Blogs

Mary Steiner, Co-Founder, Ratify Movement, Former President and now Ex Officio Director,
United Nations Association, USA, San Francisco (UNA SF)
We women determined to achieve freedom from discrimination collaborate monthly on the
Ratify Movement Monthly Meeting platform provided by the United Nations Association, USA,
San Francisco (UNA SF). On the third Thursday of each month at midday Pacific Time, we
include colleagues in progress reports as well as feature a leader and networking. Individuals
from organizations are featured, such as the Cities for CEDAW, UNA USA Women’s Affinity
Group, SFCAHT, NCJW, International Alliance of Women, Amnesty International, NOW,
International Alliance of Women, League of Women Voters, International Youth Conference,
Zonta, National Association of Social Workers, CA Technology Section, as well as various
Status of Women Commissions.
After nearly three years of meeting, powerful partnerships have been formed and the City of
Washington, D.C., as well as the California Counties of Santa Clara and San Diego have
adopted ordinances with the principles of CEDAW. Fairfax, Virginia adopted a CEDAW
Resolution. Their next steps are the implementation and enforcement of CEDAW. They seek
data about what women need. Financing the staffing and secure digitization of data is a
current interest for the Ratify Movement.. Panels of experts have been sponsored in the UN
CSW NGO Parallel Forum during Women’s Month since 2021. Women Technologists, Women
in Data Science, and Girls in STEM Education have been recurring themes.
Since the City and County of San Francisco adopted an ordinance based on CEDAW principles
in 1998, it can be a case study for lessons learned. It was the first city in the world to not only
institutionalize CEDAW and establish a Status of Women Department, but also utilize the legal
structure to reduce domestic violence and human trafficking. Family leave, child care, and
equal pay remain a challenge, but civil society organizations such as the NCJW and SFCAHT
have expanded services for the prevention, detection, and protection of survivors of human
trafficking. Collaboration with government, non profits, and survivors is building consensus
about the care and collection of data. Other CEDAW Nations are included in discussions about
best practices. International experts including the UN CEDAW Committee and UN Women
have been consulted.
In the U.S. the Senate has stalled the ratification of CEDAW after it was signed by President
Jimmy Carter, American women have yet to have their rights to appropriate health care, decent
work place, and equal access to education manifested. It is a non partisan effort. For
example, President Richard Nixon proposed CEDAW. The status of the U.S. as a developed
nation compared to all other UN Member Nations, developed and undeveloped is a growing
concern. Americans are not content to keep company with remaining non-ratifying Member
Nations, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Tonga, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga. Let us raise up our status as a
human rights leader and ratify CEDAW.