    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 11, 1998]
    [Pages 360-361]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on the Convention on the Elimination of
    All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
    March 11, 1998

    Dear __________:
        I write to seek your support in obtaining Senate consent to the
    ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
    Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is the most comprehensive
    and detailed international treaty developed to date relating to the
    rights of women. The United States actively participated in the drafting
    of CEDAW and signed the treaty in 1980. Although the Senate Foreign
    Relations Committee voted in favor of ratification in 1994, the Senate
    has not formally considered the treaty since that time.
        The rights of women are an issue of global importance--and one that
    is integral to our foreign policy. The success of any government depends
    ultimately on ensuring that all its citizens can participate fully in
    the decisions that affect their lives. Too many societies continue to
    shunt women to the sidelines, limiting their access to education, health
    care, and economic opportunity. Moreover, violence against women remains
    a widespread problem. I think you would agree that, as we enter the next
    century, we must address these issues. CEDAW provides us with an
    effective tool for doing so.
        I believe that the ratification of CEDAW is critical to our efforts
    to advance the status of women throughout the world. To date, 161
    countries have ratified CEDAW, including all our European allies and
    most of our important trading partners. The United States is one of the
    few countries that has not. This impedes our efforts to ensure that
    women everywhere are treated fairly and have the opportunity to achieve
    their full potential.
        As you know, U.S. state and federal law already provides strong
    protections for women and is largely consistent with the provisions of
    CEDAW. In 1994, the Administration submitted a detailed analysis of the
    consequences of CEDAW ratification for U.S. law. All concerns at that
    time were addressed by the small number of reservations, understandings,
    and declarations upon which the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and
    the State Department agreed. These include an explicit understanding
    that the treaty does not create a right to an abortion.
        Today, in celebration of International Women's Day, I am announcing
    that obtaining Senate advice and consent to the ratification of CEDAW is
    a top Administration priority during

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    this session of Congress. I am also announcing my goal of having the
    full Senate act on CEDAW this year, which marks the 150th anniversary of
    the first women's rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York.
        I would very much like to have your support in ratifying CEDAW and
    look forward to working with you on this very important issue.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House
    of Representatives; Trent Lott, Senate majority leader; Thomas A.
    Daschle, Senate minority leader; and Jesse Helms, chairman, and Joseph
    R. Biden, Jr., ranking member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. An
    original was not available for verification of the content of this
    letter.