IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 445 
Calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All 
Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2023 
Ms. NORTON (for herself, Mr. BOWMAN, Ms. OMAR, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. 
TITUS, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights pro-
claims that all human beings are born free and equal in 
dignity and rights without distinction of any kind, includ-
ing distinction based on sex; 
Whereas 
the 
World 
Bank 
estimates 
that 
around 
2,400,000,000 women of working age are not afforded 
equal economic opportunity, and 179 countries maintain 
legal barriers that prevent their full economic participa-
tion; 
Whereas the United Nations estimates that nearly one in five 
young women globally are married before the age of 18; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 May 25, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR445.IH
HR445
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 445 IH 
Whereas the World Bank estimates that women globally have 
only three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men; 
Whereas the United Nations estimates that it would take an-
other 40 years for women and men to be equally rep-
resented in national governments; 
Whereas the United Nations Convention on the Elimination 
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (referred 
to hereafter as ‘‘CEDAW’’) condemns discrimination 
against women in all its forms, and establishes an agenda 
for national action to end discrimination against women 
and ensure the advancement of women in education, em-
ployment, and health care and in political, social, eco-
nomic, and cultural fields through legislative action and 
legal protections; 
Whereas the CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations 
General Assembly in 1979, and signed by President 
Jimmy Carter in 1980, but has never been brought be-
fore the full Senate for a vote; 
Whereas 189 countries have ratified the CEDAW, and the 
United States joins only Iran, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, 
and Tongo in not ratifying the CEDAW; 
Whereas dozens of cities, counties, and States in the United 
States have passed resolutions in support of CEDAW’s 
ratification; 
Whereas San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Santa Clara, 
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Honolulu, and Miami-Dade Coun-
ty have passed binding local ordinances to implement the 
principles of the CEDAW; 
Whereas, on January 10, 2023, the District of Columbia en-
acted the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women 
Amendment Act, which requires that all District govern-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 May 25, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR445.IH
HR445
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 445 IH 
ment agencies conduct gender analyses every 2 years, 
that the Commission for Women develop a District-wide 
action plan to eliminate discrimination against women, 
and that the Commission for Women provide training on 
gender equity and human rights to District government 
employees, in accordance with the principles of the 
CEDAW; and 
Whereas President Joseph R. Biden supported ratification of 
the CEDAW when he was chair of the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls 
upon the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Elimi-
nation of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:19 May 25, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR445.IH
HR445
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB