International Human Rights for Women at Home

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Overview

Legal Momentum works to incorporate principles of international human rights law into United States law to strengthen the human rights of all women.

Through amicus curiae briefs and policy advocacy, our work on international human rights law focuses on Congress and the courts.

Issues

Legal Momentum seeks to incorporate international human rights principles into United States law to enhance the human rights of women throughout the world. Our work focuses on Congress and the courts.

Congressional Ratification of Human Rights Instruments

U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Legal Momentum encourages the U.S. government to ratify CEDAW, a "women's bill of rights" ratified by over 180 countries. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world that have failed to ratify this landmark international human rights agreement.

Human Rights in Government Operations Audit Law (HR-GOAL)

Legal Momentum is a member of the New York City Human Rights Initiative, an organization that advocates for HR-GOAL.

HR-GOAL uses the principles of universal human rights, especially CEDAW (which New York City endorsed in Resolution 0086-1994, but U.S. has not ratified), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (which the U.S. ratified in 1994) to require city agencies to examine whether opportunities (including jobs) and services are being fairly distributed to women, people of color and other historically marginalized groups in New York City.

For more information, see the New York City Human Rights Initiative.

Enhancing Courts' Reliance on Human Rights Norms

In recent years, Legal Momentum has submitted several amicus curiae briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the Court should consider international human rights law and U.S obligations in considering constitutional questions.