Blog 7: U.N. Pact Leads a Dutch Woman to Political Victory

Summary:

Leontine Bijleveld wrote an article on March 27, 2014 about the CEDAW, or Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. This was a global women's rights treaty that was designed to give women an advantage when it came down to government versus religious beliefs and principles. Bijleveld gives an example of what happened in the Netherlands where there was the oldest political party in the country. Their orthodox christian party (GSP) had long believed that it was against God's will for a women to hold, or run for, a political position. Because of CEDAW Lilian Janse became the first women to represent the GSP. This was possible because of women's rights activists who fought against the unfair treatment, and used CEDAW to get what they wanted. Article 7 of the CEDAW states that "state parties must ensure that discrimination against women in the political and public life is eliminated." in 2003, 10 women's rights groups took a stand against the violation of Article 7, and the Supreme Court decided that a key to democracy was people being able to freely participate in the government and government roles. Janse is now to be sworn in as a political official, which is victorious for all those who fought and insisted that CEDAW be implemented.


Analysis:

This article did a good job of telling the importance of the CEDAW and the effects that it can (and has) had on women around the world who are wanting to run for political office, or hold political power. One thing that I wish the article had explained a little more was the process that the CEDAW went through to get passed, because I have a hard time believing that a lot of people were okay with it's passing being that it specifically was to overwrite religious principles that were already in place and already oppressing women. Maybe if I had known the background behind the document I would have been able to more clearly understand it's significance in this country. I did like, however, how Bijleveld gave a specific example about how this document has helped someone achieve their dream of holding a political office, and how we followed that same person until the very end of the article and even heard her "where she is now" bio. It was significant to hear that this document has actually helped a women do something that, under her religious principles, may not have ever been able to do. This is a good step for women's rights groups in getting this document passed because it means that they will no longer have to fall victim to the oppression of their religious beliefs anymore, and that political roles will now be open to more than just men, which could greatly impact the legislation that is passed from here on out.


http://womensenews.org/story/international-policyunited-nations/140326/un-pact-leads-dutch-woman-political-victory#.UzV2t61dVa0