Originally published on the CGS blog on June 26, 2014.
This blog was co-authored with Ben Gross
Tuesday marked a monumental day for women around the world as the Senate Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues gathered to address the global epidemic of gender-based violence and discrimination. Senator Barbara Boxer, presiding, convened an impressive array of witnesses that included prominent Senators as well as many other leading figures in the struggle for gender equality.
Senator Boxer emphasized in her opening remarks the need for the long-overdue passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) and the ratification of the Women’s Rights Treaty (CEDAW) as vital steps in protecting women’s rights worldwide.
Committee Member Senator Rand Paul criticized the practice of giving aid money to governments that condone gender and religion-based discrimination. Senator Risch manned the panel, Senator Markey affirmed his proud cosponsorship of IVAWA, and Senator Menendez voiced his strong support for both IVAWA and the ratification of CEDAW. Senator Durbin lamented the failure of the US to pass both CEDAW and the Disability Treaty. He quoted Hillary Clinton’s statement that the question “How do you treat your women?” offers more insight than any other on the future of a country, and stated that we must “give the ones who have no voice a voice in Congress.”
Witnesses Senators Warren, Hirono, Klobuchar, Stabenow, Baldwin, Heitcamp, and Murray all shared devastating accounts of women and girls who’d endured and fought gender-based violence and discrimination, from the poorest villages to political pulpits. They called for Senatorial action on IVAWA and other Acts directed at preventing and prosecuting human rights violations in the United States and abroad.
Catherine M. Russell, Ambassador at large for Global Women’s Issues and Ms. Susan Markham, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the Agency for International Development, explained their offices’ strategies in addressing gender-based violence. Ms. Russell confirmed that the delay in ratifying CEDAW is undermining America’s championship of women’s rights abroad. Hauwa Ibrahim of the Aries Law Firm, engaged by the Nigerian government to investigate the abduction by Boko Haram, also stated the urgent need abroad for the United States to ratify CEDAW.
The need for women to participate directly in war and peace negotiations was emphasized by Jacqueline O’Neill, Director of the Institute for Inclusive Security, who stated, “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
The importance of engaging men and boys in reducing violence against women was noted by Gary Barker of Promundo. His message is that “men of quality are not afraid of equality.”
Senator Boxer concluded by asking her audience to write to Senators of both parties to urge them to ratify CEDAW. The failure to ratify, as she said, is both “embarrassing” and “inexplicable.”
We at GlobalSolutions.org are elated that this momentous hearing, one we were privileged to witness, represented such a powerful congregation of voices raised in the name of women’s rights worldwide. As global citizens, we feel it is of the utmost importance that the US takes a leading role in the struggle against gender-based discrimination and violence by passing IVAWA and ratifying CEDAW.
Looking forward, we sincerely hope that this hearing heralds a Senate vote in the near future on both IVAWA and CEDAW. If we continue to slacken in our duties to our citizens and the world community on the subject of women’s rights, we fail not only to address a considerable factor in our own national security, but also to affirm the principles of equality and fairness upon which America was founded.
