Healing Bolivia – Restoring Rule-of-Law, Democracy, Political Stability and Basic Human Rights in the Plurinational State of Bolivia

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field." By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms. The Convention protects the right to health and health care, specifically covering the right to family planning and reproductive health care. Access to sexual and reproductive health care, can mean the difference between a girl finishing her primary education or a woman keeping her family out of poverty. Being a signatory of the Convention, the United States of America has an ethical and legal obligation to uphold the Convention; which includes the reproductive rights of women and their right of shaping their gender role in society and family relations. It should also be noted, that protecting sexual and reproductive rights is a direct path of promoting the dignity of all human beings; and an essential prerequisite in humanity's advancement towards harmony, gender equality and social justice. Hence the United States ought to finally ratify the Convention as soon as possible; to ensure gender equality, civil liberties and fundamental human rights in America. Another very important ethical aspect concerning the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), is that children are not asked whether they want to be born or not; they simply come into this world without being asked. Although many children are being born in good homes with loving parents, far more children have the misfortune of being born in an environment where they are not loved and/or are exposed to socioeconomic deprivation. Therefore parents and society have to take extra special care that the necessary resources are available concerning children; to uphold the UNCRC. Read more