Additional Academic Review for Gender Issues versus Policy Process

The two articles for additional academic review are;

·         The Human Rights for all: CEDAW.

·         The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination

In trying to justify the “Gender Issues versus Policy Process”, each country is being left with the decision to sign the treaty with the United Nation’s Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). It is also each country’s decision to rectify this treaty. The United States of America already have human rights for women in place and they do not really need this treaty to prove that they are abiding with women’s rights issues because it has already existed.

The author of the first article confirms that the fundamental individual civil liberties, the nobility and merit of a human person must be that men and women are equal, this is their human rights. The human beings are instinctively equal when they are born whether as a man or as a woman. The proclamation have the same dignity and rights, and everyone is entitle to freedom without the distinction of sex. The author further clarifies that every international individuals is entitle to their human rights without the discrimination on the basis of sex.

It is easier said than done especially when the policy process doesn’t give every international individual that human rights and as proclaimed by the author thus contradicts with gender issues. Tonga is ruled by a king, and their daughters can become queen and rule the country if they are the only child. But then when it comes to nobles of the realms, it is not the case because daughters don’t get that privilege to become nobles if they are the only daughter, but rather it goes to the brother of the noble or the brother’s son. This is definitely discrimination.

The second article reports the many administrations that try to rectify the Convention here in the United States but remains unsuccessful. The attempts started from President Carter, to President Reagan, to President Bush and even to President Clinton and fails to get the approval of the House of Senate, and the Convention for over 25 years has been sitting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The United States views discrimination against women as an issue and should be eradicated, and also understands the comprehensive worldwide discrimination against women should be forbidden. Their rectification on the convention shouldn’t be an issue though they support CEDAW completely. There is still gender issues in the United States with many policies already in place to counter discrimination. 

Tonga on the other hand is indeed very similar to the United States with the non-acceptance of CEDAW. King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV in the 1990’s wanted to sign this Convention but didn’t. King George Tupou V wanted the same thing five years ago but he passed away without signing the Convention. This year King Tupou VI rejected CEDAW completely. It remains that although Tonga is trying to challenge gender issues though no policy in place to hostage discrimination.

  

References:

1.      Milani, L.R. (2001) Human Rights for all: CEDAW. Washington D.C, Washington D.C. Print

Blanchfield, L. (2008). The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues for Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division. Retrieved from http://www.heinonline.org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/HOL/Page?