CEDAW AWARDS FOR WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS

“INSPIRING AN EQUAL FUTURE”


The award categories and descriptions below are based on text contained in the United Nations Articles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the San Francisco Ordinance to implement the principles of CEDAW.  The CEDAW is an international human rights treaty that provides a universal definition of discrimination against women and brings attention to a whole range of issues concerning women’s human rights.

Countries that ratify CEDAW are mandated to condemn all forms of discrimination against women and girls and to ensure equality for women and girls in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural arenas. The United Nations General Assembly adopted CEDAW in 1979 and President Carter signed the treaty on behalf of the United States in 1980, but the United States Senate has not yet ratified CEDAW.

Following the 1995 UN World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, the women's community in San Francisco began to organize around how to bring CEDAW principles to a local context. On October 30, 1997, a consortium of community organizations, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Rights Commission, and Board of Supervisors President Barbara Kaufman held a hearing on the local implications of CEDAW. The testimony at the hearing demonstrated that women and girls continue to face discrimination in the areas of economic development and employment, violence against women and girls, and health care. On November 10, 1997, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 1021-97, supporting the local implementation of the underlying principles of CEDAW and urging the United States Senate to ratify CEDAW. On November 17, 1997, Mayor Willie Brown approved Resolution No. 1021-97.

CEDAW CATEGORY


ANTI-VIOLENCE
CEDAW Article 6 requires suppression of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitutes.


COMMUNITY-BUILDING
CEDAW Article 11 mandates the end of discrimination in the field of employment and recognizes the right to work as a human right.



CORPORATE
CEDAW Article 11 mandates the end of discrimination in the field of employment and recognizes the right to work as a human right.



CULTURE
CEDAW Article 5 recognizes the role of culture and tradition, and calls for the elimination of sex role stereotyping.


EDUCATION
CEDAW Article 10 obligates equal access to all fields of education and the elimination of stereotyped concepts of the roles of men and women.


ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CEDAW Article 11 mandates the end of discrimination in the field of employment and recognizes the right to work as a human right.


ENVIRONMENT
CEDAW Article 3 requires action in all fields to advance the human rights of women.


GOVERNMENT
CEDAW Article 7 mandates ending discrimination against women in political and public life.


HEALTH
CEDAW Article 12 requires steps to eliminate discrimination from the field of health care, including access to family planning.


LABOR
CEDAW Article 11 mandates the end of discrimination in the field of employment and recognizes the right to work as a human right.


MEDIA
CEDAW Article 13 requires that women be ensured equal access to family benefits, bank loans, credit, sports and cultural life.


PHILANTHROPY
CEDAW Article 10 obligates equal access to all fields of education and the elimination of stereotyped concepts of the roles of men and women.



LEADERSHIP
LEGACY



CLAIRE JOYCE TEMPONGKO MEMORIAL AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

AWARD DESCRIPTION


An individual or organization who has fought to address violence against women, whether physical, mental, or economic, in innovative and collaborative ways that have resulted in fundamental change.


An individual or organization whose community impact has increased the ability of women to access economic opportunities through employment or self employment, to participate in community activities or to realize adequate living conditions (i.e., housing).


An individual or organization whose pioneering leadership and accomplishments reinforce the right to free choice of profession, employment and the right to professional promotion or success on the basis of merit; without regard to gender based stereotypes.


An individual or organization who breaks with culture and tradition and challenges sex role stereotyping.



An individual or organization whose commitment and dedication has increased education in human rights with a gender perspective.



An individual or organization whose courage and success as an entrepreneur demonstrates the right for women to participate in economic and social life.


An individual or organization that promotes the human rights of women in a particular field, especially when that field has an under-representation of women.


An individual or organization whose leadership in government has resulted in fundamental changes to the policies impacting women and their families.


An individual or organization whose dedicated commitment and efforts has expanded access to healthcare among women and their families in fundamental ways.


An individual or organization who has overcome challenges and expanded opportunities for women in non-traditional fields in enduring ways.


An individual or organization whose career in media (print, television, radio, or Internet) has publicized the struggles of those without a voice in media and championed equal access to human and civil rights.


An individual or organization who has invested in fighting discrimination against women by providing access and opportunities through education, career, and/or vocational guidance particularly those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possible time, any gap existing between men and women.


An individual or organization who has shown extraordinary vision in promoting women and the CEDAW principles.


An individual or organization who has shown extraordinary vision and leadership in promoting the CEDAW principles.

An individual or organization who has acted in a manner reflective of Claire Joyce Tempongko, the courageous young mother who was tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend, but whose case has inspired systemic reforms to the City's criminal justice response to domestic violence.
 
 

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