HSLDA News	September 12, 2002

Keeping an Eye on CEDAW

The United States Senate reconvened on after Labor Day, but CEDAW has yet to be considered. Tom Washburne, Director of the National Center for Home Education, says, "The Senate is behind in its appropriations legislation and other matters, but this delay could also be due to the efforts made by Home School Legal Defense Association members and their counterparts in such organizations as Focus on the Family, the American Family Association, National Right to Life, and Concerned Women for America." The National Center is a division of HSLDA.

The United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was signed by President Carter in 1980. In July 2002 it passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is now ready for consideration by the full of the United States Senate.

Senator Biden, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated in July that it was his desire to see a vote this fall. During the month of August, HSLDA asked members in select states to make their views on CEDAW known to specific senators, whom HSLDA deemed to be critical. This action reinforced communications made by members of HSLDA to all the senators in July.

We will continue to monitor this treaty very closely. If you have not done so already, please call your Senator and tell him or her that CEDAW should not be ratified. We will keep you informed as additional action becomes necessary.

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