Women's bill 'unites' Iran and US
For more than 27 years, America and Iran have rarely seen eye-to-eye on anything.
So, how is it that these archrivals have a similar position, albeit for very different reasons, on a key women's rights convention?
Iran and the US are two of only eight countries that have not joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw).
Supporters call Cedaw an international "bill of rights" for women.
"This treaty deals with the most basic rights for women and girls, including access to basic medical care, legal redress against violence, and access to education," says Sarah Albert, co-chair of the Working Group for Ratification of Cedaw.
Seven countries recognized by the United Nations have refused to sign: Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga. The United States signed the Convention on July 17, 1980, but has refused to ratify it and give it the force of law. (Meaning that even Saudi Arabia has ratified it, on September 7, 2000.)
The article continues at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6922749.stmThe English text of the Convention can be found at
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htmMore information about CEDAW can be found at
the United Nations site for CEDAW and in the
Wikipedia
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