Women’s Equality Day is a national moment in the United States to celebrate the incorporation of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920, which grants women the right to vote. While there continued to be difficulties for women, particularly women of colour, in utilising this right, this was a huge step toward a more gender-equal society. Women’s Equality Day, therefore, provides time for reflection – to celebrate our progress thus far and acknowledge the work still necessary to achieve gender equality in the United States.
This year, Women’s Equality Day coincides with the US’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a human rights mechanism and a peer review of each UN Member State’s human rights record that takes place every 4.5 years. This year, UN Member States have the opportunity to issue strong recommendations that highlight the United States’ failure to comply with international human rights laws.
Ahead of this year’s UPR, Equality Now published a joint submission with our partners, The ERA Coalition, The US End FGM/C Network, and Unchained At Last, which is designed to support peer States in issuing strong, evidence-based recommendations across four critical areas: the legality of child marriage, inadequate protections against female genital mutilation, failure to address online sexual exploitation and abuse, and a lack of constitutional equality.
Our hope is that Member States will consider our submission and issue strong, specific recommendations, and that the US will accept those recommendations and take action. To further our work in this area, Equality Now is attending the US’s UPR pre-session in Geneva, where we will give a statement outlining ongoing human rights issues in the United States, and speak directly with Member States.
We envision a world where all women and girls, in all their diversity, can live free from violence and discrimination. To achieve that, the US must take action – and we need your voice to help make it happen.
Regardless of whether you’re a civil society organisation, a concerned and passionate individual, or a corporation, there is a place for you in the women’s equality movement. And showing your support for women and girls doesn’t need to be a huge commitment. Every action, even a small one, has an impact and can contribute to change on a global scale.
Civil society organisation
Corporation
Concerned individual
Together, we can hold governments accountable, protect fundamental rights, and build a future where equality is a lived reality – not just a promise.
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