International Women’s Rights

Women’s contributions fuel economies, stabilize families and communities and spur productivity.  The global women’s movement embraces these facts and yet the status of women remains unequal. NASW recognizes the wide range of issues that affect women and is committed to advancing policies and practices to improve the status and well-being of all women.  NASW strongly supports a number of international women’s rights efforts, including:  U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; achievement of Millennium Development Goal #3 to promote gender equity and empower women; and passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) in the U.S. Congress.  Linked to these issues are other areas particularly important to women, such as reproductive health and family planning. 

Women’s Rights Policy and Advocacy

• NASW Policy Statement on Women’s Issues
• NASW Speaks to the Obama Administration on Women’s Issues
• NASW Committee on Women’s Issues
• International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Policy on Women

International Women’s Rights Mechanisms

• Overview of International Instruments on Women’s Rights by WomenWatch, a directory of UN resources on gender and women’s issues.
• Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW):
• Overview of CEDAW and Text of the Convention from the UN
• Background on CEDAW by Amnesty International
• CEDAW 2010 – domestic coalition in support of U.S. ratification of CEDAW
• International Violence Against Women Act:
• The IVAWA Bill – HR 5927
• Efforts of the U.S.: The Struggle of Violence Against Women – HelpStartsHere.org background on IVAWA.
• IVAWA Overview – Women Thrive provides background, overview, and latest news and initiatives on IVAWA.

Global Support for Women’s Rights

• Millennium Development Goal #3 – United Nations target to promote gender equity and empower women by the year 2015.  
• U.S. Office of Global Women’s Issues - works for the political, economic, and social empowerment of women.
• United Nations Development Fund for Women – places the advancement of women at the center of all its efforts.
• United Nations Foundation – Women and Population  - works with the UN and other agencies to empower women in efforts to eliminate poverty, achieve social justice, and stabilize the world’s population.

Take Action

• Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• NASW Advocacy on CEDAW - Campaign to Support U.S. Ratification of CEDAW
• International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)
• Women Thrive – Campaign to Support IVAWA
• UNIFEM - Campaign to Support IVAWA