In relation to women, the most striking instance of the USA's resistance to international human rights commitments is its failure to ratify theConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Ratification is the procedure that makes a treaty binding. One hundred and sixty-one countries have ratified the Convention. Under US law, the Senate must agree in order for a treaty to be ratified and this has not occurred, despite support for ratification from the President and many members of Congress and the public.

RECOMMENDATIONS ON ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

The USA's reluctance to fully accept international human rights treaties and standards denies women in the USA rights and protections which the great majority of governments have agreed to recognise. The USA should: