The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
The Obama administration recently invited the United Nations into our country to inspect and evaluate our women’s rights, practices and laws.
The United Nations self-described “expert group” released a preliminary report on their 10-day visit to the United States earlier this month, with the full report due in June 2016.
Repeatedly chastising the United States for not ratifying The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), it is on that basis they filed this report.
Visiting Alabama, Texas and Oregon, they complained that the United States system of government (federalism) is a poor excuse for not conforming to their ideals of women’s rights.
The complaints include voter identification laws, which they believe should be changed to their specifications. Mentioning Alabama, they complain that women are being discriminated against when they change their names upon marriage. However, the Alabama State Auditor, Jim Zeigler, rebuked the report saying the U.N. has “no business in Alabama,” and he had never heard the complaints they are alluding to.
They criticize the US for the gender wage gap, yet do not mention Obama’s own administration’s abuse. They mention undocumented workers repeatedly, as if the immigration laws should be changed on solely their say so.
The group applauds Obamacare as a good first step, but conveys the need for Universal Health care (single-payer system).
They repeatedly cite international human rights law as if it should take precedence over our US Constitution. They even use it to criticize the ”Hobby Lobby” decision guaranteeing Freedom of Religion, complaining “that freedom of religion cannot be used to justify discrimination against women.” Apparently, religious beliefs do not conform with CEDAW’s version of discrimination.
Their “experts” also suggest that a “public budget should provide childcare, after-school and also elder and disabled facilities,” therefore the US taxpayers should fund whatever the UN decrees.
These ‘experts’ then took aim at sex education in schools, bemoaning the states individual rights on that issue. Concerned that some areas are allowed to teach only abstinence, they praised the progressive stance of Oregon in implementing sex education in their curriculum.
They condemn the criminalization of women in prostitution, and suggest that we allow it for the sake of international law and CEDAW.
And, of course, they attacked our laws on abortion. Insinuating that we are unjustly putting up barriers to women’s health, they specifically do not mention the recent reports of the abuses at Planned Parenthood.
In short, the United Nations, while accepting that we fund the majority of their work, at about 22%, are unhappy because we won’t ratify their treaty and give them authority in our country.
This is behavior they have been exhibiting throughout the world since 1982, when the CEDAW committee was formed. They travel the world complaining that judges do not refer to them in their rulings (thereby giving them the force of law), urging countries to enact legislation complying to their treaty, and even wanting their constitutions changed to reflect CEDAW. They continually overstep their mandate and attempt to control governments that do not share their radical social agenda.
The truth is the United States Constitution does more for women’s rights and freedom than they can claim. It would be much better for women, and the American people, if the United States removed themselves from the Untied Nations completely. We would save a fortune in fees, they would go under without it, and it would be a win-win for the world.
We originally posted this article here
[print-me/]
