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Letter from Senator Bond

Women for Faith and Family sent the CEDAW statement (see CEDAW "Action Alert") to 100 Senators in Washington, DC. Below is a response from Senator Christopher S. Bond.

December 18, 2002

Dear Friends,

Thank you for contacting my office to share your thoughts on the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimation Against Women (CEDAW). Your views are a crucial component of our deliberations in ratifying a treaty that addresses the broad range of challenges facing women around the globe.

As I am sure you are aware, this treaty has a divisive 22-year history which is why it has failed to reach the Senate floor for a full vote. This year the treaty was voted out of the committee by a vote of 7-12 despite a request by Secretary of State Colin Powell for time to review this treaty's impact on U.S. domestic policy. Issues such as military service, prostitution and abortion have acted as a lightening rod for various factions either opposed or supportive of the treaty in its current form.

The administration is justified in taking a cautious approach. Central to their concerns of the Departments of State and Justice is the impact CEDAW may have on U.S. sovereignty and its implications on constitutional and statutory law, as well as the manner in which the CEDAW Committee has been interpreting the treaty. Unfortunately, this treaty was voted out of the committee before the administration had time to fully consider its implications. The committee acted prematurely and I support a more detailed review on the impact CEDAW will have on domestic policy before the United States Senate votes to ratify it.

Again thank you for your thoughts. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I may be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Bond
United States Senator

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