Our Mission

Our Mission is to have Pittsburgh become a CEDAW City by passing an ordinance that establishes the framework and reflects the principles of CEDAW (The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women).  And then to leverage that ordinance to improve the lives of women and girls in Pittsburgh.

CEDAW is an international agreement that affirms the principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world and to ensure equality for women and girls in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural arenas.

To date, 187 out of 193 United Nations member states have ratified CEDAW.  The United States is one of only six countries — along with Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Palau and Tonga — that have not ratified CEDAW.

The Cities for CEDAW campaign “Makes the Global Local” by implementing the Convention in cities and towns across the United States. Four cities and Miami/Dade County have already passed ordinances, thirty other cities are in-process. We believe that the time is right for Pittsburgh to participate.