone or RU-486. In 1998 and 1999, suc:cessfully fought for removal of a provision that would
prohibit the FDA from testing, developing or approving RU-486, thereby usurping the Ageqcy's role
in mal(ing scientific determinations about the effect of drugs on the safety and health· of the ~merican
people.
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• Signed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, establishing a safety-zonearoumi women's
,,'
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health clinics.
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STRENGTHENING EQfJAL EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS:
..
• .Increasing Funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). ~e FY99
budget included $279 million -- a $37 million increase over the previous year -- to signific~ntly
expand EEOC's alternative dispute resolution program and reduce the backlog of private s~ctor
discrimination complaints. The final budget fully funds the President's request -- providi11~ the first
real increase for EEOC in several y e a r s . '
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GENERA TINGMORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN::
' II
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Women Are Starting Businesses at Twice the Rate of All Businesses. Women own nea;rly40
percent of all firms in theU~ited States, and ,the.number of women-owned businesses grer by 46
mill ion
percent from 1987 to 1997 ~ .These eight million women-owned finns employ more than
13
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employees and contribute $2.3 trilllon to .th,e economy .
The Small
Business Administratioh's Office of women's Bu'siness Ownership is .
. .
..
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workillg to foster this growth.
• Expanded Small Business Opportunities for Women. In the FY99 budget, doubled the funding for
SBA Women's Business Centers which provides resources to foster increased entrepr~neurship among
women.
Tripled the Number of Small Business Loans to Women Entrepreneurs. Between 1993 and 1997
the SBA approved neady 50,00b loans to women entrepreneurs under the 7(a) and 504 loan programs.
In 1997 alone, the Small Business Administration granted more than lO,OOO loans, worth $1.67
. billion, to . women small business owners, triple the number ofloansgrantedin 1992.
,
WOMEN AS PARTNERS IN DECISION MAKING:
•
•
•
•
•
Appointed More Women than Any Other President --: 40 percent of Administration appointees are .
women.
Women Hold 28 Percent ofthe Top Positions -- 28 percent of the positions requiring Senate
confirmation (PAS) are held bywomen. Additionally,
');>34 percent ofPresidential appointments, including boards and commissions, are held by
women.
"
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41 percent of non-career Senior Executive Service positions are held by women.
);0>
58 percent of Schedule C positions are held by women.
Appointed the First Women Ever to Serve as Attorney General, Janet Reno; and Secretary of State,
Madeleine Albright. Including the Attorney General and Secretary of State, women make up 32
percent of the Clinton Cabinet: Alexis Herman, Secretary of Labor; Donna Shalala, Secretary of
Health and Human Services; Carol Browner, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
Aida Alverez, Administrator of the Small Business Association; Charlene Barshefsky, United States
Trade Representative all serve in the President's Cabinet; and Janice LaChance, Director of the Office
.of Personnel Management.
30 Percent of All of the President's Judicial Nominees Are Women.
Nominated the Second Woman to Serve on the Supreme Court. During his first year in office,
President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the United States Supreme Court. Justice
Ginsburg is only the second woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
Created Offices to Address the Concerns of Women. .The President created the White House Office for
Women's Initiatives & Outreach, the Justice Department's Viol~nce Against Women Office, and the
Interagency CbuncilOl.tWomen'sBusiness Enterprise to ensure that women's economic cOl1cerns"are
addressed at the top levels of his Administration.
11/99
�White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach
Federal Programs and Resources for Women and Families
Business
Education
202-205-6673
Women's Business Ownership
(assistance with women's entrepreneurial
issues)
www.sba.gov
800-433-3243
800-4-FED-AID
Federal Student Aid Information Center
(information and applications for student
loans)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
800-827-5335
Department of Labor Women's Bureau
Clearinghouse (women s legal rights in the
workplace)
www.dol.gov/doUwb
800-251-7236
202-219-6611
Department of Labor Women's Bureau,
general office (concerning economic and
international issues)
www.sba.gov
National School to Work Program,
Learning and Information Center (about
implementing a School-to- Work program
in your area; helping students make the
connection between schoolwork-and
career)
www.ftw.ed.gov
202-606-5000
202-205-6673
U.S.Small Business Administration Office
of Women's Business Ownership
(specifically created to help women
entrepreneurs)
www.sbagov
Corporation for National Service,
AmeriCorps Program (about AmeriCorps.
a program which loans money to students
in return for community service)
www.nationalservice.org
orwww.americorps.org
202-260-3954
Department of Education, Office for Safe
and Drug-Free Schools (regarding!ederal
programs addressing violence and drugs
in public schools)
www.ed.gov/officeslOESElSDFS
800-8-ASK-SBA U. S. Small Business Administration (on
managing andftnancing a woman-owned
www.sbagov
small business)
800-532-1169
202-512-1800
Department of Transportation Short-Term
Lending Program (application for a
short-term loan, particularly women in
. small businesses)
www.dot.gov
. Working Women Count! A Report to the
Nation, Government Printing Office,
Publication #029-002~OO82 (call for a
copy ofthe survey results)
800-USA-LEARN Department of Education, Information
Resource Center (referral to any
Department of Education program.
including Goals 2000: Educate America)
www.ed.gov
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs!
800-669-4000
202-693';()101
800-616-2242
202-616-8894
4/99
202-205-5463
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (to report sexual
discrimination or harassment)
www.eeoc.gov
Department of Bilinguil Education and
Minority Language Affairs (about
bilingual education programs)
www.ed.gov/officesiOBEMLA
202-205-8572
Department of Health and Human
Services, Head Start (about Head Start, a
pre-school programforlow income
www.hhs.gov
children)
202-226-2502
202-226-2533
Department of Education, Women's
Educational Equity Act Program (funding
for agencies and organizations which
implement programs to promote
educational equality for women and girls)
Office ofFederal Contract Compliance (to
report sexual discrimination in any
company which contracts with the federal
www.dol.gov
government)
.
Department of Health and Human
Services, National Child Care Information
Center (concerning child care and other
work andfamily issues) www.nccic.org
Violence Against Women Office in the
Justice Department (for information
concerning domestic violence)
, www.usdoj.gov
www.ed.gov
202-514-4092
Department of Justice, Educational
Opportunity Section (federal statutes
concerning discrimination in schools)
www.usdoj.gov
- over-
�Health
800-799-SAFE
Children and Youth
National Domestic Violence Hotline
(domestic violence, emergency shelters.
legal advocacy. assistance programs.
social services. and batterers' programs)
800-959-FMLA Department of Labor, Wage and Hour
Division, Family and Medical Leave Team
(to find out your rights under the Family
and Medical Leave Act)
www.ndvh.org
202-690-7650
Public Health Service, Office on Women's
Health (coordinates and providesgeneral
www.dol.gov/dollesa/fmla.htrn
202-690-6782
information on resources, services, and
education on womens health programs in
the federal government)
Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and
. Families, Child Care Bureau (for referrals
to local. federally-funded child care
centers. and information about national
child care policy)
www.4woman.gov
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programslccb
301-594-4000
Public Health Service, Office of
Population Affairs (oversees federally
202-442-5999
fundedfamily planning clinics)
www.hhs.gov/progorglopa/opa.htrnl
301-402-1770
Office of Research on Women's Health,
National Institutes of Health (about
women's health research at the National
Institutes ofHealth)
Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children
and Families, Family and Youth
Services Bureau (about federally funded
youth programs)
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programslfysb
202-606-5000
www4.od.nih.gov/orwhloverview.html
Corporation for National Service, Learn
and Serve America (grants to community
and school-based programs)
301-827-0350
888-INFO-FDA
Office ofWomen's Health, Food and Drug
Admiriistration (FDA policies and .
regulations concerning women's inclusion
in clinical drug trials and research)
www.nationalservice.org
301-496-3454
www.fda.govlwomensl
800-677-1116
National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and
Drug Information, Department of Health
and Human Services, Center on Substance
Abuse Prevention (on drug and alcohol
abuse)
www.health.org
biomedical information on childrens
disorders and health. research
reproductive health and preventative
medicine)
www:nih.gov/nichd
Eldercare Locator, Department of Health
and Human Services Administration on
Aging (for assistance for elder persons
and caregivers)
www.aoa.dhhs.gov
. 800-729-6686
Department of Health and Human
Services, National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development (for
703-385-7565
800-421-4211
800-994-9662
National Institute of Menta! Health
www.nimh.nih.gov
Depression
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse
and Neglect (about child abuse and
neglect)
www.calib.comlnccanch
202-647-2688
Department of State, Office of Children'S
Issues (about international child adoption)
www.state.gov
202-401-9373
Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children
and Families, Child Support
Enforcement (on child support
www.acf.dhhs.gov
enforcement)
Women's Health Initiative, National
Institutes ofHealth (largest study on
preventing heart, lung and bone disease
in older women)·
www.nih.gov
Interagency
800-4-CANCER Cancer Information Service, National
Cancer Institute (about cancer andfor
referral to an FDA approved
mammography center in your area)
www.nci.nih.gov
202-647-6227
Department of State, The President's
Interagency Council on Women
(coordinates follow-up ofBeijing World
Conference on Women)
secretary.state.gov/www/iacw/index.htrnl
800-458-5231
AIDS Clearinghouse, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (about AIDS and
referral to research and medical services)
www.cdcnpin.org
THE WHITE HOUSE WOMEN'S OFFICE
PHONE: (202) 456-7300 FAX: (202) 456-7311
www.whitehouse.govlWH/EOPlWomen/OWIO
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Ruby Shamir - Subject Series
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First Lady's Office
Ruby Shamir
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36351" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
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2012-0565-S
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Ruby Shamir held the position of Policy Advisor and Assistant to the Chief of Staff in the First Lady’s Office. Previously, she served as Assistant Director for Domestic Policy in the Domestic Policy Council. This series of Subject Files contains materials relating to domestic policy topics, especially on children’s issues such as health, education, child care and youth violence. The records include memorandum, faxes, letters, reports, schedules, and publications.
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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236 folders in 15 boxes
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1999-2001
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Paper
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Title
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Women/CEDAW [Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women]
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
First Lady's Office
Ruby Shamir
Subject Files
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2012-0565-S
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 14
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/Systematic/2012-0565-S-Shamir.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763277" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Format
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Adobe Acrobat Document
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Medium
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Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
7/22/2013
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
2012-0565-S-women-cedaw-convention-to-eliminate-all-forms-of-discrimination-against-women
7763277