The Global Citizen: Treaties

Progress for Women is Progress for Democracy

Julia Strasser | November 4th, 2011
Topics: Women's Rights Treaty (CEDAW), Gender Based Violence, Human Rights

There was standing room only as Senators, congressional staff, non-profit organizations, and concerned citizens came to show their support for women’s rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at a hearing held on women and the Arab Spring. The hearing, presided over by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), focused on how women have played major roles in the Arab Spring, specifically in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. In these countries experiencing major transitions in government, the future of increasing gender equality is still uncertain, and requires help from the U.S. to continue to spread democracy and promote social change. Senator Boxer put it best when she said,

“Nations cannot achieve democracy and standing peace unless women achieve equal standing.”

A New Start on Treaties

Don Kraus | January 18th, 2011
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Women's Rights Treaty (CEDAW), Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Law of the Sea Treaty, Rights of the Child Treaty, Arms Control, Law & Justice, Capitol Hill

Getting two-thirds of the Senate to agree on anything is a daunting task. So it was no small feat when the Senate approved New START, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, during its December lame duck session. New START was the first major international agreement passed by the Senate since the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997.

The United States is a bit schizophrenic when it comes to treaties. The U.S. government does a great job negotiating them. From the International Criminal Court to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, U.S. diplomats have forged very constructive compromises on major human rights and security agreements. Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate has a history of letting these accords molder. The Senate and the White House still have a long list of treaties that are overdue for ratification.

New START Treaty: a Win for the US and the World

Don Kraus | December 22nd, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament, Prevent War

The United States Senate agreed to the New START Treaty today. The bilateral nuclear arms treaty passed with bipartisan support by a 71 to 26 margin. Today's rollcall vote came after months of highly partisan debate and despite a packed Senate schedule.

Adoption of this treaty demonstrates a commitment to responsible and cooperative U.S. global engagement. President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and Senators Kerry, Lugar, and Reid deserve special praise for their vision and leadership. New START's approval is also testament to the courageous 13 Republicans who placed national security above obstructive partisan politics.

It's time to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty

Citizens for Global Solutions | June 25th, 2009
Topics: Law of the Sea Treaty, Law & Justice

Yesterday Pew Charitable Trusts ran this ad in the Washington Post and Politico, showing once again that the Law of the Sea convention has the largerst, broadest, extremely odd-bedfellow group of supporters of any issue moving forward inside the Beltway. Where else can you see the American Petroleum Institute and the World Wildlife Fund sandwiching the likes of former Secretary of State Jim Baker, Lee Hamiliton, John Warner, the US Chamber of Commerce, Verizon, not to mention Citizens for Global Solutions.

White House Treaty Priorities

Citizens for Global Solutions | May 21st, 2009
Topics: Women's Rights Treaty (CEDAW), Law of the Sea Treaty, Nuclear Disarmament, Prevent War, Law & Justice, Human Rights

The White House released its list of treaty priorities for the 111th Congress last week. Here is the complete list of treaties that the administration supports immediate action on:

Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty, done at New York September 10, 1996 and signed by the United States on September 24, 1996 (Treaty Doc. 105-28); submitted to the Senate on September 23, 1997.