Calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Plain-English Summary

This is a resolution from the House of Representatives calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify an international agreement called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, commonly known as CEDAW. CEDAW is a treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1979 that establishes basic rights for women around the world, covering areas like education, employment, healthcare, and political participation. The United States signed the treaty in 1980, but the Senate — which must approve all international treaties — has never voted to formally ratify it, meaning the U.S. has not officially committed to its terms.

This resolution does not create any new laws on its own. Instead, it is a formal statement urging the Senate to take up and approve CEDAW, which would make the United States one of the countries fully bound by the treaty's standards. Currently, the U.S. is one of only a small number of nations that has not ratified it.

If CEDAW were ratified, it could affect U.S. laws and policies related to women's rights, potentially requiring the country to periodically report to a United Nations committee on its progress toward gender equality. The resolution itself is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for review.