{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-bowman-introduce-resolution-calling-senate-ratify-convention", "Norton, Bowman Introduce Resolution Calling on the Senate to Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women", "2023-05-31", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Holmes Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", "norton", "https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (D-NY), along with four original cosponsors, introduced a resolution calling on the Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Convention establishes an agenda for national action to end discrimination against women and ensure the advancement of women in political, social, economic and cultural fields through legislative action and legal protections. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but has never been brought before the full Senate for a vote.\n\nAs of 2023, 189 countries have ratified the Convention. The United States is an outlier, joining only Iran, Palau, Somalia, Sudan and Tongo in not ratifying the treaty. In light of the Senate\u2019s inaction, dozens of U.S. cities, counties and states have passed resolutions in support of the Convention\u2019s ratification. Most recently, the District of Columbia enacted the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Act in accordance with the principles of the Convention.\n\n\u201cThe Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women represents a monumental step towards eliminating the entrenched disparities in the job market and in our society,\u201d Norton said. \u201cIts ratification is long overdue. President Biden supported ratification of this Convention when he was chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I urge the Senate to ratify this important Convention at last.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a nation, we cannot be a leader in civil rights unless we advocate for and guarantee the rights of all people in this country,\u201d said Bowman. \u201cRatifying the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is a critical step in promoting equity, regardless of gender identity. U.S. ratification of this 1979 Convention holds broad public support and is long overdue. The U.S. must back-up its international discourse with domestic action and join the 189 countries who have already ratified the Convention.\u201d\n\nAs the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Norton issued the first guidelines holding sexual harassment to be a violation of equal employment laws. Earlier this Congress, Norton introduced three bills to help close the pay gap for women and minorities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media/press-releases/norton-bowman-introduce-resolution-calling-senate-ratify-convention"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9705312550067902, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}