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Women Connect! History
& Traditions
U S WOMEN CONNECT is the organizational daughter
of the Global Gender Agenda, begun by the
United Nations in its Charter - the first
global treaty to call for equality between
women and men. The UN focus from 1945 to 1962
was on data collection regarding unequal treatment
of women in all parts of the world. 1963 to
1975 focused on recognizing the substantial
role of women in economic and social development
and supporting women in their roles as agents
and beneficiaries of change.
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The 1976 - 1985 Decade for Women served to develop
and support the international women's movement. In 1977,
First Lady Betty Ford (R) addressed the Houston Women's
Conference in support of the American Equal Rights Amendment.
In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women - the treaty entered into force in 1981.
Since 1985, the global focus has been on securing equality,
development and peace for women, forging consensus on
actions to be taken in advancement of women as part
of comprehensive international goals. In 1993, the UN
Human Rights Conference in Vienna declared that women's
rights are human rights and appointed a Special Rapporteur
on Violence against Women, reporting directly to the
UN Commission on Human Rights.
Four global women's conferences, Mexico City(1975),
Copenhagen(1980), Nairobi(1985) and Beijing (1995) have
strengthened the international women's community and
our movement toward equality.
U S WOMEN CONNECT was the American organizing agent
in the follow-through from the Beijing conference, serving
as the pipeline for regional plans for action to the
Presidents Interagency Council for Women. Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright, as Chair, received the
plans for action and took them to the Beijing+5 Commission
on Women at the UN in 2000.
The Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 by 189 delegations,
and reaffirmed by those nations in 2005 (www. put in
URL for PFA) constitutes the comprehensive action plan
for economic and political empowerment leading to the
global objective of full equality for women.
While women's rights as human rights is a whole-systems
operating standard of the UN, the following organizations
are tasked with specific charges regarding women's rights:
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) - created
in 1946.
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
- established in 1976.
The International Research and Training Institute for
Advancement of Women(INSTRAW) - began operations in
1980, based in the Dominican Republic.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW) - convened for the first time
in 1982.
The Interagency Committee on Women and Gender Equality
- established after the Beijing Conference.
The Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the Division
for the Advancement of Women - first appointed after
the Beijing Conference.
Check out our website (www.uswc.org) for what has been
happening since the 1995 Beijing Conference and click
on the US map for your state contact to locate your
local contact. Make your voice heard - speak up and
speak out with USWC!
Contact
US Women Connect ©
uswc@uswc.org
View USWC
initiatives from 1999-2000
View USWC
initiatives from 2001 & beyond
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