Women’s Rights and the ACLU

There are several international conventions concerning the rights of women. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is one of them. It was designed to eliminate discrimination against women in education, marriage, and sexuality. While many states have ratified this convention, countries like Iran and Palau have not. These countries have chosen to not ratify the convention. This is unfortunate as women and girls should not have to suffer because of the actions of others.

In 1946, the United Nations established the Commission on the Status of Women, which was initially a part of the Human Rights Division. In 1975, the UN held several world conferences on women’s issues. These conferences provided a platform for discussion and action in the international community on the issue of women’s rights. However, these conferences did not address the specific rights of women in all societies. For instance, some people argued that women should be allowed to have equal access to higher education and to control their families. Others argued for equal rights in the workplace and in the criminal justice system.

Although the Equal Rights Amendment was controversial in its early days, the majority of the population now supports its ratification. Even though many politicians viewed this legislation as controversial, most women’s rights issues have become universally accepted. For instance, women’s right to vote and attend college were once considered taboo by many. Since then, women have been granted these rights by most states and have even been given the right to vote in sports. But the journey is not over.

The Congress to Unite Women brought together 500 feminists in New York City in November 1969. The objective was to create a common ground between the radical and moderate wings of the women’s rights movement. However, the radical wing of the movement had soured on polite dialogue with the “enemy.” Young upstarts preferred to disrupt legislative committee hearings. In spite of this, the convention achieved its objectives. Today, women’s rights conventions attract large crowds.

The ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project works to push for systemic change in institutions that discriminate against women. The ACLU’s work focuses on three key areas, including employment and violence against women. This inequality is exacerbated by laws and workplace policies that discriminate against women. In addition to this, climate change is a major threat to women’s rights. The ACLU Women’s Rights Project seeks to mainstream gender equality as a priority issue in the United States.

Despite the many achievements in promoting gender equality, discrimination against women remains a scourge around the world. Even though women are increasingly occupying leadership positions and serving in parliaments, discrimination and violence against women persist. Moreover, the lack of effective sanctions for crimes against women often encourage perpetrators to commit the same crimes again. Therefore, it is critical that women are not merely victims of violence but also active participants in the struggle for emancipation.