AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 27, 2009
SENIOR SENATE FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 1
INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR WINSLOW
(COAUTHOR SENIOR SENATOR YOUNG)
(COAUTHORS: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS GOULD AND WIECK)
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SFP 1: GENDER DISCRIMINATION
UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN.
THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO RATIFY, AND THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN, THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW), AND WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THIS MEASURE.
VOTE: MAJORITY.
SFP 1: RELATING TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION
WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 18, 1979, THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) WAS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND AFTER THE 20TH NATION RATIFIED CEDAW ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1981, IT BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY; AND
WHEREAS, BRINGING THE FEMALE HALF OF HUMANITY INTO THE FOCUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS, CEDAW ESTABLISHES NOT ONLY AN INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN, BUT ALSO AN AGENDA FOR ACTION BY COUNTRIES TO GUARANTEE THOSE RIGHTS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING CONDITIONS WITHIN WHICH WOMEN CAN EXERCISE AND ENJOY BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR WOMEN UNTIL PARITY WITH MEN IS REACHED; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ABOLISHING ALL FORMS OF SLAVERY AND PROSTITUTION OF WOMEN; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO SECURING WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE, TO STAND FOR ELECTION, AND TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRIES INTERNATIONALLY; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ALLOWING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR RETAIN THEIR NATIONALITY AND THAT OF THEIR CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION IN ALL SUBJECTS AND AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING CONTINUING AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING EQUAL EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL, AND PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES, JOB SECURITY, AND EQUAL PAY FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WOMEN WHO ARE MARRIED, PREGNANT, OR HAVE CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK AND THE RIGHT TO MATERNITY LEAVE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE BENEFITS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT CHILD CARE IS AVAILABLE, AND THAT PREGNANT WOMEN ARE PROTECTED FROM WORK THAT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO THEIR HEALTH OR THE HEALTH OF THEIR UNBORN CHILD; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ADEQUATE HEALTH SERVICES TO WOMEN, INCLUDING FAMILY PLANNING WHERE NECESSARY, AND PRENATAL CARE, INCLUDING NUTRITION FOR PREGNANT AND LACTATING MOTHERS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL CREDIT FOR WOMEN; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE RIGHT OF WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO GIVING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO ALL THE PROVISIONS OF CEDAW TO WOMEN WHO RESIDE IN RURAL AREAS; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS IN CHOOSING A SPOUSE, NAME, OR OCCUPATION; TO MARRY AND DIVORCE; TO OWN, BUY, SELL, AND ADMINISTER PROPERTY; TO SHARE PARENTING, REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS; AND TO CHOOSE THE NUMBER AND SPACING OF THEIR CHILDREN, INCLUDING ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP; AND
WHEREAS, RATIFYING GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM AGE FOR MARRIAGE AND TO ENSURING THAT ALL MARRIAGES ARE ENTERED INTO FREELY, BY MUTUAL CONSENT; AND
WHEREAS, IN 1979, AFTER THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTED CEDAW, PRESIDENT CARTER SENT CEDAW TO THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR RATIFICATION, WHERE IT HAS REMAINED EVER SINCE; AND
WHEREAS, OVER SIX MILLION WOMEN ARE BEATEN BY THEIR HUSBANDS OR BOYFRIENDS EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, AND 1,500 OF THEM DIE FROM THEIR INJURIES; AND
WHEREAS, ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE COUNTRIES HAVE RATIFIED CEDAW; AND
WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS CONSIDERED BY MANY NATIONS TO BE THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD AND THE LEADING PROPONENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, YET THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED NATION IN THE WORLD THAT HAS NOT RATIFIED CEDAW; AND
WHEREAS, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SHOULD BE STRONGLY URGED TO PLACE CEDAW IN THE HIGHEST CATEGORY OF PRIORITY TO ACCELERATE ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE; AND
WHEREAS, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD EXHORT THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO PASS CEDAW FAVORABLY OUT OF COMMITTEE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE UNITED STATES RATIFY, AND THE PRESIDENT SIGN, THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW); AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
RN 09 16366
- 0 -