UNA-NCA holds a deep and enduring commitment to gender equality and ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender. The chapter has ongoing initiatives to build a strong federal, state and local regulatory and legislative environment for communities to thrive and for women and girls of all ages to have equal access to opportunities wherever we live.
Cities and States for CEDAW
The member states of the United Nations uphold this commitment to gender inclusivity by the adoption of milestone agreements including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The United States remains one of only six member states not to ratify CEDAW, yet American states and localities have led the charge in recognizing the vital importance of CEDAW by codifying the principles of the convention and putting metrics in place to track and hold policymakers accountable to ensuring gender equitable outcomes.Locally, UNA-NCA is spearheading DC for CEDAW, a campaign to have the principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted in city councils and state legislatures across the National Capital Area, starting with the District of Columbia.
Advocacy
The Advocacy Committee also tracks and advocates on behalf of UNA-NCA for federal legislation that promotes gender inclusive outcomes and engages with key federal executive agencies and staff. These include the following bills in Congress and executive actions:- H.R.5 Equality Act, passed the House of Representatives 2/25/21
- H.R. 7 Paycheck Fairness Act, passed the House of Representatives 4/15/21
- President Biden’s Executive Order on Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council
