DearMember,
Today,abillionwomen–oneoutofeverythreewomenontheplanet–willberapedorbeatenintheir
lifetime.That’sonebillion
mothers,
sisters,
daughters
andfriendsviolated…
…onebillionlivesshattered,onebillionheartsbrokenandonebillionreasonsriseupandput
anendtothisviolence.
OnFebruary14th–GlobalSolutions.orgmembers,activistsandstaffwilljoinOneBillionRising—a
calltoONEBILLIONwomenandthosewholovethemtoWALKOUT,DANCE,RISEUP,andDEMANDanendto
violenceagainstwomen.ONEBILLIONRISINGwillmovetheearth,activatingwomenandmenacrossevery
country.
Hereareourcampaigngoals:
 Joinororganizeyourownrally!
 Letthemknowyouaretherewithourrallytoolkit!
 PromoteCEDAWwiththeenclosedfactsheetandGlobalSolutions.org’spetition!
Thiswillbeamomentforustoraiseourvoicesinsolidarity,andelevatetheprofileoftheConventiononthe
EliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen(CEDAW)–alandmarkinternational
agreementthataffirmsprinciplesoffundamentalhumanrightsandequalityforwomenaroundthe
world.
IfyouareunsurewheretofindaOneBillionRisingrallynearyou,contactTonyat
[email protected],orvisitusat:http://globalsolutions.org/CEDAW
INTHISTOOLKITYOUWILLFIND:
 CEDAWFactSheet–a1‐page(backandfront)primerontheConventionontheEliminationof
AllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen
 CEDAWPetition–Ourpetitiontolawmakersdemandingthatthecurrent113thCongressratify
CEDAW
 SignandStickerspromotingbothCEDAWandGlobalSolutions.org
NowyouareequippedtorepresentGlobalSolutions.orgattheOneBillionRisingrally!
Allofusasglobalcitizenshavethepowertoputanendtoviolenceagainstwomen.Let’sgetstarted!
Thanksforallyoudo,
TonyFleming
CampaignsManager
GlobalSolutions.org
202.546.3950x101
Learnmore about
GlobalSolutions.org:
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FACTSHEET
THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS
OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)
WHAT IS CEDAW?
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is a landmark international
agreement that affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world.
The Convention offers countries a practical blueprint to achieve progress for women and girls by calling on
each ratifying country to overcome barriers to discrimination. Around the world, CEDAW has been used to
reduce sex trafficking and domestic abuse; provide access to education and vocational training; guarantee
the right to vote; ensure the ability to work and own a business without discrimination; improve maternal
health care; end forced marriage and child marriage; and ensure inheritance rights.
Although the Obama Administration strongly supports ratification of CEDAW, and the Convention has been
favorably voted out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee twice with bipartisan support (in 1994 and
2002), CEDAW has never been brought to the Senate floor for a vote. It’s time to change that. It’s up to us.
To date, 187 out of 194 countries have ratified CEDAW. The United States is one of only seven countries -including Iran, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Palau and Tonga – that have not ratified CEDAW.
WHY SHOULD THE US RATIFY CEDAW?
1. Ratifying the CEDAW treaty would continue America’s proud bipartisan tradition of promoting and
protecting human rights. Ratification requires two-thirds of the Senate to stand together for women and has
no additional financial cost.
2. Ratifying CEDAW strengthens the United States as a global leader in standing up for women and girls
around the world. Under the leadership of Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton, the U.S. ratified similar
treaties on genocide, torture, and race.
3. Advancing women’s human rights is fundamental to America’s national security interests and a
cornerstone of our foreign policy. Countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women have full and
equal rights and opportunity. Ratifying CEDAW would give America greater clout to help women worldwide
win basic rights.
4. CEDAW opens important conversations at home. While American women enjoy opportunities and status
not available to most of the world’s women, few would dispute that more progress is needed. CEDAW would
provide an opportunity for national dialogue on how to address persistent gaps in women’s full equality
particularly regarding closing the pay gap, reducing domestic violence and stopping trafficking.
Sign our petition in support of U.S. ratification of CEDAW: GLOBALSOLUTIONS.ORG/CEDAW
MAKING THE CASE FOR CEDAW: INVEST IN WOMEN, IT PAYS
The empowerment of women is central to building democratic, peaceful and prosperous societies. The World
Bank provided substantial documentation of the important role that women play when it released its 2012
World Development Report: Gender Equality and Development. According to the report, “CEDAW has
improved women’s literacy levels, labor force participation rates, and parliamentary representation – and in
some cases has reduced absolute gender inequalities.”
The report demonstrates that empowering women is one of the most effective paths for alleviating poverty
and other conditions that contribute to instability, while helping to build stronger democracies. As women
gain access to these benefits, their businesses are able to prosper, improving economies and strengthening
the global marketplace.
In countries that have ratified CEDAW, women have partnered with their governments to engage in a
national dialogue about the status of women and girls, and as a result have shaped policies to create
greater safety and opportunity for women and their families. For example:
•
Educational opportunities –Bangladesh used CEDAW to help attain gender parity in primary schools
and has a goal to eliminate all gender disparities in secondary education.
•
Violence against women and girls – Indonesia passed legislation to combat violence against women,
provide for victim protection and protect women in the workforce.
•
Marriage and family relations – Egypt reformed its nationality law to enable women as well as men to
pass on their nationality to their children.
•
Political participation –Kuwait’s Parliament voted to extend voting rights to women in 2005 and in
2009 four women were elected to the Kuwait Parliament. They were the first women elected to the
50-seat parliament since the country became a democracy in 1962.
•
Property and inheritance – Kenya used CEDAW to address differences in inheritance rights,
eliminating discrimination against widows and daughters of the deceased.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.CEDAW2014.ORG.
Sign our petition in support of U.S. ratification of CEDAW: GLOBALSOLUTIONS.ORG/CEDAW
IT’S TIME TO RATIFY THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION
OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN!
To the United States Senate,
The record number of women representing the U.S. in the Senate is truly historic - a
strong sign that the American public wants women's rights to be a high priority.
Now is the time for the United States to uphold its role as a global leader in
standing up for women and girls by ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, also known as CEDAW. We urge you to
reaffirm America's proud bipartisan tradition of promoting and protecting human
rights and make ratification of this critical treaty a priority in the 113th Congress.
The men and women who represent Americans in the U.S. Senate know better than
anyone about breaking through barriers. Let's all keep breaking barriers, not just
for American women but for all women worldwide.
Name
Email
Street, City, State, Zip
Globalsolutions.org will also send timely emails about responsible U.S. policies that move us
towards a more peaceful, just and lawful world. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time.
Name
Email
Street, City, State, Zip
Globalsolutions.org will also send timely emails about responsible U.S. policies that move us
towards a more peaceful, just and lawful world. You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time.
STICKERS & POSTERS
Do-it-Yourself -OR- Use Our Graphics
SIGNS:
Making signs and stickers is fun and easy! You can create colorful posters by hand if you have markers,
paper/poster-board, legible hand-writing and a little time. See our suggested slogans below, or come up
with your own.
Don’t want to make your own? We have included some stickers and a 17”x22” sign in this toolkit.
Don’t forget to attach cardboard, foam-core, or other sturdy backing material to your sign. You can also
add a ruler, yardstick or other sturdy handle so that your sign is easy to hold up high in the air!
STICKERS:
If you want to wear and/or handout stickers, we have included a sheet of nine white glossy stickers in
three styles to choose from. If you would like to print more stickers, email Ari for our template. The
stickers will print on Avery Round Labels #22830 (these labels can commonly be found at Staples,
Office Depot, or anywhere office supplies are sold).
SLOGANS:
If you have your own slogans or images to use, go for it!
Otherwise, borrow from our ideas below…
SLOGANS ABOUT CEDAW (THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS TREATY):
•
•
•
•
Women’s Rights Are Human Rights – RATIFY CEDAW
I Support CEDAW - the Women's Rights Treaty!
End Discrimination - Support CEDAW
Why Won't the U.S. Ratify CEDAW?
SLOGANS FOR GUYS:
•
•
Men of Quality Demand Women's Equality
Standing Up 4 Women Worldwide
SLOGANS USING THE ONE BILLION RISING THEME:
•
•
•
•
I am Speaking Out. I am Standing Up. I am Rising.
We are ONE BILLION RISING!
Hard Times Requires Furious Dancing.
Dance to End Violence - Vote to Ratify CEDAW!
[Visit: h ttp://onebillionrising.org for more slogan ideas on the theme]