WUNRN
CALL FOR SIGN-ON TO SUPPORT CEDAW
GENERAL RECOMMENDATION ON OLDER
WOMEN
DEADLINE FOR
SIGN-ON: SEPTEMBER 24, 2010
_______________________________________________________________________
September 15, 2010
Dear NGO Friends,
We have a great opportunity to advance older women’s rights! At the upcoming October meeting in Geneva of CEDAW (Convention to End all forms of Discrimination Against Women), the expert Committee will continue its consideration of a General Recommendation to require States Parties (governments) to provide information about the status of older women in their countries.
After
decades of lobbying, women of all ages at the UN have convinced CEDAW to
include this category as a General Recommendation. We are proud that
Ferdous Ara Begum, the CEDAW expert from
Timing is critical! We must show our support before the vote is taken. Our loud and strong voices from the NGO community will assure that the CEDAW experts will adopt this very important addition to the CEDAW mandate.
In 2008, some 32 organizations signed a letter of endorsement. We want to make sure that other NGOs, who did not have an opportunity to sign on, can still show their support. This demonstration of NGO advocacy has definitely made a difference in bringing the General Recommendation to the floor.
You already know the many human rights abuses that older women confront worldwide-- widespread poverty, abandonment, loss of inheritance, physical and emotional abuse, inadequate housing, health care and much more. The General Recommendation on older women and protection of their human rights will be the most comprehensive interpretation of human rights and State parties’ obligations as they apply in the context of older women.
The vote will likely come in October. Join us in affirming that our NGO organizations want CEDAW to adopt this General Recommendation so critical to older women everywhere.
Attached is the new statement that we plan to circulate to the CEDAW experts to demonstrate our strong continued NGO support. We are assuming that the 32 organizations that have already signed on will continue their support.
If you are a new organization, please endorse and return. Insert your organization’s name and return to Susanne Paul at Global Action on Aging (GAA) at globalageing@yahoo.com or mail to GAA, 777 UN Plaza, 6J, NY, NY 10017.
September 24 is our FINAL deadline.
GAA is coordinating the signatories. Should you have any questions, contact GAA at 212-557-3163.
With
thanks, SCOW, the Subcommittee on Older Women
..................................................................................................................................
Please add the name of my
organization to this list (Print or type please):
Name of Organization: ________________________________________
Name of Signer:
___________________________________________
_____Yes, I will forward my Organizations’ LOGO for
inclusion on the letter before Sept. 24.
(Optional item).
Endorsed as of 27/11/08, by:
1.
Armenian International Women's
Association (AIWA)
2.
Associated
Country Women of the World (ACWW)
3.
B’nai
B’rith International
4.
Dutch
Speaking Council of Women/Belgium
5.
EURAG
6.
Global
Action on Aging
7.
Gray
Panthers
8.
The
Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO)
9.
Franciscans
International
10. HelpAge
International
11. International
12. International
Council of Jewish Women (ICJW)
13. International
Council on Social Welfare
14. International
Council of Women
15. International
Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW-International)
16. International
Federation on Ageing
17. International
Immigrants Foundation
18. International
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
19. International
20. National
Association of Negro Business and Professional Women
21. National
Council of Women of the
22. Older
Women's Network,
23. Simply
Help
24. Soroptimist International
25. Susila Dharma International Association
26. VIVAT International
27. Women’s
International Democratic Federation
28. Women's
Association for Better Aging Society
29. World
Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations
30. Women's
Learning Partnership for Peace and Development (WLP)
WUWomen's
UN Report Network - WUNRN
31. Worldwide
Organization for Women
32. Zonta
International