US Support of Global Agreement?

Urge the US to Fully Support Global Agreement on Women’s Rights!!This week and next in New York at a meeting of the Commission on the Statusof Women, the global community is working to reaffirm The Program of Actionthat was agreed upon during the United Nations’ IV World Conference on Womenheld in Beijing in 1995 (commonly called “Beijing”). This reaffirmation iscritical to mobilizing the necessary resources and establishing theappropriate policies, programs, and services to help women and girls developtheir full potential, free from violence and discrimination.Unfortunately, the representatives of the United States appointed by theBush Administration are attempting to undermine Beijing by introducingamendments designed to curtail sexual and reproductive rights and health.Attacking Beijing threatens the advancements that women from all over theworld, including the United States of America, have experienced in recentdecades. Despite this progress, we know there is so much more work to bedone to ensure that every person is empowered to make free and informedchoices about their sexual and reproductive health. It is tragic that theinternational community must squander energy to prevent backsliding ratherthan work to make further process. Beijing has been a positive foundationfor progress and we must reaffirm it in its entirety in order to continue tomove forward.Please email Ambassador Sauerbrey, head of the US delegation, at usa@un.int,and tell her that for the health of women worldwide and the spirit of globalconsensus the United States must reaffirm the Beijing Program of Action inits entirety and without amendments. Feel free to use this sample text orwrite your own letter:“I'm writing to ask you to reaffirm the commitment of the United States towomen’s rights and freedom by declaring our government’s support for theUnited Nations Platform of Action on Women’ Rights.Ten years ago at the United Nations’ IV World Conference on Women inBeijing, our country pledged to protect women’s human rights and promotewomen’s freedom of political participation and access to education,employment, and health care. Now representatives from the U.S. governmentthreaten to undermine freedom by refusing to endorse this landmarkagreement.I ask that you continue our country’s tradition of standing up for women’srights and freedom. Support women worldwide by reaffirming the BeijingPlatform of Action.”Please write today!