Cities for CEDAW

Since San Francisco adopted CEDAW principles as municipal law in 1998, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women has been a leading voice in domestic implementation of human rights.  In March 2014, the Department once again took a leadership role.  At the meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women and the Women's Inter-cultural Network co-sponsored a side event "Cities for Sustainable Development and Women's Human Rights." The purpose of the event was to highlight the achievements and challenges of achieving sustainable development and women’s human rights in cities.

At the forum, the sponsors launched a new campaign, "Cities for CEDAW."  Among other things, the sponsors are asking the US Conference of Mayors to endorse a resolution calling on cities to adopt and implement CEDAW principles.  The Cities for CEDAW website highlights ways in which CEDAW has invigorated women's equality in San Francisco. One important contribution, a direct outgrowth of the SF CEDAW framework, is the development of Gender Equality Principles, an initiative that brings the business community and government together to expand gender equality.

JoAnn Kamuf Ward and I have blogged here about the growing involvement of U.S. mayors in implementing human rights.  Imagine the impact on women and girls if more cities followed in San Francisco's footsteps!