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Human Rights at Home Blog
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Cities Rising

By humanrightsathome

The UN Association of Dane County, Wisconsin, has launched an effort to get Madison, Wisconsin to join the roster of CEDAW cities in the U.S. 

According to the campaign organizers:

“Getting individual cities to adopt the principles of CEDAW has been an increasingly popular strategy since 1998 when San Francisco became the first city in the US to adopt the principles of CEDAW. This strategy emerged because the US Senate, despite debating CEDAW five times, has never ratified the treaty, which President Jimmy Carter signed in 1980. Without being ratified, the treaty is not binding on or in the US. So far, 40 cities have adopted resolutions reflecting the principles of CEDAW.  UNA Dane County wants Madison to become the 41st.

The direct action campaign involves circulating petitions in support of the adoption of a resolution by the Madison City Council, drafting the resolution, and filling the galleries of the council chamber while the resolution is being considered.”

Meanwhile, on a national scale, the National Human Rights Alliance Steering Committee has announced an event focused on human rights cities: Building and Sustaining Human Rights Cities: Together in the South, in Atlanta GA — April 26-28, 2019.  According to the organizers, “the multi-day event will promote understanding of human rights cities/communities and to advance ideas and models for local human rights practice.”  More information and registration materials will be available soon.