[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15115-S15116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 237--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
    UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS SHOULD HOLD 
HEARINGS AND THE SENATE SHOULD ACT ON THE CONVENTION OF THE ELIMINATION 
          OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)

  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 over, under the rule:

                              S. Res. 237

       Whereas the United States has shown leadership in promoting 
     human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and 
     was instrumental in the development of international human 
     rights treaties and norms, including the International 
     Convention of 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 
     International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 
     Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial 
     Discrimination;
       Whereas CEDAW establishes a worldwide commitment to combat 
     discrimination against women and girls;
       Whereas 165 countries of the world have ratified or acceded 
     to CEDAW and the United

[[Page S15116]]

     States is among a small minority of countries, including 
     Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran and Sudan, which have not;
       Whereas CEDAW establishes a worldwide commitment to combat 
     discrimination against women and girls;
       Whereas 165 countries of the 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, including, on citizenship 
     rights in Botswana and Japan, inheritance 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 of CEDAW;
       Whereas more than one hundred U.S.-based, civic, legal, 
     religious, education, and environmental 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, be it
       Resolved, 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) the Senate should act on CEDAW by March 8, 2000, 
     International Women's Day.

                          ____________________