CEDAW Education Campaign

Mission:

The CEDAW Task Force of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights led a coalition effort (of more than 185 groups) to urge U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Almost all 193 United Nations member states have ratified CEDAW. The United States is one of only six countries—along with Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Palau and Tonga—that have not ratified CEDAW.

CEDAW outlines standards for ratifying countries to meet in the treatment and rights of women.

The CEDAW Education Campaign undertook to ensure that the U.S. joins the community of nations championing gender equality via ratification of the CEDAW Treaty.  Through a strong broad-based coalition, the campaign aimed to educate diverse audiences about the benefits of ratification. The campaign focused not only on the international impact U.S. ratification would help to achieve, but also on the many positive gains it would bring domestically on issues like violence against women and trafficking.

The Leadership Conference Education Fund builds public will for federal policies that promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. The Education Fund’s campaigns empower and mobilize advocates around the country to push for progressive change in the United States. The Education Fund was founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s premier civil and human rights coalition of more than 200 groups.

Channel Grant:

2010: Channel made a grant to support the CEDAW Education Campaign Project of the Leadership Conference Education Fund (The Education Fund).  Since public education and communications are vital in building support for ratification campaigns, Channel helped support the grassroots education initiatives of the CEDAW Task Force and The Education Fund: informing the public and helping disseminate information on the CEDAW treaty; publicizing the issue through local media sources; aligning with national communications strategy; adapting public education materials; convening local leaders and connecting them with national policymakers; presenting at national conferences; and identifying and working with unique messengers and unlikely allies to help build support for ratification.