Meg's update: March 9th: 30yrs of CEDAW

The Center for Women's Global Leadership was front stage in bringing together this well attended side-event at the Church Centre, sharing the platform with representatives from several other women's organizations, and committee members of CEDAW. Charlotte Bunch, Director of CWGL, was the first speaker who gave an update on the GEAR Campaign, a proposal before the Member States, now in its 9th draft. Charlotte spoke of what looks like a light at the end of the tunnel, with possible acceptance of the document during the present session of the GA. Over 300 women's organizations throughout the world have signed on to this endeavour. A brief history of the beginning and successes of CEDAW were shared by members of the Committee on CEDAW, at the same time, pointing to the many challenges still remaining Although 185 countries have ratified the Convention, and two Optional Protocols entered into by other States, still the monitoring and implementation is wanting by many countries. Suggested recommendations made were to strategize with governments that have signed the Optional Protocols as a further step to ratification. At present, there is a coalition of some 65 NGO's, who are encourged to make the document available on grassroot levels for educating their constituencies. Another idea was to train and use mass media personnel as part of a concerted effort to inform and for all time Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.