Long time coming a long way Baby!

Although, exactly 30 years ago, 186 countries signed on to The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), now 22 are reportedly balking. (I added the links.)

Algeria says it is prepared to apply the provisions of the treaty as long as they do not conflict with the provisions of the Algerian Family Code.

The government of Australia, on the other hand, says it does not accept the application of CEDAW in so far as it would require alteration of the country’s defence force policy - which excludes women from combat duties.

The UAE points out that it will not enforce one of the provisions of CEDAW because the provision violates the rules of inheritance established in accordance with the precepts of Shariah, the Islamic law (pdf).

Yasmeen Hassan, director of programmes at the New York-based Equality Now told IPS that lack of implementation of CEDAW is exacerbated by countries’ reservations to the treaty.

"Many countries, including most Muslim countries [with the exceptions of Afghanistan and Yemen], have significant and broad reservations to CEDAW that nullify their commitment to gender equality," she added.

However, even in these cases, "the positive is that they are obligated to report on the situation of women which gives us a platform to advocate and push for change," she explained.

Except that some countries -- come on down Canada! -- are not even reporting.

Mind you, some countries never even ratified the CEDAW in the first place. They include those women's rights utopias Sudan, Iran, Somalia and, drum roll please, the U.S.

Women's rights. Why bother?

Comments

[Jim M]

I like this music video made by women of Algeria to protest the Algerian Family Code: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3XFOncvCw

[Jim M]

The Catholic Church is so large that a few Canadian and American bishops, agencies like C-FAM and blogs like Big Blue Wave do not look so big and threatening to me by comparison. But there is a link in this post quoting what one of the highest ranking Vatican officials said during a recent visit to the Philippines, which does look like a real Thrilla in Manila to me. Fortunately, I have a former heavyweight champion to challenge the Cardinal, in Pope John Paul II, who seems to negate the Cardinal's assertion that "gender mainstreaming" and "radical feminism" are causing husbands to become too sweet and emasculated, which apparently leads these sweeter men to leave their wives and children. Pope John Paul II said:

"Respect for the full equality of man and woman in every walk of life is one of civilization's great achievements. Women themselves, with their deeply-felt and generous daily witness, have contributed to this, as have the organized movements which, especially in our century, have put this subject before world attention. Unfortunately even today there are situations in which women live, de facto if not legally, in a condition of inferiority. It is urgently necessary to cultivate everywhere a culture of equality, which will be lasting and constructive to the extent that it reflects God's plan." http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP950625.htm

[Jim M]

Shortly after the Cardinal Cordes (quoted above) visited Manila, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the subject of women's rights during a trip to Africa, where he insisted that discrimination against women "forms no part of God's plan." He also said, "We must recognize, affirm and defend the equal dignity of man and woman… I call everyone to an effective awareness of the adverse conditions to which many women have been -- and continue to be -- subjected," he said, "paying particular attention to ways in which the behavior and attitudes of men, who at times show a lack of sensitivity and responsibility, may be to blame…. History records almost exclusively the accomplishments of men, when in fact much of it is due to the determined, unrelenting and charitable action of women." http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-extols-womens-rights-africa

[Ed Stockelbach]

To use a phrase from the car biz, women's rights should be Job 1, and I'm sorry that so many males just don't seem to understand that a society that tolerates this inequality also tolerates male inequality.

[hysperia]

I like you Jim M and Ed Stockelbach!

[mozo]

Jim, in spite of your happy quotes from RC bigwigs it means nothing until the bigwigs make a few basic changes - women as priests and priests allowed to marry. After that happens a lot more will fall into place. Until then it's just white noise to me.

Antonia, I've said it before and I will say it again...the advance of women's rights is not something that can be completed in a year or twenty. I use slavery and civil rights as a comparison. 145 years after the end of the US Civil War would you say that black Americans have full and unfettered equality with whites? Has the Star not reported about ongoing slavery in some part of Africa? Don't give up the struggle but don't expect Google to speed things up.