Introduction
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has been a beacon for women's rights globally, yet the United States remains one of the few countries that has not ratified this crucial treaty. However, the Cities for CEDAW movement is taking matters into its own hands, driving local governments to adopt CEDAW principles and create meaningful change at the grassroots level.
The Local Boomerang Effect
The Cities for CEDAW initiative seeks to catalyze a "local boomerang effect," where local activism and policy changes create internal pressure for national policy reform. This approach leverages local governance to address gender equity issues, aiming to eventually influence national ratification of CEDAW.
Implementing CEDAW Locally
Cities for CEDAW encourages local governments to adopt a three-pronged approach:
- Conducting a gender analysis of city operations, including workforce, programs, and budget.
- Establishing an oversight body to monitor the implementation of local CEDAW ordinances.
- Securing funding to support the implementation of CEDAW principles.
This model has been adopted by cities like San Francisco and Cincinnati, demonstrating the potential for local governments to drive significant policy changes and improve gender equity.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the Cities for CEDAW movement has made significant strides, challenges remain. Local governments often face resource constraints and bureaucratic inertia, which can hinder the full realization of CEDAW principles. Moreover, without national ratification, the impact of local initiatives may be limited.
However, the movement's success in fostering local engagement with CEDAW principles highlights the potential for grassroots activism to drive change. By connecting local actions to an international treaty, Cities for CEDAW reinforces the notion that women's rights are inherent human rights.
Encouraging Further Research
Practitioners and activists are encouraged to delve deeper into the Cities for CEDAW model and explore how local governance can be leveraged to advance women's rights. The movement provides a unique opportunity to study the dynamics of "glocal" activism and its capacity to influence national and international human rights norms.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Prospects for Realizing International Women’s Rights Law Through Local Governance: the Case of Cities for CEDAW.
