W and Women's Rights
From Madison.com, via Echidne of the Snakes:
"Ellen Sauerbrey, Patricia Brister, Susan Hirschmann, Janet Parshall - are you familiar with these leaders in the women's movement? Don't worry, neither is anyone else - because the foursome have absolutely no experience working for women's rights.
"Yet they have been representing the United States for the past 10 days at a special U.N. session to assess women's status since the world's nations pledged 10 years ago in Beijing to achieve gender equality.
"Who are these members of the U.S. delegation? Sauerbrey, who describes herself as "a conservative, not a feminist," was the Maryland for Bush campaign chair. Brister served as the head of the Louisiana Republican Party. Hirschmann is Texas Rep. Tom DeLay's former chief of staff. Parshall, a former Wisconsinite, hosts a conservative Christian radio talk show.
"So it shouldn't have come as a surprise that they trotted off to New York with righteous fire to try to wrench the focus of the "Beijing + 10" gathering from women's equality to abortion.
"The 6,000 advocates for women came to reaffirm the landmark platform drawn up in Beijing. The platform commits governments to, among other objectives, halt gender-based violence, end workplace discrimination, ensure educational and economic equality with men, and provide adequate family planning resources.
"U.S. delegation leader Sauerbrey, however, sought passage of an amendment to the platform stating that women's human rights do not include the right to an abortion. A U.S. spokesman called the amendment "consistent with U.S. government views."
"Never mind its inconsistency with U.S. law, as well as public opinion.
"In a dramatic display of unanimity, the more than 100 nations at the U.N. session stood in opposition to Sauerbrey, forcing her to withdraw the amendment. This extraordinary attempt to limit reproductive freedom for women worldwide reveals yet again the anti-women bias of the Bush administration and its minions."
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)