This week, activists across the nation are urging the Senate to support ratification of the Treaty for the Rights of Women -- officially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW.
The United States played an important role in drafting this treaty, which is the most complete international agreement for basic human rights of women. 185 countries have ratified it. Yet the U.S. remains one of the 8 countries that have not done so—along with Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Iran, Nauru, Palau and Tonga. Until our government ratifies CEDAW, it credibly demand that others live up to their obligations under the Treaty.
Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202- 224-4744) to urge them to help move this important treaty toward ratification!
Please begin by thanking both Senators for supporting S Res 178 on gender-based violence in Guatemala, as well as their support for women and other civilian victims in Darfur!
Please then urge both Senators to support efforts to finally ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW). Here are some specific actions to suggest:
· Insert a statement in support of CEDAW in the Congressional Record.
· Send a short letter to Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, encouraging hearings and a vote in Committee on the Treaty.
· Make a brief statement on the Senate floor in support of CEDAW ratification.
· Write to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), asking them to make the Treaty a priority and help build support for Senate ratification.
You may also wish to mention that the following NJ Congressmen have cosponsored H Res 101, a resolution calling for the Senate to ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW):
· Representative Rush Holt
· Representative Frank Pallone
· Representative Bill Pascrell
· Representative Donald Payne
· Representative Steve Rothman
· Representative Albio Sires
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
NYT Editorial Supporting Habeas Legislation
Today's New York Times has an editorial, Restoring American Justice, supporting Senate legislation restoring the right to Habeas Corpus that the Military Commission's Act took away from anyone identified as an "unlawfal enemy combatant" under the vague criteria of the Bush Administration.
Both Senator Lautenbuerg and Senator Menendez are already cosponsors of this important legislation.
Both Senator Lautenbuerg and Senator Menendez are already cosponsors of this important legislation.
BOTH NJ Senators Onboard Resolution Against Gender-Based Violence in Guatemala!
I just checked Thomas (the on-line congressional database) and found that Senator Frank Lautenberg has become a cosponsor of S Res 178, the resolution condemnng violence against women in Guatemala! Amnesty International greatly appreciate's Senator Lautenberg's support for this important resolution, as well as Senator Menendez's earlier decision to support it.
Thanks also to everyone who contacted their offices about this issue!
Thanks also to everyone who contacted their offices about this issue!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Update--NJ Delegations to Support Ratification of Women's Rights Treaty
There is a delegation being organized to meet with the Newark office(s) of Senator Lautenberg and/or Senator Menedez as part of Amnesty's national mobilization to support ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Click here if you are interested in taking part!
From our friends at New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Dear Friends,
After seven years of tireless and dedicated work, we are nearing the finish line.
As you may have read in media reports, the death penalty abolition bill is expected to be considered when the New Jersey State Legislature returns from the summer/fall break in November.
Because the legislative term ends in January of next year, this means that the abolition bill will need to go through several steps in less than 8 weeks.
As always, we will need to work together to insure that the bill is signed into law. We are going to again ask you to reach out to your legislators to ensure they do the right thing. NJADP is now scheduling special "letter writing sessions" to generate letters to state legislators. These sessions are great opportunities for local groups to be updated on the status of the abolition bill and to take action at the same time. They start with a five minute presentation by an NJADP staff member or volunteer, followed by about 25 minutes of letter writing.
Many of you held these letter writing sessions during the 2005 moratorium/study bill campaign. We ask that you call now to schedule one for the abolition bill this fall. NJADP can even bring stationary and stamps! Please contact Abe at NJADP's Trenton office ASAP at 609-278-6719 or abe@njadp.org for more information or to schedule a session.
The last seven years have been rewarding and inspiring. New Jersey is the leading state in the abolition movement because New Jerseyans like you have spoken up in record numbers. Because of our hard work, this summer, I was named by the web site www.politicsnj.com to their list of the 100 most politically powerful people in New Jersey. While I may be the face of NJADP most seen by legislators and the public, your strength of conviction and commitment to justice and sensible public policy is the real power behind this movement.
Collectively we have become a powerful force for change. Now it is time to take our grassroots voices to the State House for one last campaign.
If together we do our job well - and I have no doubt we will - we will guide New Jersey out of the darkness of state executions once and for all. We will also create what many are predicting will be the most important turning point moment on capital punishment in our nation's history.
We look forward to hearing from you over the coming weeks about the letter writing sessions.
Thank you.
In peace,
Celeste
PS - We are preparing now for action on the abolition bill later this year - so that we can be as ready as possible to turn out supporters for hearings and voting sessions. As you know, there is often only a few days notice before a hearing or a vote. We are currently developing a list of individuals who would like to be notified by telephone when the bill is scheduled to be considered. If you would like to be sure you are on that list, please contact Abe at abe@njadp.org or 609-278-6719.
Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
973-635-6396 Chatham Office
609-278-6719 Trenton Office
www.njadp.org
After seven years of tireless and dedicated work, we are nearing the finish line.
As you may have read in media reports, the death penalty abolition bill is expected to be considered when the New Jersey State Legislature returns from the summer/fall break in November.
Because the legislative term ends in January of next year, this means that the abolition bill will need to go through several steps in less than 8 weeks.
As always, we will need to work together to insure that the bill is signed into law. We are going to again ask you to reach out to your legislators to ensure they do the right thing. NJADP is now scheduling special "letter writing sessions" to generate letters to state legislators. These sessions are great opportunities for local groups to be updated on the status of the abolition bill and to take action at the same time. They start with a five minute presentation by an NJADP staff member or volunteer, followed by about 25 minutes of letter writing.
Many of you held these letter writing sessions during the 2005 moratorium/study bill campaign. We ask that you call now to schedule one for the abolition bill this fall. NJADP can even bring stationary and stamps! Please contact Abe at NJADP's Trenton office ASAP at 609-278-6719 or abe@njadp.org for more information or to schedule a session.
The last seven years have been rewarding and inspiring. New Jersey is the leading state in the abolition movement because New Jerseyans like you have spoken up in record numbers. Because of our hard work, this summer, I was named by the web site www.politicsnj.com to their list of the 100 most politically powerful people in New Jersey. While I may be the face of NJADP most seen by legislators and the public, your strength of conviction and commitment to justice and sensible public policy is the real power behind this movement.
Collectively we have become a powerful force for change. Now it is time to take our grassroots voices to the State House for one last campaign.
If together we do our job well - and I have no doubt we will - we will guide New Jersey out of the darkness of state executions once and for all. We will also create what many are predicting will be the most important turning point moment on capital punishment in our nation's history.
We look forward to hearing from you over the coming weeks about the letter writing sessions.
Thank you.
In peace,
Celeste
PS - We are preparing now for action on the abolition bill later this year - so that we can be as ready as possible to turn out supporters for hearings and voting sessions. As you know, there is often only a few days notice before a hearing or a vote. We are currently developing a list of individuals who would like to be notified by telephone when the bill is scheduled to be considered. If you would like to be sure you are on that list, please contact Abe at abe@njadp.org or 609-278-6719.
Celeste Fitzgerald
Director, New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
973-635-6396 Chatham Office
609-278-6719 Trenton Office
www.njadp.org
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